October 4, 2023

Engine Malfunction Caused Crash of Russia's Luna Spacecraft on Moon's Surface (Source: Defense Mirror)
The Russian Luna-25 spacecraft's crash on the Moon's surface in August has been attributed to an engine malfunction due to the abnormal functioning of the on-board control complex. The spacecraft, which marked Russia's first lunar mission in modern history, experienced a critical failure during its descent and ultimately collided with the lunar surface on August 19, 2023.

According to a statement from the Russian space agency Roscosmos, the preliminary investigation into the Luna-25 accident revealed that the primary cause of the crash was the abnormal functioning of the on-board control complex, specifically linked to the failure to activate the accelerometer unit, responsible for measuring acceleration. (10/3)

Studying Immune Cell Aging in Space May Lead to New Therapies for Patients on Earth (Source: CASIS)
A healthy immune system is what defends the body from invaders like bacteria and viruses. But for the elderly and those facing chronic diseases, the immune system can wear down over time. To better understand the relationship between immune aging and how the body heals itself, a team of scientists took their research to new heights by leveraging the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory to study microgravity’s effects on immune cell function.

As people age, their immune system function declines gradually over time, which makes them increasingly vulnerable to infection and disease. Research shows that these same types of immune system changes have been observed in healthy astronauts during spaceflight, but at an accelerated rate. This makes the unique conditions of the space station an ideal platform for studying the immune aging process. (10/3)

It’s Crunch Time for Companies Building NASA’s Commercial Lunar Landers (Source: Ars Technica)
NASA officials have smartly set low expectations for these early commercial lunar missions, but these first landers are several years late, and a series of failures would inevitably raise questions about the program's future. Five years after NASA started the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, two companies finally have lunar landers ready for final launch preparations. Astrobotic's robotic Moon lander, Peregrine, has been in storage since March at the company's headquarters in Pittsburgh. This week, Intuitive Machines is showing off its completed Nova-C lander to reporters in Houston.

Both landers could ship to the Cape Canaveral Spaceport within weeks as they prepare for launch windows later this year. Intuitive Machines is slated to launch first in mid-November on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to start a roughly weeklong journey culminating in a landing near the Moon's south pole. Although it was ready to fly first, Astrobotic's launch date is more uncertain because of delays in ULA's Vulcan rocket, the first of which will send Astrobotic's Peregrine lander toward the Moon. Right now, the earliest the Vulcan rocket could be ready to launch Astrobotic's lander is in December. (10/3)

Astroport Space Technologies Forms European Subsidiary in Luxembourg (Source: Aviation Analysis)
Astroport Space Technologies, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, and Interflight Global Europe, headquartered in Luxembourg, announces its joint partnership to launch Astroport Europe. Astroport Europe will focus on developing the lunar construction and operations technologies needed to achieve the company’s goals of placing lunar surface infrastructure assets such as roads and landing pads to support the NASA Artemis program, commercial mining missions and establishing a permanent presence on the Moon. (9/30)

NASA Selects Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition Contractors (Source: NASA)
NASA has selected seven companies to provide commercial data in support of the agency’s Earth science research. The Commercial Smallsat Data Acquisition Program will acquire Earth observation data and related services from commercial sources for NASA. This fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, multiple-award contract will be effective for a period of five years with an option to extend services an additional six-months. The maximum potential value is cumulatively $476 million among all contractors selected. Click here. (10/2)

Cometch Wins Army Contract for Multi-Network Satellite Modem (Source: Space News)
Comtech Telecommunications won a $48.6 million U.S. Army contract for a satellite modem that can connect to multiple networks. The company will design what the Army calls an EDIM modem, short for Enterprise Digital Intermediate Frequency Multi-Carrier. The modem is designed to support multiple satellite providers, a key feature sought by the U.S. military so it can access services that operate in different orbits and frequencies. (10/4)

Axiom and Prada Collaborate on Space Suit (Source: Space News)
Axiom Space has signed up an unconventional partner to assist in development of its spacesuit: Prada. The companies announced Wednesday a partnership where the luxury designer will provide expertise in soft goods and other technologies to help Axiom Space design the spacesuit for NASA Artemis missions. Prada will help with the development of the suit's outer layer, and its expertise in composites linked to its work on an America's Cup yachting team could also help the suit's design. The companies said the partnership could later expand to other projects beyond the Artemis suit. (10/4)

