February 4, 2026 Quick space links
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.
- Vast’s Haven Demo satellite successfully completes initial de-orbit burn
Video at the link. The burn proves the company’s technology for doing these kinds of maneuvers on its upcoming Haven-1 station
- Space Forge’s ForgeStar-1 orbiting furnace generates plasma
This is demonstration technology for manufacturing pure products in space for sale on Earth that can only be made in weightlessness, such as advanced crystals and semiconductor chips
- An image of China’s next generation Mengzhou manned capsule being lifted up onto a Long March 10A test stage
China hopes to do a test orbital launch of the rocket and capsule this year.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Courtesy of BtB’s stringer Jay. This post is also an open thread. I welcome my readers to post any comments or additional links relating to any space issues, even if unrelated to the links below.
- Vast’s Haven Demo satellite successfully completes initial de-orbit burn
Video at the link. The burn proves the company’s technology for doing these kinds of maneuvers on its upcoming Haven-1 station
- Space Forge’s ForgeStar-1 orbiting furnace generates plasma
This is demonstration technology for manufacturing pure products in space for sale on Earth that can only be made in weightlessness, such as advanced crystals and semiconductor chips
- An image of China’s next generation Mengzhou manned capsule being lifted up onto a Long March 10A test stage
China hopes to do a test orbital launch of the rocket and capsule this year.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News


So, it appears that SpaceX is no longer going to launch crew missions from LC-39A. In fact, they are preparing to dismantle the crew access arm!
Ryan Caton of NSF posts:
“It looks like the LC-39A Crew Access Arm’s days (hours?) may be numbered. A yellow crane & load spreader – very similar to the one used to install the arm – has risen overnight.
As I reported last week, 39A Falcon 9 ops are spooling down in favour of Starship and Falcon Heavy.”
….
“I asked @SpaceX’s Lee Echerd if there was any more information on the quiet cadence from LC-39A: “We’re planning to launch most of our Falcon 9s from SLC-40 – this includes all Dragon missions going forwards”.
This will allow LC-39A to focus on Falcon Heavy & Starship.”
https://x.com/i/status/2019075221496734010
* * *
I am kinda surprised that NASA signed off on this. They really wanted that redundancy for launching crew missions
Also SpaceX related: the expansion has begun. Via Starship Gazer on X:
“The SpaceX Starbase launch complex has been expanded today with new boundaries and silt fencing installed around the new perimeter. All of the details of the expansion can be read at the site linked below. Click on “public notice” and “project plans”:
swg.usace.army.mil/Media/Public-N…
2/4/26″
https://x.com/i/status/2019183785024098670
(See photos at the post link.)
I tend to doubt this would have been possible under a second Biden term or a Harris term.