The Space Race - Weekly Roundup Feb 25th

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And yet another great week for space enthusiasts!

From lunar landing preparations to historic rocket launches, and AI-powered deep space mission plan, this week has been packed with cool developments. China refueled a satellite in orbit, Starship preps for its next big test, and astronomers peer into an exoplanet’s atmosphere for the first time! Let’s dive into the details! 😊

🚀 Starship’s Next Big Leap Is Coming!

SpaceX is targeting Friday, February 28th, for the eighth test flight of its Starship vehicle (according to Elon). In Flight 7, the booster was successfully caught, but Starship was lost due to a leak-triggered fire. A harmonic issue in the propulsion system caused excessive stress, leading to propellant leaks and engine shutdowns. SpaceX has upgraded fuel lines, adjusted thrust levels, and added new venting and purge systems to prevent recurrence. If the FAA clears the investigation, the next test will validate these fixes and push Starship closer to full reusability.

Read the full technical report on Flight 7 👉🏻 here.

🌕 Blue Ghost’s Final Countdown to the Moon

Blue Ghost is about to make history! This robotic lander, part of NASA's CLPS program, is set to touch down on Sunday, March 2, in the lava plains of Mare Crisium, marking a crucial step for future lunar missions. Following successful engine burns, including a recent 16-second maneuver to nearly circularize its orbit at approximately 150 by 100 kilometers, Blue Ghost is primed for its descent. Notably, NASA’s instruments are already breaking records, proving that we can navigate in space using Earth’s GPS.

Don’t miss the landing!

Read more 👉🏻 Blue Ghost Prepares for Landing, NASA Instrument Breaks Record

♻️ China Just Made Space More Sustainable

China has achieved a major engineering breakthrough by refueling a satellite in geostationary orbit, extending its life by eight years. This can be a game-changer for space sustainability, reducing satellite waste and paving the way for long-term orbital infrastructure.

Read more 👉🏻 China Achieves Space Refueling Technology

🛰️ Musk Wants to Retire the ISS Early

Elon Musk is calling for the early deorbit of the International Space Station, saying it's time to move on. He wants NASA to focus on Mars instead, even suggesting deorbiting the ISS within two years (😲).

Read more 👉🏻 Elon Musk calls for deorbit of International Space Station as soon as possible

🔭 NASA’s Space Telescope Launch Delayed

NASA and SpaceX are pushing back the launch of SPHEREx and PUNCH to February 28 to ensure everything’s ready. SPHEREx will map the cosmos to uncover the universe’s origins, while PUNCH will study the Sun’s atmosphere.

Read more 👉🏻 NASA, SpaceX Move Launch of Space Telescope, Sun Missions

🇪🇺 First Orbital Rocket from Continental Europe Soon

Isar Aerospace is set to launch the first orbital rocket from continental Europe. Its Spectrum rocket has passed its final engine test, and now the company just needs approval from Norwegian authorities. If all goes well, Europe’s independent space access takes a big leap!

Read more 👉🏻 Isar Completes Final Static Fire Test Ahead of Spectrum Maiden Launch

🪐 First-Ever Peek Inside an Exoplanet’s Atmosphere

For the first time ever, scientists have successfully peered into the atmosphere of an exoplanet using ESO’s Very Large Telescope. The 3D map of Tylos reveals wild jet streams and unexpected chemical layers, marking a huge leap in our ability to study distant worlds. More discoveries await!

Read more 👉🏻 ESO’s VLT reveals inner wind layers of distant exoplanet

🇦🇺 Australia’s Eris Rocket Set for Liftoff

Gilmour Space is gearing up for the first-ever orbital launch of an Australian-built rocket in mid-March. The Eris rocket could mark a huge milestone, but first launches are tricky—success isn’t guaranteed. Regardless of the outcome, this is a major step for Australia’s growing space industry. Good luck, team!

Read more 👉🏻 Gilmour Space announces mid-March target for first Eris launch

🔎 Giant Exoplanet Found Orbiting Nearby Star

Astronomers have detected GJ 2126 b, a Jupiter-like exoplanet with an extremely eccentric orbit around a nearby red dwarf. This oddball planet could help scientists understand how gas giants form. It might even be a brown dwarf—further studies will reveal its true nature!

Read more 👉🏻 Jupiter-like exoplanet orbiting nearby star detected

🤖 AI to Guide China’s Deep Space Mission

China is planning a historic mission to the edge of the solar system, and AI will be key to navigating the vast distances. From autonomous decision-making to real-time data processing, AI could make this journey more efficient than ever.

Read more 👉🏻 AI to power China’s mission to the edges of the solar system

🔥 Avio’s Green Rocket Engine Passes First Test

Avio just successfully test-fired its new Multi-Purpose Green Engine, a cleaner, more efficient rocket engine designed for launch systems and in-orbit logistics. Running on hydrogen peroxide and kerosene, could it be a game-changer for European space tech? We’ll see. With more tests ahead, Avio is right on schedule!

Read more 👉🏻 Avio Test Fires Multi-Purpose Green Engine for the First Time

🌊 Drilling for Life on Enceladus?

The TIGRE mission concept proposes sending an orbiter, lander, and drill to Saturn’s moon Enceladus to explore its subsurface ocean—a prime target in the search for extraterrestrial life. If approved, this mission could change all we know about this icy moon and its potential habitability.

Read more 👉🏻 Sampling Enceladus’ Subsurface Ocean with TIGRE Mission Concept

📹 Our latest videos

Here are the latest videos we've published on our YouTube channel this week:

• Everyone is Wrong About Asteroid Mining

• This Asteroid Is A Problem 

• How SpaceX Builds One Rocket Every Week!

🚀 Upcoming Rocket Launches

Get ready for an exciting week full of launches!

(Today)Tuesday, Feb 25th:

• Falcon 9 Block 5 (SpaceX, USA) – Starlink Group 12-13. Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA.

• New Shepard (Blue Origin, USA) – NS-30. Corn Ranch, Van Horn, TX, USA.

Thursday, Feb 27th:

• Falcon 9 Block 5 (SpaceX, USA) – Nova-C IM-2 & Lunar Trailblazer. Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA.

• Long March 2C (CASC, China) – Unknown Payload. Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China.

• Soyuz 2.1a (ROSCOSMOS, Russia) – Progress MS-30 (91P). Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan.

Friday, Feb 28th:

• Starship (SpaceX, USA) – Flight 8. SpaceX Starbase, TX, USA.

• Ariane 62 (Arianespace, France) – CSO3. Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana.

• Falcon 9 Block 5 (SpaceX, USA) – Starlink Group 12-20. Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA.

• Falcon 9 Block 5 (SpaceX, USA) – SPHEREx & PUNCH. Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.

Sunday, Mar 2nd:

• Ceres-1 (Galactic Energy, China) – Unknown Payload. Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China.

And that’s it for this week. Stay curious! 😊

Juan and the team at The Space Race