DoD Space Groups Fund STEM Projects to Promote Workforce Development (Source: Space News)
Military space groups are backing educational projects in an effort to ensure its future workforce. AFRL’s Space Vehicles Directorate along with other military space organizations at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico are funding science, technology, engineering and math education projects, expanding internship programs and bolstering local and long-distance recruitment efforts. The educational activities are part of broader efforts to attract workers living in New Mexico and encourage other people to move there to meet the growing demand of the military space organizations. (10/4)

Canada Skips IAC (Source: SpaceQ)
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) pulled out of this year's IAC. CSA officials were absent in events at the conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, and a CSA spokesperson confirmed that the agency was not participating in the conference. It did not give a reason but its statement referred to "the humanitarian crisis," a reference to Azerbaijan's actions in Nagorno-Karabakh. Attendance overall at this year's IAC was reported to be down significantly from the 2022 event in Paris. (10/4)

Protestors Oppose Scotland Support for Spaceports (Source: The National)
Protestors called on the Scottish government to withdraw its backing of commercial spaceports. Groups on Tuesday said that spaceports, such as SaxaVord in the Shetland Islands and the Sutherland launch site in northern Scotland, posed environmental threats and were examples of growing "militarism" in space. The Scottish government responded by noting its support for sustainable space activities and how space can support the economy. (10/4)

Virgin Galactic Customers Prepare for Next Mission From Spaceport America (Source: Space.com)
The three customers flying on the next Virgin Galactic mission say they're looking forward to their suborbital flight. The company did not disclose the identities of the spaceflight participants when it announced last month the "Galactic 04" mission, set to launch Friday from New Mexico. However, those three people have themselves revealed they are going on the flight: Ron Rosano, an American astronomy educator; Trevor Beattie, a British marketing executive; and Namira Salim, the first person from Pakistan to go to space. All three were among the first people to buy Virgin Galactic tickets more than 15 years ago. (10/4)

Spain's PLD MIURA 1 Launch Campaign Kicks Off (Source: Space Daily)
MIURA 1 launch campaign kicks off. PLD Space has successfully concluded the two pre-launch tests of the first flight unit of the Spanish launcher, specifically the umbilical cable tests and the Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR). The positive results obtained during these tests effectively give the green light to the flight mission of the suborbital microlauncher. The launch will take place this October at the El Arenosillo Experimentation Center (CEDEA) of the National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) in one of the different launch windows that PLD Space has reserved in October and November. (10/4)

Space Needs Better 'Parking Spots' to Stay Usable (Source: Space Daily)
Any mission headed to space needs a "parking spot" at its destination. But these parking spots, regions located on orbits, are quickly becoming occupied or more vulnerable to collisions. Most objects launching to space are satellites, which can travel faster than 4 miles per second in the regions where they park. About 10 times the number of satellites currently in space are expected to launch by 2030. Simultaneously, satellite constellations are increasing in number and size. These are groups of satellites working together as a system, such as for enabling GPS, observation of Earth, internet access and other types of communications. (10/4)

China Invites Chang'e-8 Lunar Probe Mission Global Collaboration (Source: Space Daily)
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) is offering opportunities for international cooperation on payloads that will piggyback on the country's Chang'e-8 lunar exploration mission, slated for launch around 2028. The Chang'e-8 mission is open to all countries and international organizations for collaboration at either mission, system or single-machine levels in order to encourage more major original discoveries. The CNSA also announced the bid invitation at the ongoing International Astronautical Congress held in Baku, Azerbaijan. (10/4)

Lunar Ambitions Boost Space Funding as Investment Set to Reach $33 Billion by 2032 (Source: Space Daily)
Lunar exploration is the catalyst behind an unprecedented surge in the space exploration sector which saw global government investment rise to an impressive $26 billion during 2023. Ambitious lunar missions are projected to boost investment to nearly $33 billion by 2032, a growth trajectory which underscores lunar exploration's pivotal role in shaping the future of space exploration. The figures are revealed in the just published fourth edition of Euroconsult's 'Prospects for Space Exploration' report.

