New York TimesRoss Douthat, Victoria Chamberlin

The new space race: Can NASA and SpaceX get humans to Mars and beyond?

With growing private‑sector momentum and NASA’s renewed deep‑space goals, the central question is whether a government–commercial partnership—anchored by SpaceX and NASA—can overcome technical, physiological and programmatic hurdles to land and sustain humans on Mars and extend exploration beyond the Moon.

2026-02-26T13:13:08.599219-08:00
NEW
SpaceNews.comJason Rainbow

Virgin Media O2 launches UK commercial service using Starlink’s Direct‑to‑Cell satellite‑to‑smartphone connectivity — a European first

By SpaceNews.com: British mobile operator Virgin Media O2 said it started offering satellite-to-smartphone connectivity in the United Kingdom Feb. 26, marking the first commercial deployment of Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell service in Europe.

Also: Sky News
2026-02-26T13:20:46.214474-08:00
Universe TodayEvan Gough

Europa and Other Jovian Moons May Have Formed With Their Own Supply of Life's Building Blocks

By Universe Today: Complex Organic Molecules (COMs) are important building blocks for life. They can form in space and be delivered to planets. But new research shows some of them can form in circumplanetary disks where moons form, boosting the prospects for life in Europa's ocean.

2026-02-26T11:14:22.241347-08:00
New York TimesSachi Kitajima Mulkey

Researchers Warn Climate-Driven Upper-Atmosphere Changes Could Prolong Space Debris Lifetimes, Complicating SpaceX’s Mega-Constellation Plans

By New York Times: Elon Musk wants to launch a million satellites, but researchers say global warming is changing the upper atmosphere in ways that makes space junk linger.

2026-02-26T08:53:32.326907-08:00