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NASA Spaceflight • Aaron McCrea

Packed launch week: ULA's Vulcan to carry USSF-87 and SpaceX to fly Crew-12 amid eight scheduled missions

Eight launches are scheduled this week from multiple sites, led by United Launch Alliance's Vulcan carrying the USSF-87 national-security payload and SpaceX's Crew-12 Dragon bound for the International Space Station. The manifest mixes crewed, government and commercial missions across several providers.

2026-02-09T14:35:59.122500-08:00

Via Satellite

Momentus, NASA and U.S. Space Force to demo rendezvous, in‑orbit servicing and multispectral sensing on Vigoride 7 in LEO

2026-02-09T12:14:06.615952-08:00

Universe Today

China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030): CASC Outlines Ambitious National Space Priorities

2026-02-09T06:34:10.697944-08:00

Reuters

SpaceX pivots from Mars to Moon settlement, aims for self‑sustaining lunar city within 10 years, Musk says

2026-02-08T15:59:33.293582-08:00

News Timeline

NASA Spaceflight

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Packed launch week: ULA's Vulcan to carry USSF-87 and SpaceX to fly Crew-12 amid eight scheduled missions Eight launches are scheduled this week from multiple sites, led by United Launch Alliance's Vulcan carrying the USSF-87 national-security payload and SpaceX's Crew-12 Dragon bound for the International Space Station. The manifest mixes crewed, government and commercial missions across several providers.

2026-02-09T14:35:59.122500-08:00

Packed launch week: ULA's Vulcan to carry USSF-87 and SpaceX to fly Crew-12 amid eight scheduled missions

Via Satellite

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Momentus, NASA and U.S. Space Force to demo rendezvous, in‑orbit servicing and multispectral sensing on Vigoride 7 in LEO Momentus has signed a Space Act Agreement with NASA to fly its Vigoride 7 orbital service vehicle on a SpaceX Transporter no earlier than March 2026 to demonstrate rendezvous and proximity operations, formation flying, in‑orbit servicing and autonomous assembly, including a multispectral sensor test for the U.S. Space Force.

2026-02-09T12:14:06.615952-08:00

Momentus, NASA and U.S. Space Force to demo rendezvous, in‑orbit servicing and multispectral sensing on Vigoride 7 in LEO

Universe Today

China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030): CASC Outlines Ambitious National Space Priorities China unveiled its 15th five-year plan for 2026–2030; the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) issued a companion release that lays out ambitious priorities for the country’s space sector. The plan frames expanded state-led targets across civil, commercial and strategic space activities and sets the national direction through 2030.

2026-02-09T06:34:10.697944-08:00

China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030): CASC Outlines Ambitious National Space Priorities

SpaceWatch Global

NASA selects Axiom Space for AX-5 private astronaut mission to ISS, targeted Jan 2027 NASA and Axiom Space have signed an order for the fifth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, designated AX‑5. The order formalizes Axiom's planned private-crew flight to the ISS with a targeted launch no earlier than January 2027.

2026-02-09T02:53:42.770121-08:00

NASA selects Axiom Space for AX-5 private astronaut mission to ISS, targeted Jan 2027

Reuters

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SpaceX pivots from Mars to Moon settlement, aims for self‑sustaining lunar city within 10 years, Musk says Elon Musk told AFP that SpaceX is shelving its long‑term emphasis on sending humans to Mars to prioritize building a self‑sustaining settlement on the Moon, citing faster launch cycles and feasibility — targeting a habitable lunar city within ten years while Mars ambitions are deferred.

2026-02-08T15:59:33.293582-08:00

SpaceX pivots from Mars to Moon settlement, aims for self‑sustaining lunar city within 10 years, Musk says

SpaceNews.com

SpaceX IPO could drive investor interest across public-space sector An investor in two space companies that listed in the past year said a forthcoming SpaceX IPO could reignite investor appetite for commercial space. The listing may unlock fresh capital flows into satellite and launch firms, lifting valuations and liquidity for public and pre‑IPO peers.

2026-02-07T12:47:21.171500-08:00

SpaceX IPO could drive investor interest across public-space sector

NASA Spaceflight

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SpaceX Starbase approved to nearly double launch‑site footprint Regulators have approved SpaceX’s plan to nearly double the footprint of its Starbase launch site, clearing space for expanded ground infrastructure and operational activity. The decision arrives as the company pushes to conduct Flight 12 from the Texas complex, advancing Starship test operations.

2026-02-07T11:59:02.501994-08:00

SpaceX Starbase approved to nearly double launch‑site footprint

Reuters

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China launches Shenlong reusable spaceplane on fourth secretive orbital mission China launched the Shenlong reusable spaceplane for a fourth secretive orbital mission, lifting off from Jiuquan on a Long March booster. Beijing kept tight control over mission details as observers again compared the program to the U.S. X-37B, underscoring advancing reusable on‑orbit capability.

2026-02-07T02:48:44.258329-08:00

China launches Shenlong reusable spaceplane on fourth secretive orbital mission

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Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

Packed launch week: ULA's Vulcan to carry USSF-87 and SpaceX to fly Crew-12 amid eight scheduled missions

Momentus, NASA and U.S. Space Force to demo rendezvous, in‑orbit servicing and multispectral sensing on Vigoride 7 in LEO

China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030): CASC Outlines Ambitious National Space Priorities

SpaceX pivots from Mars to Moon settlement, aims for self‑sustaining lunar city within 10 years, Musk says

News Timeline