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The DART asteroid orbit change mission demonstrated that humanity can successfully alter the motion of celestial bodies in space. After launching aboard a Falcon 9 rocket in 2021, NASA’s DART spacecraft intentionally impacted the asteroid Dimorphos in 2022, shortening its orbit around Didymos and slightly shifting the orbit of the entire asteroid system around the Sun. This historic experiment proved that the kinetic impactor method could be used as a viable planetary defense strategy to protect Earth from future asteroid threats.

The Falcon 9 EchoStar XXV mission launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, sending a powerful communications satellite into geostationary transfer orbit. The mission supports EchoStar’s broadcasting and data services while demonstrating the continued success of SpaceX’s reusable Falcon 9 rocket. With satellites like EchoStar XXV expanding global connectivity, commercial space launches are playing an increasingly important role in modern communications infrastructure.

SpaceX has begun Starbase Pad 2 testing, marking a major step forward in the development of the Starship launch system. The campaign will activate the new launch pad, test propellant loading systems, and operate Super Heavy Booster 19 equipped with Raptor 3 engines for the first time. These tests are essential preparations for the upcoming Starship Flight 12, which will debut the next-generation Block 3 version of the rocket and bring SpaceX closer to its goal of fully reusable space transportation.

At 8:19 PM · Mar 8, 2026, SpaceX successfully conducted a Falcon 9 Starlink launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, deploying 25 satellites into low-Earth orbit. The mission included a successful booster landing on the droneship “Of Course I Still Love You” and further expanded the Starlink satellite internet constellation, which now includes thousands of satellites delivering broadband connectivity worldwide.

The successful testing of Starlink Direct to Cell Zambia marks a historic milestone for satellite-to-mobile connectivity in Africa. Through a partnership between MTN Zambia and Starlink, the first data session and fintech transaction were transmitted using satellite communication and existing LTE devices. The technology enables smartphones to access voice, messaging, and data services in remote areas where traditional networks are unavailable, paving the way for expanded digital connectivity across Zambia and beyond.