December 5, 2023

Program Looks to Sustain Physical Performance in Orbit (Source: Defense Post)
The US Air Force's planned Clinical and Operational Space Medicine Innovation Consortium will focus on the advancement of space defense-related medical solutions, led by the Air Force Research Laboratory and the 711th Human Performance Wing's Human Effectiveness Directorate. (12/4)

ESA Picks Airbus and Teledyne for Climate Project (Source: UKSA)
ESA has awarded contracts to two companies for the next phase of development of a climate mission. Airbus UK received a contract worth about $120 million and Teledyne e2v an $11.3 million contract for work on the Traceable Radiometry Underpinning Terrestrial- and Helio- Studies, or TRUTHS, mission. TRUTHS is designed to provide the most accurate measurements of solar radiation reaching the Earth and being reflected into space in order to improve climate models. Airbus is working on the TRUTHS spacecraft and Teledyne on the detection system for one of its instruments. TRUTHS is scheduled for launch in 2030. (12/5)

NASA Working with EPA, NOAA, NIST on Greenhouse Gas Tracking (Source: NASA)
NASA is cooperating with other U.S. government agencies on a center tracking greenhouse gases. The U.S. Greenhouse Gas Center, announced Monday during the COP28 climate conference, will provide access to satellite data, models and other information about atmospheric greenhouse gases. NASA is the lead agency on the center, created in cooperation with EPA, NIST and NOAA. (12/5)

China's Ceres-1 Launcher Returns to Flight (Source: Xinhua)
China's Ceres-1 commercial launch vehicle returned to flight Monday night. The rocket lifted off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 6:33 p.m. Eastern, placing two satellites into orbit. It was the first flight of the Ceres-1, developed by Galactic Energy, since a launch failure in September. (12/5)

SpaceX Yearly Launch Rate at Vandenberg SFB Could Soar to 100 by 2025 (Source: Noozhawk)
A SpaceX official said the company could be launching up to 100 times a year from Vandenberg Space Force Base by 2025. In a presentation to a local business group last week, SpaceX's manager for launch pad systems and operations at Vandenberg said the company expects to to conduct 30 launches from the base this year, growing to 50 in 2024 and 100 in 2025. SpaceX will also soon begin work modifying Space Launch Complex 6 there, previously used by the Delta 4 Heavy, for Falcon Heavy. The first Falcon Heavy launch from that pad is planned for mid-2025. (12/5)

Demand for Satellites is Rising But Not Skyrocketing (Source: Space News)
A new report predicts that around 20,000 new satellites will launch by the end of the decade — a more conservative forecast compared to other sky-high projections. Quilty Space, a research and consulting firm, says there are “positive indicators for sustained growth within the space industrial base, particularly given continuing momentum in the low Earth orbit broadband mega-constellation markets that make up about 85% of all satellite demand in Western markets.”

However, “financing headwinds are expected to cause some dampening of near-term demand from earlier-stage entities.” To inject realism into its satellite demand predictions, Quilty’s analysis focused on funded satellite projects that are likely to survive, as opposed to forecasts that take companies at their word about huge planned constellations. An example is E-Space, an internet-of-things startup currently holding an overwhelming 443,000 filings for future satellites without much evidence it can deploy those at scale by 2030. (12/4)

India's Chandrayaan-3 Lunar Lander's Propulsion Module Maneuvers Back to Earth Orbit (Source: Spaec News)
The propulsion module from India's Chandrayaan-3 lunar lander mission is back in Earth orbit. ISRO announced Monday that the module had maneuvered back from lunar orbit into a high Earth orbit over the last two months. The module was designed to transfer the lander from its initial elliptical Earth orbit after launch to lunar orbit, after which the lander separated and landed. The module's return to Earth orbit validates a key capability needed for a future lunar sample return mission. An ISRO official said at a conference in October that ISRO was working on the design of a sample return mission that could fly in the next four years. (12/5)

