April 8, 2023

Virgin Orbit's Would-Be White Knight and a $200 Million Rescue That Fell Flat (Source: Reuters)
As the fortunes of Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit were crashing to Earth last month, a little-known investor called Matthew Brown appeared offering a $200 million rescue. Within two days of being contacted by Brown, Virgin Orbit Chief Executive Dan Hart had secured board backing for a preliminary agreement with the 33-year-old Texas-based investor.

There would be no full resumption of operations. The potential deal with Brown unraveled in less than a week with Virgin Orbit severing contact and threatening to take legal action against him if he revealed confidential details about the potential investment, according to the cease-and-desist letter reviewed by Reuters, and the three people, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.

The previously unreported details of a deal that was never done provide a window into Virgin Orbit's failed scramble to avoid bankruptcy. The company, which had been worth $3.8 billion in late 2022 and counted the U.S. military among its biggest clients, filed for Chapter 11 this week. The legal notice was in response to an interview Brown gave on March 23 when he said he was in "final discussions" to close a $200 million investment in Virgin Orbit within 24 hours. The letter from a lawyer for the company said Brown had overstated the nature of talks and breached a non-disclosure agreement. Click here. (4/8)

INPE Data Shows Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon Rises Despite Lula's Pledge (Soiurce: TRT World)
Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rainforest has risen 14 percent in March from the previous year, preliminary official data showed, highlighting the continued challenges for the new leftist government. Space research agency INPE's data showed 356 square kilometres were cleared in the Brazil's Amazon just last month. The figures revealed on Friday show the scale of the task facing leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, just 100 days into his return to power.

Lula da Silva took office on January 1, pledging to end deforestation after years of surging deforestation under his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro, who slashed environmental protection efforts in the Amazon. "This rise in numbers reveals that the Amazon still suffers from a huge lack of governance and that the new government needs to act urgently to rebuild its capacity for repression to environmental crime, which had been totally destroyed by the last government," said Marcio Astrini, head of local environmental group Climate Observatory. (4/7)

Runaway Black Hole Creating Trail of New Stars (Source: AFP)
A huge black hole is tearing through space, leaving behind a 200,000-light-year-long trail of newborn stars, space scientists say. The supermassive monster -- likely born of a bizarre game of intergalactic billiards -- is rampaging through the blackness and plowing into gas clouds in its path. The incredible forces at play mean this gas is being forged into a contrail of new stars, which have been captured on camera by NASA's powerful Hubble Space Telescope. (4/7)

Where No Tailor Has Gone Before — Space Force Wraps Uniform Fit Tests (Source: Air Force Times)
The U.S. Space Force completed its final service dress uniform fit test at the Pentagon last Thursday, concluding a lengthy process that began when the uniform was unveiled in September 2021. A total of 100 Guardians were selected as fit test participants, which the service called an “essential” stage in the development of the uniform’s size and fit, according to a service press release. (4/5)

German Army Goes Full Darth Vader at Space Command Launch (Source: Politico)
Germany’s army has embraced the dark side with the launch of its military space command, featuring characters straight out of the evil Galactic Empire seen in the iconic Star Wars film series. Rather than swashbuckling Jedi knights wielding plastic lightsabers, the German army this week opened its new space command headquarters with military top brass surrounded by Darth Vader and a cast of cosplay stormtroopers.

The Star Wars franchise partly based its evil, authoritarian Galactic Empire, presided over by Darth Vader, on aspects of the ideology underpinning the Nazi party in 1930s and 40s Germany. The €40 million space command building — which does not resemble the spherical Death Star of the films — includes 122 offices, with two rooms allowing constant space surveillance monitoring systems and a backup power and air conditioning unit, the German army said. (4/6)

Maine Organization Is Trying to Launch a Space Industry (Source: Government Technology)
With a new public awareness campaign and a new group of backers, a Maine organization is trying to turn the state into a hub for the so-called New Space industry. Terry Shehata, executive director of the Maine Space Grant Consortium, said his organization and others are launching Maine Space 2030, a drive to position the state as a leading center for space exploration within a decade.

