New US Space Force Jammers Aim to
Disrupt China’s SATCOM Signals (Source: Defense News)
The U.S. Space Force is on track to field its first batch of a new
ground-based satellite communications jammer in the coming months —
designed to disrupt signals from enemy spacecraft. Space Operations
Command just approved the Remote Modular Terminals for initial
fielding, a spokesperson told Defense News Wednesday, adding that the
jammers will be in the hands of military users imminently. The Space
Force plans to field 11 systems as part of the first release, giving
units a chance to use the system before it’s accepted for operations.
(12/19)
Canadian Space Agency Spent Less in
2023-24 Than Planned (Source: SpaceQ)
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has released its 2023–24 Departmental
Results Report which shows that it spent $450.8 million, which was
lower than the $537.4 million it planned to spend. The CSA did however
spend 30% more than planned on internal services (services to support
its programs). And spending on Canada in Space, the programs, was
$371.4 million, down from the planned spending of $476.3 million.
The agency had $629.9 million “total authorities available” and the CSA
said it “lapsed $168.9M in 2023–24, of which 95% ($160.9M) related to
capital project funding envelopes (including the risk budget) that are
reprofiled to future years via available carry-forward mechanisms.”
Those lapsed funds will be available for future years. (12/19)
We’re About to Fly a Spacecraft Into
the Sun for the First Time (Source: Ars Technica)
The Parker Solar Probe has the distinction of being the first NASA
spacecraft named after a living person. At the time of its launch, in
August 2018, physicist Eugene Parker was 91 years old. But in the six
years since the probe has been zipping through outer space and flying
by the Sun? Not so much. Let's face it, the astrophysical properties of
the Sun and its complicated structure are not something that most
people think about on a daily basis.
However, the smallish probe and its scientific payload is only about
110 pounds (50 kg)—is about to make its star turn. Quite literally. On
Christmas Eve, the Parker Solar Probe will make its closest approach
yet to the Sun. It will come within just 3.8 million miles (6.1 million
km) of the solar surface, flying into the solar atmosphere for the
first time. Scientists estimate that the probe's heat shield will
endure temperatures in excess of 2,500° Fahrenheit (1,371° C) on
Christmas Eve, which is pretty much the polar opposite of the North
Pole. (12/19)
California Rocket Launch Could Produce
Sonic Booms This Weekend (Source: KTLA)
Another SpaceX launch from Southern California has the potential to
create sonic booms for several hundreds of miles. The early morning
launch is tentatively planned for Saturday at Vandenberg Space Force
Base in Santa Barbara County. The Falcon 9 launch is part of a mission
to launch several small commercial and government satellites into
orbit. The launch window opens Saturday morning at 3:34 a.m., with a
backup window planned for Sunday around 3:12 a.m., if needed. (12/19)
South Texas Environmentalist File
Lawsuit Over SpaceX's Wastewater Dumping (Source: My San Antonio)
SpaceX has once again found themselves entangled in court proceedings.
The latest lawsuit targets the Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality for allegedly allowing SpaceX to pour polluted water into Boca
Chica wetlands without a permit. The lawsuit was filed Monday, December
16, in Travis County district court. It comes after TCEQ approved an
order to allow SpaceX to dump industrial wastewater from the deluge
system at the Starbase launch pad site in Cameron County until it
receives a new permit, according to court documents. (12/20)
New Zealand Tight-Lipped Over
Membership of Space Network (Source: RNZ)
Germany and France have joined New Zealand in a network to save space
from the likes of exploding satellites. But the Europeans are being
more upfront than this country about the overtly military nature of
what has been dubbed 'Operation Olympic Defender' by United States
commanders. Joining it marked a "new stage" in coalition military space
operations, France said. The two EU powers signed up to Olympic
Defender at ceremonies with the US Space Commander in Paris and Berlin
in October. (12/20)
December 20, 2024
Pentagon Directed to Advance Cislunar
Monitoring Capabilities (Source: Breaking Defense)
The White House has released a plan for cislunar science and technology, directing the Defense Department to develop capabilities for monitoring space between Earth and the Moon. This includes enhancing sensors and evaluating commercial and international efforts. The plan aims to ensure safe and sustainable exploration in line with the Outer Space Treaty. (12/19)
Losing the ‘Acting’ on a High Ranking Title at NASA (Source: FNN)
A satisfying thing it is when that ‘acting’ moniker is removed from your title, like with the associate administrator of the Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA, Clayton Turner. Click here. (12/19)
Anthropologists Urge Preservation of Human Artifacts on Mars (Source: Daily)
Are the spacecraft, rovers, and debris from human exploration of Mars merely trash cluttering the Red Planet, or are they invaluable artifacts chronicling humanity's steps into interplanetary exploration? University of Kansas anthropologist Justin Holcomb contends these items deserve preservation and cataloging to document this significant phase of human history. (12/17)
New Study Questions the Potential for Liquid Brines on Mars (Source: Space Daily)
More than a century after astronomer Percival Lowell speculated about water canals on Mars, researchers continue to grapple with the question of liquid water on the red planet. Liquid water is essential for habitability, but Mars' low temperatures, minimal atmospheric pressure, and limited water vapor make its presence unlikely under current conditions.
Dark surface features called recurring slope lineae (RSL), polygonal formations in Martian permafrost, and the possibility of liquid brines have all fueled discussions about liquid water. However, a new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences challenges these ideas, suggesting liquid water on Mars is far less likely than hoped. (12/17)
NASA Head Bill Nelson Offers Advice for Successor in Farewell Interview (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
With just a month left to go before stepping down as head of NASA, Bill Nelson warns his stance on conflicts of interest might not be the same as his likely successor, billionaire Jared Isaacman. “If I had a whiff of a conflict, I had to — under the rules set out by the Biden administration — I had to extinguish whatever investment that might be,” Nelson said during a farewell interview among reporters at the KSC Press Site. “Whether or not those rules of the Biden administration are going to change in the Trump administration, where they allow potential conflicts, I don’t know.” Click here. (12/20)
DARPA Seeks Industry Input on Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (Source: Military & Aerospace Electronics)
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is seeking industry information for the Nuclear Thermal Rocket Propulsion project. The technology, which could double the efficiency of chemical rockets, is expected to reduce travel time to Mars by 25% and enhance military space maneuverability. (12/18)
Maxar Secures $35 Million in Asian Contracts for Imagery and Analytics (Source: Space News)
Maxar Intelligence has secured contracts worth $35 million to provide satellite imagery and analytics to two Asia-Pacific governments. The deals, announced Thursday, will give these undisclosed governments access to Maxar's newly deployed WorldView Legion satellites, which provide high-resolution Earth observation imagery, as well as synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data from partner company Umbra. The contracts are part of Maxar's "direct access program," which enables customers to directly control satellite tasking through their own ground stations, with the ability to request image captures just 15 minutes before an imaging event and receive data in real-time. (12/20)
K2 Space Wins $30 Million From Space Force for Satellite (Source: Space News)
K2 Space won a $30 million Space Force contract for the first launch of its Mega Class satellite. The deal is part of the Strategic Financing Initiative (STRATFI) program, which matches government funds with private investment to bolster cutting-edge space technologies. With contributions from the Space Force's SpaceWERX organization, the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Pentagon's Space Test Program, the total value of the agreement is $60 million. The contract covers the launch of a Mega Class satellite on a mission called "Gravitas" in February 2026, carrying multiple experimental payloads from the Space Test Program. The satellite will launch to low Earth orbit and later use electric propulsion to move to medium Earth orbit. (12/20)
FAA Updates Starship Launch License (Source: Space News)
The FAA has updated the launch license for SpaceX's Starship/Super Heavy vehicle well ahead of its next flight. The FAA announced this week that it issued a license modification for Flight 7, the next launch of the vehicle. SpaceX has not announced a launch date for Flight 7 but it is expected to be in the first half of January. The early license is a contrast to a Starship launch in October where the updated license was issued less than 24 hours before the scheduled liftoff. Flight 7 will follow a similar profile as recent flights, with an attempt to catch the Super Heavy booster back at the launch tower, while Starship splashes down in the Indian Ocean. (12/20)
China Breaks Launch Record (Source: Space News)
China is about to eclipse a launch record for the country set just last year. A launch of a Ceres-1 rocket Thursday, deploying four Internet-of-Things satellites, was the 66th launch of the year. China launched 67 times in 2023, and several more launches are planned through the rest of this year. Those launches have carried more than 260 satellites, exceeding the 221 launched in 2023. (12/20)
Rideshare Companies Join Forces for GTO Missions (Source: Space News)
Three rideshare launch services companies are joining forces for flying spacecraft to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). Innovative Solutions in Space (ISISPACE), Maverick Space Systems and SEOPS announced Thursday a partnership to support missions to GTO. SEOPS announced in November that it acquired a dedicated Falcon 9 launch in 2028 for a GTO rideshare mission, and it will work with the other two companies on that mission. The three companies will continue to work on their own for other rideshare launch opportunities. (12/20)
Cosmonauts Install X-Ray Spectrometer on ISS (Source: Space.com)
Two Russian cosmonauts conducted a spacewalk outside the International Space Station Thursday. Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner spent 7 hours and 17 minutes outside the station, installing an X-ray spectrometer instrument on the exterior of the Zvezda module. They also replaced electrical connectors on the hull of Zvezda and collected experiments that had been exposed to the space environment. (12/20)
Roscosmos Head Expects Russian ISS Presence Through 2030 (Source: Ars Technica)
The head of Roscosmos says he expects Russia to stay on the ISS to 2030. In an interview with Russian television, Yuri Borisov said Roscosmos would work with NASA to deorbit the station "around the beginning of 2030." Those comments suggest that Roscosmos will continue to be part of the ISS partnership until that time, after previously stating it would leave the station in 2028 to focus on a new Russian space station. Borisov noted that the aging station is more difficult to maintain, with cosmonauts now spending more time on repairs and less on experiments. (12/20)
Germany to Provide ~$100 Million to Three Launch Companies (Source: European Spaceflight)
The German government plans to provide nearly $100 million in additional funding to three launch companies. The government announced Thursday that it would provide 95 million euros ($98.7 million) to HyImpulse, Isar Aerospace and Rocket Factory Augsburg, three German companies working on small launch vehicles. The funding will help the companies as they approach first flights of the vehicles in the next year or so. The government said that budget reallocations and higher subscriptions to ESA programs enabled the funding. (12/20)
The White House has released a plan for cislunar science and technology, directing the Defense Department to develop capabilities for monitoring space between Earth and the Moon. This includes enhancing sensors and evaluating commercial and international efforts. The plan aims to ensure safe and sustainable exploration in line with the Outer Space Treaty. (12/19)
Losing the ‘Acting’ on a High Ranking Title at NASA (Source: FNN)
A satisfying thing it is when that ‘acting’ moniker is removed from your title, like with the associate administrator of the Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA, Clayton Turner. Click here. (12/19)
Anthropologists Urge Preservation of Human Artifacts on Mars (Source: Daily)
Are the spacecraft, rovers, and debris from human exploration of Mars merely trash cluttering the Red Planet, or are they invaluable artifacts chronicling humanity's steps into interplanetary exploration? University of Kansas anthropologist Justin Holcomb contends these items deserve preservation and cataloging to document this significant phase of human history. (12/17)
New Study Questions the Potential for Liquid Brines on Mars (Source: Space Daily)
More than a century after astronomer Percival Lowell speculated about water canals on Mars, researchers continue to grapple with the question of liquid water on the red planet. Liquid water is essential for habitability, but Mars' low temperatures, minimal atmospheric pressure, and limited water vapor make its presence unlikely under current conditions.
Dark surface features called recurring slope lineae (RSL), polygonal formations in Martian permafrost, and the possibility of liquid brines have all fueled discussions about liquid water. However, a new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences challenges these ideas, suggesting liquid water on Mars is far less likely than hoped. (12/17)
NASA Head Bill Nelson Offers Advice for Successor in Farewell Interview (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
With just a month left to go before stepping down as head of NASA, Bill Nelson warns his stance on conflicts of interest might not be the same as his likely successor, billionaire Jared Isaacman. “If I had a whiff of a conflict, I had to — under the rules set out by the Biden administration — I had to extinguish whatever investment that might be,” Nelson said during a farewell interview among reporters at the KSC Press Site. “Whether or not those rules of the Biden administration are going to change in the Trump administration, where they allow potential conflicts, I don’t know.” Click here. (12/20)
DARPA Seeks Industry Input on Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (Source: Military & Aerospace Electronics)
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is seeking industry information for the Nuclear Thermal Rocket Propulsion project. The technology, which could double the efficiency of chemical rockets, is expected to reduce travel time to Mars by 25% and enhance military space maneuverability. (12/18)
Maxar Secures $35 Million in Asian Contracts for Imagery and Analytics (Source: Space News)
Maxar Intelligence has secured contracts worth $35 million to provide satellite imagery and analytics to two Asia-Pacific governments. The deals, announced Thursday, will give these undisclosed governments access to Maxar's newly deployed WorldView Legion satellites, which provide high-resolution Earth observation imagery, as well as synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data from partner company Umbra. The contracts are part of Maxar's "direct access program," which enables customers to directly control satellite tasking through their own ground stations, with the ability to request image captures just 15 minutes before an imaging event and receive data in real-time. (12/20)
K2 Space Wins $30 Million From Space Force for Satellite (Source: Space News)
K2 Space won a $30 million Space Force contract for the first launch of its Mega Class satellite. The deal is part of the Strategic Financing Initiative (STRATFI) program, which matches government funds with private investment to bolster cutting-edge space technologies. With contributions from the Space Force's SpaceWERX organization, the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Pentagon's Space Test Program, the total value of the agreement is $60 million. The contract covers the launch of a Mega Class satellite on a mission called "Gravitas" in February 2026, carrying multiple experimental payloads from the Space Test Program. The satellite will launch to low Earth orbit and later use electric propulsion to move to medium Earth orbit. (12/20)
FAA Updates Starship Launch License (Source: Space News)
The FAA has updated the launch license for SpaceX's Starship/Super Heavy vehicle well ahead of its next flight. The FAA announced this week that it issued a license modification for Flight 7, the next launch of the vehicle. SpaceX has not announced a launch date for Flight 7 but it is expected to be in the first half of January. The early license is a contrast to a Starship launch in October where the updated license was issued less than 24 hours before the scheduled liftoff. Flight 7 will follow a similar profile as recent flights, with an attempt to catch the Super Heavy booster back at the launch tower, while Starship splashes down in the Indian Ocean. (12/20)
China Breaks Launch Record (Source: Space News)
China is about to eclipse a launch record for the country set just last year. A launch of a Ceres-1 rocket Thursday, deploying four Internet-of-Things satellites, was the 66th launch of the year. China launched 67 times in 2023, and several more launches are planned through the rest of this year. Those launches have carried more than 260 satellites, exceeding the 221 launched in 2023. (12/20)
Rideshare Companies Join Forces for GTO Missions (Source: Space News)
Three rideshare launch services companies are joining forces for flying spacecraft to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO). Innovative Solutions in Space (ISISPACE), Maverick Space Systems and SEOPS announced Thursday a partnership to support missions to GTO. SEOPS announced in November that it acquired a dedicated Falcon 9 launch in 2028 for a GTO rideshare mission, and it will work with the other two companies on that mission. The three companies will continue to work on their own for other rideshare launch opportunities. (12/20)
Cosmonauts Install X-Ray Spectrometer on ISS (Source: Space.com)
Two Russian cosmonauts conducted a spacewalk outside the International Space Station Thursday. Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner spent 7 hours and 17 minutes outside the station, installing an X-ray spectrometer instrument on the exterior of the Zvezda module. They also replaced electrical connectors on the hull of Zvezda and collected experiments that had been exposed to the space environment. (12/20)
Roscosmos Head Expects Russian ISS Presence Through 2030 (Source: Ars Technica)
The head of Roscosmos says he expects Russia to stay on the ISS to 2030. In an interview with Russian television, Yuri Borisov said Roscosmos would work with NASA to deorbit the station "around the beginning of 2030." Those comments suggest that Roscosmos will continue to be part of the ISS partnership until that time, after previously stating it would leave the station in 2028 to focus on a new Russian space station. Borisov noted that the aging station is more difficult to maintain, with cosmonauts now spending more time on repairs and less on experiments. (12/20)
Germany to Provide ~$100 Million to Three Launch Companies (Source: European Spaceflight)
The German government plans to provide nearly $100 million in additional funding to three launch companies. The government announced Thursday that it would provide 95 million euros ($98.7 million) to HyImpulse, Isar Aerospace and Rocket Factory Augsburg, three German companies working on small launch vehicles. The funding will help the companies as they approach first flights of the vehicles in the next year or so. The government said that budget reallocations and higher subscriptions to ESA programs enabled the funding. (12/20)
December 19, 2024
China’s AI-Driven Military Space
Expansion (Source: Space News)
China’s military modernization is accelerating, with AI-integrated space technologies playing a central role, according to the Pentagon’s newly released China Military Power Report. The report reveals that China’s military now operates over 1,000 satellites, including 360 dedicated to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR)—a massive leap from just 36 satellites in 2010. China’s military doctrine now centers on “multi-domain precision warfare”, combining satellite data with AI-powered systems to track, target, and strike U.S. and allied forces. This strategy integrates data from land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace for highly coordinated operations. (12/19)
Space42 Secures $5.1B UAE Contract Through 2043 (Source: Space News)
The UAE’s AI-powered SpaceTech company Space42 secured a $5.1 billion, 17-year contract with the UAE Government for satellite capacity and managed services, extending through 2043. The agreement follows the merger of satellite operator Yahsat and geospatial analytics firm Bayanat, forming Space42 earlier this year. (12/19)
Oligarchy: Musk Leads Republicans to Scrap Spending Bill, Christmas Shutdown Looms (Source: Washington Post)
Republicans scrapped House Speaker Mike Johnson’s bipartisan plan to avert a government shutdown, as President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk joined a broad swath of the House GOP on Wednesday to condemn a compromise bill full of Democratic policy priorities. “Your elected representatives have heard you and now the terrible bill is dead,” Musk boasted on X after he spent the day blasting the legislation. “The voice of the people has triumphed!”
