October 10, 2023

Hague Institute for Global Justice Teams with Global Spaceport Alliance (Source: GSA)
The Hague Institute for Global Justice (THIGJ) and the Global Spaceport Alliance (GSA) are pleased to announce the formation of a partnership to enable the near-term testing and operations of vehicles capable of performing point-to-point transportation through space. Although industry is making rapid progress in developing the technologies needed for such missions, there is currently a significant legal and policy vacuum in this area which could negatively impact their application.

THIGJ and the GSA plan to harness their collective expertise to forge an intellectual bedrock for a strategically innovative, yet judicious, bottom-up methodology. This collaboration is intended to serve as a beacon, illuminating the path forward for operators, while safeguarding the critical interests of civil society and governments. As a first step, THIGJ and the GSA will concentrate their efforts on developing a roadmap that will address the pressing need for a comprehensive legal and policy framework. The roadmap will identify the actions required in order to allow society to benefit from the ability to transport cargo, and eventually people, on high-speed, intercontinental flights via outer space. (10/10)

Spanish Company’s Success Comes at a Critical Time for Europe’s Launch Industry (Source: Ars Technica)
Saturday's launch from Southern Spain is exciting for several reasons, but most notably because PLD Space is the first of Europe's new space launch companies to have some credible success. To that end, Saturday's modest flight represented the dawn of the European commercial space age. "This launch culminates over 12 years of relentless effort, yet it marks just the start of our journey," said PLD Space Launch director and co-founder Raúl Torres.

There are perhaps as many as eight or 10 European companies with a credible chance of reaching orbit over the next five years with small launch vehicles, and there is finally some government support for the industry. The European Space Agency has provided modest amounts of funding through its boost! program. Perhaps more importantly, the German government recently said European nations should procure launch services through open competitions rather than awarding them to Arianespace by default. (10/9)

California City Joins Global Spaceport Alliance (Source: Paso Robles Daily News)
The City of Paso Robles has joined the Global Spaceport Alliance (GSA), the recognized and official organization for spaceports and the spaceport eco-systems worldwide. The GSA provides members with the information, data, research, and networking needed for the successful planning and operation of spaceports around the world. The Paso Robles Space Innovation and Technology Park was featured in the group’s latest newsletter and on the organization’s website.

The stated vision of the Paso Robles Space Innovation and Technology Park is for it to serve as a gateway to connect Paso Robles with California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, and the Cuesta Community College North Campus through the creation of an enterprising mixed-use community connected to an FAA-licensed Spaceport, capable of operating horizontal access to deliver small satellite systems to space on a commercial platform. (10/5)

North Korea Says Military Satellite Key to Countering U.S. 'Space Militarization' (Source: Reuters)
North Korea's spy satellite program is an "indispensable" measure to counter U.S. space militarisation aimed at beefing up the United States' preemptive nuclear strike capability and securing "world supremacy," state media KCNA said. Ri Song Jin, whom KCNA described as a researcher of the National Aerospace Technology Administration, accused the United States of seeking greater military hegemony in Asia by expanding its space force in an article titled "U.S. space force deployment aimed at preemptive aggression war". (10/10)

SpaceX Starlink Internet Now Available in Zambia (Source: Teslarati)
Starlink internet service is now available in Zambia, over a year since government officials met with SpaceX representatives. SpaceX offers Starlink internet connection in the country for ZMW 771 (about $35.90) per month, and the hardware for the service costs ZMW 10,744 ($502.97). (10/9)

Are Humans Able to Hibernate to Travel Deeper Into Space? (Source: EuroNews)
Hibernation might be the solution to long, risky, and challenging space missions, the European Space Agency (ESA) says. But how can humans do it? "When it comes to hibernation, people often think about either bears or science fiction spots, but what we are doing at ESA is something in between," explained Angelique van Ombergen. Van Ombergen is the lead for Life Sciences at ESA and, among other things, she is investigating the possibility of hibernation for long space travels.

