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Cosmic Penguin (@Cosmic_Penguin) profile picture

Cosmic Penguin

@Cosmic_Penguin

Astronomy & spaceflight weeb penguin. In a relationship w/ Space Shuttle Discovery. Starship x @NASA_SLS shipper. Chinese spaceflight news/@PRCMarsRover hunter.

 Hong Kong ➡️ Ontario Somewhere
Joined May 2012
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  • Followers12.2K
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What Is Happening In Chinese Spaceflight in Quarter 4, 2026 - A perfect run for spaceflight "high ground" leadership...or maybe not?
Image from Cosmic Penguin (@Cosmic_Penguin)
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The Russians actually listed this launch (seems to be of yet another GLONASS navigation satellite) in NOTAMs yesterday but I have forgotten about it…
Anatoly Zak (@RussianSpaceWeb) profile pictureAnatoly Zak@RussianSpaceWebNov 7
A Soyuz-2-1b rocket launches a military payload from Plesetsk, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense quoted by official media:
Image from Anatoly Zak (@RussianSpaceWeb)
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And launch success has been confirmed with the unnamed spacecraft in contact. This launch occurred in light snow at pad 43/3 at Plesetsk. No launch time was given but is probably ~13:30 UTC per time of first reports. t.me/roscosmos_gk/21009
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lmaoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo xitter.twitterapi.xyz/AST_SpaceMobile/status…
Image from Cosmic Penguin (@Cosmic_Penguin)
AST SpaceMobile (@AST_SpaceMobile) profile pictureAST SpaceMobile
@AST_SpaceMobileNov 6
AST SpaceMobile to Build Own 20-Ton Rocket to Deploy BlueBird Satellites in Low Earth Orbit Using Miranda Engines from Firefly Aerospace. businesswire.com/news/home/2… #ASTSpaceMobile #Broadband #ConnectingtheUnconnected #BlueBirds #Blacklift
Image from AST SpaceMobile (@AST_SpaceMobile)
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No, getting engines from other suppliers doesn't mean you can built a big rocket out of thin air within 2 years. Well, maybe in China...although even there things aren't looking good for those companies who claimed doing so. xitter.twitterapi.xyz/FireflySpace/status/21…
Firefly Aerospace (@FireflySpace) profile pictureFirefly Aerospace
@FireflySpaceNov 6
$FLY 🤝 $ASTS Two bold Texas companies, Firefly and @AST_SpaceMobile, signed a deal valued at more than $1.3 billion. Firefly will deliver 36 rocket engines, offer engineering support, and provide a license to manufacture our Miranda and Vira engines for AST SpaceMobile's new heavy-lift rocket. This is a tremendous win-win for both companies: AST SpaceMobile will be able to launch their own satellites, while Firefly will rapidly scale testing and production of our existing launch vehicle lineup. fireflyspace.com/news/firefl…
Firefly Aerospace Signs Rocket Engine Deal Valued at More Than $1.3 Billion with AST SpaceMobile

Firefly Aerospace Signs Rocket Engine Deal Valued at More Than $1.3 Billion with AST SpaceMobile

Agreement supports AST SpaceMobile’s new heavy-lift rocket, while injecting additional funds for Firefly's launch vehicle production.

fireflyspace.com
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This one has always feel like a MoU for Starship that can be shifted to Falcon 9 at anytime TBH. xitter.twitterapi.xyz/SciGuySpace/status/211…
Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) profile pictureEric Berger
@SciGuySpaceNov 4
Note to those who attacked my story on SpaceX last week, claiming that Superbird-9 was launching on Starship next year. I asked if it was. The response:
Image from Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace)
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xitter.twitterapi.xyz/SciGuySpace/status/211…
Image from Cosmic Penguin (@Cosmic_Penguin)
Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) profile pictureEric Berger
@SciGuySpaceOct 29
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about, and talking to people about a post-Falcon world. Why sunset the world’s best rocket? Can Starship replace it? What about Artemis? Why are SpaceXers flocking to Memphis? Grab a coffee, this is a long one. arstechnica.com/space/2026/1…
SpaceX no longer needs NASA, and that's a problem for America's space agency

SpaceX no longer needs NASA, and that's a problem for America's space agency

NASA desperately needs SpaceX, and SpaceX knows it, and Elon knows it."