Johnson has not outlined a backup plan, and multiple people familiar with the real-time conversations said the next step remains unclear, as leaders would need significant support from both parties — and Trump — to pass a funding extension. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (Louisiana) said Wednesday night that there was “no new agreement” and Republicans were “just looking at a number of options.”
If Congress doesn’t extend the deadline, most federal operations would shut down at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, though the effects of a shutdown wouldn’t fully kick in until Monday. (12/18)
Mystery of Moon's Age Solved? (Source: NPR)
Researchers have struggled to understand exactly when the moon formed, because tiny crystals in the moon rocks brought home by astronauts suggested two different ages. Now, a study in the journal Nature argues for the earlier age, saying that the ancient Moon also went through a period when it got hot and partially remelted, producing new rocks about 4.35 billion years ago. The result would be a Moon that seemed younger than its true age. (12/18)
Interstellar "Tunnel" Found That Connects Our Solar System to Other Stars (Source: Earth.com)
Space can surprise even those who spend their lives studying it. People often think of our solar system as just a few planets and a bunch of empty space. Yet new observations suggest we have been living inside a hot, less dense region, and that there may even be a strange cosmic channel connecting us to distant stars. After years of careful mapping, a new analysis reveals what appears to be a channel of hot, low-density plasma stretching out from our solar system toward distant constellations. (12/18)
Vast Plans Two ISS Astronaut Missions with SpaceX (Source: Space News)
Vast Space has signed a deal with SpaceX for up to two private astronaut missions to the International Space Station. Vast announced Thursday the agreement for the Crew Dragon missions to the station, which would require NASA approval. NASA has so far approved four such private astronaut missions, or PAMs, all by Axiom Space and also using Crew Dragon spacecraft. Vast announced earlier this year its intent to compete for future PAM opportunities offered by NASA, stating that the experience it would gain from such missions would help its development of commercial space stations. (12/19)
Avio Signs Contracts for Vega Spaceport Upgrades (Source: Space News)
Avio signed a set of contracts with the European Space Agency regarding its Vega rocket. Avio announced Wednesday the contracts, one of which covers upgrades to its launch site in French Guiana to enable the facility to support six Vega C launches a year, up from the four planned in 2025. A second contract continues development of the upgraded Vega E, set to make its first launch in 2027 and 2028. Those two contracts are worth about 350 million euros ($364 million). Avio also signed a launch contract with ESA for the Vega C launch of the FORUM Earth science satellite in 2027. Avio took over sales and marketing of the Vega earlier this year as part of a transition of launch service provider responsibilities from Arianespace. (12/19)
DoD Stepping Up Partnerships with Space Startups (Source: Space News)
The Department of Defense is stepping up efforts to partner with emerging commercial space startups. Maj. Gen. Steven Butow, director of the Defense Innovation Unit's space portfolio, said in a SpaceNews webinar Wednesday that the nascent commercial space market requires "a lot of investment" and that the U.S. needed to keep pace with China, which is making significant investments in its own commercial space sector to develop systems that can also have military applications. As part of those efforts, the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command has expanded its "Front Door" initiative, a portal connecting commercial firms with potential government buyers. That initiative now includes more than 20 government agencies, including NASA and the NRO. (12/19)
Japan's ispace to Falcon-9 Lunar Ride with Firefly (Source: Space News)
Firefly's first lunar lander will share a ride to the moon with another company's lander. Japanese company ispace said late Tuesday that its second lunar lander, Resilience, will share the Falcon 9 launch in mid-January with Blue Ghost 1. A report last week stated that the two landers would launch together, but at the time neither Firefly nor ispace would confirm the report, deferring questions to SpaceX, which did not respond to inquiries. While the two landers will launch together, they will take different paths to the moon, with Blue Ghost landing about 45 days after launch while Resilience, using a low-energy trajectory to conserve fuel, landing at the moon several months after launch. (12/19)
Space Force Pegs 2Q 2025 for First Vulcan National Security Mission (Source: SpaceFlight Now)
The Space Force says the first national security launch of ULA's Vulcan Centaur won't take place until next spring. In a statement, Space Systems Command said it is targeting the second quarter of 2025 for that mission, which had been planned before the end of the year. The Space Force is continuing to study an anomaly on Vulcan's second flight in October where part of the nozzle of one solid rocket booster fell off during flight. The rocket compensated for the decreased performance from the booster and still completed the mission. That investigation has delayed certification of Vulcan for national security missions, a process now expected to wrap up in the first quarter of 2025. (12/19)
China's Galactic Energy Launches Sea-Based Mission with Four IoT Satellites (Source: Xinhua)
A Chinese commercial rocket completed a sea-based launch Thursday. The Ceres-1S rocket lifted off at 5:18 a.m. Eastern from a ship in Chinese coastal waters. The rocket placed into orbit four Tianqi satellites for Internet-of-Things services. (12/19)
New Zealand Gets Nationwide Starlink Direct-to-Device Coverage (Source: Space News)
A New Zealand telco is the first to provide nationwide coverage using Starlink direct-to-device services. One NZ said Wednesday it will be the first in the world to provide that service throughout a country, covering the 40% of New Zealand without terrestrial service as well as in coastal waters as far as 20 kilometers from shore. One NZ says it will provide the service for free to customers with one of four phone models and who have pay-monthly plans. According to One NZ, text messages can currently be sent and received within three minutes, but it can take up to 10 minutes as SpaceX works to add satellites to its direct-to-smartphone constellation. (12/19)
OSTP Releases Cislunar Science and Technology Plans (Source: Space News)
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released new policies Wednesday about cislunar science and technology development. OSTP issued one memo directing NASA to lead work on a cislunar reference system needed for future navigation on and around the moon, calling for the agency to provide an implementation plan by the end of 2026. OSTP also released a National Cislunar Science and Technology Action Plan to implement a strategy it published two years ago. The action plan gives specific tasks to federal agencies on four objectives, from research and development for cislunar activities to development of cislunar space situational awareness capabilities. (12/19)
Arianespace CEO Retiring (Source: Arianespace)
Arianespace CEO Stéphane Israël is leaving the company. Arianespace announced Thursday that Israël, who has been CEO of the launch services provider since 2013, will leave at the end of the month to "pursue a new career opportunity" in January. Israël will be replaced by David Cavaillolès, who has spent the last five years at IT services and consulting company Capgemini and previously was ministerial advisor for French space policy. (12/19)
Space Florida Approves Millions for Spaceport Infrastructure Improvements for “Project Hinton” (Source: WFTV)
Space Florida has agreed to provide $65 million in funding for a development project at Cape Canaveral. The funding, approved at a Space Florida board meeting Wednesday, includes $50 million in matching grant funds in partnership with the state's transportation department and $15 million in common use funds. The effort, known only by the codename "Project Hinton," includes a high-volume production facility, high bay and launch infrastructure at Cape Canaveral. Space Florida has not identified the company affiliated with Project Hinton, but many speculate it is SpaceX given its plans to expand facilities at the Cape for future Starship launches. (12/19)
Firefly Awarded $179 Million NASA Contract for Moon Delivery to Gruithuisen Domes (Source: Firefly)
Firefly Aerospace, Inc., the leader in end-to-end responsive space services, was awarded an approximately $179.6 million NASA contract to deliver and operate six NASA instruments in the Gruithuisen Domes on the Moon’s near side in 2028. As part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload (CLPS) initiative, the mission will utilize Firefly’s Blue Ghost lunar lander, Elytra Dark orbital vehicle, and a rover from an industry provider to investigate the unique composition of the Gruithuisen Domes – a part of the Moon that has never been explored. (12/18)
Blue Origin and Estes Rockets Join Forces (Source: Estes)
Blue Origin and Estes Rockets, the trusted name in model rocketry for over 65 years, are proud to announce an exciting partnership to bring the marvel of space exploration to enthusiasts of all ages. The collaboration will launch a groundbreaking product line inspired by Blue Origin’s New Glenn orbital rocket, bridging the worlds of hobby, educational and toy industries with the future of spaceflight. The product line, branded Estes and New Glenn , will include highly detailed scale models, functional model rockets for hobbyists, and educational kits for schools. (12/17)
Amazon to Manufacture Satellite Parts in Turkey (Source: Turkey Daily)
U.S. tech giant Amazon has partnered with Turkish precision machining company Tezmaksan to manufacture 1,500 satellite components entirely in Türkiye, according to a report by the Türkiye daily. Production will take place in Sivas, Yozgat, Tokat and Kayseri, with the first delivery expected in the first quarter of 2025. (12/18)
UAE Concludes Participation in Space Travel Study (Source: Dubai Eye)
The UAE's Captain Engineer Obaid Al-Suwaidi has concluded his participation in a study that stimulates the challenges of long-term space travel in collaboration with NASA. The 45-day second analog study, which is part of NASA's Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) Campaign 7 Mission, particularly related to missions to Mars. (12/18)
SpaceX Rocket Launches to Be Subjected to Public Review (Source: Santa Barbara Independent)
The U.S. Air Force announced it will be holding three public in-person meetings this January regarding the ever-expanding launch “cadences” now taking place at Vandenberg. These meetings will be held January 14-16. At issue is the scope of the environmental impact statement that will be prepared on the sonic booms and expanded launch schedule: in other words, what issues need to be addressed and what impacts and mitigations should be considered.
However bureaucratically arcane this might seem, it marks the first time that a branch of the federal government has reached out to the public about what’s going on at Vandenberg. (12/17)
Meet the Astronaut Who Left NASA to Help Support Healthy Churches (Source: Gospel Coalition)
In spring 2021, Capitol Hill Baptist Church (CHBC) in Washington, DC, had nine pastoral interns. Eight were 40 years old and under. Seven were coming out of—or would head into—seminary.And one was NASA’s former head astronaut.
Pat Forrester was 63 years old. He’d been to space three times to put together the International Space Station. To do the internship, he’d stepped down from his job as chief of the astronaut office—the highest position an active astronaut can have—and moved from his corner office at the Johnson Space Center in Houston to a white plastic table in a CHBC Sunday school room. (12/18)
China’s military modernization is accelerating, with AI-integrated space technologies playing a central role, according to the Pentagon’s newly released China Military Power Report. The report reveals that China’s military now operates over 1,000 satellites, including 360 dedicated to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR)—a massive leap from just 36 satellites in 2010. China’s military doctrine now centers on “multi-domain precision warfare”, combining satellite data with AI-powered systems to track, target, and strike U.S. and allied forces. This strategy integrates data from land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace for highly coordinated operations. (12/19)
Space42 Secures $5.1B UAE Contract Through 2043 (Source: Space News)
The UAE’s AI-powered SpaceTech company Space42 secured a $5.1 billion, 17-year contract with the UAE Government for satellite capacity and managed services, extending through 2043. The agreement follows the merger of satellite operator Yahsat and geospatial analytics firm Bayanat, forming Space42 earlier this year. (12/19)
Oligarchy: Musk Leads Republicans to Scrap Spending Bill, Christmas Shutdown Looms (Source: Washington Post)
Republicans scrapped House Speaker Mike Johnson’s bipartisan plan to avert a government shutdown, as President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk joined a broad swath of the House GOP on Wednesday to condemn a compromise bill full of Democratic policy priorities. “Your elected representatives have heard you and now the terrible bill is dead,” Musk boasted on X after he spent the day blasting the legislation. “The voice of the people has triumphed!”
Johnson has not outlined a backup plan, and multiple people familiar with the real-time conversations said the next step remains unclear, as leaders would need significant support from both parties — and Trump — to pass a funding extension. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (Louisiana) said Wednesday night that there was “no new agreement” and Republicans were “just looking at a number of options.”
