Sunday, February 15, 2026

SpaceX Capsule Successfully Docks At International Space Station With Crew-12 Mission

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As published in cnn.com:

A most singular event has unfolded in the vast expanse of space, as a SpaceX capsule, bearing four intrepid astronauts, has successfully docked at the International Space Station, thereby restoring the orbiting laboratory to its full complement of personnel. According to reports from cnn. com, this remarkable feat was accomplished on Saturday, following a protracted journey of over 30 hours, during which the spacecraft navigated the celestial vastness with precision and accuracy. The arrival of the Crew-12 mission has brought a measure of relief to the ISS, which had been operating with a skeletal crew of three since mid-January, owing to the premature departure of a previous crew due to a medical concern. As Steve Stich, NASA's Commercial Crew Program manager, astutely observed, the success of this mission was contingent upon the meticulous preparation of not only the vehicles and hardware but also the crew themselves, whose rigorous training was a crucial factor in determining the launch date. With the ISS now returned to full strength, NASA can redirect its attention to forthcoming endeavors, including the eagerly anticipated Artemis II moon mission, slated to launch as early as March.

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NASA's Artemis Program: Overcoming Challenges For A Historic Lunar Return

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She delves into the intricacies of NASA's Artemis Program, a monumental endeavor aimed at propelling humans back to the lunar surface after a five-decade hiatus. According to Yahoo News, the space agency's upcoming mission, Artemis II, is poised to push the boundaries of human space exploration, sending astronauts on a trajectory that will take them farther into space than ever before, circumnavigating the moon. The success of this mission is crucial, as it paves the way for future lunar landings and ultimately, a manned mission to Mars. However, concerns have been raised regarding the ablative Avcoat material used on the Orion capsule's heat shielding, which will be subjected to intense scrutiny during the mission's high-speed reentry into Earth's atmosphere. The significance of this concern is underscored by the damage sustained by the Orion spacecraft's heat shielding during the uncrewed Artemis I mission, where large pieces of the shielding were found to have fallen off during reentry. As NASA prepares to embark on this ambitious journey, the integrity of the heat shielding --- a critical factor in ensuring the safety and success of the mission.

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Saturday, February 14, 2026

SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Launches Starlink Satellites On Valentine's Day

As the sun sets on Valentine's Day in California, a spectacle of fire and steel is poised to pierce the sky, a testament to human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of innovation. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, a marvel of modern engineering, stands tall at 230 feet, its two-stage design a symphony of precision and power. On this day of love and devotion, the rocket's mission is not to deliver Cupid's arrows, but to deploy a constellation of 25 Starlink satellites into the vast expanse of low-Earth orbit. 

The launch, scheduled to take place at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, promises to be a breathtaking display of technology and wonder, a perfect pre-dinner date for couples seeking to ignite their passion for the cosmos. 

 For those who cannot witness the launch in person, SpaceX will provide a _ webcast, a digital window into the magic of space exploration. As the rocket soars into the sky, it will leave a trail of glory in its wake, a reminder of the infinite possibilities that await humanity among the stars. Information for this article was obtained from USA TODAY.

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Update specifics

SpaceX marked its 600th Falcon 9 flight this Valentine's Day, successfully deploying 24 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit. The mission provided a romantic visual treat for Southern California residents, creating a brilliant "space jellyfish" effect in the twilight sky.

Mission Details

What's Next?

While the California launch was a success, the East Coast mission from Cape Canaveral was rescheduled for February 16 due to unfavorable weather conditions.

