July 3, 2023

Europe's Euclid Readies for Dark Energy and Dark Matter Study (Source: Space News)
A European mission to study dark energy and dark matter is underway after a SpaceX launch to the Earth-sun L-2 point, 1.5 million kilometers away. The $1.5 billion Euclid mission features a telescope with visible and infrared instruments designed to create a 3-D map of millions of galaxies, providing data that astronomers hope will unlock the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy that, combined, make up 95% of the universe. ESA turned to SpaceX to launch the mission after losing access to its original rocket, the Soyuz, last year. (7/3)

AST SpaceMobile Raises $60 Million by Selling Discount Shares (Source: Space News)
AST SpaceMobile raised $60 million by selling shares at a discount. Some 12.5 million shares were sold June 27 at around $4.75 each, about 27% less than where they were trading before the sale announcement. The sale gives the company about $200 million in cash reserves as it develops a constellation of direct-to-phone satellites. The company says it may need to raise more funds through either additional share sales or debt. (7/3)

China's CGST Demonstrates Space-to-Ground Laser Comms (Source: Space News)
A Chinese company says it has successfully demonstrated space-to-ground laser communications. Changguang Satellite Technology (CGST) carried out the test with one of its Jilin-1 imaging satellites. In the test, the satellite demonstrated the ability to transmit data at 10 gigabits per second. Established in 2014, CGST now has 108 remote sensing satellites in orbit and aims to expand its Jilin-1 constellation to 300 satellites by 2025. (7/3)

Satellite Image Data Services: A Growth Opportunity for Businesses of All Sizes (Source: Satellite Aerospace)
The global satellite image data services market is projected to grow significantly over the next decade, with the market size expected to more than triple from $6.3 billion in 2022 to $46.3 billion by 2032. The CAGR of 22.2% from 2023 to 2032 reflects the strong demand for satellite data from a wide range of industries, including agriculture, energy, and defense.

Satellite image data services are a rapidly growing market, with businesses of all sizes now using this data to improve their operations and make better decisions. The market is expected to reach $50 billion by 2025, driven by a number of factors. Click here. (7/2)

L3Harris to Design Satellite Payload for Tracking Hypersonic Threats (Source: Shephard)
US Space Force Space Systems Command has awarded L3Harris an approximately $29 million sensor payload design contract, This will create a digital model for the Medium Earth Orbit-Missile Track Custody (MEO-MTC) Epoch 1 programme for detecting and tracking hypersonic missiles. (6/30)

Mars Helicopter Regains Communications with Earth (Source: Space.com)
The Ingenuity Mars helicopter contacted Earth last week for the first time in more than two months. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said engineers heard from the tiny helicopter last Wednesday after 63 days of silence. Rugged terrain made it difficult for the helicopter to maintain communications with the Perseverance rover, which serves as its relay to Earth. Ingenuity remains in good condition and should be able to resume flights in the next few weeks. (7/3)

India Aborts Rocket Test Due to Pressure Spike (Source: IANS)
India's space agency ISRO aborted a static-fire test of a new rocket engine because of a pressure spike. The Power Head Test Article (PHTA) engine was supposed to fire for 4.5 seconds in the test Saturday, but the test was stopped at 2.0 seconds after an "unanticipated spike" in turbine pressure. PHTS is a prototype of a new large engine using liquid oxygen and kerosene propellants for use on future Indian launch vehicles. (7/3)

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is Also About Innovation and Progress (Source: Aerospace America)
By embracing diversity, professional societies open doors to new ideas, nuanced approaches and innovative solutions that would remain inaccessible within homogeneous environments. DEI helps prevent groupthink, a concept developed by research psychologist Irving Janis in 1972 to describe how organizations with like-minded people can come to consensus-based decisions that can be detrimentally myopic of better solutions. An example of groupthink can be found in the space shuttle Challenger disaster, where, inter alia, forced consensus in the absence of diverse perspectives proved to be fatal.

The inclusion of underrepresented voices tends to bring fresh insights, alternative viewpoints and unconventional approaches. By excluding these perspectives, organizations unintentionally limit their potential for breakthrough discoveries and progress. Moreover, by neglecting DEI, professional societies risk alienating segments of society, thus missing out on the immense talent and contributions these individuals could offer. In an increasingly interconnected and interdependent world, diverse perspectives are vital for addressing global challenges, fostering collaboration and ensuring the sustainability of our collective future. (7/3)

DeSantis Ends Diversity Programs in Florida (Source: Raw Story)
Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis is proud to run his "War on Woke" 2024 presidential campaign that includes advocating for book bans, anti-LGBTQ+ laws, as well as anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion programs both in schools and the workplace. On Sunday, the 2024 GOP hopeful shared a clip of himself speaking and signing legislation via Twitter, writing, "As of July 1st, DEI is over in the state of Florida... "So, this bill says, the whole experiment with DEI is coming to an end in the state of Florida. We are eliminating the DEI programs." (7/3)