December 11, 2020

Relativity Space Picked to Launch Terran 1 Mission, From Florida or California (Source: Space Daily)
Supporting a rideshare manifest with a mix of small and large satellites, TriSept Corporation has selected Relativity Space for a full mission aboard Relativity's Terran 1, the world's first entirely 3D printed rocket. Under the signed agreement, TriSept has secured a full mission on Terran 1 as early as 2022. The launch will take place from one of Relativity's launch sites at Cape Canaveral or Vandenberg Air Force Base. (12/11)

Aerospace Corp. Opens New Prototyping Facility (Source: Space Daily)
The Aerospace Corporation recently unveiled its new xLab facility on the El Segundo campus. The renovations are designed to better equip our technical experts as they collaborate on building innovative prototypes and instruments to advance space technology. The 12,000-square-foot space includes a Prototype Design Center, Electronics Testing Lab, Fabrication Lab, Assembly and Integration Lab, as well as open office space and huddle rooms to drive open communication and creativity. (12/9)

Grants Available for Space History Preservation (Source: SPACE 3.0)
Do you know a person or project that deserves a grant? SPACE 3.0, a 501c3 charitable foundation (spacecommerce.org) has a mission to support space history preservation. We are trying to identify worthy recipients that could use a $250-$1,000 grant. Click here for more information. (12/10)

From Central Florida Science Teacher to the Moon: Joe Acaba Chosen as Artemis Astronaut (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
Astronaut Joe Acaba has been to space three times, but the next trip could make him a moonwalker. The former Central Florida science teacher who has flown on the space shuttle and on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft for a stay on the International Space Station will now get trained to fly on the new Orion spacecraft as one of the select astronauts chosen for NASA’s Artemis program.

Acaba, who has said he considers Miami home, once taught science and math at Melbourne High School in Brevard County as well as Dunnellon Middle School in Marion County. Joe Acaba, a teacher at Dunnellon Middle School, is one of the finalists chosen to be the next teacher/astronaut for NASA. (12/10)

Spiders in Space: Without Gravity, Light Becomes Key to Orientation (Source: Space Daily)
Humans have taken spiders into space more than once to study the importance of gravity to their web-building. What originally began as a somewhat unsuccessful PR experiment for high school students has yielded the surprising insight that light plays a larger role in arachnid orientation than previously thought. The spider experiment by NASA is a lesson in the frustrating failures and happy accidents that sometimes lead to unexpected research findings.

On Earth, spiders build asymmetrical webs with the center displaced towards the upper edge. When resting, spiders sit with their head downwards because they can move toward freshly caught prey faster in the direction of gravity. The webs built in zero gravity were more symmetrical than those spun on Earth. Their center was closer to the middle and the spiders did not always keep their heads downwards. However, the researchers noticed that it made a difference whether the spiders built their webs in lamplight or in the dark. Webs built on the ISS in lamplight were similarly asymmetrical as the terrestrial webs.

Analysis of the pictures also showed that the spiders rested in arbitrary orientations in their webs when the lights were turned off, but oriented themselves away - i.e. downwards - when the lights were on. It seems spiders use light as an additional orientation aid when gravity is absent. Since spiders also build their webs in the dark and can catch prey without light, it had previously been assumed that light plays no role in their orientation. (12/10)

U.S. Department of Transportation is Advancing Space Policy (Source: Space Daily)
The White House National Space Council has issued its National Space Policy (PDF), a coordinated process for developing and monitoring the implementation of America's space policy and strategy. The U.S. Department of Transportation (the Department) is a critical partner and recognizes that commercial space transportation capabilities have become the gateway to innovation in this growing sector of national and international aerospace endeavors.

"America is experiencing its most exciting years in space yet, and the Department is committed to working with the rest of the government to remove barriers to international competitiveness and ensure the safe operation of commercial space transportation activity," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao. From traditional rockets to space planes, the Department ensures the protection of the public, property, and national security and foreign policy interests of the U.S. during commercial launches and reentry activities.

