In Space Infrastructure, Living in Space, Space Settlement

Space habitation report – Mar.2.2026

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Here is a new selection of videos, articles, and news items about space habitats (govt and commercial), living in space, and space settlement.

=== International Space Station & NASA

** NASA’s SpaceX 33rd Commercial Resupply Services Undocking | NASA

Watch a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft undock and depart from the International Space Station. The spacecraft is scheduled to autonomously undock at 12:05 p.m. EST (1705 UTC) on Thursday, Feb. 26, and splash down off the coast of California at 2:44 a.m. EST (0744 UTC) on Friday, Feb. 27.

This Dragon spacecraft arrived at the space station as part of our SpaceX 33rd Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-33) mission. It arrived carrying science and supplies for the crew aboard the orbiting lab, and will return to Earth with scientific data from experiments in low Earth orbit, including tests determining how materials age in space and how microgravity affects brain and heart stem cell growth.

Learn more about this mission and the science it’s bringing down to Earth: [link to advisory]
Follow the ISS blog for the latest updates on the CRS-33 mission: https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacestation/

See also: Human Research, Advanced Tech Keep Crew Busy Before Dragon Departs | NASA – Feb.25.2026

** NASA Astronaut Discusses Life In Space With WTOP Radio – Friday, February 20, 2026 | NASA Video

Aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 74 flight engineer Chris Williams of NASA, discussed life and work aboard the orbital outpost during an in-flight interview February 20 with WTOP Radio in Washington, D.C. Williams is in the midst of a long-duration mission living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration flights as part of NASA’s Moon and Mars exploration approach, including lunar missions through NASA’s Artemis program.

** Celebrate Engineers Week 2026 with the International Space Station | DiscoverE

Astronaut Chris Williams shares an Engineers Week message from the Cupola of the International Space Station!

This year’s Engineers Week theme – Transform Your Future – is about celebrating today’s achievements and inspiring the next generation of problem-solvers.

Join the #Eweek2026 celebration and learn more at https://discovere.org/programs/engine…

** Crew-12 arrives at the International Space Station | εpsilon mission | European Space Agency, ESA

Watch the docking operations of Crew-12 to the International Space Station (ISS), which took place on 14 February 2026 at 21:15 CET. The docking is followed by the hatch opening and the welcome remarks by the astronauts already present in the ISS.

ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot flies as mission specialist. The other Crew-12 members are NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, respectively commander and pilot of the mission, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev, mission specialist.

The French ESA astronaut is the first of her class, the Hoppers, to fly. Sophie has chosen the name εpsilon for her mission, which may last up to nine months. On board the Station, she will conduct a wide range of tasks, including European-led scientific experiments and medical research, support Earth observation activities, and contribute to operations and maintenance on the Station.

** ISS does ‘orbital cartwheel’ in amazing time-lapse from space | VideoFromSpace

The International Space Station changes its orientation “before and after each Spacex CRS-33 reboost,” according to NASA astronaut Zena Cardman. This time-lapse shows the orbital cartwheel it performs.

=== Commercial space habitats

** Axiom Space

** Axiom raises additional funding: Axiom Space Secures $350M in Financing to Accelerate Space Station, Spacesuit Development | Axiom Space – Feb.12.2026

Axiom Space, the leader in commercial human space exploration, announced today $350-million in financing to advance its mission to deliver the successor to the International Space Station (ISS) and ready its next-generation spacesuits for the United States’ return to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years.

The financing reflects continued strong institutional and strategic investor conviction in Axiom Space’s leadership position.

** Vast and Axiom awarded new private missions to ISS, continue work on commercial space stations – NASASpaceFlight.com

** Starlab – Voyager Technologies

** Starlab station mockup:

** Voyager to use Max Space expandable habitat technologies: Voyager and Max Space to Accelerate Deep-Space Human Exploration Voyager/BusinessWire – Feb.5.2026

Voyager Technologies (NYSE: VOYG) and Max Space announced a strategic partnership to advance expandable space exploration technology, serving as the cornerstone of future lunar and deep-space exploration efforts for habitation and storage. …

… The collaboration brings together Voyager’s experience delivering mission-critical space systems and infrastructure with Max Space’s high-volume, low-mass expandable structure technology, creating a scalable approach to human operations on the lunar surface and critical to humanity’s expansion to Mars and beyond. The effort supports a growing national and commercial emphasis toward a sustained human presence and operational continuity beyond low-Earth orbit.

“Expandable structures represent a step change in how surface infrastructure can be delivered and deployed,” said Saleem Miyan, co-founder and CEO, Max Space. “Our structure is an evolutionary leap over previous generations, and it’s the only expandable technology with 40 years of on-orbit experience designed into it. Its architecture embodies increased capability, scalability and versatility that are essential for sustained deep-space human activity and to unleash the Lunar and Martian economies.”

