Two satellite proposals threaten dark and quiet skies worldwide

A long-exposure photograph in the northern hemisphere showing satellites in the night skyAlan Dyer/VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images By Tori Bonidie and Magnus L'Argent, Published by Astrobites, 26 February 2026 Across regions and borders, cultures and customs, the one thing we share is the night sky. Access to the

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The Esrange Space Center lies among vast forests of pine and birch in the northernmost part of Sweden, 120 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Photograph: Mattias Forsberg/SSC

Orbital space race heats up in Arctic north

The Esrange in Arctic Sweden has been the launch site for sub-orbital rockets. Photograph: Mattias Forsberg/SSC By Adrienne Murray & James Brooks, Published by The BBC, 24 February 2026 It's 04:00 on a snow-covered hill in Swedish Lapland, 120 miles (200km) north of the Arctic Circle. A countdown echoes from

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A banner year for military space funding— with an unclear path beyond

One concept for the Golden Dome missile defense system with space-based elements. (credit: Redwire) By Sandra Erwin, Published by Space News, 24 February 2026 Reconciliation boost lifts 2026 totals, but sustainability questions loom for missile defense and Space Development Agency WASHINGTON — Funding for the U.S. Space Force this fiscal

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Lithium Plume in Our Atmosphere Traced Back to Returning SpaceX Rocket

Artist's impression of a Falcon 9 upper stage with payload in 2015. (SpaceX) By Robyn Schofield & Robert George Ryan, Published by Science Alert, 23 February 2026 Space junk returning to the Earth is introducing metal pollution to the pristine upper atmosphere as it burns up on re-entry, a new

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Study Confirms: Reentering SpaceX Rockets Are Peppering the Upper Atmosphere With Metal Pollution

The Falcon 9 upper stage re-entering the atmosphere above Berlin, Germany, on February 19, 2025. Gerd Baumgarten By Passant Rabie, Published by Space & Spaceflight, 19 February 2026 For the first time, scientists were able to directly detect upper-atmospheric pollution from space debris. On February 19, 2025, a Falcon 9

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SpaceX rocket fireball linked to plume of polluting lithium

Long exposure photographs showed the Falcon 9 rocket debris over Berlin in 2025 By Georgina Rannard, Published by the BBC, 19 February 2026 When a SpaceX rocket failure set the skies aflame over western Europe last February, no-one was sure if the debris was also polluting our atmosphere. Now scientists

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SpaceX and Blue Origin abruptly shift priorities amid US Golden Dome push

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks about the Golden Dome initiative in the Oval Office on May 20, 2025. | Alex Brandon/AP By Brooke Griswold, Published by Defense News, 19 February 2026 Just a year ago, SpaceX majority owner Elon Musk dismissed going to the moon as a “distraction.” Now,

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Too many satellites? Earth’s orbit is on track for a catastrophe – but we can stop it

Astronomer’s view of a star obscured by streaks from Starlink satellites. Rafael Schmall/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY By Gregory Radisic and Samantha Lawler, Published by The Conversation, 18 February 2026 On January 30 2026, SpaceX filed an application with the US Federal Communications Commission for a megaconstellation of up to one

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