Friday, February 13, 2026

Autonomous Food Delivery Robots Spark Debate In Chicago Amid Safety Concerns

According to Chicago Tribune:

The proliferation of autonomous food delivery robots in Chicago has sparked a multifaceted debate, with proponents touting their efficiency and opponents citing concerns over safety and sidewalk congestion. As these robotic carts, adorned with vibrant flags, navigate the city's sidewalks and crosswalks, they have become a ubiquitous sight, ferrying tacos and other culinary delights to awaiting customers. However, their increasing presence has also been accompanied by a surge in incidents, including sidewalk standoffs, traffic jams, and a handful of collisions, which have raised questions about their integration into the urban landscape. The city's statistics reveal that the red Coco robots, which debuted in late 2024, and the green units from Serve Robotics, introduced last fall, have collectively logged over 29,000 sidewalk miles and delivered nearly 28,000 food orders. Despite these impressive numbers, the robots' safety record has been called into question, with some residents, like DePaul-area resident Janice Hughes, reporting harrowing encounters, including being rear-ended by a Coco robot while tending to her parkway. Hughes' criticism that the robots "don't have the education or ability to recognize how to curb themselves" succinctly encapsulates the concerns of many who feel that the robots are not yet sophisticated enough to navigate the complexities

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Astronomers Baffled By Bizarre Inside-Out Star System

In the vast expanse of space, a most peculiar star system has been unearthed, leaving astronomers in a state of utter bewilderment. According to Gizmodo, this bizarre star system, known as LHS 1903, is a small red M-dwarf star that defies the conventional norms of planet formation. The inner planets of our solar system are rocky, while the outer planets are gas giants, but LHS 1903 has turned this pattern on its head, with a late bloomer planet that may have formed at a different time than its neighbors. The discovery of this inside-out system has raised more questions than answers, with scientists struggling to understand how this weird rocky world came to be. As Thomas Wilson, a physics professor at the University of Warwick, noted, rocky planets don't usually form far away from their home star, on the outside of the gaseous worlds. The team behind the study combined observations from different space telescopes, including the European Space Agency's CHEOPS space telescope, to identify three planets orbiting around the star, and later discovered a small, fourth planet. Gizmodo is a source for this article, providing valuable insights into this extraordinary star system, which continues to fascinate and intrigue astronomers with its unique characteristics.

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Thursday, February 12, 2026

Groundbreaking Discovery Challenges Traditional Notions Of Planetary System Formation

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According to Yahoo News, a groundbreaking discovery has been made in the field of astronomy, shattering traditional notions of planetary system formation. Researchers have identified a peculiar "inside out" planetary system orbiting a small, faint red star known as LHS 1903, where the outermost planet defies conventional expectations by being small and dense, likely rocky in composition. This unusual arrangement, described as rocky-gaseous-gaseous-rocky, is a rare phenomenon that challenges long-standing ideas about planetary formation and architecture. Led by physics professor Thomas Wilson from the University of Warwick, the study reveals that planetary systems may evolve in more diverse and complex ways than previously thought, sparking new avenues of research and inquiry. As astronomers continue to explore stars like LHS 1903, they may uncover more systems that upend traditional theories, ultimately expanding our understanding of the universe and its many mysteries.

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Trump To Reveal Shocking UFO Secrets In Upcoming Speech

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Staff inbox at Express.co.uk:

Renowned ufologist Mark Christopher Lee reveals a shocking assertion, claiming that President Donald Trump is poised to deliver a seismic speech on Unidentified Flying Objects, potentially exposing decades of hidden evidence. According to Lee, a trusted advisor to the Trump administration has confirmed that the president has received the requisite approval from global leaders to make this extraordinary announcement. As reported by Express. co. uk, this bombshell address is expected to shed light on the forensic analysis of recovered extraterrestrial materials, non-human biologics, and unexplained aerial phenomena, which Lee claims will irrefutably establish their otherworldly origin. The speech, initially slated for the United Nations General Assembly in September, has been rescheduled to coincide with the 79th anniversary of the infamous Roswell incident on July 8, although Lee speculates that Trump's impulsive nature may prompt him to reveal the truth sooner, potentially upstaging rival nations like Russia or China. If realized, this historic declaration would formally acknowledge a true excess of prominent UFO episodes, including the USS Nimitz encounter, the USS Theodore Roosevelt's GoFast and Gimbal incidents, and the 1947 Roswell incident, thereby marking a groundbreaking moment in the realm of ufology.

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