December 20, 2023

Historic Rocket Launches Planned in Florida for 2024 (Source: WESH)
There's the new ULA Vulcan rocket on its first launch, the third Axiom all-commercial mission to the International Space Station, a SpaceX resupply mission to the ISS and the launch of a lunar lander. It's a busy launch schedule for Cape Canaveral, and that’s just January. It’s highly anticipated that 2024 will shatter launch records. And in those launches will be large steps forward for space flight.

There’ll be the first mission with astronauts for Boeing’s Starliner. Along with Vulcan, Blue Origin’s New Glenn is set to launch later in the year for the first time. New types of rockets and even new launch pads will play big roles in 2024 as new territory is cut, but also, more people will be heading to space from Cape Canaveral than in recent years.

“Maybe I worry that at some point in the future it does get old. But that’s OK, because we’ve probably done our job and we’ve made space a normalized mode of transportation and it’s just like air travel, sea, road, rail,” Robert Long, the Space Florida president and CEO, said. (12/18)

Astrophysicists Publish Kepler Giant Planet Search, an Aid to 'Figure Out where to Find Life' (Source: Phys.org)
A team of astrophysicists led by Lauren Weiss created the first-ever catalog of small, Earth-like planets with Jupiter-like siblings (planets that share the same star)—a critical component in the search for life elsewhere in our universe. The Kepler Giant Planet Search took a decade to complete.

Previous research over the past several years has singled out Jupiter as one of the reasons for life on Earth. During the formation of the solar system, Jupiter slingshotted rocky and icy debris and embryonic planets toward Earth's current location. Jupiter still hurls debris in Earth's direction today. The debris may have carried water to our planet intact, creating the oceans and later, fostering life. Based on data collected from the W. M. Keck Observatory, Weiss and collaborators recorded almost 3,000 radial velocities of 63 stars like our sun that host 157 known, small planets.

The 157 small planets range from the size of Mars to the size of Neptune, and some of them have rocky surfaces that might be suitable for life. During the study, the team discovered 13 Jupiter-like planets, eight planets closer to the size of Neptune, and three companion stars. "This catalog is the first of its kind and an unprecedented opportunity to explore the diversity of planetary systems that are out there with things that are like the solar system, but not exactly the solar system, and it gives us a chance to rewrite the story of how the planets form," Weiss said. (12/19)

SpaceX Gearing Up for 3rd Starship Flight (Source: Space.com)
A month after its latest liftoff, SpaceX's giant Starship rocket is getting ready to fly again. Starship launched Nov. 18 on its second-ever test mission, which ended in two spectacular explosions. But the company, as ever, is gearing up for the next try. "Flight 3 vehicles on the pad at Starbase for testing ahead of Starship's next launch," SpaceX wrote in a post on X that shared three photos of the spacecraft involved. (Starbase is SpaceX's South Texas site, which serves as the center for Starship manufacturing, testing and launch.) (12/18)

Unmanned Blue Origin Tourism Rocket Successfully Launched From West Texas (Source: Forbes)
An unmanned tourist rocket owned by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin launched from west Texas on Tuesday morning in its first successful launch since a failed mission 15 months ago stalled the New Shepard program and drew the ire of the FAA. The New Shepard carried 33 science and research payloads—technology that collects data and conducts experiments in space—as well as 38,000 postcards from the nonprofit Club for the Future.

New Shepard reached a maximum altitude of 351,247 feet about four minutes after liftoff before starting its descent back to Earth—the rocket touched back down seven minutes and 28 seconds after launch. The successful mission is a major step forward for Blue Origin’s plan to send paying tourists to the edge of space, as it already has with more than two dozen people, including Bezos, “Good Morning America” co-anchor Michael Strahan and “Star Trek” actor William Shatner. (12/19)

Blue Origin BE-7 Engine Overview (Source: TS2)
The Blue Origin BE-7 is an advanced engine that features a high expansion ratio and is optimized for operation in the vacuum of space, where it is essential for a lunar lander to have precise control over its descent and landing trajectory. The ability to throttle its thrust allows the BE-7 to provide the finesse needed for soft landings, while its choice of propellants contributes to the high efficiency and performance required for such missions.

