T-Minus Space Daily: "Thermal Vision & Sovereign Ambition"

Host: Maria Varmazas (N2K Networks)
Date: February 17, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of T-Minus Space Daily focuses on breakthrough developments in space intelligence and infrastructure, highlighting advances in thermal Earth observation, European sovereign space ambitions, digital twin technology for agriculture, and new partnerships in rapidly iterating in-space manufacturing. The show features news updates from the global space industry and an insightful interview with Courtney Stod (Staad), Executive Vice President of the Beyond Earth Institute, previewing the upcoming Beyond Earth Symposium and discussing the future of space policy, international competition, and commercial opportunities.

Key News Segments & Insights

1. SatVu’s $40M Raise & NATO Investment (01:21)

• SatVu, a UK-based thermal intelligence company, closes a £30 million ($40 million) funding round, bringing total equity to £60 million ($80 million).
• Strategic investment comes from the NATO Innovation Fund.
• Funding will accelerate deployment of a high-resolution thermal satellite constellation providing persistent, reliable, and global Earth observation.
• SatVu’s constellation:
  • Hotsat 2 & 3 to launch in 2026
  • Hotsat 4 & 5 under contract, with early works for Hotsat 6
• Quote:
  “SatVu’s thermal intelligence technology can provide governments and businesses across NATO nations with a level of detailed data that was simply not available before.”
  — Trisha Saxena, NATO Innovation Fund [02:37]

2. Sateliot & PLD Space: Fully Spanish Private Launch (03:41)

• Sateliot signs with PLD Space for a 2027 dedicated launch—a first for an all-Spanish private mission.
• Launch will send two TRITO satellites into LEO via PLD’s Miura 5 reusable micro-launcher.
• The new-generation satellites expand IoT, mobile, data, voice, and video via direct-to-device 5G.

3. Orbex’s Future Uncertain Amid Administration Procedures (04:43)

• UK launch company Orbex in financial distress, enters administration procedures.
• To build confidence, Orbex releases new photos of its microlauncher “Prime"—once touted as an advanced, low-carbon micro-launcher.
• Test launches scheduled for later in the year with existing customer commitments still in flux.

4. Australia’s $15M Digital Twin for Agriculture (05:46)

• Australasian Space Innovation Institute initiates a $15 million “national digital twin” project for Australian agriculture.
• Aims for coordinated, AI-enabled geospatial decision-making at national scale; integrates satellite, IoT/sensor, climate, and agronomic data.
• The digital twin will help in climate resilience, biosecurity, water management, and productivity via predictive modeling and scenario testing.

5. SOFIA Space & Outpost Tech: On-orbit AI for Rapid Manufacturing Innovation (06:49)

• SOFIA Space and Outpost Technologies partner to evaluate on-orbit AI for manufacturing with quick return-to-Earth capability.
• SOFIA’s Tile Orbital Compute aims for in-orbit processing, reduced latency and bandwidth, faster cycles, and autonomy in manufacturing.

Feature Interview: Courtney Stod (Staad), Beyond Earth Institute

Begins at [09:38]

Symposium Preview and Goals

• Beyond Earth Symposium: Feb 24–25, 2026, at American University, Washington DC.
• Theme: "From Space Habitat to Space Town: Creating a Clear Pathway."
• 40+ speakers: mix of senior corporate execs, NASA officials (past & present), academic and government leaders.
• Goals: Foster debate on pathways from Earth orbit to lunar & beyond, emphasize actionable recommendations.

Notable Quotes

• “The energy and the vision that the next generation is bringing... is so important to robust discussion.”
  — Courtney Stod [11:42]
• “This is not just bloviating over a day and a half and populating an echo chamber, but we invite everyone, both on stage and certainly in the audience, to participate in a robust engagement discussion. Because after all, this is the future of your country, of our species off planet.”
  — Courtney Stod [14:00]

Symposium Discussion Points

Embracing Diverse Viewpoints ([11:20]–[15:50])

• Deliberate inclusion of differing, even opposing, viewpoints—particularly on panels addressing international competition, commercialization, and station transition.
• Example: A panel will discuss the scale and implications of China’s space ambitions—competition vs. cooperation.

Addressing US-China Space Rivalry ([12:11])

• “Is it a race? What is it? And what can the United States most effectively do to counter the Chinese and their allies, at the same time recognizing... the need [for] areas of cooperation at a technical level?”
  — Courtney Stod

Transitioning to Commercial Space Stations ([12:58])

• Importance of ensuring seamless transition from ISS to future commercial stations.
• Real-world impacts—from scientific research (e.g. cancer, plastics, biologics) to electronics—the need to maintain knowledge continuity.

Focus on Lunar Habitats & Settlement ([13:55])

• Showcasing visions for lunar habitats; includes “very compelling video” from a leading space architect.
• Discussions on resource utilization: rare minerals, helium-3, water, and the economic/national security potential.

“Symposium” in the True Sense ([15:11])

• Emphasizes the event’s genuine, interactive format—substantive dialogue not just from panelists but also from engaged audience participation.
• “It wasn’t just, you know, I have a question in the form of a comment type stuff. It was really robust discussion from a lot of different points of view.” — Maria Varmazas

Invitation & Broad Call to Participate ([15:50])

• Quick, easy registration via beyondearthsymposium.org.
• Aimed at fostering connections across policy, industry, and next-generation leaders.
• “This is...an inflection point. We have for the first time an entrepreneur businessman running NASA who’s got a writ to take the United States to the moon—this time to stay.” — Courtney Stod [16:11]

Uplifting Future for Space – Youth and Hope ([17:40])

• Courtney closes with optimism about space’s next generation:
  “The young people who are coming in droves...they’re extraordinary. You will see that we’re in really good hands in terms of our future in the space domain.”

Human Spaceflight Updates ([20:01])

• SpaceX Crew-12: Safely arrived at ISS, joining Expedition 74. ESA’s Sophie Adenot makes history as the second French woman in space and first since 2001.
• Artemis II Update:
  • Next SLS wet dress rehearsal targeted for Feb 19; launch could happen as early as March 6, fingers crossed.

Memorable Quotes

• “We want robust engagement... Because after all, this is the future of your country, of our species off planet.” — Courtney Stod [14:00]
• “If you ever question the future...all you need to do is see the young people who are coming into this domain of space exploration and development.” — Courtney Stod [17:40]

Timestamps for Noteworthy Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------|-------------| | SatVu/NATO funding and constellation | 01:21–03:07 | | Sateliot & PLD Space Spanish launch | 03:41–04:30 | | Orbex microlauncher/administration details | 04:43–05:28 | | Australia’s Agri Digital Twin | 05:46–06:37 | | SOFIA Space/Outpost in-space mfg partnership | 06:49–07:23 | | Courtney Stod interview (Beyond Earth Symposium)| 09:38–18:41 | | Human spaceflight (Crew-12, Artemis 2) | 20:01–21:54 |

Overall Tone & Takeaways

• The episode blends technical news with policy and community-building, emphasizing international competition and collaboration, commercial innovation, and the vibrant, multidisciplinary future of space.
• The tone is energetic, encouraging, and forward-looking—highlighting both challenges and optimism (particularly the role of young professionals).
• The Beyond Earth Symposium is positioned as a lightning rod for substantive debate and action in the evolving space ecosystem.

Useful Links:

• Beyond Earth Symposium
• space.n2k.com (for further details on all discussed news items)