If Congress doesn’t extend the deadline, most federal operations would shut down at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, though the effects of a shutdown wouldn’t fully kick in until Monday. (12/18)
Mystery of Moon's Age Solved? (Source: NPR)
Researchers have struggled to understand exactly when the moon formed, because tiny crystals in the moon rocks brought home by astronauts suggested two different ages. Now, a study in the journal Nature argues for the earlier age, saying that the ancient Moon also went through a period when it got hot and partially remelted, producing new rocks about 4.35 billion years ago. The result would be a Moon that seemed younger than its true age. (12/18)
Interstellar "Tunnel" Found That Connects Our Solar System to Other Stars (Source: Earth.com)
Space can surprise even those who spend their lives studying it. People often think of our solar system as just a few planets and a bunch of empty space. Yet new observations suggest we have been living inside a hot, less dense region, and that there may even be a strange cosmic channel connecting us to distant stars. After years of careful mapping, a new analysis reveals what appears to be a channel of hot, low-density plasma stretching out from our solar system toward distant constellations. (12/18)
Vast Plans Two ISS Astronaut Missions with SpaceX (Source: Space News)
Vast Space has signed a deal with SpaceX for up to two private astronaut missions to the International Space Station. Vast announced Thursday the agreement for the Crew Dragon missions to the station, which would require NASA approval. NASA has so far approved four such private astronaut missions, or PAMs, all by Axiom Space and also using Crew Dragon spacecraft. Vast announced earlier this year its intent to compete for future PAM opportunities offered by NASA, stating that the experience it would gain from such missions would help its development of commercial space stations. (12/19)
Avio Signs Contracts for Vega Spaceport Upgrades (Source: Space News)
Avio signed a set of contracts with the European Space Agency regarding its Vega rocket. Avio announced Wednesday the contracts, one of which covers upgrades to its launch site in French Guiana to enable the facility to support six Vega C launches a year, up from the four planned in 2025. A second contract continues development of the upgraded Vega E, set to make its first launch in 2027 and 2028. Those two contracts are worth about 350 million euros ($364 million). Avio also signed a launch contract with ESA for the Vega C launch of the FORUM Earth science satellite in 2027. Avio took over sales and marketing of the Vega earlier this year as part of a transition of launch service provider responsibilities from Arianespace. (12/19)
DoD Stepping Up Partnerships with Space Startups (Source: Space News)
The Department of Defense is stepping up efforts to partner with emerging commercial space startups. Maj. Gen. Steven Butow, director of the Defense Innovation Unit's space portfolio, said in a SpaceNews webinar Wednesday that the nascent commercial space market requires "a lot of investment" and that the U.S. needed to keep pace with China, which is making significant investments in its own commercial space sector to develop systems that can also have military applications. As part of those efforts, the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command has expanded its "Front Door" initiative, a portal connecting commercial firms with potential government buyers. That initiative now includes more than 20 government agencies, including NASA and the NRO. (12/19)
Japan's ispace to Falcon-9 Lunar Ride with Firefly (Source: Space News)
Firefly's first lunar lander will share a ride to the moon with another company's lander. Japanese company ispace said late Tuesday that its second lunar lander, Resilience, will share the Falcon 9 launch in mid-January with Blue Ghost 1. A report last week stated that the two landers would launch together, but at the time neither Firefly nor ispace would confirm the report, deferring questions to SpaceX, which did not respond to inquiries. While the two landers will launch together, they will take different paths to the moon, with Blue Ghost landing about 45 days after launch while Resilience, using a low-energy trajectory to conserve fuel, landing at the moon several months after launch. (12/19)
Space Force Pegs 2Q 2025 for First Vulcan National Security Mission (Source: SpaceFlight Now)
The Space Force says the first national security launch of ULA's Vulcan Centaur won't take place until next spring. In a statement, Space Systems Command said it is targeting the second quarter of 2025 for that mission, which had been planned before the end of the year. The Space Force is continuing to study an anomaly on Vulcan's second flight in October where part of the nozzle of one solid rocket booster fell off during flight. The rocket compensated for the decreased performance from the booster and still completed the mission. That investigation has delayed certification of Vulcan for national security missions, a process now expected to wrap up in the first quarter of 2025. (12/19)
China's Galactic Energy Launches Sea-Based Mission with Four IoT Satellites (Source: Xinhua)
A Chinese commercial rocket completed a sea-based launch Thursday. The Ceres-1S rocket lifted off at 5:18 a.m. Eastern from a ship in Chinese coastal waters. The rocket placed into orbit four Tianqi satellites for Internet-of-Things services. (12/19)
New Zealand Gets Nationwide Starlink Direct-to-Device Coverage (Source: Space News)
A New Zealand telco is the first to provide nationwide coverage using Starlink direct-to-device services. One NZ said Wednesday it will be the first in the world to provide that service throughout a country, covering the 40% of New Zealand without terrestrial service as well as in coastal waters as far as 20 kilometers from shore. One NZ says it will provide the service for free to customers with one of four phone models and who have pay-monthly plans. According to One NZ, text messages can currently be sent and received within three minutes, but it can take up to 10 minutes as SpaceX works to add satellites to its direct-to-smartphone constellation. (12/19)
OSTP Releases Cislunar Science and Technology Plans (Source: Space News)
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released new policies Wednesday about cislunar science and technology development. OSTP issued one memo directing NASA to lead work on a cislunar reference system needed for future navigation on and around the moon, calling for the agency to provide an implementation plan by the end of 2026. OSTP also released a National Cislunar Science and Technology Action Plan to implement a strategy it published two years ago. The action plan gives specific tasks to federal agencies on four objectives, from research and development for cislunar activities to development of cislunar space situational awareness capabilities. (12/19)
Arianespace CEO Retiring (Source: Arianespace)
Arianespace CEO Stéphane Israël is leaving the company. Arianespace announced Thursday that Israël, who has been CEO of the launch services provider since 2013, will leave at the end of the month to "pursue a new career opportunity" in January. Israël will be replaced by David Cavaillolès, who has spent the last five years at IT services and consulting company Capgemini and previously was ministerial advisor for French space policy. (12/19)
Space Florida Approves Millions for Spaceport Infrastructure Improvements for “Project Hinton” (Source: WFTV)
Space Florida has agreed to provide $65 million in funding for a development project at Cape Canaveral. The funding, approved at a Space Florida board meeting Wednesday, includes $50 million in matching grant funds in partnership with the state's transportation department and $15 million in common use funds. The effort, known only by the codename "Project Hinton," includes a high-volume production facility, high bay and launch infrastructure at Cape Canaveral. Space Florida has not identified the company affiliated with Project Hinton, but many speculate it is SpaceX given its plans to expand facilities at the Cape for future Starship launches. (12/19)
Firefly Awarded $179 Million NASA Contract for Moon Delivery to Gruithuisen Domes (Source: Firefly)
Firefly Aerospace, Inc., the leader in end-to-end responsive space services, was awarded an approximately $179.6 million NASA contract to deliver and operate six NASA instruments in the Gruithuisen Domes on the Moon’s near side in 2028. As part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload (CLPS) initiative, the mission will utilize Firefly’s Blue Ghost lunar lander, Elytra Dark orbital vehicle, and a rover from an industry provider to investigate the unique composition of the Gruithuisen Domes – a part of the Moon that has never been explored. (12/18)
Blue Origin and Estes Rockets Join Forces (Source: Estes)
Blue Origin and Estes Rockets, the trusted name in model rocketry for over 65 years, are proud to announce an exciting partnership to bring the marvel of space exploration to enthusiasts of all ages. The collaboration will launch a groundbreaking product line inspired by Blue Origin’s New Glenn orbital rocket, bridging the worlds of hobby, educational and toy industries with the future of spaceflight. The product line, branded Estes and New Glenn , will include highly detailed scale models, functional model rockets for hobbyists, and educational kits for schools. (12/17)
Amazon to Manufacture Satellite Parts in Turkey (Source: Turkey Daily)
U.S. tech giant Amazon has partnered with Turkish precision machining company Tezmaksan to manufacture 1,500 satellite components entirely in Türkiye, according to a report by the Türkiye daily. Production will take place in Sivas, Yozgat, Tokat and Kayseri, with the first delivery expected in the first quarter of 2025. (12/18)
UAE Concludes Participation in Space Travel Study (Source: Dubai Eye)
The UAE's Captain Engineer Obaid Al-Suwaidi has concluded his participation in a study that stimulates the challenges of long-term space travel in collaboration with NASA. The 45-day second analog study, which is part of NASA's Human Exploration Research Analog (HERA) Campaign 7 Mission, particularly related to missions to Mars. (12/18)
SpaceX Rocket Launches to Be Subjected to Public Review (Source: Santa Barbara Independent)
The U.S. Air Force announced it will be holding three public in-person meetings this January regarding the ever-expanding launch “cadences” now taking place at Vandenberg. These meetings will be held January 14-16. At issue is the scope of the environmental impact statement that will be prepared on the sonic booms and expanded launch schedule: in other words, what issues need to be addressed and what impacts and mitigations should be considered.
However bureaucratically arcane this might seem, it marks the first time that a branch of the federal government has reached out to the public about what’s going on at Vandenberg. (12/17)
Meet the Astronaut Who Left NASA to Help Support Healthy Churches (Source: Gospel Coalition)
In spring 2021, Capitol Hill Baptist Church (CHBC) in Washington, DC, had nine pastoral interns. Eight were 40 years old and under. Seven were coming out of—or would head into—seminary.And one was NASA’s former head astronaut.
Pat Forrester was 63 years old. He’d been to space three times to put together the International Space Station. To do the internship, he’d stepped down from his job as chief of the astronaut office—the highest position an active astronaut can have—and moved from his corner office at the Johnson Space Center in Houston to a white plastic table in a CHBC Sunday school room. (12/18)
December 18, 2024
Florida Tech, All Points Logistics
Announce New Partnership (Source: Florida Tech)
Florida Tech and All Points Logistics are excited to announce a dynamic new collaboration. Merritt Island-based All Points will engage in collaborative research with faculty and offer internships to students, and both organizations will work together to continue the growth and development of the future STEM workforce on the Space Coast. The agreement enables collaboration on applied research projects involving faculty, students, and equipment. It supports company-funded internships for students and participation in career fairs, “career-ready” programs, and student projects. It also offers the company’s employees access to Florida Tech programs for professional growth and career advancement. (12/17)
SpaceX Delay Means Boeing Starliner Astronauts Will Get an Even Longer Stay on the ISS (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
Because SpaceX’s next crew rotation mission to the International Space Station will use a new Dragon spacecraft that won’t be ready by a previously planned February launch date, NASA announced Tuesday it has opted to delay the launch now until no earlier than late March. What that means is an even longer stay for the two NASA astronauts who flew up in June to the ISS aboard Boeing’s beleaguered Starliner spacecraft. They launched on the first crewed mission of Starliner on June 5 from Cape Canaveral atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V arriving to the ISS one day later for what was supposed to be as short as an eight-day stay. (12/18)
Axiom Revises Space Station Plan (Source: Space News)
Axiom Space is revising its plans to assemble a commercial space station. The company announced Wednesday a revised sequence of modules for Axiom Station, which will now start with a Payloads Power Thermal Module (PPTM) that will be berthed to the International Space Station as soon as 2027. The PPTM will later unberth and dock with a habitat module, forming the core of a free-flying station that will be augmented by other modules. The company originally planned to start with a sequence of habitat and research modules docked to the ISS. The change, the company said, avoids any conflicts over access to the docking port on the ISS it originally planned to use and which NASA wants to reserve for the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle. The change also enables Axiom to operate a free-flying station with just the PPTM and a habitat module as soon as 2028. (12/18)
Eutelsat Orders 100 OneWeb Satellites (Not From Florida Factory) (Source: Space News)
Eutelsat ordered 100 OneWeb satellites from Airbus Defence and Space. Eutelsat said the order would allow it to start replenishing aging satellites in the first-generation OneWeb constellation that will be reaching the end of their design lives in 2027 and 2028. Eutelsat is holding off on a second-generation system but said the new satellites would have "key technology upgrades." The first of the new satellites will be completed by the end of 2026, and Airbus plans to manufacture them in Toulouse, rather than the former Airbus OneWeb Satellites factory in Florida that built most of the first-generation satellites. (12/18)
NRO Constellation Surpasses 100 Satellites in Orbit (Source: Space News)
The NRO now has more than 100 satellites in a new constellation in orbit after a launch Tuesday. A Falcon 9 lifted off at 8:19 a.m. Eastern from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and placed an unspecified number of satellites into orbit. With the launch, the NRO said that new constellation has more than 100 satellites developed by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman with imaging payloads. The NRO plans to continue expanding the constellation through 2028. (12/18)
Japan's Space One Fails to Put Second Rocket Into Orbit (Source: Space News)
A Japanese small launch vehicle failed on its second flight Tuesday. The Kairos rocket lifted off from Spaceport Kii in southern Honshu at 9 p.m. Eastern. The initial phase of the flight appeared to go well, but about two minutes after liftoff the rocket could be seen tumbling. Space One, the company backed by Canon and IHI Aerospace that developed Kairos, confirmed the launch was a failure but provided few additional details. The inaugural Kairos launch in March also failed when low thrust from the rocket's first stage triggered an autonomous flight termination system seconds after liftoff. (12/18)
Chinese Astronauts Perform Marathon Spacewalk Outside TSS (Source: Space News)
Two Chinese astronauts performed a marathon spacewalk outside the Tiangong space station Tuesday. Shenzhou-19 commander Cai Xuzhe and crewmate Song Lingdong spent more than nine hours outside the station during the spacewalk, which ended at 8:57 a.m. Eastern Tuesday. The spacewalk appears to surpass the previous record for a spacewalk of 8 hours, 56 minutes set by NASA astronauts James Voss and Susan Helms during the STS-102 mission in 2001. The astronauts carried out installation of space debris protection devices, the inspection and handling of external equipment and facilities during the spacewalk. (12/18)
Space Force to Establish Futures Command (Source: Space News)
The Space Force will establish a Futures Command next year to help it justify its plans and programs. Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations, said at a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) event Tuesday that the new command will help provide "the data set that we can then use in the budget fights," a crucial capability as the Space Force faces growing congressional scrutiny over its acquisition speed and strategic focus. The Futures Command will expand on work currently done by the Space Warfighting Analysis Center. In a separate talk at the CSIS event, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), chair of the House Armed Services Committee, pushed for the Space Force to develop more acquisition and technology experts rather than focusing primarily on operators. (12/18)
Ursa Major Succeeds with Rocket Motor Test (Source: Space News)
Ursa Major says it successfully tested a new solid rocket motor in a Raytheon missile. The approximately 10-inch diameter motor was tested on an undisclosed missile system for the U.S. Army, Ursa Major announced, calling the test a crucial milestone as defense contractors seek new suppliers amid growing demand for weapons systems. Raytheon, which invested in Ursa Major through its venture capital arm RTX Ventures during the startup's $138 million funding rounds in 2023, is exploring the company's 3D-manufacturing capabilities to reduce costs and accelerate munitions production for the U.S. military. (12/18)
SpaceX Suffered Mission Control Power Outage During Polaris Dawn (Source: Reuters)
A power outage shut down SpaceX's mission control during the Polaris Dawn private astronaut mission in September. The outage was caused by a power surge when a cooling system malfunctioned, knocking out power at the mission control center in Hawthorne, California. The outage also affected backup systems, keeping SpaceX from activating another mission control center in Florida. The outage lasted about an hour and did not appear to adversely impact the mission itself, although SpaceX did not disclose the incident at the time or respond to subsequent inquiries. (12/18)
Taiwan Considers Project Kuiper (Source: Radio Taiwan International)
Taiwan is in talks to use Amazon's future Project Kuiper constellation. Taiwan's technology and science minister said the government is considering some kind of collaboration with Amazon to use the broadband constellation after concluding the OneWeb system did not offer sufficient bandwidth. Taiwan had previously ruled out SpaceX's Starlink, which is not available in the country after SpaceX concluded it could not meet requirements such as local ownership. (12/18)
Stopgap Bill Would Keep Government Open (Source: Washington Post)
A stopgap funding bill will keep the government open and provide disaster relief funding for NASA. House and Senate appropriations released a continuing resolution (CR) Tuesday that would keep the government funded at 2024 levels after the current CR expires Friday until March 14. The CR also includes a disaster relief supplemental funding bill, which allocated $740.2 million to NASA to repair facilities damaged by storms in 2023 and 2024. Another provision would allow NOAA to spend money at a higher rate on the GeoXO weather satellite program to keep that program on schedule. (12/18)
US Officials Warn of Quantum, AI Threats to Satellites (Source: Via Satellite)
US defense officials have expressed concerns about the dual threats and capabilities posed by quantum computing and AI, highlighting potential vulnerabilities in satellite systems. "If I can just [snap fingers] and know all your vulnerabilities, I can come back another day and take you out," says James "Aaron" Bishop, chief information security officer for the US Air Force. "You will not have had any time to monitor me poking around your system, which is the way we catch you today." (12/17)
Satellogic Secures $10M Through Institutional Investor Placement (Source: Space Daily)
Satellogic announced a private placement agreement with a single institutional investor. The agreement involves the issuance and sale of 3,571,429 Class A Ordinary Shares at a price of $2.80 per share. The transaction will generate approximately $10 million in gross proceeds before deducting associated offering expenses. These funds are intended for general corporate purposes. (12/10)
Innovative Vest Aims to Protect Astronauts From Space Radiation (Source: Space Daily)
The AstroRad vest, a cutting-edge wearable designed to shield astronauts from harmful solar radiation, has taken center stage in the latest issue of *Upward*, the official magazine of the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory. This innovative technology, developed by StemRad in partnership with Lockheed Martin, has undergone rigorous testing aboard the ISS, resulting in substantial improvements to its design and usability.
Kayla Barron, a NASA astronaut who tested the vest on the ISS, described it as "like a gravity blanket in space," praising its combination of protection and mobility. The AstroRad vest uses high-density polymers to selectively shield vital organs that are most vulnerable to radiation exposure. This targeted protection addresses serious risks such as cancer and radiation sickness. The ISS National Lab's sponsorship allowed StemRad and its partners to refine the vest's ergonomics and functionality, pushing the boundaries of astronaut safety for deep-space missions. (12/13)
NASA Aims to Solve Lunar Housekeeping's Biggest Issue - Infinite Dust! (Source: Space Daily)
If you thought the dust bunnies under your sofa were an issue, imagine trying to combat dust on the Moon. Dust is a significant challenge for astronauts living and working on the lunar surface. So, NASA is developing technologies that mitigate dust buildup enabling a safer, sustainable presence on the Moon.
A flight test aboard a suborbital rocket system that will simulate?lunar gravity is the next step in understanding how dust mitigation technologies can successfully address this challenge. During the flight test with Blue Origin, seven technologies developed by NASA's Game Changing Development program within the agency's Space Technology Mission Directorate will study regolith mechanics and lunar dust transport in a simulated lunar gravity environment. (12/16)
SWIFT - The Space Workforce Incubator for Texas Launches (Source: Space Daily)
The Space Workforce Incubator for Texas (SWIFT) proudly announces the launch of its groundbreaking SWIFT Rocket Program, part of an innovative statewide initiative aimed at propelling Texas to the forefront of the aerospace industry. As part of its inaugural effort, SWIFT announces that it is awarding grants to the Rice Eclipse Rocket Team and the Texas A&M Rocket Engine Design Team to advance their cutting-edge rocket design and development projects.