Among the initiatives planned this year is a three-day conference in Portland in November, showcasing Maine's support for space operations and educating audiences about the scientific work and commercial development underway, Shehata said. The state is also geographically well-positioned for launching satellites that will loop over the Earth's North and South poles, and for launches aimed over the Atlantic Ocean, he said.

If Maine becomes more heavily involved in space activities, it could boost the state's economic output — currently about $84 billion a year — by about $1.1 billion annually within 20 years, according to a University of Southern Maine analysis, Shehata said. The New Space industry could also produce up to 5,500 jobs in Maine, he said, and keep science students from leaving the state after graduation. (4/6)

Space Foundation Selects Retiring Air Force General as New CEO (Source: Dayton Business Journal)
A Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Major General was just selected as the new chief executive officer of the Colorado-based Space Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 1983. The Space Foundation, offering information, education and collaboration for the global space ecosystem, has hired Maj. Gen. Heather Pringle as its new chief executive officer effective July 1.

Pringle currently serves as commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory, She will be retiring this summer after 32 years of military service. She will succeed current Space Foundation CEO Tom Zelibor who announced his retirement in May 2022. (4/6)

How Space Became the Final Frontier for Beauty (Source: Dazed)
Today, as we get a steady stream of space exploration discoveries, creatives are just as inspired by the cosmos as ever, perhaps reflecting a need for escapism and creating moments of awe as the world undergoes a polycrisis. For Thom Browne’s AW23 show, Isamaya French created intergalactic make-up in line with the collection’s homage to The Little Prince, space uniforms and NASA. FKA twigs’ recent red-carpet look by @tildax_x_ seemed to draw from a nebula and black hole visual vernacular, just as NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory led astronomers to discover a lonely galaxy located about 9.2 billion light-years from Earth.

Space has long influenced beauty aesthetics, but now it’s literally influencing beauty as the industry increasingly looks to technology and scientific breakthroughs from the world of space travel. Skincare brands have begun to develop products for life in microgravity. “Tested in Space” is the motto of 111Skin, which was founded when scientists from the Soviet space programme reached out to Dr Yannis Alexandrides for help treating the wounds of astronauts in space. (4/6)

Float Through the Stars at This New Immersive Space Exhibit in Manhattan (Source: Time Out)
For anyone who ever dreamed of becoming an astronaut, this new exhibit in Lower Manhattan is the next best thing. This immersive experience blasts off into an exploration of our galaxy and beyond with stunning visuals and real-life videos courtesy of NASA. “Destination Cosmos: The Immersive Space Experience” is now open at the historic Hall des Lumières through June 4. (4/6)

Virgin Orbit Bankruptcy Casts Shadow Over Japan's Space Dreams (Source: CNA)
The bankruptcy filing by Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit Holdings Inc has dealt a blow to Japan's hopes of building a domestic space industry, with plans for a Kyushu-based spaceport designed to attract tourism on hold for lack of funding. Oita prefecture, home to Japan's largest number of hot springs, partnered with Virgin Orbit in 2020 to create its first Asian spaceport at Oita Airport using a Boeing 747 for horizontal rocket launches.

The original aim was to launch small satellites from Oita as early as last year, but that never occurred, in another setback in Japan's attempt to become a player in the crowded market for commercial satellite launches after two recent rocket launch failures. Two Japanese companies, ANA Holdings unit All Nippon Airways Trading Co and little-known Japanese satellite development start-up iQPS Inc emerged among the top six creditors when Virgin Orbit filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Tuesday.