"ESA is looking into a mechanism called torpor. It can be inherently or intrinsically introduced. It reduces the animal's metabolic state and results in the need for less water and less food," van Ombergen clarified. In the paper 'European Space Agency's hibernation (torpor) strategy for deep space missions: Linking biology to engineering,' ESA research Jennifer Ngo-Anh details that for going to the Red Planet, astronauts would require about 30 kg of food, water air, and other suppliers per day. Thus, hibernation can significantly cut down on their essential needs. (10/10)

Emerging Solutions To Address Congestion And Sustainability In Space (Source: Forbes)
Managing safety and sustainability is complex, but space tech companies are rising to the challenge. Refueling, mapping, positioning and navigation, and debris removal are a few of the emerging opportunities these companies are pursuing. Life on Earth relies on robust infrastructure in space. Government agencies like ESA (European Space Agency), UKSA (United Kingdom Space Agency), JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) and the U.S. Space Force are actively investing in projects with commercial players to further the technology and operational processes to keep space sustainable and safe. Click here. (10/9)

Researchers Identify Largest Ever Solar Storm in Ancient 14,300-Year-Old Tree Rings (Source: University of Leeds)
An international team of scientists have discovered a huge spike in radiocarbon levels 14,300 years ago by analysing ancient tree-rings found in the French Alps. The radiocarbon spike was caused by a massive solar storm, the biggest ever identified. A similar solar storm today would be catastrophic for modern technological society – potentially wiping out telecommunications and satellite systems, causing massive electricity grid blackouts, and costing us billions of pounds. (10/9)

SpaceX Slams FAA Report on Falling Space Debris Danger (Source: Space News)
SpaceX called on the FAA to correct a report to Congress warning that, by 2035, falling debris from U.S.-licensed constellations in low Earth orbit (LEO) could injure or kill someone every two years if they deploy as planned. In an Oct. 9 letter to the FAA and Congress seen by SpaceNews, SpaceX principal engineer David Goldstein said the report relied on “deeply flawed analysis” based on assumptions, guesswork, and outdated studies.

The letter came four days after SpaceNews contacted the company with questions about the report, published Oct. 5 on the FAA’s website. In the report, the regulator said 28,000 hazardous fragments from de-orbiting satellites and the rockets that launch them could be surviving reentry each year by 2035 — particularly if SpaceX’s rapid Starlink expansion plans remain on track. (10/9)

Probe Blazes New Record For The Fastest Thing Ever Made by Humans (Source: Science Alert)
Falling through the Solar System at an astonishing 635,266 kilometers per hour, NASA's Parker Solar Probe has just smashed the record for fastest object ever to be created by human hands. The event on Sep. 27 marks the turning point of the mission's 17th loop around the Sun as it collects data on the heated winds of charged particles and violent magnetism that surround our closest star, and comes just under three years after its previous record of 586,863.4 kilometers per hour.

Not only is it a record speed, it's also a record proximity to the Sun – just 7.26 million kilometers above the radiant ocean of plasma we think of as the star's surface. Given the Sun is just under 1.4 million kilometers across, this would be akin to standing several respectable paces away from a blazing campfire. Near enough to smell the smoke but not so close that your nose hairs singe. (10/9)

Getting a New Civil Space Traffic Management System on Track (Source: Space Review)
It’s been more than five years since a space policy document directed a transfer of US civil space traffic management work from the Defense Department to the Commerce Department. Jeff Foust reports that, after a slow start, Commerce is making progress on establishing its own space traffic management capability. Click here. (10/9)
 
NASA’s Mars Rovers Could Inspire a More Ethical Future for AI (Source: Space Review)
The rise of artificial intelligence has stoked fears about the impact of the technology on the society. Janet Vertesi argues that an example of how NASA uses AI shows the future need not be dystopian. Click here. (10/9)
 
With a Tweet, America Has Joined the Race to Develop Astroelectricity—Hopefully! (Source: Space Review)
A social media post last month from the Secretary of Energy appeared to show support for space solar power. Mike Snead argues it’s time for the US to get serious about this technology. Click here. (10/9)

