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On February 11, 2026, at 6:14:40 a.m. PST, SpaceX successfully launched its 12th Starlink mission of the year, deploying 24 broadband internet satellites into low Earth orbit using a Falcon 9 rocket. This launch marks another significant milestone in the expansion of SpaceX"s Starlink constellation.
New observations from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope suggest that massive gas giants may form through the same core accretion process as smaller planets, challenging previous assumptions about planet formation. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of planetary development and the search for life beyond Earth.
The upcoming SpaceX Crew-12 mission, scheduled for February 13, 2026, will carry a crew of four astronauts, including two veterans and two rookies, to the International Space Station (ISS) for an eight-month stay in low Earth orbit. The mission is made possible by recent expansions to the Dragon spacecraft"s certified durational capabilities.
SpaceX has announced a shift in its priorities, now focusing on building a self-sustaining city on the Moon rather than pursuing its original goal of colonizing Mars, with the lunar settlement expected to be achieved in under a decade. This strategic change reflects the company's ongoing efforts to extend human presence beyond Earth.
The launch of NASA"s SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station has been delayed due to weather concerns, with a backup launch date set for Friday, February 13. The mission will carry a crew of four astronauts from NASA, ESA, and Roscosmos to the ISS.
Astronomers have successfully tracked the evolution of atomic nickel and iron emissions from interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, gaining valuable insights into planet formation in other stellar systems. The comet's composition provides a unique opportunity to understand the universal recipe for planet formation.
The current legal framework governing space activities, established in the 1960s, is facing challenges in addressing the growing complexities of modern space exploration and commercialization. As global activity in Earth orbit increases, there is a pressing need for a new approach to tackle the emerging issues in space governance.
The European Southern Observatory is making progress on the Extremely Large Telescope, a groundbreaking instrument that will enable scientists to study the universe in unprecedented detail. Once completed, the ELT will be the world"s largest telescope, with a primary mirror measuring 128 feet across.
A team of scientists has identified a massive underground tunnel on Venus, carved by volcanic activity, using data from NASA's Magellan mission. This discovery challenges the long-held view of Venus as a geologically dead world and provides new insights into the planet's internal structure.
SpaceX successfully conducted a static fire test of its Falcon 9 rocket on Sunday, February 8, 2026, in preparation for the upcoming launch of Crew-12 to the International Space Station. The test validated the systems on the launch vehicle, paving the way for a midweek launch.
On February 7, 2025, SpaceX launched 25 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, marking a significant expansion of its satellite constellation. The successful launch brings the total number of active Starlink satellites to over 9,600.
NASA has announced plans to bolster its workforce by bringing more technical and operational expertise in-house, aiming to reduce its reliance on contractors after experiencing a significant loss of civil servants. This strategic move is expected to enhance the agency's capabilities and efficiency.
The James Webb Space Telescope has identified a range of molecules that could serve as the initial building blocks of life in a nearby galaxy, providing new insights into the formation of complex carbon-based molecules. These findings have significant implications for our understanding of prebiotic chemistry and the origins of life.
As NASA and SpaceX plan to send humans to Mars, significant challenges must be addressed, including the effects of lower gravity on the human body and the unknowns of human reproduction in space. Understanding these factors is crucial for establishing a sustainable human presence on the Martian surface.
Following a brief stand down, SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon 9 rocket on a return-to-flight mission, adding 25 Starlink satellites to the company"s megaconstellation in low Earth orbit. The launch marks a significant step forward for the company"s satellite constellation and demonstrates its continued commitment to rapid launch cadence.
The SpaceX Crew-12 mission is set to launch on February 11, carrying a team of astronauts from NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and Roscosmos to the International Space Station (ISS) for a nine-month stay. This earlier-than-planned launch aims to re-stabilize the ISS after a period of reduced staffing.
SpaceX is transitioning its Dragon flights from Launch Complex 39A to Space Launch Complex 40, allowing for increased flexibility in launch schedules and prioritizing Falcon Heavy and Starship launches at the former site. This strategic move has significant implications for the company's future operations and the broader aerospace industry.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has authorized SpaceX"s Falcon 9 rocket to return to flight, paving the way for the Crew-12 astronaut mission to launch on February 11. The decision comes after a four-day grounding due to an issue with the vehicle"s upper stage during a recent Starlink satellite launch.
A recent observation by NASA's SPHEREx space telescope has revealed a dramatic flare from comet 3I/ATLAS, an interstellar visitor that passed through our solar system, providing valuable insights into the composition and behavior of these rare objects. The comet's outburst was characterized by a surge of gas, dust, and complex molecules, creating a glowing coma and a distinctive pear-shaped dust tail.
The United Launch Alliance (ULA) has successfully offloaded its first Vulcan rocket at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, marking a significant milestone in the company's efforts to reestablish its West Coast launch capabilities. This development sets the stage for the upcoming launch of the USSF-87 mission, which is scheduled to take place no earlier than February 12, 2026.
The UK government has announced a proposed 30 percent budget cut to astronomy, particle, and nuclear physics research, which is expected to have a major impact on the field and affect a generation of researchers. This decision will likely influence large international collaborations and the country's position as a global astronomy powerhouse.
A recent launch of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket ended in an unexpected failure when the upper stage crashed back to Earth without performing a controlled deorbit burn, prompting the company to ground the vehicle pending an investigation. This incident marks the fourth such anomaly involving the Falcon 9's upper stage in the past 19 months.
A recent observation by the SVOM/GRM telescope has captured a superflare from a nearby star, releasing an enormous amount of energy equivalent to several months of solar output. This discovery provides valuable insights into the physics of superflares and their potential impact on planetary systems.
A novel theoretical framework proposes that gravity may behave differently on large scales, potentially eliminating the need for dark matter to explain observed galactic phenomena. This new theory, based on quantum field theory and the infrared running scheme, offers an alternative explanation for the gravitational effects currently attributed to dark matter.