The space sector is experiencing a period of intense operational milestones and strategic shifts as of February 8, 2026. Industry leaders like Ascent Solar Technologies, Intuitive Machines, and AST SpaceMobile are moving past research and development into commercial execution, driven by high-stakes missions and large-scale infrastructure deployments.
Ascent Solar Technologies: Powering the Future of Space Beaming
On February 5, 2026, Ascent Solar Technologies (NASDAQ: ASTI) announced an aggressive 2026 roadmap focused on space-based energy beaming. This technology aims to transmit power via microwave or laser from orbital vehicles to flexible, thin-film solar panels affixed to spacecraft, theoretically allowing them to operate indefinitely without heavy onboard batteries.+1
- NASA Collaboration: The company is on track to conclude its Collaborative Agreement Notice program with NASA Marshall and Glenn Research Center this spring, validating its CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Selenide) thin-film PV modules for extreme space environments.
- Strategic Partnerships: Teaming agreements with Cislunar Industries and Star Catcher Industries aim to enable spacecraft to generate multiple times more power than traditional arrays, supporting emerging markets like in-space data centers and long-duration lunar missions.
- Manufacturing Surge: Ascent is utilizing its 5-MW Thornton, Colorado facility to optimize commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) products, achieving delivery lead times of just six to eight weeks compared to the industry standard of nine to twelve months.
Intuitive Machines: Tracking the Path to the Moon
Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ: LUNR) has solidified its role as a cornerstone of the lunar economy, particularly through its support of the Artemis II mission.
- Artemis II Tracking: NASA selected Intuitive Machines as one of 34 global participants to track the Orion spacecraft during its 10-day journey around the Moon. The company is utilizing its Space Data Network (SDN) and ground station infrastructure to monitor one-way Doppler measurements, providing real-time data on the spacecraft’s position and velocity.+1
- Artemis II Launch Update: NASA recently adjusted the potential launch window for Artemis II to no earlier than March 2026, following a “wet dress rehearsal” that began on February 2.
- Financial Resilience: Trading near $20, the company maintains a robust balance sheet with over $600 million in cash, positioning it to weather mission delays as it prepares for the IM-2 and IM-3 lunar landings later this year.
AST SpaceMobile: The Direct-to-Device Countdown
AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) is racing to operationalize the world’s first space-based cellular broadband network, with a critical focus on its upcoming BlueBird 7 launch.
- Blue Origin Partnership: The launch of BlueBird 7 is scheduled for late February 2026 on Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket. This mission is a pivotal step toward the company’s goal of launching 45 to 60 satellites by the end of 2026.
- Service Activation: Following the successful deployment of BlueBird 7, AST plans to activate beta commercial service with AT&T in the first half of 2026. This will offer “intermittent nationwide” service in the U.S. before scaling to continuous coverage later in the year.+1
- Market Competition: The sector faced a minor sell-off in early February after AT&T announced a separate fiber and satellite connectivity deal with Amazon Leo (formerly Kuiper). While analysts suggest this deal focuses more on backhaul than direct-to-cell, it underscores the intensifying competition in the LEO satellite market.
| Company | Key 2026 Focus Area | Status / Milestone |
| Ascent Solar (ASTI) | Space Energy Beaming | NASA program concluding this Spring |
| Intuitive Machines (LUNR) | Lunar Data & Tracking | Tracking Artemis II; IM-2 landing in H1 2026 |
| AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) | Direct-to-Device Broadband | BlueBird 7 launch late Feb; Beta service H1 2026 |