February 2026

1. 25 Wed
   LandSpace Targets Q2 2026 for Next ZhuQue-3 Recovery Attempt

   LandSpace confirmed Q2 2026 for the second ZQ-3 orbital flight and recovery attempt, with first-stage reuse targeting Q4. Company plans to manufacture 10 rockets and 100 engines this year, and has secured Guowang constellation launch contracts.

   LandSpace Targets Q2 2026 ZhuQue-3 Recovery Attempt, Q4 Reuse
2. 13 Fri
   First Ariane 64 launches Amazon Leo satellites

   SpaceNews analysis: Amazon is behind FCC deadline pace (212 of ~1,616 needed by July 2026), and has filed a request to extend that deadline by two years. Amazon adding 10 more Falcon 9 launches, doubling New Glenn orders to 24. Arianespace expects 7-8 Ariane 6 launches in 2026. ESA Director Tolker-Nielsen: "Europe can now transport small to large payloads to close or faraway orbits with our complete fleet."

   Ariane 64 Maiden Launch — LE-01 Deploys 32 Amazon Leo Satellites, Europe's Heaviest Payload to Orbit
3. 13 Fri
   NASA's SpaceX Crew-12 Launches to International Space Station

   Official NASA press release on Crew-12 launch at 5:15 a.m. EST Feb 13. Crew: Meir (commander, second flight), Hathaway (pilot, first flight), Adenot (ESA Epsilon mission, first flight), Fedyaev (Roscosmos, second flight). ISS restored to standard 7-person crew after Crew-11's early medical evacuation in January. Eight-month science mission including bacteria cardiovascular research, IV fluid generation for deep space, and plant health monitoring.

   SpaceX Crew-12 Launches to ISS — Meir, Hathaway, Adenot, Fedyaev Aboard Dragon Freedom
4. 12 Thu
   Axiom Space raises additional $350 million

   SpaceNews reports Axiom's $350M round led by Type One Ventures and QIA. Highlights the 4iG relationship (Hungarian telecom, $100M commitment linked to Ax-4 flight of cosmonaut Tibor Kapu). CEO Cirtain confirmed AxEMU spacesuit delivery on track for 2027 and NASA CLD solicitation expected later in 2026. Station Module 1 (PPTM) targets 2028 ISS attachment. Axiom has not disclosed valuation.

   Axiom Space Raises $350M (Equity + Debt) — QIA, 1789 Capital, 4iG Lead
5. 11 Wed
   China aces test of next-gen lunar capsule and rocket — Mengzhou in-flight abort, LM-10 first stage splashdown

   Space.com analysis: the LM-10 first stage's powered vertical splashdown at sea is directly analogous to Falcon 9 first stage ocean recovery. China combining a safety system test with first-stage recovery in a single flight represents a compressed development timeline. Mengzhou has now completed both zero-altitude and maximum dynamic pressure abort tests. Uncrewed demonstration mission to Tiangong Space Station expected later in 2026.

   China Conducts Mengzhou In-Flight Abort Test + Long March 10 First Powered Flight — Four Firsts in One Mission
6. 11 Wed
   China successfully completes low-altitude Long March-10 test, marking major breakthrough in manned lunar exploration

   Global Times reports from Wenchang. Four technical firsts confirmed: first LM-10 prototype ignition, first maximum dynamic pressure abort test in Chinese space history, first maritime splashdown of both crewed capsule and rocket first stage, first use of the new Wenchang lunar launch pad. LM-10 adopts "three-and-a-half-stage" configuration, 90m tall, 2,700 tons liftoff thrust — China's largest vehicle and only one capable of translunar crewed missions.

   China Conducts Mengzhou In-Flight Abort Test + Long March 10 First Powered Flight — Four Firsts in One Mission
7. 10 Tue
   Aerospace attracts partners for DiskSat demonstrations

   Satlyt and Orbotic Systems become the first commercial licensees of Aerospace's DiskSat platform. Satlyt will use it for edge computing and autonomous operations in LEO.

   Satlyt Licenses DiskSat Technology from The Aerospace Corporation

Headlines link to spacenews.com. Summaries are ours, 1–2 lines; read the full story at the source.