September 20, 2017

SSL Selected to Help U.S. Air Force Test and Validate Scenarios for Hosting Payloads (Source: SSL)
SSL was selected by Innoflight, Inc., a veteran-owned business specializing in electronics systems for Defense & Aerospace, to provide a high fidelity simulation environment for testing the security of hosted payloads on commercial satellites.  The capability, which is being developed for the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) as part of its Secure IP Payload Accommodation Demonstration Project, will enable SMC to demonstrate cybersecure payload hosting scenarios, concepts of operation, and cybersecurity controls.

The capability will also demonstrate advanced, secure internet protocol connections between a government payload operations center and the hosted payload using the existing satellite operator’s networking infrastructure, eliminating the high cost of specialized space to ground communication systems. (9/20)

NASA Needs Better Leadership (Source: Daily Texan)
Back on the campaign trail, then-candidate Donald Trump bemoaned the state of the American space program: “Look what’s happened with our whole history of space and leadership,” he told a crowd in Florida. “Look what’s going on folks. We’re like a third-world nation.”

This was back in August 2016, when the odds of a Trump victory still seemed, well, astronomical. But a funny thing happened on the way to a permanent Democratic majority and now, one year later, President Donald Trump has the chance to make NASA great again.

To that end, after nine months in office, Trump has nominated Oklahoma Congressman Jim Bridenstine to serve as NASA administrator, pending confirmation by the Senate. But if Trump wants to improve the agency and restore American leadership in outer space, Bridenstine is the wrong choice. (9/20)

A Swimming Pool For Spacefarers (Source: Air & Space)
John Vickers spent his childhood dreaming about both undersea life and outer space. If he can execute his vision, Blue Abyss will open in 2019 in Bedfordshire, England, on the grounds of Royal Air Force Henlow station, which last year was listed for closure in 2020. Most of the base will be transformed into housing, but the Bedfordshire city council wants part of it earmarked for a science and technology park and hopes Blue Abyss will fill that space.

The multi-level facility will house the world’s largest and deepest pool—at 11 million gallons, it will be the equivalent of about 16 Olympic-size swimming pools. The natatorium will be devoted to both recreation and research and training for space and deep-sea missions.

UKSpace, a trade association representing most of the country’s space industry, announced its intention earlier this year to capture 10 percent of the global space market by 2030. Vickers sees Blue Abyss as an essential component of this goal. Although the company does not yet have formal agreements with ESA or NASA, Simon Evetts of Blue Abyss says they’ve recruited NASA astronaut Scott Parazynski to get the facility certified at the level that government agencies require to conduct neutral buoyancy training. (9/19)

White House Nominates Additional Directors for Ex-Im Bank (Source: Space News)
The White House has nominated three additional people to serve as directors of the Export-Import Bank, including one with experience in the satellite industry. The White House announced the nominations of Kimberly Reed to serve as first vice president of the bank, as well as Claudia Slacik and Judith Delzoppo Pryor to serve as members of the board. They join Spencer Bachus and Scott Garrett, two former members of Congress, who were nominated to the board earlier this year.

If all are confirmed by the Senate, they would fill out the five-member board, which currently has only two positions filled. Of the newest nominees, Pryor is the most familiar with the space industry. Most recently a vice president at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, she previously worked as senior vice president for corporate affairs at Worldspace, a company that offered a satellite radio service in parts of Asia and Africa. (9/19)

Stratolaunch Fires Up Its Engines – All Six of ’Em (Source: Geekwire)
The world’s biggest airplane hit another milestone this week with the completion of the first phase of engine testing at California’s Mojave Air and Space Port, according to Stratolaunch, the space venture backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.

Stratolaunch’s CEO, Jean Floyd, reported today that all six of the plane’s Pratt & Whitney turbofan engines were started up for the first time. “Our aircraft is one step closer to providing convenient, reliable and routine access to low Earth orbit,” Floyd said. (9/19)

SpaceX Files 'Starlink' Trademark for Satellite Internet Constellation, Revealing Details (Source: Florida Today)
SpaceX's plans to enter the communications industry through an internet-beaming satellite constellation could finally have a name, according to recent trademark filings that also reveal more about its capabilities, including Earth observation and remote sensing.

Representatives filed documents with the US Patent and Trademark Office for "Starlink," a potential name for its proposed network of nearly 12,000 satellites that would transmit high-speed internet connectivity to users on the ground as soon as 2024.

SpaceX filed two trademarks for Starlink on the same day – one with a focus on satellite communications and research into the field, and the other on hardware related to the undertaking. The filings lack full statements and descriptors, but lists of products, such as "satellite communication and transmission services; wireless broadband communication services; transmission of data, voice and video via satellite," are included in the documents. (9/19)

Cubesats Removed From Florida Minotaur Launch Amid Policy Confusion (Source: Space News)
The Air Force and other government agencies are considering policy changes after several commercial cubesats were removed from a Minotaur launch last month. Eight cubesats from Spire were originally planned to fly as secondary payloads on the Minotaur 4 launch, conducted by Orbital ATK for the Air Force, but were removed because of interagency policy disputes linked to the use of excess ICBM assets.

An Air Force spokesperson said the service is working with other agencies "to ensure there is clear guidance for other potential commercial rideshare opportunities should they arise." Spire argued that the launch was not competing with other commercial vehicles given the unusual low-inclination orbit for the Minotaur launch that is otherwise not available on commercial missions. (9/19)

Air Force Plans Yearlong S&T Review (Source: Space News)
The Air Force is planning a year-long review of its science and technology research, including space. Secretary Heather Wilson announced the review Monday, which will be lead by the Air Force Research Laboratory. Wilson said a "rethink" of Air Force research is needed so that the service can back the work needed "to retain American dominance in air and space power." (9/19)

Poll Finds Mixed Interest in Commercial Human Spaceflight (Source: Morning Consult)
A poll finds that nearly half of Americans would not be interested in flying in space even if they could afford it. The poll, carried out earlier this month, found that 48 percent of Americans said they were not too likely, or likely at all, to fly in space, versus 41 percent who were very or somewhat likely.

Among those with incomes of more than $100,000 a year, the difference was greater: 40 percent were very or somewhat likely, but 55 percent were not likely to go. The poll question didn't specify what kind of "space travel" experience, or what price, would be offered, and the question was just one of a much larger questionnaire on broader policy issues. (9/19)

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