February 9, 2021

HyImpulse Technologies Plans to Launch from Unst Island in Scotland (Source: Parabolic Arc)
The UK's Shetland Space Center secured a further boost today with a German rocket maker announcing its intention to launch from Unst. HyImpulse Technologies plans to begin engine testing and launching sub-orbital sounding rockets in Shetland this year with a view to a maiden orbital flight in 2023. The company has pioneered environmentally-friendly hybrid fuel technology which will be deployed in all launches. HyImpulse Co-CEO Christian Schmierer said: “We have signed letters of intent with several potential customers to take their payloads into orbit. (2/8)

So Long Senator Shelby: Key Architect of SLS Rocket (Source: Ars Technica)
Nearly two years ago, then-NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine made a remarkable appearance before a Senate committee to discuss US leadership in space. He was feeling the pressure to keep deadlines—something NASA struggles to do given the scope and complexity of its projects. At the top of Bridenstine's mind was remaining on track for a June 2020 launch of an uncrewed Orion spacecraft to the Moon.

"I think we as an agency need to stick to our commitment," he told a handful of senators in the committee meeting. "If we tell you, and others, that we’re going to launch in June of 2020 around the Moon, I think we should launch around the Moon in June of 2020." Then, referencing the commercial space industry, he added, "We have amazing capability that exists right now that we can use off-the-shelf in order to accomplish this objective."

This may not sound too dramatic, but in the realm of space policy and congressional hearings, this was heresy. Congress had created the Space Launch System rocket in 2011 and forced it upon an unwilling White House. Now, they were being told the space agency did not actually need the large rocket to fly the very missions it was created for. Days later, Bridenstine took this heresy further when he suggested SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket could boost humans to the Moon. (2/9)

Where Should Future Astronauts Land on Mars? (Source: Space Daily)
A new NASA paper provides the most detailed map to date of near-surface water ice on the Red Planet. So you want to build a Mars base. Where to start? Like any human settlement, it would be best located near accessible water. Not only will water be crucial for life-support supplies, it will be used for everything from agriculture to producing the rocket propellant astronauts will need to return to Earth. NASA has engaged scientists and engineers since 2015 to identify deposits of Martian water ice that could be within reach of astronauts on the planet's surface.

But, of course, water has huge scientific value, too: If present-day microbial life can be found on Mars, it would likely be nearby these water sources as well. A new study appearing in Nature Astronomy includes a comprehensive map detailing where water ice is most and least likely to be found in the planet's northern hemisphere. Combining 20 years of data from NASA's Mars Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and the now-inactive Mars Global Surveyor, the paper is the work of a project called Subsurface Water Ice Mapping, or SWIM. (2/9)

Telesat Picks Thales Alenia to Build Constellation Satellites (Source: Space News)
Telesat has selected Thales Alenia Space to build its low Earth orbit constellation. Telesat said that the 298-satellite system, which it now calls Lightspeed, will begin providing broadband connectivity services in 2023. Telesat chose Thales Alenia based on that company's work on the Iridium Next constellation and the original O3b satellite for SES. The Lightspeed satellites will include laser intersatellite links to minimize the number of ground stations required. Telesat plans to focus on business-to-business services, rather that customer broadband. (2/9)

Arab Spacecraft Enters Orbit Around Mars in Historic Flight (Source: WESH)
A spacecraft from the United Arab Emirates swung into orbit around Mars on Tuesday in a triumph for the Arab world’s first interplanetary mission. Ground controllers at the UAE’s space center in Dubai rose to their feet and broke into applause when word came that the craft, called Amal, Arabic for Hope, had reached the end of its seven-month, 300-million-mile journey and had begun circling the red planet, where it will gather detailed data on Mars’ atmosphere.

The orbiter fired its main engines for 27 minutes in an intricate, high-stakes maneuver that slowed the craft enough for it to be captured by Mars’ gravity. It took a nail-biting 11 minutes for the signal confirming success to reach Earth. Tensions were high: Over the years, Mars has been the graveyard for a multitude of missions from various countries. Two more unmanned spacecraft from the U.S. and China are following close behind, set to arrive at Mars over the next several days. All three missions were launched in July to take advantage of the close alignment of Earth and Mars.

Amal’s arrival puts the UAE in a league of just five space agencies in history that have pulled off a functioning Mars mission. As the country’s first venture beyond Earth’s orbit, the flight is a point of intense pride for the oil-rich nation as it seeks a future in space. An ebullient Mohammed bin Zayed, the UAE’s day-to-day ruler, was on hand at mission control and said: “Congratulations to the leadership and people of the UAE. ... Your joy is indescribable.” (2/9)

2020 Space Investments Surpassed Low Expectations (Source: Space News)
Predictions of an investment apocalypse for the space industry in 2020 failed to come true. Last spring, many in the industry feared the pandemic would bring investment in space startups to a halt as part of the economic fallout of measures to combat the pandemic. However, after a brief pause, investment resumed, with 2020 on track to match or break the record $5.7 billion of investment in 2019. Investors see a continued window of opportunity this year for companies seeking to raise more capital, but worry about "very frothy valuations" of some startups. (2/9)

Overheated Launch Market? Not for Small Satellites (Source: Space News)
Views of an "overheated" launch market depend on what part of the industry you're looking at. ULA CEO Tory Bruno warned last week that investment in launch capabilities was driving down launch prices without stimulating demand. However, at the SmallSat Symposium Monday, industry observers noted that was primarily true for large satellites, where launch is just a small fraction of overall system costs. Reductions in launch costs is stimulating demand for smallsats, although that is unlikely to be sufficient to support more than a small fraction of current small launch vehicle startups, whose prices are higher than rideshare options from companies like SpaceX. (2/9)