By fostering collaboration between student rocket organizations, postsecondary institutions, and industry leaders, SWIFT sets a new standard for aerospace education and workforce development as it quarterbacks Texas' space workforce training ecosystem - connecting high schools, community colleges, universities, and industry to eliminate duplication, maximize resources, and unleash untapped talent into this sector that is experiencing literal rocket speed growth. SWIFT is currently garnering statewide partner interest. (12/14)
Florida Tech and All Points Logistics are excited to announce a dynamic new collaboration. Merritt Island-based All Points will engage in collaborative research with faculty and offer internships to students, and both organizations will work together to continue the growth and development of the future STEM workforce on the Space Coast. The agreement enables collaboration on applied research projects involving faculty, students, and equipment. It supports company-funded internships for students and participation in career fairs, “career-ready” programs, and student projects. It also offers the company’s employees access to Florida Tech programs for professional growth and career advancement. (12/17)
SpaceX Delay Means Boeing Starliner Astronauts Will Get an Even Longer Stay on the ISS (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
Because SpaceX’s next crew rotation mission to the International Space Station will use a new Dragon spacecraft that won’t be ready by a previously planned February launch date, NASA announced Tuesday it has opted to delay the launch now until no earlier than late March. What that means is an even longer stay for the two NASA astronauts who flew up in June to the ISS aboard Boeing’s beleaguered Starliner spacecraft. They launched on the first crewed mission of Starliner on June 5 from Cape Canaveral atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V arriving to the ISS one day later for what was supposed to be as short as an eight-day stay. (12/18)
Axiom Revises Space Station Plan (Source: Space News)
Axiom Space is revising its plans to assemble a commercial space station. The company announced Wednesday a revised sequence of modules for Axiom Station, which will now start with a Payloads Power Thermal Module (PPTM) that will be berthed to the International Space Station as soon as 2027. The PPTM will later unberth and dock with a habitat module, forming the core of a free-flying station that will be augmented by other modules. The company originally planned to start with a sequence of habitat and research modules docked to the ISS. The change, the company said, avoids any conflicts over access to the docking port on the ISS it originally planned to use and which NASA wants to reserve for the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle. The change also enables Axiom to operate a free-flying station with just the PPTM and a habitat module as soon as 2028. (12/18)
Eutelsat Orders 100 OneWeb Satellites (Not From Florida Factory) (Source: Space News)
Eutelsat ordered 100 OneWeb satellites from Airbus Defence and Space. Eutelsat said the order would allow it to start replenishing aging satellites in the first-generation OneWeb constellation that will be reaching the end of their design lives in 2027 and 2028. Eutelsat is holding off on a second-generation system but said the new satellites would have "key technology upgrades." The first of the new satellites will be completed by the end of 2026, and Airbus plans to manufacture them in Toulouse, rather than the former Airbus OneWeb Satellites factory in Florida that built most of the first-generation satellites. (12/18)
NRO Constellation Surpasses 100 Satellites in Orbit (Source: Space News)
The NRO now has more than 100 satellites in a new constellation in orbit after a launch Tuesday. A Falcon 9 lifted off at 8:19 a.m. Eastern from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and placed an unspecified number of satellites into orbit. With the launch, the NRO said that new constellation has more than 100 satellites developed by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman with imaging payloads. The NRO plans to continue expanding the constellation through 2028. (12/18)
Japan's Space One Fails to Put Second Rocket Into Orbit (Source: Space News)
A Japanese small launch vehicle failed on its second flight Tuesday. The Kairos rocket lifted off from Spaceport Kii in southern Honshu at 9 p.m. Eastern. The initial phase of the flight appeared to go well, but about two minutes after liftoff the rocket could be seen tumbling. Space One, the company backed by Canon and IHI Aerospace that developed Kairos, confirmed the launch was a failure but provided few additional details. The inaugural Kairos launch in March also failed when low thrust from the rocket's first stage triggered an autonomous flight termination system seconds after liftoff. (12/18)
Chinese Astronauts Perform Marathon Spacewalk Outside TSS (Source: Space News)
Two Chinese astronauts performed a marathon spacewalk outside the Tiangong space station Tuesday. Shenzhou-19 commander Cai Xuzhe and crewmate Song Lingdong spent more than nine hours outside the station during the spacewalk, which ended at 8:57 a.m. Eastern Tuesday. The spacewalk appears to surpass the previous record for a spacewalk of 8 hours, 56 minutes set by NASA astronauts James Voss and Susan Helms during the STS-102 mission in 2001. The astronauts carried out installation of space debris protection devices, the inspection and handling of external equipment and facilities during the spacewalk. (12/18)
Space Force to Establish Futures Command (Source: Space News)
The Space Force will establish a Futures Command next year to help it justify its plans and programs. Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations, said at a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) event Tuesday that the new command will help provide "the data set that we can then use in the budget fights," a crucial capability as the Space Force faces growing congressional scrutiny over its acquisition speed and strategic focus. The Futures Command will expand on work currently done by the Space Warfighting Analysis Center. In a separate talk at the CSIS event, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), chair of the House Armed Services Committee, pushed for the Space Force to develop more acquisition and technology experts rather than focusing primarily on operators. (12/18)
Ursa Major Succeeds with Rocket Motor Test (Source: Space News)
Ursa Major says it successfully tested a new solid rocket motor in a Raytheon missile. The approximately 10-inch diameter motor was tested on an undisclosed missile system for the U.S. Army, Ursa Major announced, calling the test a crucial milestone as defense contractors seek new suppliers amid growing demand for weapons systems. Raytheon, which invested in Ursa Major through its venture capital arm RTX Ventures during the startup's $138 million funding rounds in 2023, is exploring the company's 3D-manufacturing capabilities to reduce costs and accelerate munitions production for the U.S. military. (12/18)
SpaceX Suffered Mission Control Power Outage During Polaris Dawn (Source: Reuters)
A power outage shut down SpaceX's mission control during the Polaris Dawn private astronaut mission in September. The outage was caused by a power surge when a cooling system malfunctioned, knocking out power at the mission control center in Hawthorne, California. The outage also affected backup systems, keeping SpaceX from activating another mission control center in Florida. The outage lasted about an hour and did not appear to adversely impact the mission itself, although SpaceX did not disclose the incident at the time or respond to subsequent inquiries. (12/18)
Taiwan Considers Project Kuiper (Source: Radio Taiwan International)
Taiwan is in talks to use Amazon's future Project Kuiper constellation. Taiwan's technology and science minister said the government is considering some kind of collaboration with Amazon to use the broadband constellation after concluding the OneWeb system did not offer sufficient bandwidth. Taiwan had previously ruled out SpaceX's Starlink, which is not available in the country after SpaceX concluded it could not meet requirements such as local ownership. (12/18)
Stopgap Bill Would Keep Government Open (Source: Washington Post)
A stopgap funding bill will keep the government open and provide disaster relief funding for NASA. House and Senate appropriations released a continuing resolution (CR) Tuesday that would keep the government funded at 2024 levels after the current CR expires Friday until March 14. The CR also includes a disaster relief supplemental funding bill, which allocated $740.2 million to NASA to repair facilities damaged by storms in 2023 and 2024. Another provision would allow NOAA to spend money at a higher rate on the GeoXO weather satellite program to keep that program on schedule. (12/18)
US Officials Warn of Quantum, AI Threats to Satellites (Source: Via Satellite)
US defense officials have expressed concerns about the dual threats and capabilities posed by quantum computing and AI, highlighting potential vulnerabilities in satellite systems. "If I can just [snap fingers] and know all your vulnerabilities, I can come back another day and take you out," says James "Aaron" Bishop, chief information security officer for the US Air Force. "You will not have had any time to monitor me poking around your system, which is the way we catch you today." (12/17)
Satellogic Secures $10M Through Institutional Investor Placement (Source: Space Daily)
Satellogic announced a private placement agreement with a single institutional investor. The agreement involves the issuance and sale of 3,571,429 Class A Ordinary Shares at a price of $2.80 per share. The transaction will generate approximately $10 million in gross proceeds before deducting associated offering expenses. These funds are intended for general corporate purposes. (12/10)
Innovative Vest Aims to Protect Astronauts From Space Radiation (Source: Space Daily)
The AstroRad vest, a cutting-edge wearable designed to shield astronauts from harmful solar radiation, has taken center stage in the latest issue of *Upward*, the official magazine of the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory. This innovative technology, developed by StemRad in partnership with Lockheed Martin, has undergone rigorous testing aboard the ISS, resulting in substantial improvements to its design and usability.
Kayla Barron, a NASA astronaut who tested the vest on the ISS, described it as "like a gravity blanket in space," praising its combination of protection and mobility. The AstroRad vest uses high-density polymers to selectively shield vital organs that are most vulnerable to radiation exposure. This targeted protection addresses serious risks such as cancer and radiation sickness. The ISS National Lab's sponsorship allowed StemRad and its partners to refine the vest's ergonomics and functionality, pushing the boundaries of astronaut safety for deep-space missions. (12/13)
NASA Aims to Solve Lunar Housekeeping's Biggest Issue - Infinite Dust! (Source: Space Daily)
If you thought the dust bunnies under your sofa were an issue, imagine trying to combat dust on the Moon. Dust is a significant challenge for astronauts living and working on the lunar surface. So, NASA is developing technologies that mitigate dust buildup enabling a safer, sustainable presence on the Moon.
A flight test aboard a suborbital rocket system that will simulate?lunar gravity is the next step in understanding how dust mitigation technologies can successfully address this challenge. During the flight test with Blue Origin, seven technologies developed by NASA's Game Changing Development program within the agency's Space Technology Mission Directorate will study regolith mechanics and lunar dust transport in a simulated lunar gravity environment. (12/16)
SWIFT - The Space Workforce Incubator for Texas Launches (Source: Space Daily)
The Space Workforce Incubator for Texas (SWIFT) proudly announces the launch of its groundbreaking SWIFT Rocket Program, part of an innovative statewide initiative aimed at propelling Texas to the forefront of the aerospace industry. As part of its inaugural effort, SWIFT announces that it is awarding grants to the Rice Eclipse Rocket Team and the Texas A&M Rocket Engine Design Team to advance their cutting-edge rocket design and development projects.
By fostering collaboration between student rocket organizations, postsecondary institutions, and industry leaders, SWIFT sets a new standard for aerospace education and workforce development as it quarterbacks Texas' space workforce training ecosystem - connecting high schools, community colleges, universities, and industry to eliminate duplication, maximize resources, and unleash untapped talent into this sector that is experiencing literal rocket speed growth. SWIFT is currently garnering statewide partner interest. (12/14)
December 17, 2024
Japan, India Startups to Study
Laser-Equipped Satellite to Tackle Space Debris (Source: Reuters)
Space startups in Japan and India said on Tuesday they had agreed to jointly study using laser-equipped satellites to remove debris from orbit, an experimental approach to the increasingly imminent problem of orbital congestion. Tokyo-based Orbital Lasers and Indian robotics company InspeCity said they would study business opportunities for in-space services such as de-orbiting a defunct satellite and extending a spacecraft's life.
Carved out from Japanese satellite giant SKY Perfect JSAT this year, Orbital Lasers is building a system that will use laser energy to stop the rotation of space junk by vaporizing small parts of its surface, making it easier for a servicing spacecraft to rendezvous. Orbital Lasers plans to demonstrate the system in space and supply it to operators after 2027. (12/17)
Musk Has Security Clearance Problems (Source: The Guardian)
The space entrepreneur Elon Musk is unlikely to receive government security clearances if he so applied, even as his SpaceX launch company blasts military and spy agency payloads into orbit. The billionaire, a close ally of Donald Trump, who is set to join the incoming administration as an efficiency expert and recently became the first person to exceed $400bn in self-made personal wealth, is reported by the Wall Street Journal to have been advised by SpaceX lawyers not to seek highest-level security clearances owing to personal drug use and contacts with foreign nationals.
Musk currently holds a “top-secret” clearance that took years to obtain after he discussed use of marijuana on a 2018 podcast. But that may not be enough to have access to information about US government payloads in his rockets. While “top secret” is the government’s top level of security clearance, rising above “confidential” and “secret”, it does not automatically confer special authorization access to classified programs. More than 400 SpaceX employees have permissions to access “sensitive compartmented information”, but not the company CEO. (12/16)
SpaceX Launches O3b mPower-E Satellite From Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Sources: Florida Today, NasaSpaceFlight.com)
SpaceX has launched the latest mission for SES at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, delivering the O3b mPower-E satellite to space on Tuesday. The first stage booster completed its first landing on Just Read the Instructions drone ship situated downrange. It was the 90th orbital launch from the Florida spaceport in 2024. (12/17)
SpaceX’s 31st Dragon Cargo Capsule Returns to Earth with Splashdown Off Florida Coast (Source: Space.com)
SpaceX's 31st robotic cargo mission has made it back to Earth. SpaceX's Dragon cargo capsule splashed down off the Florida coast at 1:39 p.m. on Dec. 17, a day after undocking from the ISS. (12/17)
Silent NASA Lander Gives Insight Into Martian Dust (Source: The Register)
Two years after NASA retired the InSight lander, scientists are continuing to use the vehicle to learn more about Mars. InSight was retired in 2022 after it stopped communicating with Earth. The silence started during the lander's extended mission and was expected. Dust had been building up on the lander's solar arrays, preventing its batteries from recharging and eventually leading to its demise. Hopeful that a passing dust devil might clean the arrays, NASA has been listening for a signal from the lander, but with not a peep from InSight over the last two years, that effort will end at the close of 2024. (12/17)
NASA Artemis II Crew Shows SLS Rocket Progress (Source: Florida Today)
Faced with growing uncertainty over the future of Artemis, NASA this week showed off the progress of the Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) moon rocket to journalists, bringing out the crew and saying the rocket was ready to be stacked. On Monday, the Artemis II astronauts sat in front of the core of their rocket as they spoke about progress toward their future mission. "Progress is being made across the board. An investment in Artemis is an investment in America," said Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman. (12/17)
Sidus Space Announces $14 Million Private Placement (Source: Sidus Space)
Sidus Space announced that it has entered into definitive securities purchase agreements for shares of stock on a brokered private placement basis, for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $14 million. The company intends to use the proceeds from the offering for working capital and general corporate purposes. (12/17)
Musk and SpaceX Face Reviews After Violations of Security Reporting Rules (Source: New York Times)
Elon Musk and his rocket company, SpaceX, have repeatedly failed to comply with federal reporting protocols aimed at protecting state secrets, including by not providing some details of his meetings with foreign leaders, according to people with knowledge of the company and internal documents.
Concerns about the reporting practices — and particularly about Mr. Musk, who is SpaceX’s chief executive — have triggered at least three federal reviews, eight people with knowledge of the efforts said. The Defense Department’s Office of Inspector General opened a review into the matter this year, and the Air Force and the Pentagon’s Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security separately initiated reviews last month.
The Air Force also recently denied Mr. Musk a high-level security access, citing potential security risks associated with the billionaire. Several allied nations, including Israel, have also expressed concerns that he could share sensitive data with others, according to defense officials. (12/17)
Space Force Plans Billions in Spending on Launch Infrastructure (Source: Air and Space Forces)
From wastewater treatment to maintenance services to a common operating picture software platform, the Space Force is working on hundreds of projects worth several billion dollars to upgrade its launch facilities. Brig. Gen. Kristin L. Panzenhagen noted that these efforts may not seem “super sexy” compared to programs for new rockets, satellites, and advanced technologies, but with the number of launches projected to keep increasing in the years ahead and the nation’s main spaceports showing their age, the improvements are critical for the Space Force’s ability to project warfighting power into the domain.
The main thrust of the improvements started this year with what the service is calling its “spaceport of the future” program. Funded by Congress to the tune of $1.3 billion from fiscal 2024 to 2028, the Space Force is essentially one year into the effort. We’ve got 192 projects across the two coasts that are defined,” Panzenhagen said. The projects run the gamut, including:
Burying power lines at Cape Canaveral, expanding roads to accommodate larger rockets, wastewater treatment facilities to handle the large amount of water used for deluge operations, electrical and HVAC generators and systems that corrode faster in the humid, salty conditions along the coasts, and developing more land and relocating administrative facilities and warehouses so that they won’t be inside the “clear area” that people need to leave while rockets are fueled. (12/16)
Astrophysicists Capture Gamma-Ray Flare From Supermassive Black Hole M87 (Source: Space Daily)
The first-ever photo of a black hole rocked the world in 2019, when the Event Horizon Telescope, or EHT, published an image of the supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy M87, also known as Virgo A or NGC 4486, located in the constellation of Virgo. This black hole is surprising scientists again with a teraelectronvolt gamma-ray flare - emitting photons billions of times more energetic than visible light. Such an intense flare has not been observed in over a decade, offering crucial insights into how particles, such as electrons and positrons, are accelerated in the extreme environments near black holes.