North Korea Readies Third Launch Attempt for Spy Satellite (Source: Yonhap)
North Korea says it is gearing up for a third attempt to launch a reconnaissance satellite. State media said Tuesday that a spysat will launch sometime this month, calling the spacecraft an "indispensable strategic option" for guaranteeing its security. North Korea suffered failures of its Chollima-1 rocket in May and August, each carrying a reconnaissance satellite. (10/10)

Northrop OPIR Contract Reaches $2 Billion (Source: Air Force Technology)
Northrop Grumman has received a $235 million contract modification from the Defense Department to continue providing polar coverage with its Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared polar-orbiting satellites. The contract modification brings the total value to $2 billion, with work expected to be completed by 2026. (10/6)

Solar Storms Affect Bird Migration (Source: Space.com)
Space weather is for the birds, according to birds. A study found evidence that solar storms that affect the Earth's magnetic field can disrupt the flight paths of migrating birds. The study, which focused on birds flying between North Dakota and Texas, found a decrease in the number of birds migrating during severe solar storms as well as an increase in the number of birds that become lost. Birds use the Earth's magnetic field for navigation, particularly at night. (10/10)

Russia Suffers Another ISS Coolant Leak (Source: Space News)
Another Russian vehicle at the International Space Station has suffered a coolant leak. Flight controllers noticed Monday afternoon flakes coming from a radiator on the Nauka module on the station's Russian segment, and astronauts on the station confirmed that the flakes were coolant leaking from that radiator. Roscosmos said the leak was from a backup radiator that had been on the station since 2010 but only recently moved to the Nauka module. The leak did not jeopardize the station or its crew, both Roscosmos and NASA concluded. A Soyuz spacecraft experienced a coolant leak last December that forced Roscosmos to replace the spacecraft, while a Progress cargo spacecraft also had a coolant leak in February. (10/10)

Surrey Satellite Joins Forces with the Air and Space Institute (Source: Space Daily)
Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) is delighted to announce a partnership with centre of excellence and training provider, The Air and Space Institute. By joining forces with ASI, SSTL aims to further expand its educational outreach, providing students with unprecedented access to the world of space technology and exploration. Whether it's through hands-on training programs or immersive mission studies, the partnership promises to be a launchpad for the next generation of space innovators. (10/10)

Insurance Claims Likely for Northrop Grumman Satellites (Source: Space News)
A bad year for space insurers is likely to get worse because of thruster failures on several spacecraft. Four spacecraft built by Northrop Grumman have problems with electric propulsion systems provided by Aerojet Rocketdyne. Engineers have developed workarounds to keep the thrusters from failing entirely, but those efforts may still have some effect on the projected 15-year lifetimes of the spacecraft. The affected spacecraft are Yahsat's Al Yah 3 and Avanti Communications' Hylas 4 communications satellites and two Northrop Grumman Mission Extension Vehicles. Industry officials expect satellite operators to file some claims for those problems, adding to more than $800 million in claims expected from other satellite malfunctions or launch failures this year. (10/10)

Raytheon Small Satellite Unit Targets Military Business (Source: Space News)
The new head of Raytheon's small satellite business unit is looking for growth in the defense market. Chris Winslett took over last month as general manager of Blue Canyon Technologies, a smallsat manufacturer acquired by Raytheon in 2020. Blue Canyon is working primarily for NASA and commercial customers, and Winslett said he hopes to grow its defense business, building on experience from developing buses for DARPA's Blackjack program. He said Raytheon is working to address supply chain issues that affected both the Blackjack work and Space Development Agency projects. (10/10)

Starlink Launch On Hold for Psyche Mission at Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
A Starlink launch from Florida is on hold as SpaceX gears up for a Falcon Heavy launch. SpaceX scrubbed a Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral Sunday night because of upper-level winds, and said late Monday it had not set a new launch date for the mission. SpaceX said that Thursday morning's Falcon Heavy launch of NASA's Psyche mission from the Kennedy Space Center had priority. That mission, delayed a week because of a spacecraft issue, must launch by late October. (10/10)