NASA Spaceflight
• Chris Bergin, Eleanor Day
SpaceX is completing final checkouts of Super Heavy booster 22 and Starship 42 for a no-earlier-than Nov. 13 launch from Starbase. The mission would attempt to catch both stages at Pad 2; its schedule has slipped by one day, with an FAA ship-catch license still the key outstanding approval.
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The Secure World Foundation’s 2026 assessment says counterspace capabilities are under development in 13 countries across five categories, as of February. It examines the distinction between protecting space assets and preparing to attack them, alongside implications for international law and nuclear command and control.
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SpaceX is completing final checkouts of Super Heavy booster 22 and Starship 42 for a no-earlier-than Nov. 13 launch from Starbase. The mission would attempt to catch both stages at Pad 2; its schedule has slipped by one day, with an FAA ship-catch license still the key outstanding approval.
Ukrainian military intelligence told Reuters that Russia is using its Rassvet satellite network to support communications over Ukraine and improve strike-drone accuracy and resistance to jamming. Separately, Indian government sources said the country welcomes all satellite communications providers, with service launches dependent on spectrum allocation and security compliance.
The European Court of Justice upheld European Commission approval of a combined €3.72 billion ($4.2 billion) in pandemic-era aid for the two airlines, reversing lower-court rulings that had annulled the approvals after Ryanair challenged them.
The FAA will replace floppy disks used in air traffic control with the E-IDS digital system, with the transition due by 2028, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said. The change retires technology dating to the 1980s as the agency works to modernize its operational infrastructure.
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The FAA says it will retire legacy systems, including floppy disks, at more than 400 air traffic control facilities by 2028. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is also seeking a vote on a proposed $30 billion overhaul, though the articles do not specify whether that funding is secured.
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The FAA proposed regulatory changes for commercial space launch and reentry licensing and plans a broader overhaul of its framework in 2027. The effort is intended to help the agency handle a projected 1,000 launches annually by 2030 and 10,000 launches and reentries combined each year by 2035.
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SpaceX and Tesla shares extended losses after Democratic victories in the U.S. midterm elections heightened investor concerns about potential congressional probes, tighter regulation and slower data center expansion. Reports put Thursday’s declines at about 9% for SpaceX and 11% for Tesla, with their combined market value down more than $420 billion.
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