January 16, 2024

How NASA's X-59 'Quiet' Supersonic Plane Could Change Aviation (Source: 9News)
Sonic booms are part of the reason why there are no supersonic passenger planes flying today, and one of the limiting factors to the success of Concorde, which last flew in 2003. The X-59 will now undergo integrated systems testing, engine runs, and taxi testing in preparation for first flight.
It's set to take off for the first time later this year, ahead of its first quiet supersonic flight. "It will be significantly quieter than Concorde or any other supersonic aircraft that exist today," said Craig Nickol. (1/16)

Japanese Startup Plans to Vaporize Space Junk Using Ground Lasers (Source: Interesting Engineering)
EX-Fusion, an Osaka-based startup, plans to develop a ground-based laser system to help knock out space junk from the ground. This innovative approach, if successful, could be a valuable way of clearing up the increasingly crowded space around our homeworld. EX-Fusion is tapping its arsenal of laser technology initially developed in pursuit of fusion power. In October, EX-Fusion agreed with EOS Space Systems, an Australian contractor with technology for detecting space debris, to install a powerful laser system at the EOS Space Observatory near Canberra.

The initial stage of this project will involve setting up laser technology to track space debris that measures less than 4 inches (10 cm). This size of debris has been traditionally challenging to target from the ground using lasers. During the second phase, EX-Fusion and EOS Space will use laser beams fired from the surface to remove space debris. (1/15)

Discovery Changes Understanding of Water's History on the Moon (Source: Phys.org)
"The discovery of apatite in the moon's early crust for the first time is incredibly exciting—as we can finally start to piece together this unknown stage of lunar history. We find the moon's early crust was richer in water than we expected, and its volatile stable isotopes reveal an even more complex history than we knew before," said Tara Hayden. (1/15)

Sidus Space Announces Technology Hosting Payload Contract with ASPINA for LizzieSat Mission (Source: Sidus Space)
Sidus Space has secured an agreement with ASPINA, a Japanese technology company, for technology hosting onboard the Company’s upcoming LizzieSat mission, currently scheduled for launch with SpaceX in the second quarter of 2025.Sidus will host a payload mission in collaboration with ASPINA to demonstrate their reaction wheel in orbit. Reaction wheels are crucial for controlling the attitude of small satellite constellations without the need for rockets or external torque applications, making them a cost-effective solution for micro and small satellites. (1/16)

Tianzhou 7 Mission Set to Enhance Operations at China's Tiangong Space Station (Source: Space Daily)
The latest mission in China's expanding space program, involving the Tianzhou 7 cargo spaceship, is underway at the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province, as confirmed by the China Manned Space Agency. This spacecraft is set to join the Tiangong space station, a significant step in China's ongoing efforts in space exploration and station maintenance. Preparations for this critical mission have reached a new stage with the Long March 7 carrier rocket, a reliable player in China's space endeavors, being moved to the launch service tower. This rocket is tasked with the crucial role of transporting the Tianzhou 7 cargo spaceship into orbit. (1/16)

Bill Proposes Protections for Commercial Airline Workers to Report UAP Sightings (Source: Space Daily)
A bipartisan pair of lawmakers introduced a bill Thursday that would provide legal protection to civilian pilots who report UAP sightings. Rep. Robert Garcia, D-CA, and Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-WI, introduced the Safe Airspace for Americans Act, which aims to facilitate reporting of the unidentified aerial phenomena formerly called UFOs and to increase transparency of the reports coming into government. (1/16)

IDEFIX Rover Set to Embark on Pioneering Journey to Martian Moon Phobos (Source: Space Daily)
The Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission, under the leadership of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), is gearing up for a historic endeavor with the German-French rover IDEFIX poised to play a pivotal role. This ambitious mission aims to unravel the enigmatic origins of Mars' moons, Phobos and Deimos, marking a significant leap in our quest to understand the Martian system.

The IDEFIX rover, a collaborative mission between the German space agency DLR and the French space agency CNES, has embarked on its journey to Japan, with its integration into the MMX mother craft scheduled for February 2024. This milestone follows the completion of the rover's construction at CNES's facility in Toulouse, with DLR having delivered the partially assembled rover and two instruments in 2022. (1/16)

Astrobotic Has Set A New Standard For Space Mission Transparency (Source: NASA Watch)
While it is sad that Peregrine won’t land on the Moon it is very important that everyone – including NASA – takes note of the unrivaled transparency and promptness of updates that Astrobotic has provided. They’ve set a new standard that all responsible users of space should follow. (1/14)

Investing in Space: Where to Look for Progress in the Sector This Year (Source: CNBC)
Last year saw some "green shoots" for the space sector – such as the milestones and gains by the likes of SpaceX, Amazon, Rocket Lab, Redwire and Virgin Galactic. But for many others, 2023 was the most challenging year for space businesses in recent memory (just ask satellite insurers). 2024 is underway, already with a flurry of news both good and bad. This year, the space business items I'm looking to see center around turning aspirations into achievements – here are my top four: direct-to-device, Blue Origin progress, Starship orbital flight, and US lunar landers. Click here. (1/11)