The BE-7 uses an expander cycle, which is considered highly efficient for cryogenic engines. The expander cycle works by using heat from the engine’s combustion chamber to vaporize a small amount of liquid hydrogen, which then drives the engine’s turbines before being injected into the combustion chamber. This makes the BE-7 not only efficient but also less complex and potentially more reliable due to fewer moving parts. The engine aims to produce 40 kilonewtons (or approximately 10,000 pounds-force) of thrust, and it has been designed with deep throttling capabilities, reportedly able to throttle down to as low as 10% of its maximum thrust. (12/14)

Scientists Find Record-Breaking Collection of Molecules in 2 Extremely Ancient Galaxies (Source: Space.com)
A treasure trove of molecules has turned up in two galaxies that we see as they were over 12 billion years ago, revealing information about how the ancient realms form stars. Among the 13 different types of molecules detected are carbon monoxide, carbon monosulfide, the cyano radical (a radical is a molecule with an unpaired electron in the outer shell of one of its constituent atoms), the formyl cation (a cation is positively charged ion), hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen isocyanide, nitric oxide and water.

Yang's team also detected five molecules that haven't been seen before  in the early universe: Cyclopropenylidene (a highly reactive organic molecule also found on Saturn's moon Titan), diazenylium (formed of molecular nitrogen and a hydrogen ion), radicals of the organic molecule ethynyl, hydronium ions (formed from a water molecule and a hydrogen ion) and radicals of methylidyne (a highly reactive organic molecule). (12/18)

Ice Flows on Mars (Source: NASA)
On Aug. 18, 2023, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) captured ridged lines carved onto Mars’ landscape by the gradual movement of ice. While surface ice deposits are mostly limited to Mars’ polar caps, these patterns appear in many non-polar Martian regions. As ice flows downhill, rock and soil are plucked from the surrounding landscape and ferried along the flowing ice surface and within the icy subsurface. While this process takes perhaps thousands of years or longer, it creates a network of linear patterns that reveal the history of ice flow. (12/18)

NASA's Engineering Marvel: SLS for Artemis II (Source: SciTech Daily)
NASA’s Artemis II mission progresses with final preparations of the SLS rocket. The Orion stage adapter, essential for connecting Orion to the SLS and ensuring launch safety, has reached a key milestone. The SLS is integral to NASA’s goal of lunar exploration. The elements of the super-heavy lift SLS (Space Launch System) rocket for NASA’s Artemis II mission are undergoing final preparations before shipment to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for stacking and pre-launch activities in 2024. (12/17)

A Star Named ‘Gliese 710’ Is Heading Straight For Our Solar System At 51,499 Kilometers Per Hour (Source: Physics-Astronomy)
Gliese 710, also known as HIP 89825, is a 0.6 M☉ orange star in the constellation Serpens Cauda. It is expected to pass close to the Sun in approximately 1.29 million years, at a minimum distance of 0.1663 light-years (10,520 astronomical units) – roughly 1/25th of the present distance to Proxima Centauri. At such a distance, the brightness would be comparable to that of the brightest planets, with an ideal apparent visual magnitude of roughly 2.7 (brighter than Mars at opposition).