SatixFy Faces Potential NYSE Delisting (Source: Space News)
SatixFy is the latest space SPAC company to face a potential stock market delisting. The NYSE American stock exchange has given the Israeli satcom equipment maker until the end of the month to submit a plan for meeting conditions for trading on the platform by the end of next May. That warning was triggered when the company's market capitalization fell below $50 million. SatixFy went public through a SPAC merger that closed last October. Several other space companies that went public through SPACs have also faced delisting because of low share prices, which they corrected through reverse stock splits. (12/5)

Data rights Limitations Affecting NASA Technology Development (Source: Space News)
NASA says it's running into problems getting some of the data it wants for technology development efforts. At a National Academies committee meeting Monday, agency officials said the contracting mechanisms it's using for several projects related to cryogenic fluid management restrict its ability to request or distribute data from the companies working on them. That makes it more difficult to validate models used for those technologies, which involve the in-space storage and transfer of cryogenic propellants. (12/5)

Space Machines Co. to Collaborate with Orbit Fab on Orbital Servicing Tech (Source: Space News)
In-space servicing startup Space Machines Company (SMC) plans to cooperate with space refueling company Orbit Fab, the companies announced Tuesday. SMC, an Australian company working on a servicing vehicle, will use fiducial alignment markers developed by Orbit Fab to make it easier for spacecraft to approach and dock with it. SMC will use the markers on its Optimus Orbital Servicing Vehicle, slated to launch on a SpaceX rideshare mission early next year. (12/5)

Sidus Space Awarded Additional Bechtel Cable Assembly Contract for Mobile Launcher 2 (Source: Sidus Space)
Sidus Space has been selected by Bechtel to manufacture additional cables in support of the NASA Mobile Launcher 2 contract for the Artemis missions. This follows Sidus’ prior contract with Bechtel to fabricate custom cables and populate unique electronics cabinets supporting the launch control subsystem and ground special power subsystems. Mobile Launcher 2 is the ground platform structure that will launch Space Launch System (SLS) rockets Block 1B and Block 2 configurations to the Moon. (12/5)

Axiom Space Chooses AWS to Power IT Infrastructure for Commercial Space Station (Source: Space Daily)
Axiom Space, recognized as a pioneer in commercial human spaceflight and the developer of the world's first commercial space station, Axiom Station, has made a significant move in its IT infrastructure strategy. The company has announced its decision to fully embrace Amazon Web Services (AWS) for its terrestrial information technology (IT) needs. This strategic shift aims to fortify the necessary terrestrial cloud infrastructure to support the development of Axiom Station, marking a notable advancement in space technology. (12/5)

D-Orbit Advancing Space Logistics with Beyond Mission (Source: Space Daily)
On December 1st, D-Orbit, a leader in the realm of space logistics and orbital transportation, achieved a significant milestone by successfully launching its 13th commercial mission, named Beyond. This mission utilized the company's innovative Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV), the ION Satellite Carrier, showcasing its versatility and advanced capabilities in the industry. (12/5)

LeoLabs Partners with Aalyria to Enhance Global Communication Network Security (Source: Space Daily)
LeoLabs, a commercial provider of Space Traffic Management (STM), Space Situational Awareness (SSA), and Space Domain Awareness (SDA) services, has announced a pivotal partnership with Aalyria, a front-runner in advanced software-defined and optical networking communications. This collaboration aims to tackle the mounting challenges in space awareness for intricate communications networks that interconnect land, sea, air, and space.

