Name: Intuitive Machines IM-1 Mission, Moon Landing Observation (2nd Year)
Start: 2026-02-22T00:00:00-10:00
End: 2026-02-22T23:59:59-10:00
Location: Near Malapert A Crater, 80.13°S 1.44°E, Moon Surface

February 16-22, 2026 / Hawai`i Island, USA

Vol 45, Week 7: Lunar Broadcast Precursor — Terrestrial Edition

Second Anniversary of IM-1 Lunar Mission and Upcoming Moon Landings

The second observation of 1st commercial landing on the Moon occurs February 22. Intuitive Machines IM-1 Odysseus landed at 80.13°S near Malapert A Crater in 2024. It carried 6 NASA and 6 commercial payloads. IM-2 Athena lander attempted name imprinting in lunar regolith and Firefly Blue Ghost had a fully operational landing, with their 1st annual observations next month. As the Artemis 2 crewed mission prepares to launch NET March 6 for a Moon flyby, China’s Chang’E-7 (CE-7) uncrewed lander readies for launch NET August from Wenchang for a November/December touchdown near Shackleton Crater rim—very close to lunar South Pole. CE-7 advances plans for the International Lunar Research Station with 6 instruments related to finding water ice. CE-7 also carries ILOA astronomical camera ILO-C, developed with international input from China, Hong Kong University and Thailand, and Hawai’i. ILO-C aims to photograph and transmit to Earth inspirational images of the Milky Way. Future lunar missions include IM-3, IM-4, Firefly Blue Ghost 2, Astrolab FLIP and FLEX rovers (carrying your name / message), Chang’E-8 and Artemis 3 to return humans to the Moon. (Image Credits: International Lunar Observatory Association, Grok)

GSLV Mk II Nears Retirement: Sriharikota GISAT-1A Launch Spotlights Shift to Reusable NGLV

Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark II (GSLV Mk II) has only 6 remaining flights planned, beginning with the GISAT-1A (EOS-05) launch scheduled for February 20 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India. This mission will deploy a geostationary Earth observation satellite for near-real-time monitoring of the Indian subcontinent. The GSLV Mk II is a three-stage vehicle with four liquid strap-on boosters powered by Vikas engines. It is capable of lifting up to 6,000 kg to low Earth orbit (LEO) and 2,250 kg to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). ISRO continues operations with the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) for versatile payloads, the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) for dedicated smallsat missions, and the Launch Vehicle Mark 3 (LVM3, formerly GSLV Mk III) for heavy-lift tasks up to 4,000 kg to GTO—as demonstrated in the Chandrayaan missions. After these final six GSLV Mk II flights, the vehicle will phase out, and ISRO will transition to the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) family. These partially reusable systems differ from the expendable GSLV Mk II with features such as vertical takeoff and vertical landing (VTVL) first stages, semi-cryogenic kerosene-liquid oxygen and methane-liquid oxygen propulsion, and modular designs. They target payloads of 10,000 to 30,000 kg to LEO (or up to 12,000 kg to trans-lunar injection in heavy variants). Reusable architectures are projected to provide three times the payload capacity of LVM3 at 1.5 times the cost. (Image Credits: Indian Space Research Organization)

Humans in Space

International Space Station, ~415-km LEO: Expedition 74 three members were finally joined by Crew-12 four to reach full complement of 7 aboard; NASA Astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, along with ESA Astronaut Sophie Adenot and Roscosmos Cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev arrived February 14 for their ~8-month stay, joining Chris Williams of NASA and Cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev; entire crew conducting radiation monitoring with EveryWear system, loading trash / obsolete gear in JAXA HTV-X1 craft set to leave next month, testing surfaces for mold / mildew to maintain safety, taking memory tests, collecting hair samples for analysis, studying protein crystals and continuing research on crew psychology / communications.

Tiangong Space Station, ~390-km LEO: Shenzhou-21 crew of 3, Zhang Lu (张陆), Wu Fei (武飞), and Zhang Hongzhang (张洪章), in 2nd half of their 6-month mission, continue research on bone metabolism regulation, space omics meaning study of DNA / RNA / proteins / metabolites, visual asymmetry in microgravity and its underlying cognitive neural mechanisms; maintain station equipment including science cabinet / modules / sample chamber and air cleaners; use devices to deliver force stimulation to lower limb muscles; examine intraocular pressure and fundus of the eye; assess cardiac / muscle function.

Lunar Enterprise News: SpaceX has put off Mars mission for “about 5 to 7 years,” shifting its focus to going to the Moon first, aiming to build a city there “in less than 10 years, whereas Mars would take 20+ years”; travel time of 2 days vs 6 months was mentioned as a factor in the decision.

Near-Earth Objects Close Approaches – Mon Feb 16: Atira Asteroid 2026 BX4 (0.019 AU); Wed Feb 18: Apollo Asteroid 2026 CU (0.013 AU); Fri Feb 20: Apollo Asteroid 2026 CO (0.011 AU); Sat Feb 21: Apollo Asteroid 2023 CM2 (0.010 AU); Sat Feb 21: Aten Asteroid 2025 DQ (0.007 AU)

The First Woman FLIES to the Moon …

NET (no earlier than)

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First Woman LANDS on the Moon …

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Land your name on the Moon!

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