Market expansion is anticipated to continue fueling global investment and, over the next decade, Moon exploration is expected to achieve a remarkable 5% 10-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR), ultimately reaching nearly $17 billion by 2032. The surge in funding will primarily support upcoming human spaceflight missions, necessitating substantial investments in transportation and orbital infrastructure. Additionally, increased investments in robotic lunar missions will help pave the way for a sustained human presence on the Moon. (10/4)

Hamdan Bin Mohammed Lays Out The Blueprint For Future UAE Space Missions (Source: Mena FN)
H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai and President of the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center (MBRSC), said the Center is committed to realising the UAE's vision to raise the Arab region's profile as a prominent player in the global space industry by undertaking ambitious projects that will bring enduring benefits to humanity. Click here. (10/3)

Long March 9 Rocket Will Be a Game-Changer for China’s Space Program (Source: The Diplomat)
The intense focus on Starship has created popular assumptions that the United States – and primarily SpaceX – stands alone in developing a super heavy rocket for purposes of bringing down launch costs and enabling missions to Mars. It is less well known and far less understood in the U.S. strategic community that China is developing a super heavy lift reusable rocket as well: the Long March 9.

Originally planned as an expendable rocket, the Long March 9 will be China’s super heavy rocket with a capacity to launch 150 tonnes to LEO and 50 tonnes to lunar transfer orbit. This rocket has, since its conception around 2016, seen a radical shift in design and is now being developed as a reusable rocket, as per an official announcement by China on April 24 during its spaceflight day celebrations. The development of a heavy lift rocket is now supported by China’s 14th Five Year Plan (2021-2025), and reusable rockets are identified as a key goal in China’s 2021 White Paper on Space Activities. (10/3)

Space Exploration Is Changing. Is NASA Ready? (Source: Slate)
In June, Colorado-based Wilson Aerospace sued aeronautics giant Boeing for allegedly stealing trade secrets and violating intellectual property rights. The case involves Boeing’s work on NASA’s Space Launch System, or SLS, a rocket designed to eventually land astronauts and cargo on the moon. Wilson claims Boeing’s actions cost Wilson “hundreds of millions of dollars” and placed astronauts at risk.

The suit provides a window into a larger question—whether NASA is capable of overseeing the collage of contractors that will continue to gain power in the future of space exploration. It also presents an important lesson: As space exploration becomes increasingly crowded with private companies, and increasingly ambitious with new missions, NASA needs to rework its contracting and oversight processes. Spacefaring nations also need to overhaul the treaties and regulations that govern space. (10/2)

DLA Energy Supports Space Missions From Coast to Coast (Source: DoD)
The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Energy Aerospace team fueled two space missions this month: the first launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, tested the U.S. Space Force Rapid Launch Capability and another from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, sent National Reconnaissance Office satellites into orbit.  On Sep. 14, DLA Energy provided high purity hydrazine, gaseous nitrogen and gaseous helium for Vandenberg's launch of a Space Force vehicle on Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket. (10/2)

FAA Releases Updated Space Tourist Safety Recommendations (Source: Flying)
The FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) announced it has updated a list of recommendations aimed at limiting hazards that commercial space vehicle occupants could encounter, from preflight to landing. The recommendations, which are the first since 2014, cover the gamut across design, manufacturing, and operations, and are based on lessons learned during the NASA Commercial Crew program, as well as recent commercial space fights, the FAA said Friday.

Among the recommendations included in the 102-page document is a call for system operators to enhance cybersecurity measures in order to prevent hacking of critical vehicle functions. Operators should  also develop and use voluntary consensus standards in support of human space flight occupant safety, the agency said. (10/2)

T-Mobile US, SpaceX May Miss Satellite Test Deadline (Source: Mobile World)
After the CEOs of SpaceX and T-Mobile US announced a satellite-to-phone service with much fanfare in 2022, a beta test scheduled for this year appears to be grounded. The companies announced a plan to offer basic services to mobile phones using the operator’s mid-band PCS spectrum and Starlink’s second generation satellites. When asked about the status of the beta, a T-Mobile representative told Mobile World Live (MWL) it “had nothing to share at this time”.