The partnership agreement signifies a strategic alliance between the two companies, leveraging their respective expertise in space safety and network orchestration. This collaboration embarks on a journey to address contract opportunities, including projects with the United States Department of Defense, underscoring the partnership's significance in national security and defense communications. (12/5)

Tracking Undetectable Space Junk (Source: Space Daily)
Satellite and spacecraft operators may finally be able to detect small pieces of debris orbiting Earth using an approach proposed by researchers from the University of Michigan. "The smaller the objects get, the harder it becomes to get sunlight or radar signals strong enough to detect them from the ground." The new method can detect debris smaller than one millimeter in diameter-similar to the thickness of pencil lead. The results are among the first to come from a larger, collaborative project funded by the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity's Space Debris Identification and Tracking Program. The project is led by military contractor Blue Halo. (12/5)

NASA Continues Progress on Artemis III Rocket Adapter with Key Joint Installation (Source: Space Daily)
In a significant advancement for NASA's Artemis III mission, engineers and technicians at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, have recently achieved a major milestone. They have successfully installed a crucial component, the frangible joint assembly, onto the launch vehicle stage adapter of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. (12/5)

Europe’s Tentative Step Toward Human Spaceflight (Source: Space Review)
After months of discussion, ESA member states agreed last month to start a commercial cargo program as a prelude to a potential human spaceflight effort. Jeff Foust reports on the new initiative and the challenges it faces. Click here. (12/4)
 
All-UK Astronaut Mission Shows That Private Enterprise is Vital to the Future of Space Exploration (Source: Space Review)
The UK government announced this fall an agreement with Axiom Space that could lead to a private mission flown entirely by British astronauts. Simonetta Di Pippo discusses why this is an important milestone in the role of companies in human spaceflight in Europe and beyond. Click here. (12/4)
 
Enter India, the Fifth Great Space Power (Source: Space Review)
Successfully landing a spacecraft on the Moon helped raise the profile of India’s space capabilities. Daniel Duchaine argues that it also made India a global space power, and brings with it potential geopolitical ramifications. Click here. (12/4)

They Sent Spiders to the ISS, But Nothing Went as Planned (Source: BrightSide)
Scientists sent spiders on space missions, and these arachnid astronauts managed to whip up webs in microgravity conditions. The catch? The space silk wasn't exactly like their Earthly creations, showing that gravity does play a role in web architecture. So, while spiders can pull off their web-making magic in space, it's a bit like watching a skilled dancer adapt to a new stage—it might look different, but the moves are still impressive! Plus, the spiders have some other cool superpowers. Click here. (12/1)

NASA to Train Indian Astronauts for a Weeklong Trip to ISS in 2024 (Source: Space.com)
NASA will have a hand in training two Indian astronauts, one of whom will fly to the International Space Station (ISS) late next year, agency administrator Bill Nelson told reporters. "It would be a year from now," he told NDTV. "It would be the end of 2024 that the Indian astronaut would go to the space station, probably for two weeks, and then they would conduct scientific experiments that would be of importance to India." (12/4)

Ghostly Galaxy Haunting Astronomers Reappears (Source: Newsweek)
A ghostly galaxy that forms hundreds of new stars every year, has reappeared after proving difficult to find. AzTECC71 first appeared in images captured from the Hubble Space Telescope but was very hard to see. However, astronomers have now found it again, in images from the James Webb Telescope, which show it in multi-colored filters. It is surrounded in a veil of dust that makes it hard to see without the technology the James Webb Telescope possesses. (12/4)

Tata and Satellogic Sign Deal to Build LEO Satellites in India (Source: Space Daily)
Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) and Satellogic Inc. announced a strategic collaboration to foster local space technology capabilities in India. The collaboration will initiate with comprehensive training and knowledge transfer, focusing on the local assembly of optical sub-meter resolution EO satellites. The TSAT-1A, the first satellite to be launched under this partnership, is a cornerstone of the project, emphasizing the manufacturing of satellites in India. The production will be centered at TASL's satellite Assembly, Integration, and Testing (AIT) facility in Vemagal. (11/30)

Macao Science Satellites Begin Study of South Atlantic Anomaly (Source: Space Daily)
The Macao Science Satellite 1A and 1B, after a successful six-month trial in orbit, have officially commenced formal operations, marking a significant milestone in space-based geomagnetic monitoring. Jointly developed by scientists from the Chinese mainland and Macao, these satellites were launched on May 21 by a Long March 2C rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

