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Universe Today • Alan Boyle

Musk pivots: lunar city before Mars — an expert reality check

Elon Musk now says he wants to build a city on the Moon before pursuing Mars; two recent pieces — a column and an expert interview — offer a reality check, evaluating whether a lunar or Martian city is technologically and logistically feasible and what timelines either would demand.

2026-02-17T10:30:24.401814-08:00

SpaceNews.com

China's Space Epoch raises B‑round, targets 2026 orbital launch and booster recovery attempt

2026-02-17T10:13:11.075499-08:00

Airways Magazine

Flight Safety Foundation warns of rising risk in mixed‑use airspace at busy airports

2026-02-17T08:36:32.606128-08:00

Space Intel Report

SES warns demand shift will shrink its 90+ large GEO satellite fleet

2026-02-17T09:24:57.960383-08:00

News Timeline

Universe Today

Musk pivots: lunar city before Mars — an expert reality check Elon Musk now says he wants to build a city on the Moon before pursuing Mars; two recent pieces — a column and an expert interview — offer a reality check, evaluating whether a lunar or Martian city is technologically and logistically feasible and what timelines either would demand.

2026-02-17T10:30:24.401814-08:00

Musk pivots: lunar city before Mars — an expert reality check

SpaceNews.com

China's Space Epoch raises B‑round, targets 2026 orbital launch and booster recovery attempt Chinese launch startup Space Epoch has closed a B‑round of financing as it prepares for its first orbital launch and booster recovery attempt in 2026. The funding will support vehicle testing, manufacturing scale‑up and development of recovery systems ahead of a planned late‑2026 flight.

2026-02-17T10:13:11.075499-08:00

China's Space Epoch raises B‑round, targets 2026 orbital launch and booster recovery attempt

Space Intel Report

SES warns demand shift will shrink its 90+ large GEO satellite fleet SES says shifting market demand will reduce its fleet of more than 90 large geostationary satellites, warning the future economic viability of big GEO platforms is uncertain and prompting the operator to reassess fleet size and business model.

2026-02-17T09:24:57.960383-08:00

SES warns demand shift will shrink its 90+ large GEO satellite fleet

Payload

Revenge of the Bad Businesses: investors pivot to space hardware as software rout bites A shift in investor sentiment during this year's software rout is reversing conventional wisdom: asset-light, high-margin software is losing its premium while capital-intensive 'bad' businesses are regaining appeal. The trend is reshaping the space investing thesis, increasing focus on hardware, launchers and industrial assets.

2026-02-17T08:56:51.175203-08:00

Revenge of the Bad Businesses: investors pivot to space hardware as software rout bites

Airways Magazine

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Flight Safety Foundation warns of rising risk in mixed‑use airspace at busy airports The Flight Safety Foundation's 2025 report says accidents declined, but systemic stress — notably from mixed‑use airspace at busy airports — emerged as the primary safety risk. The FSF warns this operational stress concentrates at high‑traffic hubs, raising exposure for controllers, airline operations and airport managers.

2026-02-17T08:36:32.606128-08:00

Flight Safety Foundation warns of rising risk in mixed‑use airspace at busy airports

SpaceNews.com

Space-Comm Expo London 2026: Global leaders convene to accelerate Europe's space industry Global policymakers, defence and industry leaders gathered at Space‑Comm Expo in London to accelerate Europe’s space industrialisation and secure supply chains. Exhibitors, including Rhopoint Components showcasing radiation‑hardened electronics, highlighted commercial and defence‑grade satellite and component technologies needed to field upcoming programmes and in‑orbit demonstrators.

2026-02-17T08:27:20.948090-08:00

Space-Comm Expo London 2026: Global leaders convene to accelerate Europe's space industry

European Spaceflight

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SatVu secures NATO Innovation Fund backing to scale thermal-imaging satellite constellation SatVu closed a financing round reported between €30–34 million (one report cited $41 million) that includes investment from the NATO Innovation Fund. The capital will expand its high‑resolution thermal‑infrared multi‑satellite constellation to deliver continuous day‑and‑night intelligence on activity and infrastructure for commercial and defence users.

2026-02-17T06:31:20.884154-08:00

SatVu secures NATO Innovation Fund backing to scale thermal-imaging satellite constellation

Payload

Kepler selects NanoAvionics as preferred European satellite‑bus provider to expand optical comms access Kepler selected NanoAvionics as its preferred satellite‑bus provider in Europe to streamline integration of European smallsat platforms with Kepler’s optical LEO communications network. The arrangement aims to give European customers direct access to Kepler’s high‑speed optical relay services and simplify bus‑to‑payload integration for future missions.

2026-02-17T06:14:33.531578-08:00

Kepler selects NanoAvionics as preferred European satellite‑bus provider to expand optical comms access

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Commercial Space News

Musk pivots: lunar city before Mars — an expert reality check

China's Space Epoch raises B‑round, targets 2026 orbital launch and booster recovery attempt

Flight Safety Foundation warns of rising risk in mixed‑use airspace at busy airports

SES warns demand shift will shrink its 90+ large GEO satellite fleet

News Timeline