The jet coming out of the center of M87 is seven orders of magnitude - tens of millions of times - larger than the event horizon, or surface of the black hole itself. The bright burst of high-energy emission was well above the energies typically detected by radio telescopes from the black hole region. The flare lasted about three days and probably emerged from a region less than three light-days in size, or a little under 15 billion miles. (12/15)
Equatorial Launch Australia Shifts Focus to New Queensland Spaceport Site (Source: Space Daily)
Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA) has announced the immediate cessation of operations at the Arnhem Space Centre in the Northern Territory, citing unresolved lease negotiations. The company will relocate its spaceport to a new site in Queensland, marking a significant shift in its operational strategy. The decision stems from the Northern Land Council's (NLC) repeated delays in approving a Head Lease essential for expanding the Arnhem Space Centre. Formal negotiations began in January 2022, yet the NLC missed self-imposed deadlines for approval four times within the past year. (12/13)
Indian Navy and ISRO Conduct Astronaut Well Deck Recovery Trials for Gaganyaan Mission (Source: Space Daily)
The Indian Navy and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) have advanced preparations for Gaganyaan's recovery operations by conducting "Well Deck" recovery trials on December 6, 2024. The exercise took place under the Eastern Naval Command using a well deck-equipped ship off the coast of Visakhapatnam. A ship's well deck can be flooded to allow docking of smaller vessels, landing crafts, or recovered spacecraft. This capability is critical for efficient and safe retrieval operations after the Gaganyaan Crew Module splashes down at sea. (12/13)
Seaspan Signs Agreement with KVH for OneWeb LEO Satellite Solution (Source: Space Daily)
Seaspan Corporation, a global leader in independent containership leasing, has entered an agreement with KVH Industries to equip its fleet with OneWeb's advanced low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology. This initiative underscores Seaspan's commitment to delivering shore-like internet capabilities at sea as part of its broader digital transformation strategy, complementing the fleet's existing LEO services. Seaspan is the first major containership operator to adopt KVH's OneWeb solution, marking a significant step in the maritime industry's adoption of advanced satellite technologies. (12/13)
Honeywell Mulls Aerospace Spinoff Following Investor Push (Source: Reuters)
Honeywell is considering a spinoff of its aerospace unit, the company's top profit generator, supplying major aviation companies like Boeing and Airbus. The move comes after activist investor Elliott Investment Management urged Honeywell to separate the aerospace unit, potentially creating a standalone company valued at up to $120 billion. (12/16)
Secret Payload to Launch Atop Falcon 9 at Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: SpaceFlight Now)
The mission, according to SpaceX and the FAA is being referred to as “RRT-1.” The Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission, tail number B1085 in the SpaceX fleet, will launch for a fourth time. It previously supported the launches of Crew-9 as well as Starlink 10-5 and Starlink 6-77. Roughly 8.5 minutes after liftoff, B1085 will touchdown on the SpaceX droneship, ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas.’ If successful, it will mark the 90th booster landing on ASOG and the 383rd booster landing to date.
Prior to the launch, neither SpaceX nor the mission’s customer made a public statement about what payload was onboard the Friday night Falcon 9 flight. Some speculated online that it was a third-generation Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite manufactured by Lockheed Martin. A point of rationale is the mission timeline for RRT-1 is strikingly similar to that of the last GPS 3 Space Vehicle to launch, GPS 3 SV06, which launched on Jan. 18, 2023. Another data point is that the hazard warnings are also reminiscent of the SV06 launch. (12/17)
Starlink Generating $12 Billion in 2024 (Source: Space News)
A new report concludes that SpaceX will generate nearly $12 billion in revenue this year from its Starlink constellation. The report by Quilty Space said its forecast of $11.8 billion in Starlink revenue is driven by strong consumer demand and growing U.S. military contracts. In a report in May, Quilty Space projected $6.6 billion in Starlink revenue this year. The revised forecast includes a previously undisclosed $537 million Pentagon contract to provide services for Ukraine's military forces through 2027. (12/17)
T-Mobile Signing Customers for Starlink Direct-to-Device (Source: Space News)
T-Mobile is starting to sign up customers for direct-to-device services from Starlink satellites. The free beta program is available to all T-Mobile customers with compatible devices and postpaid voice plans, although first responders will receive priority access. T-Mobile expects to begin offering text messaging using the service early next year, offering connectivity in "dead zones" with no terrestrial service. Unlike Apple's space-enabled messaging for iPhones, introduced in 2022 via Globalstar's constellation, T-Mobile said Starlink-powered connectivity will not require users to point their phones skyward in search of a signal. (12/17)
Thailand Joins Both Artemis Accords and China's ILRS Project (Source: Space News)
Thailand has signed the Artemis Accords, becoming the first country to be a part of both the Accords and a Chinese counterpart. Thailand's space agency GISTDA signed the Accords in a ceremony in Bangkok Monday attended by the U.S. ambassador, making Thailand the 51st nation to join. The signing comes eight months after the country signed a memorandum of cooperation with China on its International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), which includes a set of principles analogous to the Artemis Accords. U.S. officials have long stated there was no obstacle for an ILRS signatory to also join the Artemis Accords. (12/17)
NASA LEO Microgravity Strategy Endorses Sustained Human Presence (Source: Space News)
The final version of a NASA low Earth orbit microgravity strategy endorses keeping people in orbit continuously. The strategy, released Monday, backed a concept called "continuous heartbeat" by NASA where it would maintain people in space continuously as it transitions from the International Space Station to commercial stations. The agency had been weighing continuous heartbeat against "continuous capability" that opened the door to gaps in human presence in LEO. NASA said science needs, including planning for future human missions to Mars, led it to adopt continuous heartbeat, along with maintaining an industrial base of companies operating in LEO. (12/17)
China Launches SAR Satellites (Source: Xinhua)
China launched a set of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging satellites Monday. A Long March 2D rocket lifted off at 1:50 p.m. Eastern and placed four PIESAT-2 satellites into orbit. The spacecraft are part of a planned constellation of 16 SAR satellites. (12/17)
New Mars Strategy Calls for More Small Missions (Source: Space News)
A new NASA strategy for the robotic exploration of Mars calls for flying small missions to the planet frequently. The strategy, published last week, focuses on flying small missions with focused science objectives at every Martian launch window, supplemented with some larger missions as well as missions of opportunity that fly payloads on other nations' spacecraft. The strategy also endorses use of commercial capabilities, particularly for infrastructure like communications and imaging. The 20-year strategy has three science themes that include the search for life, comparative planetology and preparing for human missions to Mars. (12/17)
Saturn's Rings Older Than Thought? (Source: AP)
Saturn rings may be much older than previously thought. Studies of the famous rings based on data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft led scientists to conclude that they were between 100 million and 400 million years old based on the lack of darkening of the icy material that makes up the rings. However, a study published Monday by Japanese researchers suggests that the rings may be "dirt-resistant" and do not darken as they are hit by rocky micrometeoroids. That could mean that the rings are far older, perhaps several billion years old. (12/17)
The Future of Robotic Mars Exploration (Source: Space Review)
Last week, NASA unveiled a long-term plan for robotic exploration of Mars, including work to prepare for later human missions. Jeff Foust reports on the plan as well as ongoing efforts to revamp the Mars Sample Return program. Click here. (12/17)
Countering Threats to US Commercial Space Systems (Source: Space Review)
As the US military makes growing use of commercial space capabilities, those commercial systems become targets for adversaries. Marc Berkowitz examines that challenge and potential measures to protect commercial satellites. Click here. (12/17)
Canada’s First Moon Rover Will Soon Have a Name as it Prepares to Explore a Hostile Lunar Region (Source: Space Review)
A contest is wrapping up this week to select the name for Canada’s first lunar rover. Gordon Osinski discusses the significance of this project and Canada’s history of rover development. Click here. (12/17)
Space startups in Japan and India said on Tuesday they had agreed to jointly study using laser-equipped satellites to remove debris from orbit, an experimental approach to the increasingly imminent problem of orbital congestion. Tokyo-based Orbital Lasers and Indian robotics company InspeCity said they would study business opportunities for in-space services such as de-orbiting a defunct satellite and extending a spacecraft's life.
Carved out from Japanese satellite giant SKY Perfect JSAT this year, Orbital Lasers is building a system that will use laser energy to stop the rotation of space junk by vaporizing small parts of its surface, making it easier for a servicing spacecraft to rendezvous. Orbital Lasers plans to demonstrate the system in space and supply it to operators after 2027. (12/17)
Musk Has Security Clearance Problems (Source: The Guardian)
The space entrepreneur Elon Musk is unlikely to receive government security clearances if he so applied, even as his SpaceX launch company blasts military and spy agency payloads into orbit. The billionaire, a close ally of Donald Trump, who is set to join the incoming administration as an efficiency expert and recently became the first person to exceed $400bn in self-made personal wealth, is reported by the Wall Street Journal to have been advised by SpaceX lawyers not to seek highest-level security clearances owing to personal drug use and contacts with foreign nationals.
Musk currently holds a “top-secret” clearance that took years to obtain after he discussed use of marijuana on a 2018 podcast. But that may not be enough to have access to information about US government payloads in his rockets. While “top secret” is the government’s top level of security clearance, rising above “confidential” and “secret”, it does not automatically confer special authorization access to classified programs. More than 400 SpaceX employees have permissions to access “sensitive compartmented information”, but not the company CEO. (12/16)
SpaceX Launches O3b mPower-E Satellite From Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Sources: Florida Today, NasaSpaceFlight.com)
SpaceX has launched the latest mission for SES at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, delivering the O3b mPower-E satellite to space on Tuesday. The first stage booster completed its first landing on Just Read the Instructions drone ship situated downrange. It was the 90th orbital launch from the Florida spaceport in 2024. (12/17)
SpaceX’s 31st Dragon Cargo Capsule Returns to Earth with Splashdown Off Florida Coast (Source: Space.com)
SpaceX's 31st robotic cargo mission has made it back to Earth. SpaceX's Dragon cargo capsule splashed down off the Florida coast at 1:39 p.m. on Dec. 17, a day after undocking from the ISS. (12/17)
Silent NASA Lander Gives Insight Into Martian Dust (Source: The Register)
Two years after NASA retired the InSight lander, scientists are continuing to use the vehicle to learn more about Mars. InSight was retired in 2022 after it stopped communicating with Earth. The silence started during the lander's extended mission and was expected. Dust had been building up on the lander's solar arrays, preventing its batteries from recharging and eventually leading to its demise. Hopeful that a passing dust devil might clean the arrays, NASA has been listening for a signal from the lander, but with not a peep from InSight over the last two years, that effort will end at the close of 2024. (12/17)
NASA Artemis II Crew Shows SLS Rocket Progress (Source: Florida Today)
Faced with growing uncertainty over the future of Artemis, NASA this week showed off the progress of the Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) moon rocket to journalists, bringing out the crew and saying the rocket was ready to be stacked. On Monday, the Artemis II astronauts sat in front of the core of their rocket as they spoke about progress toward their future mission. "Progress is being made across the board. An investment in Artemis is an investment in America," said Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman. (12/17)
Sidus Space Announces $14 Million Private Placement (Source: Sidus Space)
Sidus Space announced that it has entered into definitive securities purchase agreements for shares of stock on a brokered private placement basis, for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $14 million. The company intends to use the proceeds from the offering for working capital and general corporate purposes. (12/17)
Musk and SpaceX Face Reviews After Violations of Security Reporting Rules (Source: New York Times)
Elon Musk and his rocket company, SpaceX, have repeatedly failed to comply with federal reporting protocols aimed at protecting state secrets, including by not providing some details of his meetings with foreign leaders, according to people with knowledge of the company and internal documents.
Concerns about the reporting practices — and particularly about Mr. Musk, who is SpaceX’s chief executive — have triggered at least three federal reviews, eight people with knowledge of the efforts said. The Defense Department’s Office of Inspector General opened a review into the matter this year, and the Air Force and the Pentagon’s Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security separately initiated reviews last month.
The Air Force also recently denied Mr. Musk a high-level security access, citing potential security risks associated with the billionaire. Several allied nations, including Israel, have also expressed concerns that he could share sensitive data with others, according to defense officials. (12/17)
Space Force Plans Billions in Spending on Launch Infrastructure (Source: Air and Space Forces)
From wastewater treatment to maintenance services to a common operating picture software platform, the Space Force is working on hundreds of projects worth several billion dollars to upgrade its launch facilities. Brig. Gen. Kristin L. Panzenhagen noted that these efforts may not seem “super sexy” compared to programs for new rockets, satellites, and advanced technologies, but with the number of launches projected to keep increasing in the years ahead and the nation’s main spaceports showing their age, the improvements are critical for the Space Force’s ability to project warfighting power into the domain.
The main thrust of the improvements started this year with what the service is calling its “spaceport of the future” program. Funded by Congress to the tune of $1.3 billion from fiscal 2024 to 2028, the Space Force is essentially one year into the effort. We’ve got 192 projects across the two coasts that are defined,” Panzenhagen said. The projects run the gamut, including:
Burying power lines at Cape Canaveral, expanding roads to accommodate larger rockets, wastewater treatment facilities to handle the large amount of water used for deluge operations, electrical and HVAC generators and systems that corrode faster in the humid, salty conditions along the coasts, and developing more land and relocating administrative facilities and warehouses so that they won’t be inside the “clear area” that people need to leave while rockets are fueled. (12/16)
Astrophysicists Capture Gamma-Ray Flare From Supermassive Black Hole M87 (Source: Space Daily)
The first-ever photo of a black hole rocked the world in 2019, when the Event Horizon Telescope, or EHT, published an image of the supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy M87, also known as Virgo A or NGC 4486, located in the constellation of Virgo. This black hole is surprising scientists again with a teraelectronvolt gamma-ray flare - emitting photons billions of times more energetic than visible light. Such an intense flare has not been observed in over a decade, offering crucial insights into how particles, such as electrons and positrons, are accelerated in the extreme environments near black holes.
The jet coming out of the center of M87 is seven orders of magnitude - tens of millions of times - larger than the event horizon, or surface of the black hole itself. The bright burst of high-energy emission was well above the energies typically detected by radio telescopes from the black hole region. The flare lasted about three days and probably emerged from a region less than three light-days in size, or a little under 15 billion miles. (12/15)
Equatorial Launch Australia Shifts Focus to New Queensland Spaceport Site (Source: Space Daily)
Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA) has announced the immediate cessation of operations at the Arnhem Space Centre in the Northern Territory, citing unresolved lease negotiations. The company will relocate its spaceport to a new site in Queensland, marking a significant shift in its operational strategy. The decision stems from the Northern Land Council's (NLC) repeated delays in approving a Head Lease essential for expanding the Arnhem Space Centre. Formal negotiations began in January 2022, yet the NLC missed self-imposed deadlines for approval four times within the past year. (12/13)
Indian Navy and ISRO Conduct Astronaut Well Deck Recovery Trials for Gaganyaan Mission (Source: Space Daily)
The Indian Navy and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) have advanced preparations for Gaganyaan's recovery operations by conducting "Well Deck" recovery trials on December 6, 2024. The exercise took place under the Eastern Naval Command using a well deck-equipped ship off the coast of Visakhapatnam. A ship's well deck can be flooded to allow docking of smaller vessels, landing crafts, or recovered spacecraft. This capability is critical for efficient and safe retrieval operations after the Gaganyaan Crew Module splashes down at sea. (12/13)
Seaspan Signs Agreement with KVH for OneWeb LEO Satellite Solution (Source: Space Daily)
Seaspan Corporation, a global leader in independent containership leasing, has entered an agreement with KVH Industries to equip its fleet with OneWeb's advanced low-earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology. This initiative underscores Seaspan's commitment to delivering shore-like internet capabilities at sea as part of its broader digital transformation strategy, complementing the fleet's existing LEO services. Seaspan is the first major containership operator to adopt KVH's OneWeb solution, marking a significant step in the maritime industry's adoption of advanced satellite technologies. (12/13)
Honeywell Mulls Aerospace Spinoff Following Investor Push (Source: Reuters)
Honeywell is considering a spinoff of its aerospace unit, the company's top profit generator, supplying major aviation companies like Boeing and Airbus. The move comes after activist investor Elliott Investment Management urged Honeywell to separate the aerospace unit, potentially creating a standalone company valued at up to $120 billion. (12/16)
Secret Payload to Launch Atop Falcon 9 at Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: SpaceFlight Now)
The mission, according to SpaceX and the FAA is being referred to as “RRT-1.” The Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission, tail number B1085 in the SpaceX fleet, will launch for a fourth time. It previously supported the launches of Crew-9 as well as Starlink 10-5 and Starlink 6-77. Roughly 8.5 minutes after liftoff, B1085 will touchdown on the SpaceX droneship, ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas.’ If successful, it will mark the 90th booster landing on ASOG and the 383rd booster landing to date.