See also Expandable Structures in Space: New Strategic Partnership | Leonard David – Feb.5.2026

— Starlab plans for microgravity life science research and manufacturing applications on the station:

** VAST

— FCC space chief tours Vast HQ:

— VAST private astronaut mission to ISS approved by NASA:

—  More about the mission:

Vast, the company developing next-generation space stations, has signed an order with NASA for the sixth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, targeted to launch no earlier than summer 2027 from Florida. It is Vast’s first private astronaut mission to the space station in partnership with NASA.

…

The Vast private astronaut mission crew is expected to spend up to 14 days aboard the space station. A specific launch date will depend on overall spacecraft traffic at the orbital outpost and other planning considerations. SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will launch the crew on a Dragon spacecraft to the space station as previously announced.

The mission will generate invaluable insights into the infrastructure and processes required for Vast to safely accomplish human spaceflight missions. The mission supports deeper collaboration with NASA and international space agencies in addition to strengthening Vast’s position as a candidate to deliver its proposed successor to the space station, the multi-module, continuously crewed Haven-2.

=== Chinese space habitats

** Chinese astronauts create music video in space to celebrate Lunar New Year 2026 | VideoFromSpace

The Shenzhou-21 crew created a music video aboard the Tiangong space station that highlights China’s accomplishments in space. Full Story: https://www.space.com/astronomy/moon/…

** Chinese astronauts left ‘stranded’ on space station reveal damaged spacecraft details | VideoFromSpace

Crew members of China’s Shenzhou-20 mission recently detailed their reactions upon finding cracks in their spacecraft’s viewport during the nation’s first spaceflight emergency.

=== Lunar habitation

** Lunar habitation articles, reports, etc:

=== Mars habitation 

** Dr. Scott Solomon talks humans in space, on the Moon, Mars, living in space and our space biology needs… | The Space Show – Feb.8.2026

Dr. Scott Solomon talks humans in space, on the Moon, Mars, living in space and our space biology needs so don’t miss this! by Dr. David M. Livingston

Broadcast 4501, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026

Read on Substack

See also: Broadcast 4501 Zoom Dr. Scott Solomon | The Space Show

=== Habitation technologies

** How will Artemis crews be shielded from solar storms aboard Orion spacecraft? | VideoFromSpace

NASA explains the procedure astronauts will undertake to shield themselves in case of a solar storm hitting the spacecraft during flight.

** Broadcast 4504 Zoom: Frank Pietronigro | The Space Show – Feb.13.2026

[Frank Pietronigro] discussed his artistic and scientific research focused on creating living biological spacecraft and habitats, emphasizing the integration of art and science to enhance human space exploration. He highlighted collaborations with NASA and the development of systems to reduce stress and boredom in space environments, while also exploring the concept of biopixels and living cells as programmable elements for future space habitats. Frank referenced historical and contemporary influences, while David mentioned a previous guest who was a former hand surgeon now an architect talking about “living architecture for space.”

Frank discussed the evolution of space art and the concept of biopixels, emphasizing the shift from geometric to organic structures and the need for an ethics of universal hospitality in space exploration. He shared his vision for a dynamic living space habitat and mentioned a proposal submitted to MIT. The Wisdom Team also discussed recent art projects on the moon, including Jeff Koons’ digital sculpture and a digital museum, highlighting the intersection of art, technology, and science. Frank reflected on his own experiences with space art, including a drift painting experiment in 1986 and his work with the California Space Grant Program.

There is also a Youtube video (not embeddable) of the Zoom event.

=== Other space habitat and settlement news and articles:

=== Earth views from ISS

** Live Video from the International Space Station (Official NASA Stream) | NASA

Watch live video from the International Space Station, including inside views when the crew aboard the space station is on duty. Views of Earth are also streamed from an external camera located outside of the space station. During periods of signal loss due to handover between communications satellites, a blue screen is displayed.

The space station orbits Earth about 250 miles (425 kilometers) above the surface. An international partnership of five space agencies from 15 countries operates the station, and it has been continuously occupied since November 2000. It’s a microgravity laboratory where science, research, and human innovation make way for new technologies and research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. More: https://go.nasa.gov/3CkVtC8

Did you know you can spot the station without a telescope? It looks like a fast-moving star, but you have to know when to look up. Sign up for text messages or email alerts to let you know when (and where) to spot the station and wave to the crew: https://spotthestation.nasa.gov

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ISS after undocking of STS-132

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International Space Station: An insight into the history, development,
collaboration, production and role of the
permanently manned earth-orbiting complex (Owners’ Workshop Manual)

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