Their primary mission involves studying the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA), a region characterized by a significantly weakened geomagnetic field and increased radiation activity. By detecting the geomagnetic anomaly area, studying the geomagnetic field's origin and evolution, and creating a high-precision geomagnetic map of the Earth's crust, these satellites are set to provide crucial data for resource surveys, deep mineral development, and understanding the inner radiation zone over the South Atlantic. (11/29)

Australian Designed Satellite Thrusters Pass First Space Tests (Source: Cosmos)
The Albanese government may have put the brakes on Australia’s satellite program, but two tiny pieces of innovative satellite technology are gently pushing back. One is powered by “mothballs”. The other metal. Both are tiny “thrusters” enabling small satellites to dodge dangerous debris and reposition themselves in space. 

The two companies behind the thrusters have reported successful first test flights this weekend, aboard Australian-made SkyKraft CubeSats. Both report their success despite the Albanese Government move to cancel the multi-billion-dollar National Space Mission for Earth Observation (NSMEO) and Defence Department StarShot program. (12/4)

China's Landspace Gears Up for 3rd Launch of its Methane-Powered Rocket (Source: Space.com)
Chinese launch startup Landspace is set to launch its methane-powered rocket early next month. This time, the Zhuque 2 (Vermillion Bird 2) rocket will be carrying satellites and aims to demonstrate its operational launch capabilities. The launch comes just under a year after its first Zhuque-2 launch which ended in failure. It bounced back with its second launch in July, successfully reaching orbit. That launch however carried only a mass simulator rather than active payloads. (12/3)

Egyptian Space Agency CEO Hails Collaboration with China (Source: CGTN)
"The knowledge transfer that we have seen from the Chinese side is really, really marvelous, and we greatly appreciate it. So this project is very, very successful, so it was a very good capacity building experience for us. Actually we consider this project as the start of the collaboration with China, and actually we are looking forward to deepening this collaboration and considering more capitalization on the experience that we gain from MisrSat 2 and AIT center." (12/4)

Space Tourism From UAE Soon to be as Normal as Taking International Flight (Source: Khaleej Times)
Space travel and tourism will become more accessible as more companies — particularly those in the aviation industry — will offer services to bring people on sub-orbital flights. This was the assessment made by a senior high official of Dubai-based carrier Emirates during a one-off special flight on Tuesday, celebrating the UAE’s space initiatives ahead of its 52nd National Day, and Sultan AlNeyadi’s successful return from a six-month mission aboard the ISS, where he conducted not only numerous scientific research, but also recorded the first spacewalk for the Arab world. (11/29)

Space Force Speeds Up Launch Times to Respond to Threats (Source: National Defense)
Victus Nox is part of the Space Force’s Tactically Responsive Space program, the goal of which is to ensure the United States can rapidly respond to on-orbit threats. An example of where the capability would have been useful took place in 2019, when a Russian satellite “cozied right up to an important” U.S. satellite, said Lt. Col. Justin Beltz, materiel leader and chief of Space Systems Command’s Small Launch and Targets division. (12/4)

Meet a ‘Hall Monitor’ for Space (Source: Boeing)
If NASA and Boeing are the “principals” of the International Space Station, then Gloria Samora is their “hall monitor.” Samora, a Boeing property management specialist, tracks the NASA-owned tooling and equipment used on the space station. That’s a tall order, considering the inventory could be just about anywhere on Earth or 150 miles (240 kilometers) away on the ISS. It’s up to Samora and her team to know the location and condition of the assets and report status to NASA — just one of Boeing’s responsibilities as the ISS prime contractor for 30 years and counting. Click here. (12/4)

Sierra Space's Shooting Star Module Begins Rigorous Testing at NASA Facility (Source: Space Daily)
Sierra Space has commenced a comprehensive testing campaign for its Shooting Star cargo module at NASA's Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio. This significant step marks a critical phase in preparing the spacecraft for its first mission to the International Space Station (ISS), focusing on its resilience to the harsh conditions of space and the rigors of launch.