Prior to the launch, neither SpaceX nor the mission’s customer made a public statement about what payload was onboard the Friday night Falcon 9 flight. Some speculated online that it was a third-generation Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite manufactured by Lockheed Martin. A point of rationale is the mission timeline for RRT-1 is strikingly similar to that of the last GPS 3 Space Vehicle to launch, GPS 3 SV06, which launched on Jan. 18, 2023. Another data point is that the hazard warnings are also reminiscent of the SV06 launch. (12/17)
Starlink Generating $12 Billion in 2024 (Source: Space News)
A new report concludes that SpaceX will generate nearly $12 billion in revenue this year from its Starlink constellation. The report by Quilty Space said its forecast of $11.8 billion in Starlink revenue is driven by strong consumer demand and growing U.S. military contracts. In a report in May, Quilty Space projected $6.6 billion in Starlink revenue this year. The revised forecast includes a previously undisclosed $537 million Pentagon contract to provide services for Ukraine's military forces through 2027. (12/17)
T-Mobile Signing Customers for Starlink Direct-to-Device (Source: Space News)
T-Mobile is starting to sign up customers for direct-to-device services from Starlink satellites. The free beta program is available to all T-Mobile customers with compatible devices and postpaid voice plans, although first responders will receive priority access. T-Mobile expects to begin offering text messaging using the service early next year, offering connectivity in "dead zones" with no terrestrial service. Unlike Apple's space-enabled messaging for iPhones, introduced in 2022 via Globalstar's constellation, T-Mobile said Starlink-powered connectivity will not require users to point their phones skyward in search of a signal. (12/17)
Thailand Joins Both Artemis Accords and China's ILRS Project (Source: Space News)
Thailand has signed the Artemis Accords, becoming the first country to be a part of both the Accords and a Chinese counterpart. Thailand's space agency GISTDA signed the Accords in a ceremony in Bangkok Monday attended by the U.S. ambassador, making Thailand the 51st nation to join. The signing comes eight months after the country signed a memorandum of cooperation with China on its International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), which includes a set of principles analogous to the Artemis Accords. U.S. officials have long stated there was no obstacle for an ILRS signatory to also join the Artemis Accords. (12/17)
NASA LEO Microgravity Strategy Endorses Sustained Human Presence (Source: Space News)
The final version of a NASA low Earth orbit microgravity strategy endorses keeping people in orbit continuously. The strategy, released Monday, backed a concept called "continuous heartbeat" by NASA where it would maintain people in space continuously as it transitions from the International Space Station to commercial stations. The agency had been weighing continuous heartbeat against "continuous capability" that opened the door to gaps in human presence in LEO. NASA said science needs, including planning for future human missions to Mars, led it to adopt continuous heartbeat, along with maintaining an industrial base of companies operating in LEO. (12/17)
China Launches SAR Satellites (Source: Xinhua)
China launched a set of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging satellites Monday. A Long March 2D rocket lifted off at 1:50 p.m. Eastern and placed four PIESAT-2 satellites into orbit. The spacecraft are part of a planned constellation of 16 SAR satellites. (12/17)
New Mars Strategy Calls for More Small Missions (Source: Space News)
A new NASA strategy for the robotic exploration of Mars calls for flying small missions to the planet frequently. The strategy, published last week, focuses on flying small missions with focused science objectives at every Martian launch window, supplemented with some larger missions as well as missions of opportunity that fly payloads on other nations' spacecraft. The strategy also endorses use of commercial capabilities, particularly for infrastructure like communications and imaging. The 20-year strategy has three science themes that include the search for life, comparative planetology and preparing for human missions to Mars. (12/17)
Saturn's Rings Older Than Thought? (Source: AP)
Saturn rings may be much older than previously thought. Studies of the famous rings based on data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft led scientists to conclude that they were between 100 million and 400 million years old based on the lack of darkening of the icy material that makes up the rings. However, a study published Monday by Japanese researchers suggests that the rings may be "dirt-resistant" and do not darken as they are hit by rocky micrometeoroids. That could mean that the rings are far older, perhaps several billion years old. (12/17)
The Future of Robotic Mars Exploration (Source: Space Review)
Last week, NASA unveiled a long-term plan for robotic exploration of Mars, including work to prepare for later human missions. Jeff Foust reports on the plan as well as ongoing efforts to revamp the Mars Sample Return program. Click here. (12/17)
Countering Threats to US Commercial Space Systems (Source: Space Review)
As the US military makes growing use of commercial space capabilities, those commercial systems become targets for adversaries. Marc Berkowitz examines that challenge and potential measures to protect commercial satellites. Click here. (12/17)
Canada’s First Moon Rover Will Soon Have a Name as it Prepares to Explore a Hostile Lunar Region (Source: Space Review)
A contest is wrapping up this week to select the name for Canada’s first lunar rover. Gordon Osinski discusses the significance of this project and Canada’s history of rover development. Click here. (12/17)
December 16, 2024
New Glenn Awaits FAA Regulatory
Approval for Debut Launch (Source: Florida Today)
"It's literally on the pad now, waiting for regulatory approval. It needs its final regulatory approvals to launch. So we're very, very close," Blue Origin's billionaire founder Jeff Bezos said. Blue Origin now employs more than 3,000 workers in Florida, Mitchell said. "We've invested over $3 billion in facilities in Florida. And we've also spent more than $2 billion with around 500 companies in Florida," said Megan Mitchell, vice president of government relations. (12/13)
Physicists Find Particle That Only Has Mass When Moving in One Direction (Source: Science Alert)
Scientists have made a satisfying and intriguing physics discovery some 16 years after it was first predicted to be a possibility: a quasiparticle (a group of particles behaving as one) that only has an effective mass when moving in one direction. Whereas regular quasiparticles have the same mass no matter what their direction of travel, the semi-Dirac fermion (to give it its technical name) being studied here doesn't seem to play by the normal rules. It's a discovery that could make a fundamental difference in fields such as quantum physics and electronic sensors. 12/14)
Smallsat Market Maintains Momentum Despite Starlink and Starshield Disruption (Source: NovaSpace)
The latest edition of Novaspace’s ‘Prospects for the Small Satellite Market’ market intelligence report forecasts robust growth in the small satellite (smallsat) industry, projecting a market value of approximately $113.3 billion over the next decade. This expansion will be fueled by the replenishment of satellite constellations globally and the rising complexity and cost of government-driven single-satellite missions.
Despite these headwinds, the report emphasizes the strategic role of smallsat constellations in capability-building for emerging players in the space sector. Recent geopolitical tensions and conflicts have underscored the critical importance of commercial satellite communication (satcom) and Earth observation constellations. These systems have demonstrated their value in active combat scenarios, while interest grows in new technologies such as direct-to-device (D2D) and low Earth orbit positioning, navigation, and timing (LEO PNT) constellations. (12/12)
Europe Advances Consortium for IRIS Constellation (Source: Space News)
The European Union and ESA have signed contracts with an industrial consortium for a satellite constellation costing 10.6 billion euros ($11.1 billion). At a ceremony in Brussels Monday morning, ESA and EU officials, along with executives from the SpaceRISE consortium of Eutelsat, Hispasat and SES, formally signed contracts for the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS²) constellation.
IRIS² will include more than 290 satellites in medium and low Earth orbits, with launches scheduled for 2029 and 2030. The EU will provide 6 billion euros and ESA 550 million euros, with SpaceRISE contributing the rest. IRIS² is designed to provide secure connectivity for European civil government and security needs as well as consumer broadband services. (12/16)
Joint US/Indian NISAR Could Launch in March (Source: Space News)
A joint U.S.-Indian Earth science mission is now expected to launch next March. The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission was scheduled to launch earlier this year, but the agencies postponed the launch to make modifications to a large deployable reflector that could get too warm while in a stowed configuration after launch. That work is now complete and the satellite is in storage waiting for a launch opportunity, a NASA official said at the AGU annual meeting last week. The launch on an Indian GSLV rocket has to wait until after another GSLV launch scheduled for mid-January, followed by six to eight weeks of work to refurbish the launch pad. (12/16)
Musk Lacks Clearance for Classified Projects Underway at SpaceX (Source: Wall Street Journal)
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk lacks the security clearances needed to access information about key classified programs at the company. While Musk has a top-secret clearance, he does not have clearances for "sensitive compartmented information" required for specific programs SpaceX is performing for the U.S. government. That means he cannot enter SpaceX facilities where that classified work is taking place and doesn't have access to information about some spacecraft SpaceX launches.
Musk received a top-secret clearance in 2022 only after several years of effort, which people in SpaceX believed was linked to Musk smoking marijuana in a 2018 Joe Rogan podcast. SpaceX lawyers said they were concerned reports about Musk's drug use and contacts with foreign officials like Vladimir Putin might not only make it difficult to get a higher clearance but could also result in losing his top-secret clearance. That problem may become moot, though, in the incoming Trump administration, given Musk's close ties to the president-elect. (12/16)
Latvia to Ratify Outer Space Treaty (Source: PBL)
Latvia is planning to finally sign the Outer Space Treaty. The country's Cabinet of Ministers has approved a draft law that would see the Baltic nation ratify the 1967 treaty, after the government announced earlier this year that it would sign on to the treaty. Latvia is the only member of the European Union that has not joined the treaty, which 113 countries have ratified. Latvia is also seeking to join the UN's Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. (12/16)
Some Recommendations for New Space Policy (Source: Michael Mealling/LinkedIn)
Michael Mealling offers some policy ideas to address current space program challenges, and for building the US future in space. Click here. (12/16)
China Launches Megaconstellation Satellites (Source: Space News)
China launched the first satellites of a second megaconstellation on Monday. A Long March 5B rocket lifted off from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center at 5 a.m. Eastern carrying the first group of satellites for China's national Guowang ("national net") megaconstellation. Chinese officials declared the launch a success but did not disclose the number of satellites on board or their planned orbits. Guowang is projected to have 13,000 satellites to provide broadband services. It will join Qianfan, or Thousand Sails, another megaconstellation that has already placed 54 satellites in orbit on three launches this year. (12/16)
Congress Approves First-Ever Acknowledgement of Space Launch Noise Impacts on Nearby Communities, Compels Pentagon to Act on Mitigation (Source: Rep. Salud Carbajal)
This week, Congress is advancing for the first time federal legislation that acknowledges the disruption that space launch noise has on nearby communities, as well as outlining steps it believes the Department of Defense should take to mitigate the impact of sonic booms and other disturbances. The language was secured by Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and the federal representative for the communities surrounding the Western Range at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
The language was included in the House report accompanying the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, the annual defense policy bill crafted by the Armed Services Committees of both chambers: “The Department [of Defense] already has a Community Noise Mitigation Program for fixed wing aircraft…it could be beneficial to stand up a similar program to make grants to communities impacted by national security space launches for the purpose of installing noise mitigating insulation at nearby facilities.”
Congressman Carbajal intends to build on this language in his next term with additional measures to better address the impact of increased launches, including but not limited to launch noise. (12/12)
UAE Space Agency Hosts UAE-Japan Sector Workshop (Source: Times Aerospace)
The event took place on the sidelines of the 2024 edition of The Abu Dhabi Space Debate. The joint workshop is a collaborative event aimed at bringing together experts, industry leaders, and government officials from the UAE and Japan to strengthen cooperation in the field of space exploration. (12/13)
SES Equips Peruvian Air Force with High-throughput Connectivity via SES-14 Satellite (Source: SES)
The Peruvian Air Force (PAF) is using SES’s high-throughput geostationary orbit (GEO) satellite solution to improve connectivity for its Air Force bases and enhance operations all over the country, SES announced today. Under the agreement, SES is providing a turnkey solution which includes delivery and installation of communications hardware, as well as training and enabling the PAF with SES-14 capacity to explore all the possibilities and improvements that the high-throughput satellite (HTS) can offer. (12/11)
Direct-to-Device Satellite Services Drive the Next Wave of Global Connectivity (Source: NovaSpace)
Novaspace, leader in space consulting and market intelligence, has released the 9th edition of its report Prospects for Direct to Handheld and IoT Markets. The study projects the direct-to-device satellite connectivity market to grow from $1.5 billion today to nearly $15 billion by 2033, fueled by rapid advancements in technology and expanding satellite networks. (12/10)
ispace and Magna Petra Agree to Future Resources Exploration on the Moon’s Surface (Source: ispace)
ispace and Magna Petra, the first lunar resources company engaged in the prospecting, extraction and return to earth of helium-3 isotopes from the lunar surface, have agreed to collaborate on future missions to the lunar surface, the two companies announced. Under terms of the memorandum of understanding, the two companies have agreed to collaborate on the development of a lunar economy that provides terrestrial economic value via non-destructive, sustainable harvesting of lunar surface resources. (12/10)
SEOPS Awarded Launch Services Task Order for Upcoming NASA VADR Mission (Source: SEOPS)
SEOPS, a leading provider of responsive space mission services, has been selected to provide launch and integration services for a small satellite mission under a recent task order awarded by NASA under the Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) launch services contract. Under the terms of the award, the Houston-based company will support the Streamlined CubeSat Launch Services (SCLS) R5-S9 Mission by procuring a launch for the 6U CubeSat and providing payload processing and integration services, testing, fit checks, and all necessary hardware including its Equalizer dispenser. The launch is currently slated for 2025. (10/9)
"It's literally on the pad now, waiting for regulatory approval. It needs its final regulatory approvals to launch. So we're very, very close," Blue Origin's billionaire founder Jeff Bezos said. Blue Origin now employs more than 3,000 workers in Florida, Mitchell said. "We've invested over $3 billion in facilities in Florida. And we've also spent more than $2 billion with around 500 companies in Florida," said Megan Mitchell, vice president of government relations. (12/13)
Physicists Find Particle That Only Has Mass When Moving in One Direction (Source: Science Alert)
Scientists have made a satisfying and intriguing physics discovery some 16 years after it was first predicted to be a possibility: a quasiparticle (a group of particles behaving as one) that only has an effective mass when moving in one direction. Whereas regular quasiparticles have the same mass no matter what their direction of travel, the semi-Dirac fermion (to give it its technical name) being studied here doesn't seem to play by the normal rules. It's a discovery that could make a fundamental difference in fields such as quantum physics and electronic sensors. 12/14)
Smallsat Market Maintains Momentum Despite Starlink and Starshield Disruption (Source: NovaSpace)
The latest edition of Novaspace’s ‘Prospects for the Small Satellite Market’ market intelligence report forecasts robust growth in the small satellite (smallsat) industry, projecting a market value of approximately $113.3 billion over the next decade. This expansion will be fueled by the replenishment of satellite constellations globally and the rising complexity and cost of government-driven single-satellite missions.
Despite these headwinds, the report emphasizes the strategic role of smallsat constellations in capability-building for emerging players in the space sector. Recent geopolitical tensions and conflicts have underscored the critical importance of commercial satellite communication (satcom) and Earth observation constellations. These systems have demonstrated their value in active combat scenarios, while interest grows in new technologies such as direct-to-device (D2D) and low Earth orbit positioning, navigation, and timing (LEO PNT) constellations. (12/12)
Europe Advances Consortium for IRIS Constellation (Source: Space News)
The European Union and ESA have signed contracts with an industrial consortium for a satellite constellation costing 10.6 billion euros ($11.1 billion). At a ceremony in Brussels Monday morning, ESA and EU officials, along with executives from the SpaceRISE consortium of Eutelsat, Hispasat and SES, formally signed contracts for the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS²) constellation.
IRIS² will include more than 290 satellites in medium and low Earth orbits, with launches scheduled for 2029 and 2030. The EU will provide 6 billion euros and ESA 550 million euros, with SpaceRISE contributing the rest. IRIS² is designed to provide secure connectivity for European civil government and security needs as well as consumer broadband services. (12/16)
Joint US/Indian NISAR Could Launch in March (Source: Space News)
A joint U.S.-Indian Earth science mission is now expected to launch next March. The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission was scheduled to launch earlier this year, but the agencies postponed the launch to make modifications to a large deployable reflector that could get too warm while in a stowed configuration after launch. That work is now complete and the satellite is in storage waiting for a launch opportunity, a NASA official said at the AGU annual meeting last week. The launch on an Indian GSLV rocket has to wait until after another GSLV launch scheduled for mid-January, followed by six to eight weeks of work to refurbish the launch pad. (12/16)
Musk Lacks Clearance for Classified Projects Underway at SpaceX (Source: Wall Street Journal)
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk lacks the security clearances needed to access information about key classified programs at the company. While Musk has a top-secret clearance, he does not have clearances for "sensitive compartmented information" required for specific programs SpaceX is performing for the U.S. government. That means he cannot enter SpaceX facilities where that classified work is taking place and doesn't have access to information about some spacecraft SpaceX launches.