Thus far, the FAA has licensed more than 380 commercial space launches and re-entries, as well as 12 spaceport operators, located in eight states. Additionally, the Department supports the National Space Policy's new tasks related to protect and enhance our global navigation satellite systems and capabilities. (12/10)

Altamira Wins $8.5 Million Space Force Contract for Space Data Processing (Source: Space Daily)
The U.S. Space Force's Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) awarded Altamira Technologies a prototype project contract valued at $8.5 million for the Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE) Mission Data Processing Applications Provider (MDPAP). The FORGE program office, located within the Cross-Mission Ground and Communications Enterprise, is leading modernization for the nation's missile warning ground systems for both next-generation and legacy programs. (12/10)

Hydrosat to Fly Sensor in 2022 (Source: Space News)
Earth imaging company Hydrosat will fly its first sensor on a Loft Orbital spacecraft in 2022. The companies announced that Hydrosat will launch a multispectral infrared payload on Loft Orbital's YAM-6 spacecraft, launching in early 2022 on a Falcon 9. The mission, called VanZyl-1, will provide the first commercial space-based thermal imagery to track water stress, assess wildfire risk and support agricultural monitoring. Loft Orbital offers microsatellite missions as a service by integrating customer payloads with standard satellite buses and mission operations software. (12/11)

India Plans ComSat Launch on Dec. 17 (Source: PTI)
India plans to launch a communications satellite next week. The Indian space agency ISRO says the launch of the CMS-01 satellite is scheduled for Dec. 17 on a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. The satellite will provide extended C-band communications for India and nearby islands. (12/11)

ULA Launches Long-Delayed NRO Satellite on Delta-4 from Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: Space News)
A Delta 4 Heavy rocket launched a long-delayed mission for the National Reconnaissance Office Thursday night. The rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral at 8:09 p.m. Eastern on the NROL-44 mission, after months of delays caused by technical issues with the vehicle and ground equipment. The launch webcast ended minutes after liftoff, but the Space Force later confirmed that the launch of the classified payload was a success. The Delta 4 Heavy is slated to be retired after launching four more NRO payloads over the next few years. (12/11)

SLS Schedule Tightens With Recent Test Delays (Source: Space News)
NASA says the schedule for the first Space Launch System mission is getting tight after the latest in a series of delays in testing of the rocket's core stage. NASA had planned to conduct a "wet dress rehearsal" of the SLS core stage at the Stennis Space Center earlier this week, but postponed it when it encountered problems keeping liquid oxygen flowing into the stage at the right temperature. SLS managers said Thursday that the problem is an operational issue with ground equipment, and are confident that it can be corrected to allow a second attempt for the test next week. Those officials, though, said there is now "very little margin" in the schedule for a November 2021 launch of the SLS on the Artemis 1 mission. (12/11)

Lockheed Martin to Build Two More GPS Satellites (Source: Space News)
Lockheed Martin quietly won a contract for two additional GPS 3 satellites. The Space Force's Space and Missile Systems Center exercised an option in a contract with Lockheed Martin to purchase two GPS 3F satellites valued at $511 million. Lockheed got a contract in 2018 for $1.3 billion for two GPS 3F satellites known as space vehicles 11 and 12; the newly awarded option is for space vehicles 13 and 14. The Space Force made the new award in October, but it was not publicly announced at the time because it was an option exercised under a 2018 deal. (12/11)

DoD Not Taking Advantage of New Commercial ComSat Capabilities (Source: Space News)
A survey found the U.S. military is not taking advantage of increasingly more capable and cheaper commercial satellite communications services. The study by the Government Business Council and satellite operator Viasat concluded there was a lot of "cultural complacency" in military procurement agencies that are comfortable working with the traditional defense industrial base. Agencies are aware of what the market has to offer but are reluctant to use commercial systems in many cases due to cultural inertia and because many commercial systems are incompatible with the government’s legacy architecture. (12/11)

White House Unveils New Space Policy, But Does It Matter? (Source: Breaking Defense)
Outgoing President Donald Trump has issued a new National Space Policy that, in essence, seeks to put an official stamp on the administration’s previous decisions, from asserting that space is a warfighting domain to pledging a permanent US presence on the Moon to supporting industry efforts to mine celestial bodies. The big question is: does it matter? “I just think it’s a little too late for trying to put a stamp on something,” said veteran space policy wonk Erin Neal, founder of Velocity Government Relations and staffer to former Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida.

