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The Hill • Mark R Whittington

How commercial launch providers could free NASA from the Space Launch System

Two major commercial launch providers are accelerating development of heavy‑lift and crewed launch capabilities that could offer NASA operational alternatives to the Space Launch System. Successful commercial options would ease schedule and cost pressure on Artemis‑class missions and force changes to agency procurement and mission architectures.

2026-02-22T17:30:49.269332-08:00

Reuters

NASA orders Artemis II SLS rollback to VAB for repairs, March 6 launch at risk; April slip likely

2026-02-21T08:56:15.957193-08:00

Bloomberg

NASA calls Boeing Starliner 2024 crewed test a 'Type A' mishap, faults oversight and communication

2026-02-19T10:02:21.748038-08:00

Space.com

SpaceX reuses Falcon 9 booster B1067 for record 33rd flight in double Starlink launch from Cape Canaveral

2026-02-21T20:10:21.227749-08:00

News Timeline

The Hill

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How commercial launch providers could free NASA from the Space Launch System Two major commercial launch providers are accelerating development of heavy‑lift and crewed launch capabilities that could offer NASA operational alternatives to the Space Launch System. Successful commercial options would ease schedule and cost pressure on Artemis‑class missions and force changes to agency procurement and mission architectures.

2026-02-22T17:30:49.269332-08:00

How commercial launch providers could free NASA from the Space Launch System

Space.com

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SpaceX reuses Falcon 9 booster B1067 for record 33rd flight in double Starlink launch from Cape Canaveral On Feb. 21 SpaceX launched 38 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral as the second of two Starlink missions that day, flying booster B1067 on its record 33rd flight. The rapid, same‑day operations underline SpaceX's push for high launch cadence and routine booster reuse.

2026-02-21T20:10:21.227749-08:00

SpaceX reuses Falcon 9 booster B1067 for record 33rd flight in double Starlink launch from Cape Canaveral

Reuters

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NASA orders Artemis II SLS rollback to VAB for repairs, March 6 launch at risk; April slip likely NASA will roll the Artemis II Space Launch System back to the Vehicle Assembly Building for repairs that can only be completed in the Florida hangar, imperiling a planned March 6 launch opportunity. The agency now signals a likely schedule slip into April while crews complete corrective work.

2026-02-21T08:56:15.957193-08:00

NASA orders Artemis II SLS rollback to VAB for repairs, March 6 launch at risk; April slip likely

SpaceNews.com

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Tory Bruno joins Blue Origin to lead 'urgent' national‑security space projects, including Blue Ring Former United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno has joined Blue Origin to lead what he described as “urgent” national‑security space projects, including the Blue Ring effort. Bruno said he took the role to work on important national‑security programs at Blue Origin.

2026-02-20T18:07:21.608331-08:00

Tory Bruno joins Blue Origin to lead 'urgent' national‑security space projects, including Blue Ring

Spaceflight Now

SpaceX launches Starlink 10-34, targeting second-ever Falcon 9 booster recovery on Bahamas drone ship SpaceX is launching the Starlink 10-34 mission from Cape Canaveral SLC‑40, deploying 29 Starlink broadband satellites, and attempting just the second-ever Falcon 9 booster recovery on a drone ship stationed among the Bahamas. The mission combines routine constellation growth with a rare maritime landing profile for the first stage.

2026-02-19T15:16:03.478459-08:00

SpaceX launches Starlink 10-34, targeting second-ever Falcon 9 booster recovery on Bahamas drone ship

Space.com

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First real-time measurements show lithium plume from SpaceX Falcon 9 reentry Scientists report the first real‑time measurements linking a SpaceX Falcon 9 upper‑stage reentry last year to a plume of lithium and other metals deposited in the upper atmosphere — a lithium cloud observed near 96 km altitude as hardware burned on reentry.

2026-02-19T14:06:20.144692-08:00

First real-time measurements show lithium plume from SpaceX Falcon 9 reentry

DefenseNews.com

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SpaceX and Blue Origin shift to lunar development as Pentagon advances 'Golden Dome' SpaceX and Blue Origin have shifted priorities toward lunar development just as the Department of Defense advances its 'Golden Dome' next‑generation missile‑defence concept. The concurrence is creating fresh commercial pathways and defence procurement signals as government needs intersect with lunar infrastructure and on‑orbit capability demands.

2026-02-19T11:06:44.179640-08:00

SpaceX and Blue Origin shift to lunar development as Pentagon advances 'Golden Dome'

Bloomberg

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NASA calls Boeing Starliner 2024 crewed test a 'Type A' mishap, faults oversight and communication NASA's probe of Boeing's 2024 Starliner crewed test classifies the flight as a 'Type A' mishap and cites communication breakdowns, oversight failures and 'unprofessional behavior' that left two astronauts on the ISS for nearly a year. NASA barred further crewed Starliner flights until dozens of corrective actions are completed.

2026-02-19T10:02:21.748038-08:00

NASA calls Boeing Starliner 2024 crewed test a 'Type A' mishap, faults oversight and communication

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Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation News

How commercial launch providers could free NASA from the Space Launch System

NASA orders Artemis II SLS rollback to VAB for repairs, March 6 launch at risk; April slip likely

NASA calls Boeing Starliner 2024 crewed test a 'Type A' mishap, faults oversight and communication

SpaceX reuses Falcon 9 booster B1067 for record 33rd flight in double Starlink launch from Cape Canaveral

News Timeline