ANA, owed $1.65 million, had been a key partner for the Oita spaceport, entering a provisional deal with Virgin Orbit in 2021 for 20 flights of its LauncherOne rocket there. ANA said it was hopeful Virgin Orbit, which has said it is seeking a buyer, would be able to restructure and resume business. Fukuoka-based iQPS had paid a $5.2 million deposit to launch its small, lightweight constellation satellites weighing under 100 kilograms, representing a major portion of the $17.2 million Series A funding it had raised in 2017. (4/7)

Union Cabinet Gives Nod to Indian Space Policy 2023 (Source: The Hindu)
The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the Indian Space Policy, 2023 under which roles and responsibilities of organizations such as ISRO, NewSpace India Limited and private sector entities have been laid down. The government had earlier opened up the space sector for the private sector to help boost development of the segment. "In brief, it will offer clarity in the role of the components set up (in the recent past)," Union Minister Jitendra Singh told reporters in New Delhi. (4/6)

China's inland Space Launch Site Advances Commercial Services (Source: Xinhua)
The Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, which is currently China's only site for launching manned spacecraft into orbit, is looking to tap into the burgeoning commercial market by offering more services and stronger capabilities. Located in northwest China's Gobi Desert, the Jiuquan launch center has carried out numerous space missions since its establishment in 1958. It frequented media headlines for launching Chinese space station taikonauts over the past two years.

Staff members at the inland site are also working hard to support commercial launches, just as they have done in the state programs. It has witnessed at least three successful commercial launches this year, and the newly-launched carrier rocket TL-2 Y1 is the latest example of the site's efforts to serve private space companies. Launched on April 2, the privately developed rocket placed a remote-sensing satellite into orbit during its debut flight.

In light of the growing demand, the launch hub has taken the lead to build a handful of new facilities for multiple types of commercial spacecraft, including a new liftoff field for liquid oxygen-methane launch vehicles and one more pad for solid-fuel rockets. For testing and launching cryogenic liquid rockets, Jiuquan has also set up a team of professionals who have mastered technologies like fast and automatic propellant filling. Construction on the country's first launch site dedicated to commercial missions began in the island province of Hainan last year. (4/6)

Venus Has Almost 50 Times as Many Volcanoes as Previously Thought (Source: Science News)
The hellscape of Venus is riddled with even more volcanoes than scientists thought. Using radar images taken by NASA’s Magellan spacecraft in the 1990s, researchers cataloged about 85,000 volcanoes strewn across the Venusian surface. That’s nearly 50 times as many volcanoes as past surveys counted.

Planetary scientists Rebecca Hahn and Paul Byrne of Washington University in St. Louis debuted the map in the April JGR Planets. Such a thorough inventory of volcanism on Venus could offer clues about the planet’s interior, such as hot spots of magma production, Byrne says. And with the recent discovery that Venus is volcanically active, the map could also help pinpoint places to look for new eruptions. (4/6)

Sunset For Baikonur? (Source: Radio Free Europe)
For nearly seven decades, Baikonur has been synonymous with the Soviet and Russian space programs. The sprawling complex on the barren steppe of southern Kazakhstan has hurled hundreds of rockets -- and ballistic missiles -- into space, playing a part in some of history's greatest spaceflight achievements: Sputnik, the world's first satellite; Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space.

The complex survived the Soviet collapse, endured the economic chaos of post-Soviet Russia, and then helped position the Russian space agency now known as Roskosmos as a leader in continued space exploration. The sun, however, may be finally setting on Baikonur. For Russia, anyway. At issue is an arcane contract dispute between Roskosmos, which pays Kazakhstan around $115 million annually to lease the complex, and a Kazakh company that is partnering with Roskosmos to build a new, multibillion-dollar launch facility called Zenit-M.