Space isn’t expected to have a high profile in the administration of incoming President Joe Biden, given the pandemic, the flailing economy, the climate crisis and a number of foreign policy challenges — many, such as the prickly relations between the US and its NATO allies, of the Trump administration’s own making. That said, Biden — like every other president before him — likely will eventually want to put his own stamp on space policy.

For example, the new Trump policy seeks to enshrine the role of the National Space Council, led by Vice President Mike Pence and used, in large part, as a bully pulpit for advocacy of administration decisions. But, word on the street is that while the Biden administration is unlikely to get rid of the council, given VP Kamala Harris’s lack of interest in the subject and the time sink it’s proven to be for agency heads the White House may simply let it languish. (12/9)

Former Whistleblower Leads Effort to Purchase Spaceport America (Source: Las Cruces Sun-News)
A former official at Spaceport America who claimed whistleblower protection in a wrongful termination lawsuit filed in 2014 is now attempting to buy the spaceport. Brent M. Eastwood issued a press release last week announcing, “I will lead this private ownership group to negotiate in good faith to meet all requirements of the governor, the Legislature, the New Mexico Spaceport Authority, Spaceport Tax District Board and New Mexico taxpayers.” There’s just one problem. The spaceport isn’t for sale.

Bruce Krasnow, public information officer for the state Economic Development Department, said he is not aware of any negotiations to sell the spaceport, which is owned by the state. Krasnow added the issue has not been raised at any Spaceport Authority meetings. Eastwood said the ownership group he is now heading includes experts in a number of different fields pertinent to the spaceport. He said members of the group will be announced early next year. (12/9)

So, It Turns Out SpaceX is Pretty Good at Rocketing (Source: Ars Technica)
As the Sun sank toward the South Texas horizon, a fantastical-looking spaceship rose into the reddening sky. It was, in a word, epic. Powered by three Raptor rocket engines, SpaceX's 50-meter-tall Starship vehicle climbed out over the Gulf of Mexico. After a couple of minutes, one by one, the Raptor engines blinked off by design. It was not immediately clear how high Starship reached, but the craft appeared to come close to the 12.5km ceiling on the flight test.

At this apogee, Starship faced what may have been its most critical test—using reaction control thrusters to perform was has become known as a "belly flop" so the vehicle can return to Earth at an angle of attack of about 70 degrees. This maneuver is critical for a Starship returning from orbit, both to bleed off velocity as well as ensure its reusability without a massive heat shield. Starship nailed this move, smooth as soft butter.

As the shiny spaceship neared the ground, it then successfully reoriented itself to a vertical position to prepare for a landing. And it almost succeeded. Alas, pressure in the Starship header tanks, located in the upper part of the vehicle, was not high enough. Effectively, this deprived the Raptor engines of the thrust they needed to slow down enough. So Starship crashed into the landing pad and created a fiery spectacle. (12/9)

Europe's VOS Microsatellite Launcher Venture Raises Capital (Source: UI)
French investment firm UI is taking part in Venture Orbital Systems' (VOS) first fundraising campaign to enable it to accelerate the development of the first European launcher dedicated to nanosatellites. This first round of funding raised 750,000 euros from UI Investissement (through the IRPAC Creation fund, dedicated to innovation), a Business Angel, the PIA 3 system (State and Grand Est Region) and by Bpifrance. Created in 2019, VOS specializes in the launch of nano-satellites. Based in Reims, the start-up has developed a process to manufacture a lightweight engine at low cost, thanks to metal 3D printing. Thanks to this “printable” thruster in less than a week, the engineering team aims to develop an ultra-competitive nano-satellite launcher, quick to produce and easy to operate: Zéphyr. (12/10)

OneWeb Satellites: A Revolution in Space, in Florida (Source: Enterprise Florida)
Four years ago it was a concept. Today, OneWeb Satellites is manufacturing the first of their 650 Gen One satellites on Florida’s Space Coast. Learn more about what led this pioneering company to the Sunshine State and how they’re revolutionizing the economics of space. In today’s business world, you have to stay relevant. You also have to stay one step ahead. That requires you to continually evolve...in a place that will evolve with you. In Florida, we offer boundless opportunities to grow, innovate, discover and explore. So whatever you can imagine, you can create.