Musk received a top-secret clearance in 2022 only after several years of effort, which people in SpaceX believed was linked to Musk smoking marijuana in a 2018 Joe Rogan podcast. SpaceX lawyers said they were concerned reports about Musk's drug use and contacts with foreign officials like Vladimir Putin might not only make it difficult to get a higher clearance but could also result in losing his top-secret clearance. That problem may become moot, though, in the incoming Trump administration, given Musk's close ties to the president-elect. (12/16)
Latvia to Ratify Outer Space Treaty (Source: PBL)
Latvia is planning to finally sign the Outer Space Treaty. The country's Cabinet of Ministers has approved a draft law that would see the Baltic nation ratify the 1967 treaty, after the government announced earlier this year that it would sign on to the treaty. Latvia is the only member of the European Union that has not joined the treaty, which 113 countries have ratified. Latvia is also seeking to join the UN's Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. (12/16)
Some Recommendations for New Space Policy (Source: Michael Mealling/LinkedIn)
Michael Mealling offers some policy ideas to address current space program challenges, and for building the US future in space. Click here. (12/16)
China Launches Megaconstellation Satellites (Source: Space News)
China launched the first satellites of a second megaconstellation on Monday. A Long March 5B rocket lifted off from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center at 5 a.m. Eastern carrying the first group of satellites for China's national Guowang ("national net") megaconstellation. Chinese officials declared the launch a success but did not disclose the number of satellites on board or their planned orbits. Guowang is projected to have 13,000 satellites to provide broadband services. It will join Qianfan, or Thousand Sails, another megaconstellation that has already placed 54 satellites in orbit on three launches this year. (12/16)
Congress Approves First-Ever Acknowledgement of Space Launch Noise Impacts on Nearby Communities, Compels Pentagon to Act on Mitigation (Source: Rep. Salud Carbajal)
This week, Congress is advancing for the first time federal legislation that acknowledges the disruption that space launch noise has on nearby communities, as well as outlining steps it believes the Department of Defense should take to mitigate the impact of sonic booms and other disturbances. The language was secured by Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and the federal representative for the communities surrounding the Western Range at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
The language was included in the House report accompanying the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, the annual defense policy bill crafted by the Armed Services Committees of both chambers: “The Department [of Defense] already has a Community Noise Mitigation Program for fixed wing aircraft…it could be beneficial to stand up a similar program to make grants to communities impacted by national security space launches for the purpose of installing noise mitigating insulation at nearby facilities.”
Congressman Carbajal intends to build on this language in his next term with additional measures to better address the impact of increased launches, including but not limited to launch noise. (12/12)
UAE Space Agency Hosts UAE-Japan Sector Workshop (Source: Times Aerospace)
The event took place on the sidelines of the 2024 edition of The Abu Dhabi Space Debate. The joint workshop is a collaborative event aimed at bringing together experts, industry leaders, and government officials from the UAE and Japan to strengthen cooperation in the field of space exploration. (12/13)
SES Equips Peruvian Air Force with High-throughput Connectivity via SES-14 Satellite (Source: SES)
The Peruvian Air Force (PAF) is using SES’s high-throughput geostationary orbit (GEO) satellite solution to improve connectivity for its Air Force bases and enhance operations all over the country, SES announced today. Under the agreement, SES is providing a turnkey solution which includes delivery and installation of communications hardware, as well as training and enabling the PAF with SES-14 capacity to explore all the possibilities and improvements that the high-throughput satellite (HTS) can offer. (12/11)
Direct-to-Device Satellite Services Drive the Next Wave of Global Connectivity (Source: NovaSpace)
Novaspace, leader in space consulting and market intelligence, has released the 9th edition of its report Prospects for Direct to Handheld and IoT Markets. The study projects the direct-to-device satellite connectivity market to grow from $1.5 billion today to nearly $15 billion by 2033, fueled by rapid advancements in technology and expanding satellite networks. (12/10)
ispace and Magna Petra Agree to Future Resources Exploration on the Moon’s Surface (Source: ispace)
ispace and Magna Petra, the first lunar resources company engaged in the prospecting, extraction and return to earth of helium-3 isotopes from the lunar surface, have agreed to collaborate on future missions to the lunar surface, the two companies announced. Under terms of the memorandum of understanding, the two companies have agreed to collaborate on the development of a lunar economy that provides terrestrial economic value via non-destructive, sustainable harvesting of lunar surface resources. (12/10)
SEOPS Awarded Launch Services Task Order for Upcoming NASA VADR Mission (Source: SEOPS)
SEOPS, a leading provider of responsive space mission services, has been selected to provide launch and integration services for a small satellite mission under a recent task order awarded by NASA under the Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) launch services contract. Under the terms of the award, the Houston-based company will support the Streamlined CubeSat Launch Services (SCLS) R5-S9 Mission by procuring a launch for the 6U CubeSat and providing payload processing and integration services, testing, fit checks, and all necessary hardware including its Equalizer dispenser. The launch is currently slated for 2025. (10/9)
December 15, 2024
U.S. Space Command Commander Explores
Innovation, Research Capabilities at UCF (Source: UCF)
The U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) Commander who oversees all space operations for the Department of Defense, General Stephen N. Whiting, visited the University of Central Florida Tuesday to learn more about its pioneering advancements in space research and defense. Whiting is one of only seven geographic combatant commanders, and the visit showcased key research areas and opportunities for collaboration that align with DoD transformative technology and national security research priorities. UCF recently joined USSPACECOM’s Academic Engagement Enterprise, which allows for further collaboration opportunities with the command. (12/13)
Getting Ready to See Blue Origin's New Glenn Launch (Source: Florida Today)
Pioneers pave the way. They are disruptive. But in their persistent striving for change, there is an impermanence to them. Settlers follow. They put down roots, and it is the settlers who cement the change. It is settlers who often become celebrated as the founders. Certainly, SpaceX has wildly changed the space industry, leaping far ahead of all competitors. But soon we’ll get to see Blue Origin take their shot when they launch their New Glenn rocket from the Space Coast. (12/15)
Bezos: 'Very, Very Close' to Historic Maiden New Glenn Launch (Source: Florida Today)
SpaceX has continually generated news coverage by launching all but five of the 88 orbital rockets thus far this record-breaking year from Florida's Space Coast, easily eclipsing the competition. However, with minimal fanfare, Blue Origin crews have moved the company's first-ever, enormous New Glenn rocket onto the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for preflight testing. Towering taller than a football field, this huge rocket is clearly visible on the horizon from the sand in downtown Cocoa Beach. (12/15)
SpaceX Launches Starlink Mission as Congress Highlights Noise Impacts (Source: Noozhawk)
A long rumble and rattling windows Friday afternoon sounded the departure of another Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base as Congress takes one step toward recognizing the noise created by launches. The SpaceX rocket lifted off at 1:55 p.m. to deliver 22 Starlink satellites into space. The mission marked the ninth launch and landing for the first-stage booster.
Liftoff occurred after Congress pushed forward legislation that notes space launch noise effects on nearby residents and calls for the Department of Defense to mitigate the impact of sonic booms and other disturbances. Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara and a House Armed Services Committee member, sought the language amid a boost in SpaceX launches from Vandenberg and complaints about the noise. (12/13)
ULA Eyes Annual Mods to Turn Rocket Stage Into Space Interceptor (Source: Defense News)
ULA has an incremental plan to upgrade its Centaur V upper stage to fly long-duration space missions. The Centaur V powers the company’s new Vulcan rocket, which is on the verge of being certified to fly national security missions. The upper stage of a rocket is used to propel a payload further into space after the initial booster has separated. The Centaur V was designed to be more than twice as powerful as its predecessor and to remain in orbit for as long as 12 hours.
ULA CEO Tory Bruno told reporters Thursday the company’s longer-term vision is for the Centaur V to eventually be able to remain in space for days or longer. The fast-moving vehicle would be highly maneuverable and could be used to relocate satellites or for counterspace missions. In a Dec. 4 Medium post, Bruno fleshed out his concept for the Centaur V to function as an in-space mobility platform, or a “Greyhound.” In one scenario, he described the system loitering in orbit, ready to thwart an adversary’s attempts to target a Space Force asset. (12/13)
Gwynne Shotwell, the Woman Making SpaceX's Moonshot a Reality (Source: Financial Times)
As president, she has guided Elon Musk’s rocket company to become the most valuable private start-up in the world. If Elon is the visionary, she is the get-shit-done person. She transforms vision into reality, watches the bottom line, manages the exec team and keeps him away from regulators.
Shotwell has quietly been at the center of all of the achievements, shunning the circus that swirls around the world’s richest man. Now 61, she has also managed to spend two decades beside the mercurial billionaire without falling out or burning out, an achievement that is “unprecedented,” according to Eric Berger, who has written two books about SpaceX. (12/13)
Kairos Rocket Launch Postponed Due To Strong Winds (Source: Japan News)
Space One Co. announced Saturday that it had postponed the launch of the No. 2 Kairos rocket to the same time on Sunday, due to strong winds at its launch site in Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture. The Tokyo-based space startup analyzed the weather, among other factors, and concluded that the winds above the launch site were too strong for the rocket to be launched.
Space One was established in 2018 to commercialize space transport services and frequently send small satellites into space. IHI Aerospace Co., Canon Electronics Inc., Shimizu Corp. and Development Bank of Japan Inc. have invested in the company. Space One has set a target of launching 30 small rockets a year in the 2030s. (12/14)
Space Soldiers are ‘Absolutely Inevitable’, says Trump’s NASA Pick (Source: Independent)
Jared Isaacman said that US troops in space are “absolutely inevitable” in order to protect the country’s economic interests. Isaacman said plans to send more humans into space will involve some members of the US military. “I think it is absolutely inevitable,” he said. “If Americans are in low Earth orbit, there’s going to need to be people watching out for them. “This is the trajectory that humankind is going to follow. America is going to lead it and we’re going to need guardians there on the high ground looking out for us.” (12/13)
US Military is Now Talking Openly About Going on the Attack in Space (Source: Ars Technica)
Earlier this year, officials at US Space Command released a list of priorities and needs, and among the routine recitation of things like cyber defense, communications, and surveillance was a relatively new term: "integrated space fires." This is a new phrase in the esoteric terminology the military uses to describe its activities. Essentially, "fires" are offensive or defensive actions against an adversary. The Army defines fires as "the use of weapon systems to create specific lethal and nonlethal effects on a target."
The inclusion of this term in a Space Command planning document was another signal that Pentagon leaders, long hesitant to even mention the possibility of putting offensive weapons in space for fear of stirring up a cosmic arms race, see the taboo of talking about space warfare as a thing of the past. (12/13)
FAA Moves to Streamline Key Commercial Space Launch Hurdle (Source: Reuters)
The FAA said it was moving to streamline a key commercial space launch and reentry license hurdle, declaring some flight safety analyses in California, Florida, and Virginia satisfy requirements. The FAA noted the commercial space industry often cites meeting flight safety analysis requirements as a challenge before launches. The FAA said the change reduces the amount of material applicants must submit, and improves FAA technical review efficiency.
“This is a force multiplier in the production of quality flight safety analyses the FAA can readily accept," said Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation Kelvin Coleman. In recent months, the FAA has taken other steps to speed launch approvals. On Oct. 12, the FAA approved a license for the launch of SpaceX’s Starship 5 after earlier saying it did not expect to make a decision until late November. Also that month, the FAA quickly approved the return to flight of the SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle after it accepted the SpaceX-led investigation findings and corrective actions for a Sep. 28 mishap. (12/13)
SpaceX Teaches Governments a Very Expensive Lesson (Source: Telegraph)
Over the last few years governments around the world, including ours here in the UK, have been pouring billions into space research. But this week, Elon Musk’s SpaceX trumped them all, when it recorded a staggering $350bn (£277bn) market valuation. There is a lesson in that: we should leave conquering space to private enterprise. It will accomplish far more, and create far more wealth, than state-dominated space strategies ever will. (12/13)
Luxembourg and US Sign Ten-Year Deal on Space Collaboration (Source: Lux Times)
Luxembourg has signed a ten-year agreement to collaborate on space exploration with the US, the government announced on Friday, five years after lawmakers criticized a lack of transparency in an earlier deal between the two countries. The deal was signed between Economy Minister Lex Delles and Bill Nelson, the head of NASA, during a visit by Nelson to Luxembourg, the economy ministry said in a press release on Friday. (12/13)
The U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) Commander who oversees all space operations for the Department of Defense, General Stephen N. Whiting, visited the University of Central Florida Tuesday to learn more about its pioneering advancements in space research and defense. Whiting is one of only seven geographic combatant commanders, and the visit showcased key research areas and opportunities for collaboration that align with DoD transformative technology and national security research priorities. UCF recently joined USSPACECOM’s Academic Engagement Enterprise, which allows for further collaboration opportunities with the command. (12/13)
Getting Ready to See Blue Origin's New Glenn Launch (Source: Florida Today)
Pioneers pave the way. They are disruptive. But in their persistent striving for change, there is an impermanence to them. Settlers follow. They put down roots, and it is the settlers who cement the change. It is settlers who often become celebrated as the founders. Certainly, SpaceX has wildly changed the space industry, leaping far ahead of all competitors. But soon we’ll get to see Blue Origin take their shot when they launch their New Glenn rocket from the Space Coast. (12/15)
Bezos: 'Very, Very Close' to Historic Maiden New Glenn Launch (Source: Florida Today)
SpaceX has continually generated news coverage by launching all but five of the 88 orbital rockets thus far this record-breaking year from Florida's Space Coast, easily eclipsing the competition. However, with minimal fanfare, Blue Origin crews have moved the company's first-ever, enormous New Glenn rocket onto the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for preflight testing. Towering taller than a football field, this huge rocket is clearly visible on the horizon from the sand in downtown Cocoa Beach. (12/15)
SpaceX Launches Starlink Mission as Congress Highlights Noise Impacts (Source: Noozhawk)
A long rumble and rattling windows Friday afternoon sounded the departure of another Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base as Congress takes one step toward recognizing the noise created by launches. The SpaceX rocket lifted off at 1:55 p.m. to deliver 22 Starlink satellites into space. The mission marked the ninth launch and landing for the first-stage booster.
Liftoff occurred after Congress pushed forward legislation that notes space launch noise effects on nearby residents and calls for the Department of Defense to mitigate the impact of sonic booms and other disturbances. Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara and a House Armed Services Committee member, sought the language amid a boost in SpaceX launches from Vandenberg and complaints about the noise. (12/13)
ULA Eyes Annual Mods to Turn Rocket Stage Into Space Interceptor (Source: Defense News)
ULA has an incremental plan to upgrade its Centaur V upper stage to fly long-duration space missions. The Centaur V powers the company’s new Vulcan rocket, which is on the verge of being certified to fly national security missions. The upper stage of a rocket is used to propel a payload further into space after the initial booster has separated. The Centaur V was designed to be more than twice as powerful as its predecessor and to remain in orbit for as long as 12 hours.
ULA CEO Tory Bruno told reporters Thursday the company’s longer-term vision is for the Centaur V to eventually be able to remain in space for days or longer. The fast-moving vehicle would be highly maneuverable and could be used to relocate satellites or for counterspace missions. In a Dec. 4 Medium post, Bruno fleshed out his concept for the Centaur V to function as an in-space mobility platform, or a “Greyhound.” In one scenario, he described the system loitering in orbit, ready to thwart an adversary’s attempts to target a Space Force asset. (12/13)
Gwynne Shotwell, the Woman Making SpaceX's Moonshot a Reality (Source: Financial Times)
As president, she has guided Elon Musk’s rocket company to become the most valuable private start-up in the world. If Elon is the visionary, she is the get-shit-done person. She transforms vision into reality, watches the bottom line, manages the exec team and keeps him away from regulators.
Shotwell has quietly been at the center of all of the achievements, shunning the circus that swirls around the world’s richest man. Now 61, she has also managed to spend two decades beside the mercurial billionaire without falling out or burning out, an achievement that is “unprecedented,” according to Eric Berger, who has written two books about SpaceX. (12/13)
Kairos Rocket Launch Postponed Due To Strong Winds (Source: Japan News)
Space One Co. announced Saturday that it had postponed the launch of the No. 2 Kairos rocket to the same time on Sunday, due to strong winds at its launch site in Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture. The Tokyo-based space startup analyzed the weather, among other factors, and concluded that the winds above the launch site were too strong for the rocket to be launched.
