October 22, 2020

NASA, Human Lunar Lander Companies Complete Key Artemis Milestone (Source: NASA)
NASA’s Human Landing System (HLS) Program recently checked off a key milestone in its progress toward landing the first woman and the next man on the Moon by 2024. The HLS Program conducted Certification Baseline Reviews (CBR) with the three U.S. companies competing to provide landers that will deliver Artemis astronauts to the Moon. These virtual meetings were the culmination of critical work by NASA and the companies since NASA announced the base period selections in April.

Since then, NASA has worked closely with the Blue Origin-led team, Dynetics, and SpaceX to better understand their human landing system proposals and approach for the agency’s Artemis program. The primary purpose of the CBRs was to finalize the functional and performance requirements for the companies’ landing system designs, confirm the standards to be applied to lander development, establish the baseline designs, schedules, and management plans for HLS contract execution and human spaceflight certification. Dr. Lisa Watson-Morgan, the HLS program manager at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, chaired the CBR board that approved the certification baseline for each contractor.

Seeking to leverage NASA’s human spaceflight experience and the commercial sector’s speed and innovation, the agency specified a concept of operations and high-level requirements and standards but did not dictate approach or design, allowing the contractors to propose their own designs. This was a departure from NASA’s traditional procurement approach of providing contractors with highly detailed specifications for building spacecraft hardware. (10/22)

Senior Space Officials Met to “War Game” Biden Administration Space Policy (Source: Ars Technica)
On Tuesday about a dozen space officials met virtually to simulate how a National Space Council might operate during a Joe Biden administration, should the Democratic Party nominee win the 2020 presidential election. The American Foreign Policy Council convened what it characterized as a "closed-door" and "scenario-based simulation" to understand how the Biden administration would think through important space events.

Invitations were sent to officials in the aerospace industry whom the Biden administration might call upon as advisers or to fill key leadership roles. The event was not organized at the behest of the Biden campaign. Invitations to would-be participants explained that they would be assigned various roles to play, such as NASA administrator and the head of other agencies such as the Department of Defense and Department of Commerce. The participants would then act as a "National Space Council" to war-game scenarios.

"The simulation moderator will provide anticipatable year-by-year headlines, and members of the National Space Council will roleplay and discuss how they would react in each situation," the invitation stated. "We are hoping to field about 12 individuals with expertise across the space enterprise who could convincingly role-play interests and responses, and develop ideas for anticipatory policy under a democratic administration and individuals likely to be part of the brain trust of such an administration." (10/22)

ISS Astronauts Return to Earth (Source: CBS)
A Soyuz spacecraft landed in Kazakhstan Wednesday night, returning three people from the International Space Station. The Soyuz MS-16 spacecraft landed at 10:54 p.m. Eastern, nearly three and a half hours after undocking from the station. The Soyuz returned to Earth NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy and Roscosmos cosmonauts Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner, who spent 196 days in space. Remaining on the station are NASA's Kate Rubins and Roscosmos' Sergey Ryzhikov and Sergey Kud-Sverchkov, who arrived at the station last week for a six-month stay. (10/22)

HASC Chairman Concerned About DoD Pandemic Stimulus Spending's Lack of Stimulus to Small Biz (Source: Space News)
The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee says that the Pentagon's pandemic stimulus efforts don't appear to be effective. Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) said Wednesday that he was concerned that funding provided to the Defense Department in a stimulus bill this spring wasn't really helping smaller companies in the defense industrial base. "Large corporations will find a way to gobble it up," he said. The Pentagon has estimated it needs an additional $10 billion to $20 billion to reimburse contractors for coronavirus-related expenses and to ensure companies can continue to carry out DoD programs. (10/22)

HASC Chairman: Space Force Has Bigger Worries Than Having to Use Navy Ranks (Source: Space News)
The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee said Space Force leaders so far have not pushed back against proposed legislation that would require the space service to use the Navy’s rank structure. The Space Force “has not contacted me directly” about this issue, HASC Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) said.