Recon Analytics analyst Roger Entner said a constraint for launching satellite-to-phone services which go beyond SOS or SMS messaging is a lack of availability on SpaceX’s rockets. “Your limiting factor for all of the satellite services is that SpaceX is not launching satellites because they had some [rockets] blow up.”

SpaceX last week requested special temporary authority (STA) to launch the first batch of its second-generation test satellites in December. It sought approval covering non-geostationary satellites for 60 days with direct-to-mobile communications payloads to connect unmodified phones. The STA request is limited to a few specified sites across the US, many of which are the offices of various companies in the mobile industry. (10/2)

Rocket Lab Acquires SailGP Manufacturing Facility in New Zealand (Source: NewsHub)
Rocket Lab has purchased a facility in New Zealand used to make SailGP boats, bolstering the company's local manufacturing ability and keeping highly trained staff in the country. The aerospace company announced the acquisition following the decision by SailGP Technologies to relocate from Warkworth to the UK, which it said was taken to allow the racing league to grow more effectively. 

Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck says SailGP Technologies already provides materials and components for the Electron rocket. More than 50 former SailGP Techologies staff will join Rocket Lab, continuing in the manufacturing of parts for the Electron rocket and allowing for faster development of Neutron, the company's new 13,000kg payload class rocket. (10/3)

Space Force Can Bolster Greenland Ties by Buying Local for Arctic Base (Source: C4ISRnet)
The latest U.S. Space Force Base is located in northern Greenland, 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle. It sits on land the indigenous Inuit call Pituffik. The site has been strategically critical to the U.S. since the Second World War when Greenland was a Danish colony and Denmark was controlled by Nazi Germany. During the war, Secretary of State Cordell Hull and Danish Envoy Henrik Kauffmann concluded a security agreement by which the U.S. would “have the right to construct, maintain and operate such landing fields and sea plane facilities and radio and meteorological facilities as may be necessary.”

The Agreement also provided that the U.S. “respect all legitimate interests in Greenland …pertaining to the native population.” Soon after the establishment of Thule Air Base in 1952, the indigenous population was forcibly relocated by the Danish colonial administration. Pituffik was renamed Thule, and became America’s northernmost military installation, including a deepwater port and a 10,000 foot runway. On April 6, 2023, Thule reverted to its former indigenous Inuit name Pituffik and became home to the U.S. Space Base including the 821st Space Base Group, the 12th Space Warning Squadron and 23rd Space Operations Squadron.

Because of the geopolitics of our time, the U.S.-Greenland partnership is again a strategic priority. And by virtue of longstanding commitment and moral obligation, it merits strong American support. A first step is to abide by international agreements and U.S. law which provide that services for American military bases, including our new Space Force, be procured directly from Greenlandic companies. This small step would yield substantial dividends including good will. (10/2)

Momentus Announces $4.0 Million Registered Direct Offering (Source: Momentus)
Momentus has entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain institutional investors for the purchase and sale of 2,000,000 shares of common stock at a purchase price of $2.00 per share pursuant to a registered direct offering priced at-the-market under Nasdaq rules, resulting in total gross proceeds of approximately $4 million. (10/2)

Sierra Space Named in Fast Company’s Third Annual List of Brands That Matter (Source: Sierra Space)
Sierra Space, a leading pureplay commercial space company building the first end-to-end business and technology platform in space, announced today that it has been recognized by Fast Company in the publication’s third annual Brands That Matter list, honoring brands that communicate and demonstrate brand purpose. These companies and nonprofits have built cultural relevance and impact through compelling branding and efforts that naturally extend their presence into the community. (10/3)

Up Close with Intuitive Machine's Nova-C before it Leaves for the Moon (Source: CollectSpace)
The first lunar lander to be built in Houston is ready to leave Space City for the moon. Intuitive Machines on Tuesday provided a last close-up look at its Nova-C robotic lander before packing it up to move to Florida in preparation for its launch. The spacecraft may become the first U.S.-built vehicle to achieve a soft landing on the moon since NASA's Apollo 17 astronauts touched down in December 1972. Click here. (10/3)