Fueled by a world-class infrastructure, young, educated and diverse workforce, global gateways, a state of the art high-speed technology backbone, and one of the most business-friendly environments in the country, anything is possible here. It’s why so many companies are realizing their future in Florida. And why yours can too. Click here. (12/10)

NASA and Boeing Target New Launch Date for Next Starliner Flight Test (Source: NASA)
NASA and Boeing now are targeting March 29 for the launch of Starliner’s second uncrewed flight test to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) is a critical developmental milestone on the company’s path toward flying crew missions for NASA. For the OFT-2 mission, the CST-100 Starliner will launch on a ULA Atlas V rocket from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, dock to the ISS and return to land in the western US about a week later as part of an end-to-end test to prove the system is ready to fly crew. The OFT-2 Starliner spacecraft is nearing final assembly inside the company’s Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility at Kennedy Space Center. (12/10)

Musk Rival Mittal Targets Global Satellite Broadband by Mid-2022 (Source: Bloomberg)
Telecommunications tycoon Sunil Mittal said the satellite startup he rescued from bankruptcy with the U.K. government will be offering global broadband services within 18 months. The new target for OneWeb heats up a space race against two other billionaire entrepreneurs who are rushing to offer internet from low-earth orbit satellites -- Space Exploration Technologies Corp. founder Elon Musk and Amazon.com Inc. founder Jeff Bezos. (12/9)

Space X Starlink vs Amazon Kuiper vs OneWeb, Which is Best? (Source: Found and Explained)
Free internet - anywhere in the world. A dream now shared by both Space X's Elon Musk and Amazon rival Jeff Bezos, which is better and who is going to win the internet space race! We are right now on the dawn of a new type of internet. Space internet. Powered by thousands of satellites in orbit, the concept operates in a way that your device will be able to access an ever presence wifi. No matter if you are in a deep urban area, or the darkest jungle. Click here. (9/13)

Pence Vows US Will Beat China, Russia in Space (Source: NHK)
Vice President Mike Pence says the country has strengthened its space policy in the past four years and has vowed it will defeat China and Russia in space. Pence held the eighth meeting of the National Space Council in the southern state of Florida on Wednesday. The administration of President Donald Trump set up the council to promote space development. Pence emphasized that the administration established the Space Force, the first new branch of the US armed forces in over 70 years, and launched the Artemis program to send US astronauts to the moon again.

He said China and Russia are continuing to develop space weaponry, adding, "China is increasingly emerging as a serious competitor in space." He vowed that the United States will keep on winning in space. (12/9)

Can Japan Keep Up in the 21st-Century Space Race? (Source: Japan Times)
During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union were the major players in the race. But the power balance has shifted in recent years with China launching rockets and gaining the capability to destroy the satellites of other countries. What needs to be done to prevent a space war, and what should Japan be doing to keep up with the international race in space development?

Japan is a pioneer in space technology, having been the fourth nation in the world to launch a satellite. But it has banned the use of space for military purposes and has faced a hard battle since the 1990s in expanding its commercial use as well. Belatedly, the government adopted a new national defense guideline in 2018, which emphasized the need to gain predominance in the domains of outer space, cyberspace and electromagnetic spectrum.

Unfortunately, however, the Society of Japanese Aerospace Companies’ statistics show the total output of Japan’s space-related businesses in the same year was only ¥343.1 billion. Japan needs to create a drastic competitive strategy, while taking into account the issues surfacing due to fierce competition among other countries. (12/10)