arstechnica.com
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Still not bidding for CLPS/Moonbase landers launches might just be the natural gradual move to Starship. For longer term, most customers are trivial, maybe even @NASA, but @USSpaceForce certainly aren't & I can see the Defense Production Act being used if it's that desparate.
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So are there 2 Alphas ready to launch this year @FireflySpace...? xitter.twitterapi.xyz/pbdes/status/211475228…
Peter B. de Selding (@pbdes) profile picturePeter B. de Selding@pbdesOct 26
.@Open_Cosmos returns to @ITUradiocomms with satellite status details to win deadline extension for Connected Cosmos broadband constellation. Co. maintains it has binding contract w/ @FireflySpace for 4 launches, each carrying 6 sats, to occur by June 2027.spaceintelreport.com/open-co…
Image from Peter B. de Selding (@pbdes)
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Dafuq! Never mind what US companies do, the management here is going to be/already ridiculed by anyone in the Chinese spaceflight industry. Heck even the human power & financially constrained Japanese (in collaboration on CALLISTO) did more than that... xitter.twitterapi.xyz/AndrewParsonson/status…
Andrew Parsonson (@AndrewParsonson) profile pictureAndrew Parsonson
@AndrewParsonsonOct 23
ESA is uncertain whether its Themis reusable rocket demonstrator will fly in 2026, with winter conditions at Esrange threatening further delays. europeanspaceflight.com/esa-…
ESA Director "Not Sure" Themis Will Make Its First Flight in 2026 - European Spaceflight

ESA Director "Not Sure" Themis Will Make Its First Flight in 2026 - European Spaceflight

ESA is uncertain whether it will be able to complete an initial hop test of its Themis reusable rocket demonstrator before the end of 2026.

europeanspaceflight.com
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I think the more interesting thing is that no-one outside of SpaceX offered a bid either. Weird as this seems to be one of the "NSSL Lane 1" missions that newcomers can... xitter.twitterapi.xyz/audrey_decker9/status/…
Audrey Decker (@audrey_decker9) profile pictureAudrey Decker@audrey_decker9Oct 22
scoop: SpaceX declined to offer Falcon for three future Space Force missions, and no other company offered to fly them either — an early sign of the launch crunch politico.com/news/2026/10/22…
Space Force scrambles as Musk’s SpaceX retires its major rocket

Space Force scrambles as Musk’s SpaceX retires its major rocket

politico.com
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It would be interesting to see if the academia has anything to say about this one... xitter.twitterapi.xyz/NASAOIG/status/2112192…
NASA Office of Inspector General (@NASAOIG) profile pictureNASA Office of Inspector General
@NASAOIGOct 19
NASA relies on decadal surveys to prioritize its long-term science goals. Our new audit identified communication gaps, inadequate progress tracking, and inconsistent internal processes that hinder the Agency from optimally overseeing its survey efforts: go.nasa.gov/3VWafer
A collage of hexagonal panels showing images related to the five NASA Science Mission Directorate divisions. The words: “Newly Issued: NASA's Role in the Decadal Survey Process.” NASA Office of Inspector General logo. NASA's Oversight Authority. Website URL: oig.nasa.gov

ALT A collage of hexagonal panels showing images related to the five NASA Science Mission Directorate divisions. The words: “Newly Issued: NASA's Role in the Decadal Survey Process.” NASA Office of Inspector General logo. NASA's Oversight Authority. Website URL: oig.nasa.gov

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The first meters of millions of km @mmx_jaxa_en will travel to Mars, Phobos and back will occur in about 2 hours from now when the H3 rocket launching it tomorrow is scheduled to roll out to its launch pad. Stream to come from @nvslive: youtube.com/watch?v=kI8Escaf…
2026.10.19 13:00～ H3ロケット10号機 機体移動 H3 F10 Rollout（打上げ準備）

2026.10.19　13:00～ H3ロケット10号機 機体移動 H3 F10 Rollout（打上げ準備）

機体移動は13:30～予定です。H３ロケットを大型ロケット組立棟から射場へ移動させる「機体移動」の様子を現地種子島から中継します。...

youtube.com
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So it's essentially this installed on a racing car...I wonder how it can be certified & approved (both the vehicle & whoever's driving it this way), even "just" the mode w/ aft cold gas thrusters, as this will need EXTREMELY stringent testing procedures. xitter.twitterapi.xyz/Tesla/status/211078805…
Image from Cosmic Penguin (@Cosmic_Penguin)
Image from Cosmic Penguin (@Cosmic_Penguin)
Tesla (@Tesla) profile pictureTesla
@TeslaOct 15
Roadster event livestream xitter.twitterapi.xyz/i/broadcasts/1yKAPwNgg…
Video
0:00

