May 2, 2023

Black Holes Resolve Paradoxes by Destroying Quantum States (Source: Science News)
Don’t try to do a quantum experiment near a black hole — its mere presence ruins all quantum states in its vicinity, researchers say. The finding comes from a thought experiment that pits the rules of quantum mechanics and black holes against each other, physicists reported April 17 at a meeting of the American Physical Society. Any quantum experiment done near a black hole could set up a paradox, the researchers find, in which the black hole reveals information about its interior — something physics says is forbidden. The way around the paradox, the team reports, is if the black hole simply destroys any quantum states that come close. (4/28)

China Aims for Humans on Moon By End of Decade (Source: Space.com)
A Chinese official said he expects the country to land people on the moon by the end of the decade. Wu Weiren, chief designer of China's lunar exploration program, said on Chinese state television last month that Chinese people will "definitely" be able to set foot on the moon by 2030. The country is working on the various launch vehicle and spacecraft elements needed for such a mission but has not formally announced plans for a crewed lunar landing by 2030. (5/2)

Suborbital Launch Fails at New Mexico Spaceport (Source: KVIA)
A commercial sounding rocket launch from New Mexico's Spaceport America failed on Monday. UP Aerospace launched the rocket, only to have it explode shortly after liftoff. No injuries or damage to spaceport facilities were reported. The rocket was carrying payloads for NASA's TechRise Student Challenge as well as cremated remains for Celestis. (5/2)

Alaska Spaceport Seeks New CEO (Source: KMXT)
Alaska Aerospace Corp. is looking for a new CEO. The state corporation, which operates the launch complex on Kodiak Island, had its previous CEO, Milton Keeter, abruptly leave in March for reasons it did not disclose. A member of the corporation's board said they are looking for a new CEO with experience in "community involvement" after criticism from local residents about road closures linked to launch activities. The board plans to start reviewing candidates for the CEO position in the next month. (5/2)

John Deere Plans Satellite Connectivity for Tractors (Source: Wall Street Journal)
John Deere wants to provide satellite connectivity services to customers of its tractors. The company says that as it adds more technology to its tractors, such as driverless operations, it needs better connectivity, particularly in rural areas of the U.S. and Brazil. The company said it is in talks with satellite operators to provide those services and roll them out by the end of 2024. (5/2)

Supermassive Black Hole Discovered After Swallowing Star (Source: CBS)
Astronomers have discovered a supermassive black hole called "Scary Barbie". The black hole had eluded detection until a star fell into the black hole, creating a burst of light detected by telescopes. Astronomers initially thought the event was a supernova explosion until they calculated it was 1,000 times brighter than a typical supernova. The observation, they concluded, was better explained by a star being ripped apart by the black hole's intense gravity. The nickname came from the random designation assigned to the event, ZTF20abrbeie, and that a supermassive black hole capable of ripping a star apart is "terrifying." (5/2)

Court Approves Virgin Orbit Bankruptcy Plan (Source: Space News)
A federal bankruptcy court has approved plans for a sale of Virgin Orbit this month. The court in Delaware accepted the plan that calls for bids to be submitted by May 15, with an auction, if necessary, on May 18. The court will hold a hearing on the sale that emerges from that process May 24. Virgin Orbit leadership is hoping to sell the entire company to a new owner, but that process could instead result in the sale of selected assets. (5/2)

NASA Develops Stronger, More Heat-Resistant Superalloy (Source: Fast Company)
NASA engineers have created a new 3D-printed superalloy that is twice as strong and over 1,000 times more durable than current technology, according to a study published in Nature. The GRX-810 alloy can withstand higher temperatures and "has the potential to dramatically improve the strength and toughness of components and parts used in aviation and space exploration," said study lead author Tim Smith. (5/1)

Sidus Space Partners with Israel's Lulav for Lunar Missions (Source: Sidus Space)
Sidus Space has signed a memorandum of understanding with Lulav Space, an Israeli robotics company specializing in space applications, to cooperate in the US market by providing a complete guidance navigation and control (GN&C) solution for both lunar satellite and lunar lander missions. The two companies will offer a robust GN&C suite to support all lunar missions, from launcher separation in LEO through trans-lunar injection (TLI), lunar capture, lunar orbiting, and landing phase with touchdown on the lunar surface. The GN&C suite can be customized for the unique requirements of each mission. (5/2)

PROTEIN – The New European Heavy-Lift Launcher Study (Source: ESA)
The European Space Agency Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (ESA-FLPP) is commencing the “PROTEIN” investigation about European reusable and cost-effective heavy lift transport. This study will assess the feasibility and identify key technologies needed to develop an European Heavy Lift Launcher (EHLL), a high-capacity launch vehicle that can provide access to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and beyond at both a low cost and high cadence. ESA has secured contracts both with ArianeGroup and Rocket Factory Augsburg which will last until September 2023.