How Amazon’s Project Kuiper is Preparing for its First Satellite Test Mission (Source: Amazon)
Project Kuiper, Amazon’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite broadband initiative, is preparing to put its first two satellites into space during its “Protoflight” mission. The prototype satellites—KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2—are the first iterations of more than 3,200 satellites Project Kuiper plans to manufacture and deploy over the next six years. While just one milestone in the development and test phase of the project, Protoflight is an important learning opportunity for the team.

The series of tests will add real-world data from space to years of data collected from lab and field testing, providing additional insight into how the end-to-end Project Kuiper network performs across ground and space. It is also a chance to trial our mission procedures for satellite processing, launch, and mission operations. The Kuiper System includes three key elements: advanced LEO broadband satellites; small, affordable customer terminals; and a secure, resilient ground-based communications network. The Protoflight mission will test all three parts, along with the teams and systems that manage them. (10/3)

Starfish Space Wins NASA Contract to Plan Demonstration of Orbital Debris Inspection (Source: GeekWire)
Even as Starfish Space works to get its first orbital demonstration mission back on track, the startup has won a contract from NASA to look into an even more ambitious project to inspect orbital debris up close. The newly announced study contract follows up on earlier work that Starfish has done to prove out features of its system for making a rendezvous with other spacecraft in orbit — and either servicing them or guiding them to their demise. (10/3)

Scotland's Alba Orbital Move Into New PocketQube Manufacturing Facility (Source: European Spaceflight)
Scottish satellite builder and mission management company Alba Orbital announced 2 October that it had begun the process of moving into a new manufacturing facility. Alba Orbital was founded in 2012 with two aims: to maximize the value of PocketQube satellites and to offer an Earth observation data service.

To date, the company has launched 31 satellites and begun to offer an early access programme for its NightLight service, which offers “dependable high-resolution night-time imagery.” The company also offers ground station services, picosatellite deployers, and a launch broker service. The company’s new satellite manufacturing facility features 500 square meters of factory floor space and, once fully operational, will be capable of producing hundreds of satellites per year. (10/3)

Think Road Traffic Is Congested? Try Traveling In Outer Space (Source: Forbes)
Terrestrial, maritime, and aerial travel have matured dramatically over the past century. National rules and international treaties create clear operational and territorial frameworks to regulate traffic, minimize collisions and ensure efficiency, economy, and sustainability in the movement of people and goods. Outer space is different – it belongs to no one and, therefore, belongs to everyone. Creating and enforcing laws and regulations across countries is difficult.

A recent report by the Rand Corporation argues that we have reached a tipping point in space congestion and suggests how the space community can learn to cooperate based on experiences in the maritime, airline, communications, and financial transactions domains. Based on planned and funded satellite programs currently, Inmarsat estimates that by the end of this decade, 100,000 satellites will populate LEO orbits. Congestion and risks of collisions are real at this point and magnified due to the absence of mutually agreed upon operational protocols between governments and commercial entities. (10/2)

Spaceport Ban? Michigan Township Residents Ask Board to Change Zoning (Source: The Mining Journal)
Over 100 Big Bay residents are requesting a public hearing be held regarding a ban on spaceports in the township. Resident Phil Bakken made a request for a public hearing on the proposed zoning ordinance petition, which was signed by 164 Powell Township citizens. The document was presented to the planning commission in an effort to “amend the township zoning ordinance to specifically prohibit spaceport (and) rocket launches in the township,” according to Citizens for a Safe & Clean Lake Superior.