Based on data from Gaia DR3, this timescale falls well within the boundaries of existing models, which encompass the next 15 million years. And, since its path will take it through the Oort cloud, more cometary activity in our solar system is to be predicted. (12/19)

Quantum Leap in Secure Communication: Teleporting Images Using Light (Source: Space Daily)
In a groundbreaking study published in Nature Communications, an international team has unveiled a novel technique for transporting patterns of light, akin to image teleportation, across a network without the physical transmission of the image itself. This research not only challenges our conventional understanding of data transfer but also marks a significant stride toward the realization of quantum networks for high-dimensional entangled states. (12/19)

Accurate Snow Mapping Achieved in Switzerland Through Innovative AI-Satellite Technology (Source: Space Daily)
Switzerland's majestic mountains, a haven for winter sports enthusiasts and a critical area for hydropower generation, are now subject to a novel method of snow depth measurement. This fresh approach, developed by a collaborative effort between ETH Zurich and the Swiss company ExoLabs, utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) and satellite images, marking a significant advancement in environmental monitoring technologies. (12/18)

China's Civil Military Dual-Use Space Strategy (Source: Space Daily)
China has taken another significant step in enhancing its space-based Earth observation (EO) capabilities with the successful launch of the Yaogan-41 satellite. This latest addition to China's satellite constellation was launched from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan province, marking a continuation of the nation's ambitious foray into space technology. The mission was executed using the Long March-5 Y6 rocket, a heavy-lift vehicle.

The satellite's deployment underscores China's commitment to leveraging space technology for a range of terrestrial applications. However, the Yaogan series, to which Yaogan-41 belongs, has often been associated with dual-use capabilities. While officially designated for scientific experiments, land surveying, and agricultural management, there is speculation about its potential military applications. This ambiguity highlights the increasingly multifaceted nature of satellite technology, particularly in the realm of remote sensing. (12/18)

D-Orbit and TelePIX Announce Contract for the In-Orbit Testing of Tetraplex (Source: Space Daily)
D-Orbit has recently announced the signing of two significant launch service contracts with South Korean space startup TelePIX, signaling a notable collaboration in the realm of space technology. Under these contracts, TelePIX will utilize D-Orbit's renowned expertise to embark on a mission critical for the future of satellite operations: the launch and in-orbit testing of its On-Board Processor (OBP), named Tetraplex. Designed to enhance on-board processing capabilities, Tetraplex represents a novel advancement in space technology, aiming to validate its performance and reliability in the challenging space environment. (12/18)

Competition: Developing Europe's Space Cargo Return Service (Source: Space Daily)
ESA is launching a competition which initiates a first phase of activities for European companies to eventually demonstrate a complete cargo delivery service to and from space stations in low-Earth orbit by 2028. Member States agreed to launch a new competition for European companies, who will propose a first step towards a cargo service to and from space stations in low-Earth orbit. In this first phase, selected companies will be asked to carry out all activities necessary to enabling a first flight demonstration to the ISS by 2028. (12/19)

Space Force selects GURU and Princeton to Build the Future of Immersive Collaborative Training for Space Flight Operations (Source: MSBAI)
MSBAI, an Air Force Techstars 2020 company, and partner Princeton University, have been awarded a 1.25 million dollar Phase 2 contract from SpaceWERX, in the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) X22.D cycle to bring the game-changing advantage of GURU, an Autonomous system that Drives expert workflows in Software, to space flight mission training scenario generation and visualization. GURU will bring autonomy to simulation and visualization workloads to meet demand coming from the worldwide radical increase in space missions. (12/18)

You Too May One Day Have Your Own Satellite (Source: Bloomberg)
Private industry has now taken over the sector, making personal satellite ownership a fast-approaching reality for consumers. SpaceX and Foxconn Technology Group are working with lesser-known startups like Neumann Space and Exolaunch Gmbh to drastically reduce the cost of building, launching and operating satellites. (12/18)

Space Tourism Insurance Envisioned by Japan's Mitsui Sumitomo (Source: Nikkei)
Japan's Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance is developing coverage for space tourism with All Nippon Airways parent ANA Holdings, travel agency H.I.S. and other partners, looking to make the products available around 2030. The insurer first intends to target suborbital flights, which reach outer space for several minutes before returning to Earth's surface. These flights are currently offered by several U.S. operators. (12/19)

