The modernized FOC-1A antenna will be able to support communications with the Moon.

Telespazio announced the Response modernization program on Feb. 3.

The FOC-1A antenna’s support for lunar communications will be achieved through Italy’s direct contribution to NASA’s Artemis program and through ESA’s Moonlight program.

The FOC-1A antenna enabled Italians to watch the Moon landing on television in 1969.

Telespazio is the prime contractor for ESA’s Moonlight program for lunar communications and navigation.

The FOC-1A antenna has been operational since 1967.

The modernized FOC-1A antenna will be able to support future missions related to the European Space Agency’s global tracking network for missions and satellites (ESTRACK).

GCT Semiconductor has proprietary mode-switching capabilities designed for non-terrestrial connectivity.

The collaboration aims to accelerate the industry’s transition toward unified terrestrial-satellite networks.

Under the agreement, GCT Semiconductor will provide access to its chipset portfolio for use in multiple user devices to offer a complete product line for various use cases.

The licensing agreement enables integration of GCT Semiconductor’s 5G and 4G chipsets into the satellite provider’s user equipment to use both satellite and terrestrial networks.

The collaboration positions GCT Semiconductor and the satellite communications provider to participate in emerging 5G-to-space networks aiming to deliver global coverage, including underserved regions.

John Schlaefer is the CEO of GCT Semiconductor.

GCT Semiconductor’s newly released 5G chipset will be leveraged by the satellite communications provider to enable direct-to-satellite applications within its expanding network.

Shipments of GCT Semiconductor’s 5G products supporting the direct-to-satellite initiative are expected to begin as early as the second half of this year.

A leading satellite communications provider reached a licensing agreement with GCT Semiconductor for 5G and 4G chipsets.

NASA completed a wet dress rehearsal for the Artemis II mission in the early morning on February 3, 2026.

Artemis II is the first crewed mission of the Artemis program and is planned as a circumlunar flight.

The Artemis II wet dress rehearsal validated operational sequences, ground systems, and interactions between the vehicle and launch infrastructure.

NASA will target March 2026 as the earliest possible launch opportunity for the Artemis II mission to allow teams to review test data and conduct a second wet dress rehearsal.

The postponement to a March 2026 launch window does not change the objectives of the Artemis II mission.

NASA decided to schedule a second full wet dress rehearsal for Artemis II to consolidate results and ensure all parameters fall within expected margins.

The March 2026 launch window provides additional time to verify operational conditions before the crewed Artemis II launch.

The Artemis II wet dress rehearsal included propellant loading and simulation of the final countdown phases without proceeding to engine ignition.

Within the Artemis program, a wet dress rehearsal serves as a key pre-launch step to identify potential issues while the vehicle is in flight configuration.

Leonardo DRS applies its sensing and payload manufacturing capabilities to autonomous maritime fleet protection and ground combat mounted and dismounted systems.

Leonardo DRS provides multi-domain advanced cooled and uncooled infrared systems to the U.S. government and multiple allied nations.

Advanced sensing mission technology is a strategic focus for Leonardo DRS and the company integrates multi-domain sensing, secure communications, and laser technologies for programs including Golden Dome and Counter-UAS.

Leonardo DRS has installed mission capabilities across ground, sea, air, and space domains.

The TRKT3 infrared capability will be used from the earliest stages of an adversarial launch through interception and will deliver precision fire-control sensing data for missile interceptors.

The infrared mission payloads for TRKT3 are intended to provide global detection, warning, and tracking of ballistic missiles and hypersonic weapons.

Leonardo DRS received a subcontract to provide Infrared Mission Payloads in support of the Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer Tranche 3 (TRKT3).

Tracking Layer Tranche 3 (TRKT3) is part of the U.S. military’s advanced missile defense program managed by the Space Development Agency.

Leonardo DRS will design, build, integrate, and test advanced infrared mission payloads for TRKT3.

The collaboration intends to leverage Leonardo’s global helicopter design and manufacturing expertise together with Adani Defence’s aerospace and defence industrial capabilities.

Gian Piero Cutillo is Managing Director of Leonardo Helicopters.

Adani Defence & Aerospace and Leonardo signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create an integrated helicopter industrial ecosystem in India.

The collaboration will support advanced Leonardo helicopter models including the AW169M and the AW109 TrekkerM through progressive localization.

The planned industrial ecosystem is expected to create thousands of highly skilled jobs in engineering, manufacturing, logistics, and support services in India.

Jeet Adani is Director of Adani Defence & Aerospace.

The partnership plans to extend capabilities developed for military helicopters to civil aviation applications and the international supply chain.

The Indian armed forces have a projected requirement of more than 1,000 helicopters over the next decade.

The integrated helicopter industrial ecosystem will target demand from the Indian armed forces and support India’s self-sufficiency in helicopter production aligned with Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Adani Defence & Aerospace is a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Ltd active in the defence and aerospace sectors in India.

Ashish Rajvanshi is CEO of Adani Defence & Aerospace.

The partnership will establish maintenance, repair, and overhaul capabilities and provide comprehensive pilot training services for helicopters in India.

Elon Musk’s comment "K2 or you're not even trying!" invokes an informal, high-ambition technical benchmark used internally to evaluate the operation.

Elon Musk replied to SpaceX’s X post with the message "K2 or you're not even trying!".

SpaceX chose an acquisition of xAI rather than an external partnership, reinforcing its existing vertical integration model.

xAI develops frontier artificial intelligence models.