Space One was established in 2018 to commercialize space transport services and frequently send small satellites into space. IHI Aerospace Co., Canon Electronics Inc., Shimizu Corp. and Development Bank of Japan Inc. have invested in the company. Space One has set a target of launching 30 small rockets a year in the 2030s. (12/14)
Space Soldiers are ‘Absolutely Inevitable’, says Trump’s NASA Pick (Source: Independent)
Jared Isaacman said that US troops in space are “absolutely inevitable” in order to protect the country’s economic interests. Isaacman said plans to send more humans into space will involve some members of the US military. “I think it is absolutely inevitable,” he said. “If Americans are in low Earth orbit, there’s going to need to be people watching out for them. “This is the trajectory that humankind is going to follow. America is going to lead it and we’re going to need guardians there on the high ground looking out for us.” (12/13)
US Military is Now Talking Openly About Going on the Attack in Space (Source: Ars Technica)
Earlier this year, officials at US Space Command released a list of priorities and needs, and among the routine recitation of things like cyber defense, communications, and surveillance was a relatively new term: "integrated space fires." This is a new phrase in the esoteric terminology the military uses to describe its activities. Essentially, "fires" are offensive or defensive actions against an adversary. The Army defines fires as "the use of weapon systems to create specific lethal and nonlethal effects on a target."
The inclusion of this term in a Space Command planning document was another signal that Pentagon leaders, long hesitant to even mention the possibility of putting offensive weapons in space for fear of stirring up a cosmic arms race, see the taboo of talking about space warfare as a thing of the past. (12/13)
FAA Moves to Streamline Key Commercial Space Launch Hurdle (Source: Reuters)
The FAA said it was moving to streamline a key commercial space launch and reentry license hurdle, declaring some flight safety analyses in California, Florida, and Virginia satisfy requirements. The FAA noted the commercial space industry often cites meeting flight safety analysis requirements as a challenge before launches. The FAA said the change reduces the amount of material applicants must submit, and improves FAA technical review efficiency.
“This is a force multiplier in the production of quality flight safety analyses the FAA can readily accept," said Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation Kelvin Coleman. In recent months, the FAA has taken other steps to speed launch approvals. On Oct. 12, the FAA approved a license for the launch of SpaceX’s Starship 5 after earlier saying it did not expect to make a decision until late November. Also that month, the FAA quickly approved the return to flight of the SpaceX Falcon 9 vehicle after it accepted the SpaceX-led investigation findings and corrective actions for a Sep. 28 mishap. (12/13)
SpaceX Teaches Governments a Very Expensive Lesson (Source: Telegraph)
Over the last few years governments around the world, including ours here in the UK, have been pouring billions into space research. But this week, Elon Musk’s SpaceX trumped them all, when it recorded a staggering $350bn (£277bn) market valuation. There is a lesson in that: we should leave conquering space to private enterprise. It will accomplish far more, and create far more wealth, than state-dominated space strategies ever will. (12/13)
Luxembourg and US Sign Ten-Year Deal on Space Collaboration (Source: Lux Times)
Luxembourg has signed a ten-year agreement to collaborate on space exploration with the US, the government announced on Friday, five years after lawmakers criticized a lack of transparency in an earlier deal between the two countries. The deal was signed between Economy Minister Lex Delles and Bill Nelson, the head of NASA, during a visit by Nelson to Luxembourg, the economy ministry said in a press release on Friday. (12/13)
December 14, 2024
Musk Reveals SpaceX's New Starship
Spacecraft Is 'Easier To Manufacture And Less Susceptible To High
Heating' (Source: Benzinga)
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said on Thursday that the version of the Starship spacecraft planned for the launch vehicle’s seventh test flight features “major” design improvements. “Lighter, easier to manufacture and less susceptible to high heating,” Musk said in a post on X about the new version of the spacecraft.
While SpaceX often makes design changes to Starship, the vehicle planned for its seventh flight test will feature “significant upgrades,” the company said last month. They will have redesigned forward flaps, larger propellant tanks, and the latest generation tiles and secondary thermal protection layers, it added. SpaceX rolled out Starship to the launch pad at Starbase for testing ahead of its next flight test earlier this week and its booster last week, implying an imminent launch. The company, however, did not specify when the next flight would be. (12/13)
Quantum Entanglement, Instead of Oil or Coal, Powers a New Kind of Engine (Source: Earth.com)
Quantum technology has been attracting a lot of attention in recent years thanks to computers that exploit atomic properties, hard drives that hold information in unusual states, and now engines that break free from the old rules. These strange engines do not rely on burning anything, nor do they feed on heat. Instead, they gain their push from the unusual behavior of tiny particles. In regular machines, a piston moves when hot gases expand. In the quantum engine, movement comes from changing how particles behave. The quantum engine switches particle types and uses the resulting energy difference.
Not all particles are alike. Some belong to a group called bosons, others to a group called fermions. At very low temperatures, bosons settle into states of lower energy than fermions do. This difference in energy turns out to be key. Instead of fire and heat, changing bosons into fermions and back can create work. In this design, particles step through changes in their quantum character, and that shifting property runs the engine. (12/12)
NASA Outlines Latest Moon to Mars Plans in 2024 Architecture Update (Source: NASA)
As NASA develops a blueprint for space exploration throughout the solar system for the benefit of humanity, the agency released several new documents Friday updating its Moon to Mars architecture. The roadmap sets NASA on course for long-term lunar exploration under the Artemis campaign in preparation for future crewed missions to Mars.
Following an Architecture Concept Review, the 2024 updates include a revision of NASA’s Architecture Definition Document which details technical approaches and processes of the agency’s exploration plans, an executive overview, and 12 new white papers on key Moon to Mars topics. Click here. (12/13)
To Rival SpaceX’s Starship, ULA Eyes Vulcan Rocket Upgrade (Source: Reuters)
Boeing and Lockheed Martin's joint rocket venture, United Launch Alliance (ULA), plans to upgrade a version of its Vulcan rocket to challenge SpaceX's Starship in the low Earth orbit satellite launch market, the company's CEO said. ULA wants to develop a Vulcan model tailored to the increasingly lucrative low Earth orbit (LEO) market, mainly due to SpaceX launching thousands of satellites there for its Starlink Internet service.
"We have recently completed a big trade study for what we want to have to be competitive in a future LEO market," ULA's CEO Tory Bruno said. "And we've selected a modification to Vulcan which gives us significantly more mass to LEO and puts us in a competitive range." ULA is aiming to fly eight Vulcan missions next year and 12 missions with Atlas V, Vulcan's retiring predecessor. Vulcan starts at a launch price of roughly $110 million - slightly over the base price of a SpaceX Falcon 9 - and has a book order of roughly 70 missions including its Amazon missions, adding urgency to get the rocket flying routinely.
Editor's Note: I've heard very little about ULA's reusability plan for Vulcan. Their approach has/had been to recover and reuse only the first-stage engines, using a helicopter to snatch the engine pod after it separates and falls back to Earth under a parachute. The company believed SpaceX's reuse approach was not financially viable. (12/14)
Honeywell, Airborne Join MDA Aurora Satellite Project (Source: Via Satellite)
Honeywell has secured a deal to supply components as part of MDA Space's Aurora satellite project, which supports the Telesat Lightspeed constellation. The Telesat Lightspeed constellation, supported by MDA Space's Aurora satellites, has moved into the engineering and manufacturing stage. (12/12)
China Successfully Tests XZY 1 Verification Rocket Engine (Source: Space Daily)
China's XZY 1 verification rocket has successfully completed a static firing test at Haiyang Oriental Aerospace Port in Shandong province, marking a major milestone for the nation's aerospace innovation. Developed by Beijing Jianyuan Technology Co Ltd, also known as Space Epoch, the XZY 1 is a medium-lift launch vehicle with a stainless steel body powered by liquid oxygen-methane engines. The rocket is designed to be recoverable after ocean splashdowns, adding reusability to its capabilities. (12/13)
Chengdu Emerges as a Hub for Satellite Components and Aerospace Innovation (Source: Space Daily)
A state-of-the-art manufacturing base dedicated to commercial satellite components has commenced operations in Chengdu, Sichuan province. Once fully operational, the facility will have the capacity to support over 1,000 commercial satellites annually. The project, situated in the Chengdu Future Science and Technology City, was developed by Beijing-based Aotian Technology. Specializing in high-quality, fully autonomous electric propulsion systems for commercial satellites. (12/11)
L3Harris Advances Missile Tracking with New Satellite Design Milestone (Source: Space Daily)
L3Harris Technologies has finalized the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for 18 cutting-edge space vehicles, marking a key step in its work on the Space Development Agency's (SDA) Tranche 2 Tracking Layer program. The review confirmed that the L3Harris vehicles meet all SDA requirements, incorporating advanced technology to detect, track, and target hypersonic threats. (12/11)
Unidentified Space Company Planning $1.8 Billion in Launch Infrastructure, 600 Jobs at Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: Florida Today)
An unidentified space company plans to invest about $1.8 billion in capital improvements and create 600 jobs by developing a high-volume production facility, high bay and launch infrastructure for heavy-lift rocket hardware at Cape Canaveral, a Space Florida agenda memo indicates. Space Florida officials declined to divulge further details on the colossal undertaking — which dwarfs most Brevard County secretive aerospace projects in scope.
What is the unidentified company? An obvious contender is SpaceX: Company officials hope to start launching Starship-Super Heavy mega-rocket systems from the Space Coast by 2026. An environmental study remains ongoing to rebuild Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for Starship launch and landing operations. Editor's Note: A consolation prize after SLS cancelation: a fast-tracked Starship/Super-Heavy manufacture/launch capability, and a new northside channel at Port Canaveral to host its growing space maritime fleet. (12/13)
Rivada Brushes Off Regulatory Setback for Proposed Broadband Constellation (Source: Space News)
Rivada Space Networks remains confident it can reclaim priority Ka-band spectrum rights for nearly 600 proposed broadband satellites, more than two months after Liechtenstein’s telecoms regulator rescinded its license. “We continue to discuss the matter with the regulator, and we are confident that we can reach an agreement to use the Liechtenstein filings,” Rivada spokesperson Brian Carney said Dec. 13. (12/13)
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said on Thursday that the version of the Starship spacecraft planned for the launch vehicle’s seventh test flight features “major” design improvements. “Lighter, easier to manufacture and less susceptible to high heating,” Musk said in a post on X about the new version of the spacecraft.
While SpaceX often makes design changes to Starship, the vehicle planned for its seventh flight test will feature “significant upgrades,” the company said last month. They will have redesigned forward flaps, larger propellant tanks, and the latest generation tiles and secondary thermal protection layers, it added. SpaceX rolled out Starship to the launch pad at Starbase for testing ahead of its next flight test earlier this week and its booster last week, implying an imminent launch. The company, however, did not specify when the next flight would be. (12/13)
Quantum Entanglement, Instead of Oil or Coal, Powers a New Kind of Engine (Source: Earth.com)
Quantum technology has been attracting a lot of attention in recent years thanks to computers that exploit atomic properties, hard drives that hold information in unusual states, and now engines that break free from the old rules. These strange engines do not rely on burning anything, nor do they feed on heat. Instead, they gain their push from the unusual behavior of tiny particles. In regular machines, a piston moves when hot gases expand. In the quantum engine, movement comes from changing how particles behave. The quantum engine switches particle types and uses the resulting energy difference.
Not all particles are alike. Some belong to a group called bosons, others to a group called fermions. At very low temperatures, bosons settle into states of lower energy than fermions do. This difference in energy turns out to be key. Instead of fire and heat, changing bosons into fermions and back can create work. In this design, particles step through changes in their quantum character, and that shifting property runs the engine. (12/12)
NASA Outlines Latest Moon to Mars Plans in 2024 Architecture Update (Source: NASA)
As NASA develops a blueprint for space exploration throughout the solar system for the benefit of humanity, the agency released several new documents Friday updating its Moon to Mars architecture. The roadmap sets NASA on course for long-term lunar exploration under the Artemis campaign in preparation for future crewed missions to Mars.
Following an Architecture Concept Review, the 2024 updates include a revision of NASA’s Architecture Definition Document which details technical approaches and processes of the agency’s exploration plans, an executive overview, and 12 new white papers on key Moon to Mars topics. Click here. (12/13)
To Rival SpaceX’s Starship, ULA Eyes Vulcan Rocket Upgrade (Source: Reuters)
Boeing and Lockheed Martin's joint rocket venture, United Launch Alliance (ULA), plans to upgrade a version of its Vulcan rocket to challenge SpaceX's Starship in the low Earth orbit satellite launch market, the company's CEO said. ULA wants to develop a Vulcan model tailored to the increasingly lucrative low Earth orbit (LEO) market, mainly due to SpaceX launching thousands of satellites there for its Starlink Internet service.
"We have recently completed a big trade study for what we want to have to be competitive in a future LEO market," ULA's CEO Tory Bruno said. "And we've selected a modification to Vulcan which gives us significantly more mass to LEO and puts us in a competitive range." ULA is aiming to fly eight Vulcan missions next year and 12 missions with Atlas V, Vulcan's retiring predecessor. Vulcan starts at a launch price of roughly $110 million - slightly over the base price of a SpaceX Falcon 9 - and has a book order of roughly 70 missions including its Amazon missions, adding urgency to get the rocket flying routinely.
Editor's Note: I've heard very little about ULA's reusability plan for Vulcan. Their approach has/had been to recover and reuse only the first-stage engines, using a helicopter to snatch the engine pod after it separates and falls back to Earth under a parachute. The company believed SpaceX's reuse approach was not financially viable. (12/14)
Honeywell, Airborne Join MDA Aurora Satellite Project (Source: Via Satellite)
Honeywell has secured a deal to supply components as part of MDA Space's Aurora satellite project, which supports the Telesat Lightspeed constellation. The Telesat Lightspeed constellation, supported by MDA Space's Aurora satellites, has moved into the engineering and manufacturing stage. (12/12)
China Successfully Tests XZY 1 Verification Rocket Engine (Source: Space Daily)
China's XZY 1 verification rocket has successfully completed a static firing test at Haiyang Oriental Aerospace Port in Shandong province, marking a major milestone for the nation's aerospace innovation. Developed by Beijing Jianyuan Technology Co Ltd, also known as Space Epoch, the XZY 1 is a medium-lift launch vehicle with a stainless steel body powered by liquid oxygen-methane engines. The rocket is designed to be recoverable after ocean splashdowns, adding reusability to its capabilities. (12/13)
Chengdu Emerges as a Hub for Satellite Components and Aerospace Innovation (Source: Space Daily)
A state-of-the-art manufacturing base dedicated to commercial satellite components has commenced operations in Chengdu, Sichuan province. Once fully operational, the facility will have the capacity to support over 1,000 commercial satellites annually. The project, situated in the Chengdu Future Science and Technology City, was developed by Beijing-based Aotian Technology. Specializing in high-quality, fully autonomous electric propulsion systems for commercial satellites. (12/11)
L3Harris Advances Missile Tracking with New Satellite Design Milestone (Source: Space Daily)
L3Harris Technologies has finalized the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for 18 cutting-edge space vehicles, marking a key step in its work on the Space Development Agency's (SDA) Tranche 2 Tracking Layer program. The review confirmed that the L3Harris vehicles meet all SDA requirements, incorporating advanced technology to detect, track, and target hypersonic threats. (12/11)
Unidentified Space Company Planning $1.8 Billion in Launch Infrastructure, 600 Jobs at Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: Florida Today)
An unidentified space company plans to invest about $1.8 billion in capital improvements and create 600 jobs by developing a high-volume production facility, high bay and launch infrastructure for heavy-lift rocket hardware at Cape Canaveral, a Space Florida agenda memo indicates. Space Florida officials declined to divulge further details on the colossal undertaking — which dwarfs most Brevard County secretive aerospace projects in scope.
What is the unidentified company? An obvious contender is SpaceX: Company officials hope to start launching Starship-Super Heavy mega-rocket systems from the Space Coast by 2026. An environmental study remains ongoing to rebuild Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for Starship launch and landing operations. Editor's Note: A consolation prize after SLS cancelation: a fast-tracked Starship/Super-Heavy manufacture/launch capability, and a new northside channel at Port Canaveral to host its growing space maritime fleet. (12/13)
Rivada Brushes Off Regulatory Setback for Proposed Broadband Constellation (Source: Space News)
Rivada Space Networks remains confident it can reclaim priority Ka-band spectrum rights for nearly 600 proposed broadband satellites, more than two months after Liechtenstein’s telecoms regulator rescinded its license. “We continue to discuss the matter with the regulator, and we are confident that we can reach an agreement to use the Liechtenstein filings,” Rivada spokesperson Brian Carney said Dec. 13. (12/13)
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