📄Top Stories

Today’s top stories explore SpaceX’s imminent Starship launch, the latest military satellite technology enhancements, and international defense collaborations in space. Stay tuned for insights into how these developments could impact satellite tracking.

📰Detailed Coverage

Space Force Aids Iron Dome Missile System

The U.S. Space Force is focusing on integrating new mapping services to enhance the capabilities of the Iron Dome missile defense shield. General Chance Saltzman announced the move as part of a broader effort to consolidate satellite systems and services for a comprehensive defense strategy.

This development underscores the increasing reliance on satellite-based technology for national defense, emphasizing the importance of accurate tracking and mapping data, a core feature of our web app.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

UAE and Russia Showcase Advances at IDEX 2025

The UAE’s EDGE Group secured substantial international defense contracts worth $2.9 billion during IDEX 2025, illustrating a strategic push into Western and Asian markets. Concurrently, Russian firms showcased UAVs and modified tanks, highlighting ongoing advancements and competitive dynamics at the exhibition.

These developments reflect the global race in technological proliferation and defense, with satellites playing an integral role in enhancing military capabilities and geopolitics.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

Starship Flight 8: Upcoming Launch

SpaceX is preparing for the highly anticipated launch of Starship Flight 8, expected no earlier than February 28. This mission, critical for ongoing testing, faces several challenges before its debut but promises significant advancements for commercial and exploratory space initiatives.

The launch’s success is pivotal in validating SpaceX’s efforts in developing advanced spacecraft capable of supporting interplanetary missions and significantly impacting satellite deployment strategies.

Read the full story: Space Explored

A Glimpse of Intuitive Machines’ Lunar Footpads

Intuitive Machines revealed unique design aspects of their lunar lander’s footpads. These insights offer a glimpse into the robust engineering behind their next spacecraft set to venture to the moon, showcasing innovations aimed at optimizing lander stability upon touchdown.

Such designs are vital in ensuring the success of lunar missions and the safe deployment of lunar-based satellites, further pushing the boundaries of space exploration technology.

Read the full story: Space.com

🛰️Satellite Spotlight

• Satellite Name: MIDAS 7/ERS 10
• NORAD ID: 00622
• Launch Date: 1963-07-19
• Mission: Early Warning
• Orbit: Inclination 88.4005°, Period 8.5793, Eccentricity 0.0032555
• Operator: AFSSD
• Fun Fact: MIDAS 7 is part of an early US satellite program aimed at missile detection, showcasing the foundational role satellites have played in national security.

Current TLE Data:

1 00622U 63030A   25055.42633029  .00000030  00000+0  14059-1 0  9990
2 00622  88.4005 237.6013 0032555 175.8713 184.2411  8.57932647418804

Track this satellite in real-time on our web app: Track MIDAS 7/ERS 10

🚀Upcoming Space Launches

February 25

• Blue Origin New Shepard NS-30:
  • New Shepard | NS-30 from West Texas Suborbital Launch Site (14:30 UTC) NS-30 is the 10th crewed flight for the New Shepard program and the 30th in its history.

February 26

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 12-13 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (03:47 UTC) A batch of 21 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

February 27

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Nova-C IM-2 & Lunar Trailblazer from Kennedy Space Center (00:17 UTC) This mission involves the second Nova-C lunar lander, which carries NASA’s PRIME-1 payload for the first in-situ resource utilization demonstration on the Moon.
• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 2C:
  • Unknown Payload from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (07:01 UTC) Details TBD.
• Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS) Soyuz 2.1a:
  • Progress MS-30 (91P) from Baikonur Cosmodrome (21:24 UTC) Progress resupply mission to the International Space Station.

February 28

• Arianespace Ariane 62:
  • CSO-3 from Guiana Space Centre (00:00 UTC) The CSO-3 is the third high-resolution optical imaging satellite for the French military.
• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 12-20 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (02:52 UTC) Another batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation.
• SpaceX Starship:
  • Flight 8 from SpaceX Starbase (23:30 UTC) Eighth test flight of the two-stage Starship launch vehicle.

March 1

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • SPHEREx & PUNCH from Vandenberg Space Force Base (03:09 UTC) The mission includes NASA’s SPHEREx, an astrophysics survey mission, and PUNCH, a mission to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere.

March 2

• Galactic Energy Ceres-1:
  • Unknown Payload from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (07:49 UTC) Details TBD.

Note: Launch dates and times are subject to change due to technical or weather considerations.