EKS: Russia’s Space-Based Missile Early Warning System (Source: Space Review)
Russia is in the process of modernizing its fleet of satellites used to provide early warning of missile launches. Bart Hendrickx examones what is known about those satellites and plans for future spacecraft. Click here. (2/8)
 
How Can You Improve the Outer Space Treaty? (Source: Space Review)
The Outer Space Treaty is the foundation of international space law, but some fear it’s not keeping up with the key issues in space. Jeff Foust reports on a panel discussion that raised various ways to modernize the treaty without abandoning it outright. Click here. (2/8)
 
Satellite Imagery Industry Still Evolving (Source: Space News)
The supply of commercial satellite imagery is growing, but pricing and other issues remain hurdles to greater adoption. At a SmallSat Symposium panel Monday, industry executives said the cost of imagery remains high, and can vary widely depending on who the customer is. Another challenge is combining data from several sources into products that best serve the needs of customers. There isn't yet a steady flow of information that allows users to easily "turn on and turn off the tap" as needed. (2/9)

Cloud Computing Services Ease Market Entry for Data-Heavy Space Businesses (Source: Space News)
New cloud computing services could help space companies better turn that data into customer revenue. Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and Google are making it much easier for space startups to be able to control their data and not have to make capital investments in infrastructure, panelists said Monday at the SmallSat Symposium. Imagery and geospatial intelligence companies could benefit the most from the new technology, allowing them to quickly build out services to process and analyze data for customers. (2/9)

Musk Could Take Starlink Public (Source: Bloomberg)
Elon Musk said he would be willing to take SpaceX's Starlink broadband service public once it has more a predictable business. In a series of tweets late Monday night, Musk said he would be willing to conduct an initial public offering for Starlink "once we can predict cash flow reasonably well." He didn't give an estimate of when that would be, but said that the investment in Starlink creates a "deep chasm of negative cash flow" for SpaceX over the next year or so before the service can be financially viable. Musk said last spring he was not planning to spin off Starlink into a separate business that could go public. (2/9)

Xenesis Invites Suppliers to Partner in Constellation Development (Source: Space News)
Xenesis is signing revenue-sharing agreements with suppliers as part of its effort to establish an optical communications constellation. The revenue-sharing model is aimed at reducing the cost of its initial on-orbit demonstration, a terminal that will be mounted on the International Space Station in 2022. That approach will allow Xenesis to purchase components from those suppliers "at true manufactured cost" while discouraging those suppliers from working with competitors. (2/9)

Spire Gets New Executive (Source: Space News)
The founder and former CEO of geospatial intelligence company Tomnod has joined Spire. Shay Har-Noy will be the general manager of the aviation systems business unit at Spire, which offers a global aircraft tracking product that combines data from sensors in space and on the ground. Tomnod was a company that used crowdsourcing to identify objects in satellite images, and was acquired by DigitalGlobe in 2014. (2/9)

Progress Capsule Departs ISS (Source: TASS)
A Progress cargo spacecraft undocked from the ISS and reentered early Tuesday. The Progress MS-15 spacecraft reentered over the South Pacific Ocean at 4:13 a.m. Eastern, four hours after departing the station. The spacecraft had been docked to the station since last July, and its departure frees up a docking port for a new Progress cargo spacecraft launching late Sunday. (2/9)

ESA Recruits New Astronauts (Source: ESA)
The European Space Agency will soon start seeking applications for a new class of astronauts. ESA said Monday that it accept applications to join its astronaut corps starting March 31 for a two-month period, with the goal of selecting a new astronaut class by October 2022. ESA also plans to start a "Parastronaut Feasibility Project" to determine if people with physical disabilities could also become astronauts. (2/9)

NASA Awards Contract to Launch Initial Elements for Lunar Outpost (Source: NASA)
NASA has selected SpaceX to provide launch services for the agency’s Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) and Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO), the foundational elements of the Gateway. As the first long-term orbiting outpost around the Moon, the Gateway is critical to supporting sustainable astronauts missions under the agency’s Artemis program. After integration on Earth, the PPE and HALO are targeted to launch together no earlier than May 2024 on a Falcon Heavy rocket from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. The total cost to NASA is approximately $331.8 million, including the launch service and other mission-related costs. (2/9)

Five Space Experiences to Try With Your New VR Headset (Source: Air & Space)
Over the past year, with millions of housebound office workers trying tele-presence for the first time, did virtual reality find its true purpose at last? Nah, not really. This always-just-about-to-take-off technology is still, by and large, a niche hobby for early adopters. That doesn’t mean it can’t be a lot of fun, though, or even, at times, revolutionary. And it’s only going to get better. Here are some recommendations for worthwhile space-related experiences you can try right now, most of them for standalone headsets like Oculus Quest, which (as opposed to more expensive tethered headsets) appear to be the future of consumer VR. Click here. (1/25)

NASA Considers Purchasing Another Soyuz Astronaut Ride (Source: NASA Watch)
NASA now is considering obtaining a supplemental seat on the upcoming spring Soyuz crew rotation mission for a NASA astronaut to add additional capability to the agency's planning. The agency issued a public synopsis to identify all sources that potentially could provide the crew transportation service in the needed timeframe beyond the capability NASA already has in operation with the agency's Commercial Crew Program. ... Securing an additional Soyuz seat assures the back-up capability of at least one U.S. crew member aboard the International Space Station in the event of a problem with either spacecraft. NASA is considering providing in-kind services for this supplemental crew transportation service, rather than an exchange of funds. (2/9)