The Sierra Space Shooting Star cargo module, developed alongside the innovative Dream Chaser spaceplane, is poised to revolutionize cargo capabilities in space with its unique design and functionality. "This transformative Sierra Space technology will define the next era of space commercialization," said Sierra Space CEO Tom Vice. He emphasized the company's commitment to "innovation, reliability, and sustainability," hallmarks that are encapsulated in the Shooting Star cargo module. (12/4)

Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe Passes Key Milestone (Source: Space Daily)
NASA's Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) has recently achieved a significant milestone by successfully completing Key Decision Point D (KDP-D). This vital step permits the transition of the IMAP mission from its development and design phase to the crucial stages of assembly, testing, and integration. The progress marks a pivotal moment for this ambitious project, aligning it on track towards a new launch window slated between late April and late May 2025. (12/4)

Galileo Gen2 Satellite Production Commences at Airbus Facility (Source: Space Daily)
Airbus has officially commenced the full-scale production of the Galileo Second Generation (G2) satellites, a significant milestone in the evolution of the European Global Navigation Satellite System. The production process is underway at the Airbus facility in Friedrichshafen, Germany, marking a new phase in the Galileo program. (12/4)

DLR selects Vyoma for Two Key Small Satellite Launches (Source: Space Daily)
German-based space technology firm Vyoma has achieved a notable milestone, securing two significant awards at the 2023 SmallSatellite Conference in Berlin. These awards, presented by the German Space Agency at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), highlight Vyoma's contributions to the small satellite sector and its alignment with Europe's strategic space interests. Vyoma's double win comprises awards from the Microlauncher Competition and the Small Satellite Competition, both aimed at providing launch opportunities for satellites under 200 kg. (12/4)

North Korea Threatens to 'Destroy' US Spy Satellites (Source: Space Daily)
North Korea warned it would "destroy" US spy satellites if Washington tries "any attack" on its space asset, after Pyongyang launched its first military eye in the sky last week. A spokesman for the North's defence ministry said it would consider such a move a "declaration of war", according to a statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency. The statement came after a US official's remark that Washington "could deny an adversary's space and counterspace capabilities... using a variety of reversible and irreversible means", referring to the North's successful spy satellite launch in late November. (12/2)

York Reveals Latest Commercial Space-as-a-Service Mission (Source: Space News)
York Space Systems established contact within three hours of the Dec. 1 launch of a commercial space-as-a-service mission for CACI International. CACI supplied an optical communications demonstration and a resilient position, navigation and timing payload for York’s Bane commercial mission launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare flight, York announced Dec. 4. Bane was the first York mission to serve more than one commercial customer on a single platform. It was also the first satellite to be flown from York’s unclassified commercial mission operations center in Denver. (12/4)

Why Are There No Gas Moons? (Source: Space.com)
Actually, there are gas moons! Though they are not in our solar system. Although more than 5,500 exoplanets have been discovered so far, only two possible exomoons have been spotted, and neither are 100% confirmed yet. What's weird about these two 'exomoons' is that they are gas giants, orbiting even larger gas giants! However, they are the exception that proves the rule. (12/4)

Virgin Galactic Stock Plunges After Richard Branson Halts Funding (Source: TipRanks)
Virgin Galactic Holdings (NYSE:SPCE), a spaceflight company, slid in trading on Monday after the company’s founder, British billionaire Richard Branson, ruled out investing in the company any further. In an interview with the Financial Times, Branson cited financial constraints after the pandemic as one of the reasons for the halt in funding.

The founder stated that Virgin Galactic should have “sufficient funds to do its job on its own.” This is even as the company recently announced layoffs and suspended commercial spaceflights for 18 months to fund the development of a larger spacecraft, Delta. Branson’s Virgin Investments remains the second-largest shareholder in SPCE with a 7.69% stake, behind State Street Global Advisors with a stake of 8.43%. (12/4)