Bezos Wants Musk to know Blue Origin is Serious Now (Source: The Verge)
Bezos also demonstrated that he understands how shade works: “When I was the CEO of Amazon, my point of view on this is, ‘If I’m the CEO of a publicly traded company, it’s going to get my full attention.’” He didn’t say “Tesla” and didn’t have to. Anyone who watches Fridman is going to know which billionaire he’s talking about. Look, I like my little jokes about Bezos, but I take him very seriously. He is focused and determined; he does very little without a specific reason. So when he and his gun show appear on a podcast, I assume he has a purpose and listen accordingly.

On the Fridman show, Bezos was careful to say that space was big enough for both him and Musk: “There’s room for a bunch of winners and it’s going to happen at all scale levels. And so SpaceX is going to be successful for sure. I want Blue Origin to be successful, and I hope there are another five companies right behind us.” This is a gorgeous PR answer — I hope Bezos gives a raise to whoever coached him into it. Space is big, but US government contracts are a competition, as he surely knows. After all, Blue Origin sued the US government over a contract NASA awarded to SpaceX. It lost.

Coming in behind SpaceX has to be galling to Bezos, who has wanted to go to space since at least high school. So why is Bezos out here pounding his chest now? Well, two things. First of all, the shake-up at Blue Origin is something he wants to publicize — the company’s going to move fast now that Bezos is in town. But second, the CEO of SpaceX spent 2023 having a very public meltdown after taking Twitter private in 2022, a process itself that resembled nothing so much as a temper tantrum. (12/18)

Obruta to Test Autonomous Spaceflight Technology on the ISS (Source: SpaceQ)
Ottawa’s Obruta Space Solutions will be putting their autonomous spaceflight technology to the test next month on the ISS. Their systems for spacecraft vision and for  guidance/navigation, funded in part by a pair of new Space Technology Development Program (STDP) awards, will be tested using the International Space Station’s “Astrobee” drones. (12/18)

Exoplanets Climate – It Takes Nothing to Switch From Habitable to Hell (Source: University of Geneva)
“Until now, other key studies in climatology have focused solely on either the temperate state before the runaway, or either the inhabitable state post-runaway,” reveals Martin Turbet, researcher at CNRS laboratories of Paris and Bordeaux, and co-author of the study. “It is the first time a team has studied the transition itself with a 3D global climate model, and has checked how the climate and the atmosphere evolve during that process.”

One of the key points of the study describes the appearance of a very peculiar cloud pattern, increasing the runaway effect, and making the process irreversible. “From the start of the transition, we can observe some very dense clouds developing in the high atmosphere. Actually, the latter does not display anymore the temperature inversion characteristic of the Earth atmosphere and separating its two main layers: the troposphere and the stratosphere. The structure of the atmosphere is deeply altered,” points out Guillaume Chaverot. (12/18)

NASA Selects Ball Aerospace for ECCCO Mission Concept Study (Source: Ball)
Ball Aerospace was selected to conduct a Phase A study for NASA's proposed Extreme ultraviolet Coronal Mass Ejection and Coronal Connectivity Observatory (ECCCO), a mission that would provide astronomers with a better understanding of the sun's coronal structure and its relationship with solar wind and eruptive events. The proposed mission would use a wide-field extreme ultraviolet (EUV) imager (ECCCO-I) and a pair of imaging EUV spectrographs (ECCCO-S) to provide the first continuous, high-contrast observations of the middle corona. (12/18)

What's Next for the UK National Space Strategy? (Source: Royal Aeronautical Society)
It has been two years since the UK government published the National Space Strategy, and the nation’s interests in orbit and beyond are more aligned than ever before. However, there are still key issues to acknowledge and address, such as the coordination of priorities, not leaving SME’s behind in contracts, having healthy diversity and more. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest topics discussed at the second annual Defence Space Conference. Click here. (12/18)