Smith said he did not consider this a front-burner issue, and he commended the Space Force for not engaging lawmakers about the amendment even though service leaders are known to be opposed to using naval ranks. “That tells me their priorities are in the right place,” Smith said. (10/21)

Space Force Embraces "Digital Engineering" (Source: Space News)
The Space Force plans to test the use of new digital engineering systems in future satellite programs. The Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) plans to implement the use of "digital engineering," where each piece of equipment has a digital model used throughout design and development. That approach, SMC says, poses some challenges, such as moving all program data to a cloud environment and ensuring it is protected. SMC intends to use this approach on two next-generation communications satellite programs and a modular satellite bus that could be adapted for multiple missions. (10/22)

What Would a Realistic Space Battle Look Like? (Source: Universe Today)
For the next 50 years or so, any conflicts in space will involve attacks on satellites. But not everything will be an outright attack. The authors of an Aerospace Corp. paper outline four objectives in a space attack: 1) deceive an enemy so that they react in ways that hurt their interests; 2) disrupt, deny, or degrade an enemy’s ability to use a space capability, either temporarily or permanently; 3) destroy completely a space-based capability; and 4) deter or defend against a counter-attacking adversary, either in space or on Earth.

Satellites move very predictably. They move quickly, but it’s relatively easy to predict their future position and to intercept them, in many cases. Some satellites can change their orbital height, but they have no real maneuverability and almost no way to avoid an attack. Flight through Earth’s atmosphere isn’t exactly simple, but it is pretty intuitive. But in space, it’s completely different and isn’t accurately called flight. With no atmosphere and low gravity, things are very different. (10/21)

Bill Would formally Give Space Traffic Management to Commerce Department (Source: Space News)
A bill introduced in the Senate Wednesday would formally transfer civil space traffic management (STM) responsibilities to the Commerce Department. The Space Preservation and Conjunction Emergency (SPACE) Act, introduced by Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), would codify elements of Space Policy Directive 3 that assigned Commerce responsibility for civil STM, and elevate the Office of Space Commerce to a bureau within the Commerce Department. The bill authorizes $15 million for the office in 2021, but funding would have to come from a separate appropriations bill. (10/22)

Shetland Space Centre Welcomes Transfer of Lockheed Martin UKVL Pathfinder Program (Source: Parabolic Arc)
Shetland Space Centre welcomed the announcement from the UK Space Agency that Lockheed Martin is transferring its satellite launch operations to Unst, creating hundreds of jobs. UKSA said that the move from Sutherland followed a thorough process of due diligence and the project would deliver long-term value and help establish a sustainable, commercial launch market as part of the UK’s spaceflight programme – LaunchUK.

Shetland Space Centre anticipates that by 2024, the spaceport site could support a total of 605 jobs in Scotland including 140 locally and 210 across the wider Shetland region. A further 150 jobs will also be created through wider manufacturing and support services. (10/22)

Florida Tech Senior Wins Competition for Satellite Artwork (Source: Florida Tech)
There are art galleries, and then there are art galleries. The one that is currently showcasing a piece by Florida Tech senior Nava Pishgar may not be as easy to visit as some, and the lighting can be a bit uneven. But it’s safe to say there are no other places like it in the world. That’s because this venue is not actually on planet Earth: It’s above it.

Pishgar, an aerospace engineering major and Brevard County native, was one of three winners of a national competition from the organization Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) and the California-based satellite company Planet to produce a piece of art for one of Planet’s Dove satellites. (10/20)

NASA Confident That Asteroid Sample Was Captured (Source: Space News)
NASA is confident that the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft collected samples when it touched down on the surface of asteroid Bennu Tuesday. Project officials released images Wednesday taken during the "touch-and-go" sample collection effort. The spacecraft touched down within one meter of the target, and conditions at the site led them to conclude that the sampling mechanism likely collected small rocks and dust there. Scientists won't know exactly how much material it collected until after performing some additional tests in the coming days. If the sampling effort met the mission's goal of gathering at least 60 grams of material, the project will wrap up its science activities around Bennu and prepare to return the samples to Earth. (10/22)

Airbus Invests in Singapore's Zero-Error Systems (Source: Space News)
Airbus Ventures has invested in a startup in Singapore working on radiation-hardened integrated circuits. Airbus invested $1.85 million into Zero-Error Systems, a spinoff from Singapore's Nanyang Technological University that is working on electronics designed to operate in high-radiation conditions, such as space. Through the new investment, Airbus Ventures expands its space-related portfolio, which includes Isar Aerospace and Morpheus Space of Germany and U.S. companies Astra, Atlas AI, LeoLabs and SpinLaunch, among others. (10/22)