ESA is projecting a fully reusable heavy-lift launch vehicle, initially optimised for missions to LEO and built with the minimisation of environmental impact in mind, that will be able to advance European capability in space and enable the deployment of large-scale in-space infrastructure projects like In-Space Datacenters, Solar Power and Manufacturing. Click here. (5/2)

The Moon is Harsh on Missteps (Source: Space Review)
Japanese company ispace attempted to land on the Moon last week, only to have its lander crash. Jeff Foust reports on the failed landing that comes as American companies prepare to launch their first NASA-supported lunar lander missions. Click here. (5/2)
 
Building Telescopes on the Moon Could Transform Astronomy, and it’s Becoming an Achievable Goal (Source: Space Review)
As lunar exploration increases, so do the opportunities to do science there. Ian Crawford describes how missions can enable a new era of astronomy, particularly on the lunar farside. Click here. (5/2)
 
Starship After the Dust Settles (Source: Space Review)
A week and a half after SpaceX’s first Starship/Super Heavy rocket lifted off for the first time, new details are emerging about that brief flight. Jeff Foust recaps comments from Musk about the launch and reaction from NASA and environmental groups. Click here. (5/2)

The Next Space Race Starts at Our Spaceports (Source: Space News)
The number of orbital-capable launch firms has leaped from a couple to more than a dozen, and the cadence of U.S. orbital launches has moved from monthly to weekly, with this trend accelerating upward on a non-linear curve. However, as multiple new rockets move towards testing and some to operations, America’s limited number of coastal spaceports have become the choke point. We must increase the productivity of our existing launch sites in a non-linear fashion to keep up.

Getting more out of less will require significant upgrades to our aging spaceport infrastructure, particularly at the Cape. These spaceports require upgraded pads, increased electrical power, better roads, and enhanced logistics for an expanding volume and variety of fuels, LOX, and other consumables. Simply upgrading dedicated launch pads will not suffice. Currently, the level of launch activity at the Cape is manageable. However, Cape Canaveral has run out of physical space. It can no longer accommodate the demand for dedicated facilities by launch providers. Click here. (5/1)

Lawmakers Raise Concerns About New Plan to Procure National Security Launch Services (Source: Space News)
Leaders of the House Armed Services Committee are raising concerns about DoD’s plan to procure space launch services beginning in 2025. They are questioning whether the proposed strategy, known as National Security Space Launch Phase 3,  gives new entrants a fair opportunity to compete for contracts. The procurement is divided into two tracks: Lane 1 is a multi-vendor competition aimed at medium-size rockets that would fly less-demanding missions. Lane 2 would select two launch providers that fly medium and heavy rockets to any of the orbits where the military and intelligence agencies deploy satellites.

During a House Armed Services Committee hearing April 27, ranking member Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) noted that the Space Force plans to select two providers to fly as many as 40 missions projected for Lane 2 and that those two companies will get extra government funding not available to Lane 1 competitors. Lane 2 companies are eligible for “launch service support” funding, a subsidy to cover rocket development or infrastructure expenses unique to NSSL. Additionally, Lane 2 winners qualify for annual incentive fees of up to $20 million and also would be allowed to compete for Lane 1 missions.

Smith suggested that this approach would favor established NSSL Phase 2 providers ULA and SpaceX, and could discourage emerging commercial startups from investing in new rockets that could challenge incumbents. “We would like to have as many  providers capable of doing that as possible,” said Smith. “So I hope you’ll consider that as you’re finalizing the plan to make sure we maximize the competition in that way.” Kendall cautioned that allowing more than two providers in Lane 2 would drive up costs. (5/1)