Kazakh authorities have seized the assets of Roskosmos's main operator at Baikonur, citing unpaid debts, and are demanding $26 million. Russian officials have made a $220 million counterclaim. Without the Zenit-M complex, Russia won't be able to launch the Soyuz-5, a next-generation rocket that Moscow hopes will replace the stalwart Proton-M. The Proton-M uses a highly toxic fuel that Kazakhstan has complained for years has polluted the landscape. (4/6)

Planets Without Stars Might Have Moons Suitable for Life (Source: Science News)
Life might arise in the darkest of places: the moon of a planet wandering the galaxy without a star. The gravitational tug-of-war between a moon and its planet can keep certain satellites toasty enough for liquid water to exist there — a condition widely considered crucial for life. Now computer simulations suggest that, given the right orbit and atmosphere, some moons orbiting rogue planets can stay warm for over a billion years, astrophysicist Giulia Roccetti reported. (4/2)

‘Absolutely Critical’ to Get DARC Space Situational System to Australia (Source: Breaking Defense)
The vast landmass of Australia, possessed of clear skies free of city lights or pollution, is the perfect spot to place the most acute space situational awareness systems. Which is why Brig. Gen. Anthony Mastalir, the head of Space Forces Indo-Pacific says it’s “absolutely critical” to get a new radar system there as quickly as can be.

“When you look at a place like Australia as a landmass, you have a lot of opportunity to contribute to that space picture,” Mastalir told Breaking Defense during an interview during the Sydney Dialogue, put on by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. “The Australians, the defense Space Command folks and the acquisition arms, they absolutely understand that, so they’re moving aggressively to embrace some of these opportunities and bring systems like DARC — deep space radar capability — here on the continent.” (4/7)

India's Private Sector Can Now Build Rockets, Satellites (Source Live Mint)
The Indian Space Policy was approved on this week by the Indian Government. The policy seeks to institutionalise and mostly facilitate the acess of private sector participation int he space sector for India. The policy will see Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) focusing on research and development of advanced space technologies. The Indian Space Policy 2023 was approved by a Cabinet Committee helmed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The policy delineates responsibility to ISRO, New Space India Limited, and Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center. (4/7)

SpaceX Competitor? A Spanish Start-up is Ready to Launch Europe’s First Reusable Rocket (Source: EuroNews.Next)
A Spanish start-up is getting ready to launch the first private reusable rocket manufactured in Europe. Miura 1 is a suborbital 12.5-metre micro-launcher named after a famous breed of bull - very appropriate given that the rocket is being developed in Spain and can lift 100-kg payloads. If tests continue to be successful, it will be performing its first maiden flight in the next few weeks. Miura 1 would not only be Spain's first rocket to blast off to space but also Europe's first reusable rocket. The technology was pioneered in the US by Elon Musk’s company SpaceX and is now also being used by the likes of RocketLab, Blue Origin and ArianeGroup. (4/7)

Details Revealed on Vulcan Centaur V Test Anomaly Explosion (Source: Ars Technica)
On the evening of March 29, at Marshall Space Flight Center, ULA started pressurizing the upper stage of its new Vulcan rocket. But then, suddenly, something went wrong with this Centaur upper stage. Shortly after the incident, ULA's Tory Bruno was quick to acknowledge on Twitter that something had happened: "Keeping you posted: During Qual testing of Centaur V structural article at MSFC, the hardware experienced an anomaly."

The loss of the Centaur upper stage raises questions about ULA's schedule for the debut launch of its much-anticipated heavy-lift Vulcan rocket. For a couple of years, ULA has said it was waiting on Blue Origin to deliver BE-4 engines for the rocket's first stage. The fact that ULA was still doing qualification testing of the Centaur upper stage suggests it was also a pacing item for the new launch vehicle. Although this Centaur V upper stage is based on a heritage design, the new version nonetheless has significant upgrades.

