Space Intelligence Briefing: March 8, 2026

Daily briefing for March 8, 2026.

Top 5 Space News

RFA plans first launch this summer

German startup Rocket Factory Augsburg is planning its first launch for this summer. They have delivered two of their stages to the launch site.

Source: SpaceNews

Baikonur Launch Pad restored, clearing path for Progress MS-33 ISS Mission

Russia’s launch infrastructure at Baikonur Cosmodrome’s Site 31/6 has been fully repaired. This restoration is necessary for the upcoming Progress MS-33 ISS Mission.

Source: NASASpaceflight

Air Force lab awards BlackSky contract worth up to $99 million for large optical satellite payload

The Air Force lab has awarded BlackSky a contract, which could be worth up to $99 million. The program will test a large segmented optical system for future surveillance satellites.

Source: SpaceNews

NASA contract confirms selection of ULA’s Centaur 5 as new upper stage for the SLS rocket

NASA has confirmed the selection of United Launch Alliance’s Centaur 5 as the new upper stage for the SLS rocket. The first launch of this new stage will occur during the Artemis 4 mission.

Source: Spaceflight Now

NASA selects Centaur for new SLS upper stage

NASA has chosen the Centaur upper stage for future Space Launch System flights. It is currently used on United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket.

Source: SpaceNews

Cosmic Curiosity

The Aurora Tree

A photograph captures the branches of a nearby tree seeming to glow with the colors of a distant aurora. This visual coincidence was mesmerized the photographer, creating a stunning scene in Iceland in March 2017.

Source: NASA APOD

Why These Sources

This briefing uses public source data from space news feeds, NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day, and NASA's near-Earth object feed.