News

European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

SSC Space opens Orbital Launch Control Center at Esrange, enabling European orbital launches

SSC Space has opened a new Orbital Launch Control Center at Esrange Space Center, marking a key milestone in preparing Sweden to host commercial orbital launches. The facility will provide mission-control, range-management and ground-operations support for future small‑launcher orbital missions from Esrange.

2026-02-19T00:00:51.518788-08:00

Via Satellite

Analysts: SpaceX's xAI acquisition and orbital data‑center plan offer major upside — and major risks

2026-02-18T13:13:58.924467-08:00

Space Explored

NASA's next great space telescope is getting ready for launch

2026-02-18T07:41:30.968335-08:00

Bloomberg

Amazon Leo accelerates LEO deployment after major launch and regulatory win

2026-02-18T08:05:21.390931-08:00

News Timeline

European Spaceflight

❗️

SSC Space opens Orbital Launch Control Center at Esrange, enabling European orbital launches SSC Space has opened a new Orbital Launch Control Center at Esrange Space Center, marking a key milestone in preparing Sweden to host commercial orbital launches. The facility will provide mission-control, range-management and ground-operations support for future small‑launcher orbital missions from Esrange.

2026-02-19T00:00:51.518788-08:00

SSC Space opens Orbital Launch Control Center at Esrange, enabling European orbital launches

Via Satellite

❗️

Analysts: SpaceX's xAI acquisition and orbital data‑center plan offer major upside — and major risks Analysts say SpaceX's acquisition of xAI and its plan to field orbital data‑center constellations could open new revenue streams by combining launch, connectivity and AI services, but also creates significant execution and regulatory risks industry observers are still parsing over the medium term.

2026-02-18T13:13:58.924467-08:00

Analysts: SpaceX's xAI acquisition and orbital data‑center plan offer major upside — and major risks

Space.com

Bahamas clears SpaceX to resume rocket landings after last year’s debris incident The Bahamas has completed required regulatory and environmental reviews and cleared SpaceX to resume rocket landings in its territory, authorizing a return to operations following a debris incident last year. The decision follows safety and operational assessments and lifts a prior local restriction on landings.

2026-02-18T11:13:19.634749-08:00

Bahamas clears SpaceX to resume rocket landings after last year’s debris incident

Aviation Week

Stratolaunch completes back-to-back Mach 5+ Talon‑A launches from two carrier aircraft Stratolaunch completed back-to-back launches of two Mach 5-plus, rocket‑powered Talon‑A vehicles from two different carrier aircraft within four days. The consecutive air‑launches advance hypersonic flight testing and support repeatable, high‑cadence test operations across multiple carrier platforms.

2026-02-18T10:46:09.537399-08:00

Stratolaunch completes back-to-back Mach 5+ Talon‑A launches from two carrier aircraft

Bloomberg

❗️

Amazon Leo accelerates LEO deployment after major launch and regulatory win Amazon's Leo broadband programme gained momentum after a major satellite launch and a regulatory approval, giving the operator both in‑orbit capacity and cleared licensing to advance deployment. The twin developments reduce near‑term operational and commercial risk and support plans to speed service rollouts.

2026-02-18T08:05:21.390931-08:00

Amazon Leo accelerates LEO deployment after major launch and regulatory win

Space Explored

NASA's next great space telescope is getting ready for launch As NASA moves deeper into a new era of space-based astronomy, another flagship observatory is quietly approaching the launch pad. The agency says the spacecraft is entering late-stage pre‑launch processing and integration, moving into final tests and ground support preparations ahead of its forthcoming launch campaign.

2026-02-18T07:41:30.968335-08:00

NASA's next great space telescope is getting ready for launch

Via Satellite

SATShow 2026 — Conference archives and coverage SATShow 2026 convenes satellite operators, manufacturers, investors and regulators — this archive aggregates session summaries, exhibitor announcements and press coverage from the conference, offering a concise briefing on commercial satellite technology, market deals, regulatory debates and launch/service developments emerging from the event.

2026-02-18T06:41:24.313376-08:00

SATShow 2026 — Conference archives and coverage

Payload

Agile Space raises $17M Series A to scale in‑space propulsion production amid rising orders Agile Space Industries closed a $17 million Series A to expand manufacturing capacity for its in‑space propulsion systems and meet a growing book of orders. The funding will scale production, shorten delivery timelines and support supply‑chain investments to fulfill near‑term commercial and smallsat operator demand.

2026-02-18T06:05:25.088112-08:00

Agile Space raises $17M Series A to scale in‑space propulsion production amid rising orders

Menu

Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

SSC Space opens Orbital Launch Control Center at Esrange, enabling European orbital launches

Analysts: SpaceX's xAI acquisition and orbital data‑center plan offer major upside — and major risks

NASA's next great space telescope is getting ready for launch

Amazon Leo accelerates LEO deployment after major launch and regulatory win

News Timeline