The plan for the facility, part of the Michigan Launch Initiative, was announced in 2020. The plan comes from the Michigan Aerospace Manufacturers Association. The proposed site, which is located at Granot Loma, a privately owned parcel along Lake Superior — if built — would be part of a spaceport that would include a horizontal-launch site at downstate Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport, with operations for both sites supported by a command-and-control center in Chippewa County. (10/3)

Japan Conducting Studies for Reusable Next-Gen Rocket (Source: Space News)
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency is working on plans for a new, large and reusable launch vehicle as the core of its future space transportation plans. The launcher will be designed jointly by JAXA and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI). It is to be reusable while also increasing payload capability and decreasing launch cost. The move is sanctioned by Japan’s basic plan on space policy, which was revised June 13 this year. The plan notes research and development on a next generation rocket to follow the new H3 rocket. (10/3)

NASA Funds Eight Studies to Protect Astronaut Health on Long Missions (Source: NASA)
NASA is funding eight new studies aimed at better understanding how the human body reacts to spaceflight. These studies will be done on Earth without the need for samples and data from astronauts. Collectively, these studies will help measure physiological and psychological responses to physical and mental challenges that astronauts may encounter during spaceflight. With this information, NASA may be better able to mitigate risks and protect astronaut health and performance during future long-duration missions to the International Space Station, the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Click here. (9/29)

Lockheed Martin And U.S. Navy Demonstrate Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile Off California Coast (Source: Lockheed Martin)
On September 27 Lockheed Martin, supporting the U.S. Navy, marked the successful launch of one Trident II D5 Life Extension Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM). The Navy conducted Demonstration and Shakedown Operation-32 (DASO-32) launching an unarmed missile from the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. Through the test, Navy submarine USS Louisiana (SSBN 743) demonstrated the readiness of the crew and strategic weapon system and certified the crew for strategic patrol. (9/29)

SpaceX Providing Starlink Services to DoD Under 'Unique Terms and Conditions' (Source: Space News)
A $70 million contract the U.S. Space Force awarded to SpaceX for Starlink internet services includes “unique terms and conditions” not included in previous commercial contracts. A spokesperson for the Space Systems Command — the organization that oversees the Commercial Satellite Communications Office that awarded the contract — said a one-year task order was awarded to SpaceX Sep. 1 for the procurement of Starlink internet services but also lays out other unspecified requirements set by DoD. (10/3)

Artemis Accords Signatories Seek to Boost Transparency and Safety in Lunar Exploration (Source: Space News)
A working group of nations signed up to the Artemis Accords aim to increase transparency and safety of civil lunar exploration missions. The second agency meeting of Artemis Accords signatories concluded on the sidelines of the 74th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Baku, Oct. 3. The meetings continued efforts to establish principles for safe and sustainable space exploration held for the first time at the 73rd IAC in Paris last year.

Representatives from three co-chairing nations presented findings from work groups conducted over the last year immediately after the meetings. “As a result of careful considerations, signatories discussed an initial set of mission information items that should be disclosed to avoid interference on the surface.” Specific items include launch and lunar landing dates, mission duration and related deployments. Information concerning scientific activities worthy of special consideration, for example a quiet zone needed for seismic measurements, should also be disclosed. (10/3)

Mercury: Shrinking Planet is Still Getting Smaller (Source: The Conversation)
Planetary scientists have long known that Mercury has been shrinking for billions of years. Despite being the closest planet to the Sun, its interior has been cooling down as internal heat leaks away. This means that the rock (and, within that, the metal) of which it is composed must have contracted slightly in volume. It is unknown, however, to what extent the planet is still shrinking today – and, if so, for how long that is likely to continue. Now our new paper, published in Nature Geoscience, offers fresh insight. (10/2)

The (Growing) Business of Observing the Blue Marble (Source: Astralytical)
While EO/RS satellite deployments increased since 1972, the increases were modest until they weren’t. The leaps in commercial EO/RS satellite deployments started after 2013. In 2011, about 30 EO/RS satellites had been deployed. A civil or military organization operated each one of those satellites. There were about 32 EO/RS satellite deployments in 2013, primarily for military and civil purposes. But at least two were commercially operated.

