News

European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

CNES opens tender to replace MaiaSpace as operator of new multi‑user launch facility in French Guiana

CNES has launched a procurement to replace MaiaSpace as operator of its new multi‑user commercial launch facility in French Guiana. The agency is soliciting candidates to assume operational responsibilities at the site and prepare it for multi‑user operations ahead of planned commercial launch activity.

2026-02-03T09:54:33.269817-08:00

NASA Spaceflight

SpaceX rolls Booster 19 to Masseys for cryogenic proof testing after Booster 18 pressure‑test failure

2026-02-03T08:35:17.261447-08:00

New York Times

Musk merges SpaceX and xAI into a $1.25T rocket-and-AI company

2026-02-03T05:35:35.133579-08:00

SpaceNews.com

SpaceX grounds Falcon 9 after second‑stage anomaly on Vandenberg Starlink flight

2026-02-03T04:57:20.572579-08:00

News Timeline

European Spaceflight

❗️

CNES opens tender to replace MaiaSpace as operator of new multi‑user launch facility in French Guiana CNES has launched a procurement to replace MaiaSpace as operator of its new multi‑user commercial launch facility in French Guiana. The agency is soliciting candidates to assume operational responsibilities at the site and prepare it for multi‑user operations ahead of planned commercial launch activity.

2026-02-03T09:54:33.269817-08:00

CNES opens tender to replace MaiaSpace as operator of new multi‑user launch facility in French Guiana

NASA Spaceflight

❗️

SpaceX rolls Booster 19 to Masseys for cryogenic proof testing after Booster 18 pressure‑test failure After Booster 18's pressure‑proof test failure, SpaceX moved Booster 19 to Masseys to begin cryogenic proof testing. The step advances the Starship V3 ground‑test sequence as teams validate structural and propellant systems ahead of future integrated flight milestones.

2026-02-03T08:35:17.261447-08:00

SpaceX rolls Booster 19 to Masseys for cryogenic proof testing after Booster 18 pressure‑test failure

AeroTime

NASA funds SpaceWorks and Stratolaunch studies to make hypersonic flight testing routine and affordable NASA has awarded studies to SpaceWorks and Stratolaunch designed to cut the cost of hypersonic flight testing and make test flights routine and repeatable. The work will explore approaches to lower per-test expense and increase cadence for experimental hypersonic vehicles.

2026-02-03T05:38:03.298441-08:00

NASA funds SpaceWorks and Stratolaunch studies to make hypersonic flight testing routine and affordable

New York Times

❗️

Musk merges SpaceX and xAI into a $1.25T rocket-and-AI company Elon Musk announced a merger of SpaceX and xAI that values the combined company at $1.25 trillion. The deal merges launch capacity, Starlink connectivity and xAI's AI stack, creating a rocket‑and‑AI giant and triggering investor concerns alongside national‑security and regulatory questions.

2026-02-03T05:35:35.133579-08:00

Musk merges SpaceX and xAI into a $1.25T rocket-and-AI company

SpaceNews.com

❗️

SpaceX grounds Falcon 9 after second‑stage anomaly on Vandenberg Starlink flight SpaceX paused Falcon 9 launches after the rocket's second stage experienced an off‑nominal condition during its planned deorbit following a Vandenberg Starlink mission that successfully deployed 25 satellites. The stage emptied remaining propellant as designed; SpaceX is reviewing telemetry to determine root cause and corrective actions.

2026-02-03T04:57:20.572579-08:00

SpaceX grounds Falcon 9 after second‑stage anomaly on Vandenberg Starlink flight

Ars Technica

❗️

Artemis 2 slips to March after hydrogen leak halts SLS wet dress rehearsal NASA postponed the Artemis 2 crewed lunar flyby from February to March after engineers detected hydrogen leaks during a final Space Launch System wet dress rehearsal, ending tanking early and preventing completion of a full practice countdown for the first crewed mission around the Moon in over 50 years.

2026-02-03T00:13:21.620861-08:00

Artemis 2 slips to March after hydrogen leak halts SLS wet dress rehearsal

Flying Magazine

❗️

FAA issues 'extreme caution' alert after Starship breakup forces evasive action by airliners The FAA issued an unusual safety alert (SAFO) urging “extreme caution” as SpaceX increases Starship testing after a breakup over the Caribbean that sent debris into commercial air routes and forced multiple passenger flights to take evasive action, triggering reroutes and operational warnings to pilots.

2026-02-02T13:02:46.782551-08:00

FAA issues 'extreme caution' alert after Starship breakup forces evasive action by airliners

Bloomberg Law

Hegseth visits Blue Origin at KSC, pitches 'Department of War' vision and asks Bezos to help overhaul Pentagon procurement On Feb. 2, 2026 Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth toured Blue Origin’s Merritt Island facility at Kennedy Space Center, delivered remarks to employees, praised the firm and called on Jeff Bezos to help reform Pentagon procurement as he escalated criticism of legacy defense acquisition.

2026-02-02T10:58:09.443593-08:00

Hegseth visits Blue Origin at KSC, pitches 'Department of War' vision and asks Bezos to help overhaul Pentagon procurement

Menu

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

CNES opens tender to replace MaiaSpace as operator of new multi‑user launch facility in French Guiana

SpaceX rolls Booster 19 to Masseys for cryogenic proof testing after Booster 18 pressure‑test failure

Musk merges SpaceX and xAI into a $1.25T rocket-and-AI company

SpaceX grounds Falcon 9 after second‑stage anomaly on Vandenberg Starlink flight

News Timeline