Tesla

Roadster

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Given that the only firmed-up New Glenn launch contracts that is non-@BlueOrigin/@AmazonLeo internal payloads & non-US government is @AST_SpaceMobile's...I don't know how true this is but doing so is easy at least. xitter.twitterapi.xyz/TMFAssociates/status/2…
Tim Farrar (@TMFAssociates) profile pictureTim Farrar@TMFAssociatesOct 9
When is someone going to report on the rumors that Blue Origin has also stopped selling launches to third parties for the rest of the decade, in order to reserve New Glenn capacity for Terawave?
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5th flight of the (South) Korean Nuri rocket with 5 Earth observation satellites NeonSat-2 to 6 (2 previous models flew on Rocket Lab Electrons) is counting down for launch today, T-0 now adjusted to 03:25 UTC: xitter.twitterapi.xyz/kari2030/status/210762…
한국항공우주연구원 (@kari2030) profile picture한국항공우주연구원
@kari2030Oct 6
[누리호 5차, 발사 시각 확정!] 누리호 5차 발사 시각이 10월 7일 12시 25분으로 결정되었습니다. 오늘 개최된 누리호 발사관리위원회는 기술적 준비상황을 종합적으로 점검 후 기상 조건도 안정적인 상태임을 확인하여 7일 12시 25분에 누리호를 발사하기로 최종 결정했습니다. 오늘 오전 9시 40분경부터 추진제 충전이 진행될 예정이며, 발사 10분 전부터 발사 자동 운용 모드로 전환됩니다. 발사 직전까지 모든 과정을 더 철저하게 점검하고 준비하여 탑재위성을 성공적으로 목표 궤도에 안착시킬 수 있도록 발사 마지막 순간까지 최선을 다하겠습니다! #한국항공우주연구원 #항우연 #kari #누리호 #5차발사 #발사시각결정 #10월7일 #12시25분
Image from 한국항공우주연구원 (@kari2030)
Image from 한국항공우주연구원 (@kari2030)
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I just noticed that for the 1st time ever a Starship has entered @USSpaceForce @SpaceTrackOrg’s catalog! Ship 41 is recorded as “STARSHIP-14” (2026-225AC/100881) once in a 267 x 276 km x 30.52°, P=89.95 min orbit, with a Decay Date of 2026-09-28 as expected. @planet4589
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Sounds like a software issue to me, since the Mobile Transporter also cannot move for now xitter.twitterapi.xyz/SciGuySpace/status/210…
Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) profile pictureEric Berger
@SciGuySpaceSep 28
The large robotic arm on the International Space Station stopped functioning this weekend. It's not clear whether the problem is temporary. No official comment from NASA yet. arstechnica.com/space/2026/0…
NASA 'troubleshooting' transporter for space station's robotic arm [Updated]

NASA 'troubleshooting' transporter for space station's robotic arm [Updated]

NASA isn't saying much. The problem may be temporary.

arstechnica.com
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Who say that Falcon rockets are dead October 1st has **5** Falcon 1st stages scheduled to fly on the same day now (NROL-97 was literally just announced, though Transporter-18 is currently unconfirmed):
Image from Cosmic Penguin (@Cosmic_Penguin)
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It depends on whether the science community wants the answer of the specific water question at Jezero, or sth else. The Chinese are looking at northern flat plains' edges that do have signs of past water (candidate sites are all on the "coastline"), but it's no "river delta".
Scott Manley (@DJSnM) profile pictureScott Manley
@DJSnMSep 22
Mars Sample Return mission is dead in the latest funding agreement. Which means China will likely beat the US to returning the first samples from Mars. Perseverance has collected the best samples it could, and those will remain on Mars for a long time. But it had become ridiculously expensive, partly because political support from Congress allowed it to. science.org/content/article/…
NASA’s Mars Sample Return mission is dead

NASA’s Mars Sample Return mission is dead

Congress backs Trump administration’s efforts to kill project that would ferry martian rocks to Earth

science.org
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Using @ASI_spazio to critique about @ESA's proposed contributions is certainly...a choice of all time, never mind whether you want to even want to critique in the first place. xitter.twitterapi.xyz/SciGuySpace/status/210…
Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) profile pictureEric Berger
@SciGuySpaceSep 22
Jared Isaacman does not appear to be screwing around with NASA’s return to the Moon. This article may make some heads explode in Europe. arstechnica.com/space/2026/0…
NASA chief: I'm only interested in "good deals" from international partners

NASA chief: I'm only interested in "good deals" from international partners

There was absolutely a time where we were trying to make everyone happy."

arstechnica.com
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Note that these are for Dragon Crew-15/16/17, so it seems there will only be 5 more long term ISS crew rotation Dragon flights through to the current planned ISS EOM time of ~2030 (for now). At least 9 Commercial Crew flights are needed till then so... xitter.twitterapi.xyz/NASASpaceflight/status…
NSF - NASASpaceflight.com (@NASASpaceflight) profile pictureNSF - NASASpaceflight.com
@NASASpaceflightSep 18
NASA has awarded SpaceX three additional missions through a contract modification. "As part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) contract, this change brings the total missions for SpaceX to 17 and helps NASA to maintain access to the space station with two unique commercial crew industry partners." nasa.gov/missions/station/co…
NASA Awards SpaceX Three Crew Flights to Space Station - NASA

NASA Awards SpaceX Three Crew Flights to Space Station - NASA

To continue regular crew transportation to the International Space Station, NASA has awarded SpaceX three additional missions through a contract modification.

nasa.gov
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So apparently there were NOTAMs appearing for another Russian launch (probably another GLONASS navsat) @ Plesetsk yesterday for a 5 day window starting today (as usual lately, 13 hours long 08:00-20:59 UTC), but w/o "spoofs" unlike recent practices. forum.nasaspaceflight.com/in…
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