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SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Meink and Saltzman push to expand U.S. Space Force

Rep. Meink and Sen. Saltzman laid out a public case for expanding the U.S. Space Force, urging broader authorities, missions and resources to meet strategic challenges in space. Their push frames current congressional debates over acquisition, funding and service roles.

2026-02-23T17:17:35.491748-08:00

Space.com

China’s Shenlong spaceplane completes fourth flight — what the mission reveals about Beijing’s spaceplane capabilities

2026-02-23T11:10:58.212828-08:00

SpaceNews.com

Space Force seeks industry input on in-orbit refueling

2026-02-23T11:13:44.013363-08:00

SpaceNews.com

Aalyria raises $100M at $1.3B to scale Tightbeam laser terminals and Spacetime network orchestration

2026-02-23T09:07:22.053061-08:00

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SpaceNews.com

Meink and Saltzman push to expand U.S. Space Force Rep. Meink and Sen. Saltzman laid out a public case for expanding the U.S. Space Force, urging broader authorities, missions and resources to meet strategic challenges in space. Their push frames current congressional debates over acquisition, funding and service roles.

2026-02-23T17:17:35.491748-08:00

Meink and Saltzman push to expand U.S. Space Force

SpaceNews.com

Space Force seeks industry input on in-orbit refueling The U.S. Space Force has asked industry for information on in-orbit refueling, probing commercial capability, demand, and operational concepts to sustain satellites and extend mission endurance. The RFI seeks market input to shape future acquisition, standards and potential partnerships for on-orbit fuel transfer.

2026-02-23T11:13:44.013363-08:00

Space Force seeks industry input on in-orbit refueling

Space.com

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China’s Shenlong spaceplane completes fourth flight — what the mission reveals about Beijing’s spaceplane capabilities China’s Shenlong experimental spaceplane completed a fourth flight, offering new—but inconclusive—clues about Beijing’s reusable, hypersonic and orbital test capabilities. Analysts say the mission’s trajectory, duration and recovered hardware suggest maturation of spaceplane technology and potential dual-use applications, though definitive roles remain unconfirmed.

2026-02-23T11:10:58.212828-08:00

China’s Shenlong spaceplane completes fourth flight — what the mission reveals about Beijing’s spaceplane capabilities

SpaceNews.com

SDA awards $30M on‑orbit tactical SATCOM demo to AST SpaceMobile under 'Europa' effort The Space Development Agency has awarded AST SpaceMobile a $30 million prototype contract to demonstrate commercial-based, low-latency tactical SATCOM on orbit under the 'Europa' effort. The on‑orbit demo will showcase hybrid direct-to-cell and tactical SATCOM capabilities using AST's BlueBird satellites.

2026-02-23T10:17:20.937507-08:00

SDA awards $30M on‑orbit tactical SATCOM demo to AST SpaceMobile under 'Europa' effort

SpaceNews.com

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Aalyria raises $100M at $1.3B to scale Tightbeam laser terminals and Spacetime network orchestration Aalyria closed a $100 million Series B at a $1.3 billion valuation to accelerate deployment of its Tightbeam optical terminals and Spacetime network-orchestration software. The ex‑Alphabet spinout says the funding will support a laser‑linked mesh to dynamically route data across space, air and ground networks.

2026-02-23T09:07:22.053061-08:00

Aalyria raises $100M at $1.3B to scale Tightbeam laser terminals and Spacetime network orchestration

SpaceNews.com

Momentus to carry 10 demonstration payloads on Vigoride‑7 mission Momentus will carry ten demonstration payloads on its Vigoride‑7 mission, advancing validation of the company's in‑orbit hosting and servicing capabilities. The flight will exercise payload integration, deployment procedures and operational readiness for Vigoride‑class vehicles as Momentus prepares for broader commercial rideshare and orbital services.

2026-02-23T05:02:21.360017-08:00

Momentus to carry 10 demonstration payloads on Vigoride‑7 mission

SpaceWatch Global

Munich Security Conference accelerates shift to defence in European space The Munich Security Conference in the second week of February 2026 crystallised a kairos moment, reframing Europe’s space agenda around security and defence. Policymakers and industry are now debating sovereign capabilities, civil‑versus‑military trade‑offs and procurement shifts as war dominates the strategic conversation.

2026-02-23T03:52:16.652838-08:00

Munich Security Conference accelerates shift to defence in European space

SpaceNews.com

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Russia destroys satellite in ASAT test, creating hazardous orbital debris Russia conducted an anti‑satellite (ASAT) test that destroyed a satellite and generated hazardous orbital debris, officials say. The deliberate on‑orbit strike increases collision risk for other spacecraft, threatens crewed missions and commercial assets, and heightens long‑term contamination of key orbital regimes.

2026-02-23T00:22:20.770092-08:00

Russia destroys satellite in ASAT test, creating hazardous orbital debris

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Space Defense & Militarization News

Meink and Saltzman push to expand U.S. Space Force

China’s Shenlong spaceplane completes fourth flight — what the mission reveals about Beijing’s spaceplane capabilities

Space Force seeks industry input on in-orbit refueling

Aalyria raises $100M at $1.3B to scale Tightbeam laser terminals and Spacetime network orchestration

News Timeline