Previously, Bruno said Centaur V would be able to operate for 40 percent longer in flight and has two-and-a-half times more energy than the Centaur upper stage ULA currently flies. Another unanswered question concerns exactly what Centaur stage ULA was testing in Alabama. Was it a fully flight-like stage to be used for a future mission? Or was it more of a prototype stage used for development testing, which might be more susceptible to failure? ULA would not comment on this. (4/7)

ULA Delays Delta IV Heavy Rocket From Florida’s Space Coast (Source: WFTV)
ULA was planning to launch a Delta Heavy rocket later this month, but crews discovered a problem in a flight valve during pre-launch processing. When it finally launches, the rocket will carry a secret satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office. ULA officials said a new launch date will be confirmed when available. (4/7)

Blue Origin Eyes India's Space Tourism Potential (Source: Deccan Herald)
India's plans to begin space tourism by 2030 is likely to get a boost with ISRO beginning talks with global majors in pursuit of tie-ups, one of which in Amazon founder Jeff Bezos-owned Blue Origin, Business Standard reported. Currently, companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, Boeing, and Virgin Galactic are engaged in space tourism across the world and ISpA data shows 13 tourists have been to the ISS since 2001, while 27 people have gone on suborbital rides thus far. (4/8)

Chinese Scientists Resort to Satellite for Earthquake Prediction Research (Source: Xinhua)
Over 1,800 years after Chinese inventor Zhang Heng developed the first-ever seismoscope, scientists are now carrying out research on earthquake forecasting using a satellite named after him. Launched in February 2018, China's first seismo-electromagnetic satellite, Zhangheng 1, was designed to capture the electromagnetic signals in space, offering support for earthquake forecasting as well as space weather monitoring and warning.

"Over the past five years, the Zhangheng 1 satellite has racked up numerous achievements," said Shen Xuhui, the chief scientist of the satellite program, highlighting the latest progress of the satellite at the 35th National Symposium on Space Exploration held recently. Using the satellite, we have obtained global geomagnetic field data and global low-frequency electromagnetic spectrum data, and established two models for the subsequent data research, he added. (4/7)

NASA Is Getting Really Serious About Tracking Air Pollution (Source: WIRED)
NASA has launched its first instrument capable of hovering over North America to spy on urban pollution. This summer, the team will enhance that data with measurements taken by aircraft. NASA also just announced its first satellite mission that will be done in partnership with health experts to reveal the relationship between specific health conditions and the toxic airborne particles lingering above some of the world’s largest cities.

Overall, they want to create a granular portrait of what exactly is in the sky, and how it got there—one that can’t be detailed with ground-based pollution monitors alone. Seventy-nine percent of US counties lack an Environmental Protection Agency monitor on the ground, so the EPA’s information isn’t representative of the air most Americans are breathing. Data from other parts of the world is even more sparse. (4/7)

Biden Administration's EPA Considering Ambitious Air Pollution Limits (Source: New York Times)
The Biden administration is planning some of the most stringent auto pollution limits in the world, designed to ensure that all-electric cars make up as much as 67 percent of new passenger vehicles sold in the country by 2032, according to two people familiar with the matter. That would represent a quantum leap for the United States — where just 5.8 percent of vehicles sold last year were all-electric — and would exceed President Biden’s earlier ambitions to have all-electric cars account for half of those sold in the country by 2030. (4/8)

Magnets Wipe Memories From Meteorites, Erasing Billion-Year-Old Data (Source: Science)
In 2011, nomads roaming the western Sahara encountered precious time capsules from Mars: coal-black chunks of a meteorite, strewn across the dunes. “Black Beauty,” as the parent body came to be known, captivated scientists and collectors because it contained crystals that formed on Mars more than 4.4 billion years ago, making it older than any native rock on Earth. Jérôme Gattacceca hoped it might harbor a secret message, imprinted by the now-defunct martian magnetic field—which is thought to have helped the planet sustain an atmosphere, water, and possibly even life.

But when Gattacceca obtained a piece of Black Beauty and tried to decode its magnetic inscription, he found its memory had been wiped—Men in Black style—and replaced by a stronger signal. He instantly knew the culprit. Somewhere along its journey from Moroccan desert to street dealers to laboratory, the rock had been touched by strong hand magnets, a widely used technique for identifying meteorites. “It’s a pity that, just by using magnets, we’ve been destroying this scientific information that was stored there for 4 billion years,” Gattacceca says. (4/6)