★ Ad Astra with Aloha to Space Age Editor / Publisher Steve Durst ★
Space Calendar will continue to aim for weekly publication through 2076 to honor the dedicated, visionary Founding Editor Steve Durst; operating since 1976, in Hawaii and California, Space Age Publishing Company is dedicated to human expansion into the Cosmos and transcendence to a multi-planet species, while pursuing a business plan consistent with establishing a third office on the Moon; Steve leaves behind a legacy and influence that will be missed and not forgotten.
Mars Update: Hope Begins 6th Year in Orbit; Perseverance Rover Tests A.I.
First interplanetary mission from Arab world, Hope orbiter, begins 6th year at Mars this week, studying atmosphere / weather of Mars and transmitting data to MBRSC in UAE—which shares it freely with more than 200 research institutes globally. Other active Mars orbiters are: NASA Odyssey, in 25th year, maps chemicals / minerals; ESA Express, in 23rd year, radar-maps surface / subsurface; ESA / Roscosmos TGO, in 10th year, investigates atmosphere trace gases; CNSA Tianwen-1, in 6th year, examines surface / subsurface plus solar wind / interstellar objects; NASA MRO, in 21st year, uses high-resolution camera for water search / assisting landers, provides data relay for rovers including NASA Perseverance. This rover now drives Jezero Crater rim on A.I.-generated routes, saving many hours of human planning, and enters 6th year at Mars on February 18 hunting for signs of life / collecting samples. The other operational rover, NASA Curiosity, in 14th year, studies habitability of Gale Crater. NASA EscaPADE twin orbiters will arrive 2027 to study magnetosphere / atmosphere. SpaceX uncrewed Starship will arrive 2027 if launched December 2026, which is also when JAXA plans launch of MMX sample return craft to Mars moon Phobos. These missions enable study for future human exploration and theories of planetary evolution / past habitability. (Image Credits: NASA, National Space Society)
SmallSat Symposium in Silicon Valley Highlights Innovations and Networking
The small satellite sector has matured into industrial-scale deployment, with LEO constellations resulting from explosive growth. Market forecasts show the smallsat industry continuing to expand rapidly, with projections pointing to US$10s of billions in value by 2030 amid falling launch costs and reusable systems. Over 2,500 small satellites are expected to launch annually in coming years to support mega-constellations. New players are scaling fast: Astranis advances its MicroGEO lineup, with Omega broadband satellites entering production in 2026. Capella Space continues expanding its SAR imaging constellation, delivering all-weather, high-resolution data for government and commercial users. Planet Labs operates one of the largest Earth-imaging constellations above the world, with hundreds of Dove and SuperDove satellites providing daily imagery. Muon Space has multiple government and commercial missions launching in 2026, including wildfire detection and RF analytics. The SmallSat Symposium February 10-12 expects to be an innovation epicenter, with startups and established firms forming new partnerships, business models and architectures. The Symposium convenes 900+ attendees, 100+ exhibitors and 125+ presenters, this year including U.S. Space Development Agency keynote and former DARPA Director Victoria Coleman, and speakers from Rocket Lab, Vast, Amazon, Eutelsat, Thales Alenia, KSAT, Redwire, the FCC and Aerospace Corporation. At the Computer History Museum in Mountain View CA and online, the Symposium offers deep technical insights, market analyses and high-stakes networking as smallsats help shape the future of space. (Image Credits: SmallSat Symposium)
Humans in Space
International Space Station, ~415-km LEO: Expedition 74 crew of 3—Chris Williams, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, Sergei Mikaev—conducting final preparations for SpaceX Crew-12 docking NET February 11, including review of approach-monitoring tool and rendezvous procedure; performing routine science-hardware maintenance; collecting biomedical data; packing cargo to be stowed on Dragon; executing exercise protocols; verifying life-support systems; imaging Earth.
Tiangong Space Station, ~390-km LEO: Shenzhou-21 crew—Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, Zhang Hongzhang—conducting lower-limb muscle-force stimulation tests with bionic adhesive shoes to assess microgravity effects; performing medical examinations, including dynamic electrocardiogram, blood pressure monitoring, ultrasound scans, bone density measurements and hearing assessments; advancing pharmacokinetics studies on drug metabolism in orbit; maintaining cabin environment via wind speed, temperature and noise monitoring; continuing routine exercise, system inspections and experiment operations after over three months in orbit with all crew in stable health.
Lunar Enterprise News: Blue Origin pauses space tourism to concentrate on Moon missions, redirecting resources toward human lunar capabilities for at least the next 2 years to assist USA goals of establishing a sustained lunar presence.
Near-Earth Objects Close Approaches – Mon Feb 9: Apollo Asteroid 2026 BY1 (0.025 AU); Thu Feb 12: Apollo Asteroid 2022 DV (0.039 AU); Sat Feb 14: Aten Asteroid 1999 AO10 (0.026 AU); Sat Feb 14: Apollo Asteroid 162882 (2001 FD58) (0.043 AU)
The First Woman FLIES to the Moon …
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First Woman LANDS on the Moon …
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Sign up to have your name sent to the Moon for FREE on two lunar missions: Astrolab FLIP (NET summer 2026) and ILO-1 via Astrolab FLEX rover (NET 2027). You will automatically be signed up for our weekly Space Calendar.
