FROM THE INSTITUTE
For most of the Space Age, geopolitics played out in Earth orbit. That era is ending. The next strategic arena is cislunar space which is the vast volume from geosynchronous orbit out to, around, and including the moon. Cislunar space is sought after because it provides the ability to host the infrastructure that makes deep-space operations routine: communications relays, navigation beacons, refueling depots, scientific observatories, and eventually sustained lunar surface activity, including commercial operations.
Tag: February 2026
Lockheed Martin C-130J Deliveries Suspended Pending Tech Fix
Breaking Defense reports, “Deliveries of Lockheed Martin-built C-130J aircraft to the US Air Force have been halted due to a problem with integrating a new communications upgrade, according to the service.”
Full Story (Breaking Defense)
FCC Clears Amazon to Launch 4,500 Additional LEO Satellites
CNBC reports, “The Federal Communications Commission said Tuesday it approved Amazon’s request to deploy 4,500 satellites, expanding the company’s planned constellation as it vies to compete with Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The FCC’s approval brings the size of Amazon’s planned constellation of low Earth orbit satellites to roughly 7,700 satellites.”
Full Story (CNBC)
Prime Air Drone Falls in Residential Area During Texas Test Operations
Aerotime reports, “An Amazon Prime Air delivery drone made contact with an apartment building in Richardson, Texas, before breaking apart and crashing to the ground, according to local authorities and shown in video recorded by a nearby resident. The incident occurred on February 4, 2026, in a residential area where Amazon has been conducting limited drone delivery operations.”
Full Story (Aerotime)
NASA Weighs Next Crew Vehicle as Starliner Return Plans Advance
Space News reports, “As NASA prepares to launch a new crew to the space station, the agency has yet to decide which spacecraft it will use for the next crew rotation mission … NASA has said Starliner-1 could launch as soon as April 2026. At a Feb. 9 briefing on the upcoming Crew-12 launch, however, the agency said it had not set a more specific launch date.”
Full Story (Space News)
Career Accelerator Ignites Student Momentum at AIAA SciTech Forum
FROM THE INSTITUTE
At AIAA SciTech Forum, a new student-focused career development program made a powerful debut—drawing packed rooms, buzzing conversations, and a palpable sense of momentum for the next generation of aerospace leaders. Designed as a full-day immersive experience, the Career Accelerator Program put university students front and center, equipping them with practical tools, inspiration, and direct access to industry leaders.
Marine Corps Unveils First NDAA-Approved 3D-Printed UAS
Defense News reports, “The U.S. Marine Corps has pioneered a 3D-printed first-person view drone that is easy to assemble, ready for field use and conforms to national security standards. Sgt. Henry David Volpe, an automotive technician with the 2nd Marine Logistics Group, used his interest in engineering and robotics to help develop HANX, the Marine Corps’ first unmanned aircraft system built from 3D-printed parts to be approved by the National Defense Authorization Act, service officials announced last month.”
Full Story (Defense News)
How a Tiny Plasma Device Could Reduce Drag and Make Future Aircraft Faster and Cleaner
FROM THE INSTITUTE
A tiny plasma device may hold the key to a long‑standing problem in aviation: skin‑friction drag. A thin strip of electrodes that ionizes the air (plasma) on an aircraft’s skin could make the aircraft more efficient, while using a minimum amount of energy. Thomas Corke, Clark Chair Professor of Engineering at the University of Notre Dame and the founding director of the university’s Flow Physics and Control Institute, explained that such a device can help a plane glide through the sky with less effort – without spending any more energy – by reducing drag, a long-standing challenge in aviation.
SpaceX Puts Mars Plans on Hold to Prioritize NASA Moon Effort
The Wall Street Journal reports, “SpaceX has put off a mission to Mars planned for this year, shifting its focus to a long-promised lunar voyage for NASA. The rocket company told investors it will prioritize going to the moon first and attempt a trip to Mars at a later time, according to people familiar with the matter. The company will target March 2027 for a lunar landing without humans on board, another person said.”
Full Story (Wall Street Journal – Subscription Publication)
Pratt & Whitney Sees Aftermarket Momentum Building in 2026
Aviation Week reports, “Pratt & Whitney is projecting high-single-digit commercial aftermarket growth in 2026, bolstered by strength in several areas. Upticks in volume within Pratt’s biggest large-engine programs, the PW1000G geared turbofan (GTF) and the IAE V2500, will drive the engine-maker’s MRO business this year.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)