Sweden to Pour $10 Million Into Esrange Spaceport (Source: Space News)
The Swedish government will upgrade the Esrange Space Center to host small satellite launches starting in 2022. The government expects to spend $10.2 million over three years to allow the site, which currently supports sounding rocket launches, to also accommodate small launch vehicles for orbital missions. The facility does not yet have a commitment from a launch provider for its maiden flight, but is in discussions with several small launch vehicle providers. German launch startups Isar Aerospace and Rocket Factory Augsburg previously agreed to conduct engine testing there. (10/22)

Canada's GHGSat Releases Methane Emissions Map (Source: Space News)
Canadian company GHGSat has unveiled a map of methane emissions created using data from its satellites. GHGSat's map, called Pulse, shows changes in methane concentrations measured in parts per million or parts per billion for each pixel during the year. The company collects greenhouse gas emission data using two satellites, including one launched last month. It plans to launch another satellite in December on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare mission. (10/22)

India Moves to Further Commercialize Satellite Communications (Source: Hundustan Times)
The Indian government has released a draft policy intended to further commercialize satellite communications. The Spacecom Policy establishes regulations for authorizing commercial communications satellites and ground stations, including how Indian companies can acquire orbital slots from the government. The draft is open for comments through Nov. 4, and will take effect after a final version is approved by the cabinet. (10/22)

Mojave Spaceport Chief Steps Down (Source: Bakersfield Californian)
The head of Mojave Air and Space Port plans to step down. Karina Drees announced she plans to leave after completing her five-year contract as CEO of the airport and commercial spaceport early next year, but will remain until the airport's board selects a replacement. Mojave hosts a number of companies that are or have been involved in commercial space activities, including Virgin Galactic, Masten Space Systems, Scaled Composites and Stratolaunch. (10/22)

ABL Space Systems Tests Launch Vehicle Stage (Source: Space News)
Small launch vehicle developer ABL Space Systems announced Oct. 22 that it has started a series of static-fire tests of the upper stage of its vehicle, putting the company on track for a first launch in 2021. The company said it performed integrated stage testing of the upper stage of its RS1 vehicle at Edwards Air Force Base in California. That test included fueling of the stage, refining startup sequences and firing its single E2 engine. (10/22)

Why Hasn't Space Tourism Taken Off? (Source: The Guardian)
Listening to Richard Branson over the past 20 years, you'd be forgiven for assuming that space was by now being frequented by lots of tourists. However, despite the Virgin Galactic chief's optimism, the space tourism industry has yet to take off. Up to now there have been only seven self-funded citizens in space. And with billionaires such as Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk in the space race, why are there still no tourists in space? Click here. (10/22)

Morgan Stanley Expects SpaceX will be a $100 Billion Company Thanks to Starlink and Starship (Source: CNBC)
Morgan Stanley doubled its long-term valuation estimate for Elon Musk’s SpaceX on Thursday, now expecting the company to be worth at least $100 billion some day. “SpaceX continues to solidify its place as ‘mission control’ for the emerging space economy,” Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas wrote.

In Morgan Stanley’s base case, SpaceX’s rockets business reaches an $11.7 billion valuation while its Starlink satellite internet business grows to $80.9 billion, and the company adds point-to-point space travel as an $8.7 billion value. The company also in August sought $2.1 billion in a new round of equity funding, which valued SpaceX at near $44 billion.

“The pieces are coming together for SpaceX to create an economic and technological flywheel,” Jonas said. “It is clear to investors and industry observers that SpaceX’s launch cost advantages are being used to accelerate deployment of its LEO broadband network. As the company achieves pole position in LEO, which many believe is a winner take most (if not winner take all) arena ... the promise of a viable and capable satellite broadband service increases, helping the company attract large amounts of capital at attractive rates, further enabling development of even more capable launch architectures (Starship) that further deepens and widens the moat in satellite launch costs.” (10/22)

