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Aviation Week • Robert Wall

ArianeGroup's GRETA peroxide–ethanol engine completes hot‑fire campaign and wins ESA backing

ArianeGroup’s GRETA, a 5 kN peroxide‑and‑ethanol rocket engine aimed at lunar landers and Ariane 6 auxiliary/upper stages, completed a comprehensive hot‑fire campaign in Trauen demonstrating stable operation, controlled shutdowns and multiple restarts and has secured a new ESA contract to advance development.

2026-02-26T01:56:00.902775-08:00

Spaceflight Now

SpaceX to launch 29 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral in pre-dawn Falcon 9 liftoff

2026-02-26T17:25:58.278736-08:00

SpaceNews.com

Phantom Space reclaims Vector Launch assets

2026-02-26T05:22:33.053050-08:00

European Spaceflight

UKAEA to support Pulsar Fusion on shielding and radiation modelling for Sunbird fusion space tug

2026-02-26T01:40:57.978563-08:00

News Timeline

Spaceflight Now

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SpaceX to launch 29 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral in pre-dawn Falcon 9 liftoff SpaceX plans a pre-dawn Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral's Space Launch Complex 40 to deploy 29 Starlink internet satellites, with liftoff scheduled for 5:20:50 a.m. EST (1020:50 UTC). Spaceflight Now will provide live coverage beginning about one hour before launch.

2026-02-26T17:25:58.278736-08:00

SpaceX to launch 29 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral in pre-dawn Falcon 9 liftoff

SpaceNews.com

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Phantom Space reclaims Vector Launch assets Phantom Space has acquired former Vector Launch hardware and intellectual property that was sold off in 2020 when the small-launch developer entered bankruptcy, returning remnants of Vector’s technology to one of the company’s original architects and reuniting design expertise with the physical assets.

2026-02-26T05:22:33.053050-08:00

Phantom Space reclaims Vector Launch assets

SpaceNews.com

China confirms Tianwen-2 healthy en route to near‑Earth asteroid ahead of sample‑return mission China's Tianwen-2 spacecraft is operating normally as it closes on a near‑Earth asteroid ahead of planned sample collection and return later this year, per a rare official update; the announcement highlights Beijing's advancing robotic deep‑space and mission operations.

2026-02-26T03:34:10.750805-08:00

China confirms Tianwen-2 healthy en route to near‑Earth asteroid ahead of sample‑return mission

Aviation Week

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ArianeGroup's GRETA peroxide–ethanol engine completes hot‑fire campaign and wins ESA backing ArianeGroup’s GRETA, a 5 kN peroxide‑and‑ethanol rocket engine aimed at lunar landers and Ariane 6 auxiliary/upper stages, completed a comprehensive hot‑fire campaign in Trauen demonstrating stable operation, controlled shutdowns and multiple restarts and has secured a new ESA contract to advance development.

2026-02-26T01:56:00.902775-08:00

ArianeGroup's GRETA peroxide–ethanol engine completes hot‑fire campaign and wins ESA backing

European Spaceflight

❗️

UKAEA to support Pulsar Fusion on shielding and radiation modelling for Sunbird fusion space tug The UK Atomic Energy Authority will provide shielding design and radiation-modelling support to Pulsar Fusion for its Sunbird fusion-powered space tug, backing development of the vehicle's nuclear propulsion system and safety cases required for testing, regulatory approval and orbital missions.

2026-02-26T01:40:57.978563-08:00

UKAEA to support Pulsar Fusion on shielding and radiation modelling for Sunbird fusion space tug

SpaceNews.com

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Space Force suspends ULA Vulcan NSSL launches after solid-rocket anomaly The U.S. Space Force has paused National Security Space Launch missions on United Launch Alliance's Vulcan Centaur after a Feb. 12 USSF-87 flight showed an anomaly in one of four solid rocket boosters. The pause will remain until investigations resolve the booster/solid motor and resurfacing issues.

2026-02-25T23:33:08.162171-08:00

Space Force suspends ULA Vulcan NSSL launches after solid-rocket anomaly

Reuters

SpaceX’s nascent monopoly faces durability test A $1 trillion-plus valuation is only the opening act for SpaceX’s rockets-and-satellites empire. After an IPO, deep-pocketed rivals — notably Amazon — are poised to deploy competing broadband services that could erode Starlink’s pricing power and squeeze SpaceX’s access to capital.

2026-02-25T21:56:52.781287-08:00

SpaceX’s nascent monopoly faces durability test

Space.com

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SpaceX Dragon cargo ship to undock at 12:05 p.m. ET after historic ISS‑boosting mission SpaceX's Dragon cargo capsule is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station at 12:05 p.m. ET today, beginning its return to Earth after completing a historic mission that delivered supplies and performed an on‑orbit station boost. Recovery teams will retrieve payloads after splashdown.

2026-02-25T21:13:11.623718-08:00

SpaceX Dragon cargo ship to undock at 12:05 p.m. ET after historic ISS‑boosting mission

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Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

ArianeGroup's GRETA peroxide–ethanol engine completes hot‑fire campaign and wins ESA backing

SpaceX to launch 29 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral in pre-dawn Falcon 9 liftoff

Phantom Space reclaims Vector Launch assets

UKAEA to support Pulsar Fusion on shielding and radiation modelling for Sunbird fusion space tug

News Timeline