In 2014, Planet Labs (Planet) deployed 37 of its Dove EO satellites into orbit, including 28 from the International Space Station. That was more than the EO/RS operator total from 2013—from a single new commercial operator. From 2016 through September 2023, over 1,400 EO satellites have been deployed. On average, EO/RS satellite operators deployed ~175 satellites annually during those years. And, since 2016, commercial companies deployed 71% (nearly 1000) of all EO/RS satellite deployments, a shift from the 100% military and civil shares in 2011. (10/2)

Array Labs: 3D Mapping of Earth (Source: Not Boring)
A real-time, 3D map of the world is the holy grail of earth observation and Array Labs believes it has the answer. Such a map would enable new applications and technologies, from self-driving cars to augmented reality. This highly desirable map would improve climate monitoring, disaster response, construction management, resource management, and urban planning. (9/26)

Delos Insurance Raises $7.3m in Seed Extension Round (Source: The Insurer)
Delos Insurance Solutions, which uses wildfire science and satellite imagery expertise to solve homeowners’ wildfire insurance availability issues, announced a $7.3 million seed extension round. The funding enables the company’s expansion in the California homeowners’ insurance market. The seed extension round was led by IA Capital Group with participation from Blue Bear Capital, Gallatin Point Capital, SSIT, Avanta Ventures (the corporate venture arm of CSAA Insurance Group), Red Dog Capital, DNX Ventures, Robert Glanville and Jonathan Crystal. (9/14)

Ubotica Partners with IBM for One-Click Deployment of Space AI Applications (Source: IBM)
Space AI leader Ubotica Technologies is partnering with IBM to leverage IBM cloud infrastructure and watsonx.ai components, intending to simplify the process for a developer to get their application running onboard a satellite. With a single click, mutual customers will be able to securely deploy their AI models directly to satellites that use the Ubotica CogniSATTM platform. These space-borne AI models are then used to generate insights from data in space. The new approach offers considerable CapEx and OpEx savings for satellite constellation operators, and increased autonomy and decision-making capabilities at the edge with reduced dependence on ground systems. (9/14)

A 'JuMBO' Discovery (Source: BBC)
Dozens of pairs of free-floating, Jupiter-sized objects were identified in the nearby Orion Nebula in what scientists are describing as a never-before-seen celestial body unexplained by current theories of planet formation. Composite images of the phenomenon—captured by the James Webb Space Telescope—were released concurrently with studies that have not yet been peer-reviewed.

The 150 objects, located roughly 1,300 light-years away within the "sword" of the Orion constellation, don't meet current definitions for any celestial category. Although they are the size of planets, they don't orbit a star; instead, many of them are in binary orbit, where each is gravitationally bound to the other. Their novelty prompted astronomers to carve out a new category: Jupiter Mass Binary Objects, or JuMBOs, indicating their singular combination of planetary mass and starless orbit. (10/2)

Milestone for Novel Atomic Clock (Source: Space Daily)
An international research team has taken a decisive step toward a new generation of atomic clocks. At the European XFEL X-ray laser, the researchers have created a much more precise pulse generator based on the element scandium, which enables an accuracy of one second in 300 billion years - that is about a thousand times more precise than the current standard atomic clock based on caesium. The team presents its success in the journal Nature.

Atomic clocks are currently the world's most accurate timekeepers. These clocks have used electrons in the atomic shell of chemical elements, such as caesium, as a pulse generator in order to define the time. These electrons can be raised to a higher energy level with microwaves of a known frequency. In the process, they absorb the microwave radiation. (10/2)

China's Solar Telescope Array Officially Completed (Source: Space Daily)
The Daocheng Solar Radio Telescope, a solar telescope array in southwest China, passed key testing on Wednesday, marking the official completion of the world's largest synthesis aperture radio telescope, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The CAS said that the telescope array is a landmark equipment of the country's space environment ground-base comprehensive monitoring network (phase-2 Meridian Project) and will provide high-quality observation data for solar physics and space weather research in China. (10/1)

BlueHalo Expands US Satellite Operation Capacity Under Space Force SCAR Program (Source: Space Daily)
BlueHalo recently hosted U.S. Space Force officials and federal legislative leaders for a successful milestone demonstration of its BADGER system, a multi-band, deployable ground terminal that enables resilient satellite communication. This critical benchmark comes one year into development of the $1.4B Satellite Communication Augmentation Resource (SCAR) program announced by the Space Rapid Capabilities Office (Space RCO) in May of 2022. (9/27)