UAE Hope Orbiter, studying Mars atmosphere and climate, reaches 5 full years in Mars orbit today; launched July 19, 2020 on JAXA H2A rocket, arrived at Mars on this day 2021.
The conference will focus on the latest developments and future trends in aerospace science and astronomy. Topics range from satellite technology innovation to deep space exploration missions and new astronomical discoveries and theoretical breakthroughs. Attendees will discuss how to use modern technology to solve problems in aerospace engineering, and explore the […]
Launch window 06:00-10:00 PST (04:00-08:00 HT) for 25 satellites; first stage Booster B1081 expected to land for 22nd time on OCISLY ASDS barge in Pacific Ocean.
Webinar, 15:30-17:00 Central European Time (UTC+1) (04:30-06:00 HT), to discuss ongoing issues and future activities involved in European access to space. 8 presenters include people from Arianespace, ESA, Exolaunch, Isar, PLD Space, ESPI.
Intensive 3-day forum for: Gaining front-line insight into new missions, business models and launch architectures; Securing meaningful, one-on-one connections with decision-makers and funders; Positioning yourself and your company at the heart of the global small-satellite ecosystem. Unlock the business and financial knowledge required to leverage smallsat innovation and cutting-edge technology […]
The Moon is a primary focus for space activities around the world in the coming decades, including orbiters, landers, rovers, human activities, science, and both short- and long-duration missions evolving into a sustainable ecosystem. These activities are driving a need for infrastructure to provide consistent, precise, real-time lunar Positioning, Navigation […]
11:30-13:00 EST, with Jim Bridenstine, Managing Partner for The Artemis Group, the 13th Administrator of NASA, where he was responsible for managing its 70,000-person workforce and $23 billion annual budget.
2 identical satellites, GSSAP-7 and GSSAP-8 (Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program) to near-geosynchronous orbit ~36,000km above Earth equator, contributing to timely and accurate orbital predictions, further enabling space flight safety including satellite collision avoidance. Vulcan Centaur VC4S is a 2-stage-to-orbit heavy-lift rocket, developed to replace ULA Atlas V and ULA […]
Launching 13:56 UTC+5 (22:56 on February 11 HT) for meteorological satellites to capture images of clouds and underlying Earth surface, and to collect and measure heliogeophysical and hydrometeorological data; launching on a 4-stage heavy-lift rocket
Launching NET 05:15 EST (00:15 HT); SpaceX Crew-12 is the 12th crewed operational flight of a Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station as part of NASA Commercial Crew Program; includes NASA Astronauts Commander Jessica Meir and Pilot Jack Hathaway, and Flight Engineers Sophie Adenot from France and Andrei […]
The annual Maunakea Coin Contest is open to all Big Island students in grades K to 12, including homeschooled children. The 2026 Maunakea Coin Contest opens on Saturday, November 8, 2025. The deadline to enter is Friday, February 13, 2026.
Launch window midnight - 04:00 PST (22:00 Feb 13 - 04:00 Feb 14 HT) for 25 satellites; first-stage Booster B1100 expected to make 3rd landing on OCISLY ASDS in the Pacific Ocean
And seminar on importance of STEM. Open to public, 1:00 PM CST, Bell Museum at University of Minnesota. Bob Cabana was on Shuttle missions including the 1st ISS assembly mission, and launch of Ulysses spacecraft to Jupiter and the Sun.
Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, Sergey Mikayev and Christopher Williams set to undock from ISS in Soyuz MS-28, triggering the start to Expedition 75 with Commander Jessica...
In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the creation of the Astrophysics Group at the University of Exeter, we are pleased to announce the international...
Emanating from ~6km-wide comet with 5.3-year Solar orbit, visible in constellation Aquarius near star Delta Aquarii, fast, faint meteors peak on this night, best...
The International Research Conference is a federated organization dedicated to bringing together a significant number of diverse scholarly events for presentation within the conference...
Includes ~150 meetings covering the fields of COSPAR Scientific Commissions / Panels / Task Groups, such as SC B: The Earth-Moon System, Planets, and...
From 02 to 07 August 2026, a few thousand geoscientists across diverse disciplines will gather at the 23rd annual meeting of the Asia Oceania Geosciences...
NASA Curiosity (Mars Science Laboratory) rover surpasses another full year of operations on Mars surface today; launched Nov 26, 2011 – landed Aug 5,...
This international lunar science meeting has two objectives: to provide a platform for leading experts to review recent advances across lunar research, from the...
International Space Station, ~415-km LEO: Expedition 74 crew of 3—Chris Williams, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, Sergei Mikaev—conducting final preparations for SpaceX Crew-12 docking NET February 11, including review of approach-monitoring tool and rendezvous procedure; performing routine science-hardware maintenance; collecting biomedical data; packing cargo to be stowed on Dragon; executing exercise protocols; verifying life-support systems; imaging Earth.
Lunar Enterprise News: Blue Origin pauses space tourism to concentrate on Moon missions, redirecting resources toward human lunar capabilities for at least the next 2 years to assist USA goals of establishing a sustained lunar presence.
Near-Earth Objects Close Approaches – Mon Feb 9: Apollo Asteroid 2026 BY1 (0.025 AU); Thu Feb 12: Apollo Asteroid 2022 DV (0.039 AU); Sat Feb 14: Aten Asteroid 1999 AO10 (0.026 AU); Sat Feb 14: Apollo Asteroid 162882 (2001 FD58) (0.043 AU) 