Masten Space Systems Awarded Two NASA Tipping Point Contracts (Source: Masten)
NASA and Masten Space Systems announced that the Space Technology Mission Directorate has chosen Masten for two Tipping Point awards as part of the agency’s Artemis mission to return to the Moon. The first award is for Masten’s Metal Oxidation Warming System (MOWS) which is being developed in partnership with Penn State as a chemical heating solution to help spacecraft survive in sunlight-deprived lunar environments. The second award will drive completion of Masten’s state-of-the-art aerospace testbed, named Xogdor, to provide the industry an updated flight test analog for critical Artemis technologies. (10/21)

Eagles to Land First Student Project on Moon to Snap Selfie of Lunar Landing (Source: ERAU)
Embry-Riddle is partnering with NASA commercial payload provider Intuitive Machines to send a camera to space that will capture the first-ever selfie of a spacecraft touching down on the moon. The Nova-C Lunar Lander will launch a science and technology payload to a valley in the Ocean of Storms. Just before it reaches the lunar surface in late 2021, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University students will capture the world’s ultimate selfie: the first-ever third-person shot of a spacecraft making an extraterrestrial landing.

Intuitive Machines, the company developing the Nova-C, offered Engineering students at Embry-Riddle this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — to design and build a camera system that will deploy from the Nova-C to capture the landing and, in the process, become the first university student project ever to land on the moon. Supported by a network of national scientists, Embry-Riddle’s “EagleCam” team — three Engineering professors along with a large interdisciplinary team of students — is designing a camera and communication system to launch to the moon and shoot the astronomical selfie. Just before approach, the CubeSat will deploy and freefall 100 feet to the surface to give the world its first glimpse of the spacecraft’s lunar landing. (10/20)

Space Force Should Break the Mold in Recruiting and Retaining Talent (Source: Space News)
With space poised to become the next trillion-dollar economy, demand for expertise will only climb. The U.S. Space Force’s Chief of Space Operations Gen. Jay Raymond is taking a “clean sheet approach” to building a new service. One of his most important tasks is recruiting and developing the workforce required to meet the challenges of this ultra-modern domain.

For years, an outdated personnel management system has challenged America’s military ability to recruit and retain talent. This is even more pronounced in technical fields like space. We need a diverse talent pool that better reflects America in 2020. Military recruiting has become increasingly difficult. Less than 30 percent of U.S. youth are eligible for military service (even fewer for technical jobs), and private sector firms are stiff competition for an already limited talent pool. Even when our best and brightest do join, the services struggle to keep them.

We see these retention struggles in the exodus of military pilots to the airlines or cyber operators to the tech industry. Both examples paint a concerning picture for the future of Space Force personnel. With space poised to become the next trillion-dollar economy, demand for expertise will only climb. The conditions are perfect for Space Force to revolutionize military personnel management policies. With bipartisan support for the service in both the executive and legislative branches, this is the right time, as the political capital may never be higher. Click here. (10/20)

Virgin Orbit Is the Next Space Unicorn Stock (Source: Motley Fool)
Up until 2017, there was only one space unicorn in existence: SpaceX. A second unicorn appeared that year when small rocket manufacturer Rocket Lab passed the $1 billion-mark. This week, investors discovered a potential third space unicorn stock, with Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit preparing to join the club. And yes, I said "Virgin Orbit." As distinguished from the better-known Virgin Galactic, Sir Richard Branson's publicly traded space tourism company, Virgin Orbit is a related company that has yet to IPO.

Virgin Orbit was established in 2017, the same year Rocket Lab became a unicorn. Perhaps not coincidentally, Virgin Orbit aims to directly compete against Rocket Lab in the small satellite launch market. Rocket Lab currently holds a leading position in this market. Despite having to play catch-up to market-leader Rocket Lab, some analysts consider Virgin Orbit "a front-runner" in the market for small satellite launch.

After all, Virgin Orbit's method of accessing space promises several advantages over ground-based launches. For one thing, it's cheap -- estimated at about $10 million to $12 million to launch a 500-kilogram payload into Low Earth Orbit. For another thing, it's flexible. Because an airplane can theoretically fly to any point on Earth before launching its payload, and point itself in any direction desired once it gets there, it can target essentially any orbital trajectory that a customer desires. The company's upcoming funding round, which is scheduled to close before the end of this year, aims to raise "between $150 million to $200 million" by offering shares valuing the business at "around $1 billion," reports The Wall Street Journal. (10/21)