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European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

SpaceX Falcon 9 launches ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot to the ISS on Crew‑12

A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched Crew‑12 from Kennedy Space Center’s SLC‑40 on 13 February 2026 at 10:15 GMT, lifting ESA mission specialist Sophie Adenot to the International Space Station. The four‑person multinational crew includes NASA commander Jessica Meir, pilot Jack Hathaway and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev.

2026-02-13T02:49:44.584235-08:00

Universe Today

Tree rings reveal solar superstorms capable of crippling modern satellites and power grids

2026-02-13T01:34:52.399419-08:00

SpaceNews.com

Axiom Space raises $350M to accelerate commercial station and NASA lunar spacesuits

2026-02-12T13:54:10.035042-08:00

NASA

NASA selects Vast for sixth private astronaut mission to ISS, targeting summer 2027

2026-02-12T13:30:22.193690-08:00

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European Spaceflight

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SpaceX Falcon 9 launches ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot to the ISS on Crew‑12 A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched Crew‑12 from Kennedy Space Center’s SLC‑40 on 13 February 2026 at 10:15 GMT, lifting ESA mission specialist Sophie Adenot to the International Space Station. The four‑person multinational crew includes NASA commander Jessica Meir, pilot Jack Hathaway and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev.

2026-02-13T02:49:44.584235-08:00

SpaceX Falcon 9 launches ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot to the ISS on Crew‑12

Universe Today

Tree rings reveal solar superstorms capable of crippling modern satellites and power grids Scientists have found spikes of radioactive carbon in ancient tree rings that record solar storms far more powerful than any in the modern era. These events produced radiation bursts that, if occurring today, could severely damage satellites, disrupt GNSS and HF communications, and threaten power‑grid stability.

2026-02-13T01:34:52.399419-08:00

Tree rings reveal solar superstorms capable of crippling modern satellites and power grids

SpaceNews.com

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Axiom Space raises $350M to accelerate commercial station and NASA lunar spacesuits Axiom Space raised $350 million to accelerate development of a commercial space station successor to the ISS and to build new NASA spacesuits, including lunar suits for Artemis missions. The financing is backed in part by a venture firm linked to Donald Trump Jr.

2026-02-12T13:54:10.035042-08:00

Axiom Space raises $350M to accelerate commercial station and NASA lunar spacesuits

NASA

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NASA selects Vast for sixth private astronaut mission to ISS, targeting summer 2027 NASA and Vast have signed an order for the sixth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, targeting launch no earlier than summer 2027 from Florida. The move marks Vast's first private crew flight and heightens competition with Axiom, which flew the prior five missions.

2026-02-12T13:30:22.193690-08:00

NASA selects Vast for sixth private astronaut mission to ISS, targeting summer 2027

Space.com

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Andromeda star observed vanishing — astronomers say it collapsed directly into a black hole Astronomers observed a massive star in Andromeda vanish and conclude it collapsed directly into a black hole rather than producing a visible supernova. Researchers called the detection “as close as we can get to seeing the death of a massive star,” a rare example of direct collapse.

2026-02-12T11:14:16.457790-08:00

Andromeda star observed vanishing — astronomers say it collapsed directly into a black hole

Spaceflight Now

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NASA conducts unannounced liquid‑hydrogen load to validate SLS umbilical repairs as Artemis II slips to March NASA quietly loaded liquid hydrogen into the Space Launch System core stage at Kennedy Space Center to test repairs to a leaky umbilical that derailed a Feb. 2 wet dress rehearsal. The unannounced fueling validates fixes after hours‑long countdown holds and follows a slip of Artemis II to March.

2026-02-12T07:33:48.280724-08:00

NASA conducts unannounced liquid‑hydrogen load to validate SLS umbilical repairs as Artemis II slips to March

Science Daily

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Curiosity finds long‑chain organics on Mars; abundances resist abiotic explanations Scientists analyzing a Curiosity sample from ancient Gale Crater mudstone report detection of long‑chain alkanes (decane–dodecane) — the largest organic molecules yet on Mars — and conclude known abiotic sources (including meteoritic input) cannot fully account for their abundance, bolstering but not proving a biological origin.

2026-02-12T06:53:34.749322-08:00

Curiosity finds long‑chain organics on Mars; abundances resist abiotic explanations

SpaceNews.com

The Case for Moving Astronomy Off Earth: why space-based observatories matter Ground-based astronomy faces growing threats from light pollution, industrial development and proliferating satellite constellations. Moving major observatories into space would protect observations of faint galaxies and exoplanet atmospheres. The article argues for accelerated investment in space telescopes, launch capacity and international policy coordination.

2026-02-12T06:33:36.281969-08:00

The Case for Moving Astronomy Off Earth: why space-based observatories matter

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Space Exploration & Science Missions News

SpaceX Falcon 9 launches ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot to the ISS on Crew‑12

Tree rings reveal solar superstorms capable of crippling modern satellites and power grids

Axiom Space raises $350M to accelerate commercial station and NASA lunar spacesuits

NASA selects Vast for sixth private astronaut mission to ISS, targeting summer 2027

News Timeline