Musk and Bezos Must Team Up to Save the Space Program — and Humanity (Source: The Hill)
During a recent podcast interview of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, host Lex Fridman volunteered that Bezos and SpaceX founder Elon Musk should spend time together and forge a “friendship that would inspire the entirety of humanity.” As our nation and the world are going more dangerously sideways by the day, I strongly second that motion. The Amazon multibillionaire responded, in part: “I agree with you and I think with a lot of these endeavors we’re very like-minded … I’m not saying we’re identical, but we’re very like-minded so I love that idea.” But … will Elon Musk? For the sake of us all, he should. (1/13)

Doomed Peregrine Moon Lander Will 'Burn Up' on Return to Earth After Failed Mission, Says Astrobotic (Source: Sky News)
Astrobotic said it had made the "difficult decision" to maintain the craft's trajectory and was working with NASA and the space community to take the "safe and responsible" course of action. The company said it had been "evaluating" the best and safest way to end the mission to ensure the protection of satellites and not create debris in cislunar space.

Astrobotic had aimed for a soft lunar landing on 23 February and to become the first private company to complete such a mission - but said last week there was "no chance" it would achieve its goal following the propellant leak. In an update, Astrobotic said: "The recommendation we have received is to let the spacecraft burn up during re-entry in Earth's atmosphere. (1/15)

SpaceX Launches 23 Starlink Satellites on Company's 300th Successful Mission (Source: Space.com)
SpaceX just notched another launch milestone. A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 23 Starlink spacecraft lifted off from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport on Sunday, completing the company's 300th successful launch. The first stage came back to Earth about eight minutes after liftoff, successfully landing on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. (1/15)

SpaceX Launches 22 Starlink Satellites From California, Nails Landing (Source: Space.com)
A Space Falcon 9 rocket lauched 22 Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Jan. 14. The rocket's first stage booster landed on a drone shipt about 8.5 minutes after liftoff. (1/14)

Astrobiotic’s Glitch is a Mere Bump in the Road for Commercial Moon Landings (Source: The Hill)
If all had gone well, the Peregrine would have touched down on the lunar surface on Feb. 23. It would have been the first American moon landing since the voyage of Apollo 17 that took place in December 1972. Astrobotic will have to figure out what exactly went wrong and how to avoid the malfunction in future missions. The company is due to launch its larger Griffin lander on a Falcon Heavy in November, bearing, among other payloads, NASA’s Viper rover. Meanwhile, a couple of attempted moon landings are due within the next two months. (1/14)

SDA to Acquire Satellites with Custom Payloads to Enable Faster Targeting on Battlefields (Source: Space News)
The Space Development Agency is gearing up for its next procurement of satellites for a military communications network known as the Transport Layer Tranche 2. SDA, an agency under the U.S. Space Force, plans to acquire 20 satellites carrying a new type of payload to transmit targeting information. SDA documents describe the payload, dubbed Warlock, as a communications node “specifically designed to close future kill chains.” (1/15)

Vulcan a Success for Northrop Grumman Too (Source: Space News)
The successful inaugural launch of ULA's Vulcan Centaur last week was also a milestone for Northrop Grumman. That company produced the GEM 63XL solid rocket boosters used on the Vulcan that provided nearly two-thirds of the vehicle's liftoff thrust. The GEM 63XL, a longer version of the GEM 63 booster used by the Atlas 5, is the largest monolithic, or non-segmented, solid rocket  booster in service, providing greater thrust-to-weight performance. Northrop is working to scale up production of the GEM 63XL for the large backlog of Vulcan launches. (1/16)
 
John Deere to Apply Starlink for Driverless Tractors (Source: Wall Street Journal)
John Deere says it will incorporate SpaceX's Starlink broadband satellite system into its tractors and other farm equipment. Starlink will support John Deere's push into precision agriculture that includes driverless tractors. Deere tested satellite systems for eight months before choosing Starlink, citing the low latency the low Earth orbit constellation offers. (1/16)

Pixxel Opens Manufacturing Facility in India (Source: Business Standard)
Remote sensing company Pixxel has opened a satellite manufacturing facility in India. The factory in Bengaluru, spanning nearly 2,800 square meters, will be used by the Indian startup to produce a line of hyperspectral imaging satellites. When at full capacity, the factory will be able to produce up to 40 satellites a year. Pixxel currently has three satellites in orbit and plans to launch another six this year and 18 in 2025 as it builds out its constellation. (1/16)

Dark Streaks on Venus Not Necessarily Signs of Life (Source: Space.com)
Dark streaks seen in the atmosphere of Venus are not necessarily a sign of life. Some scientists have argued that dark streaks seen in the planet's upper atmosphere when viewed at ultraviolet wavelengths are evidence of microorganisms living in relatively hospitable conditions in the upper atmosphere. A new study, though, found that the streaks can be explained by iron-bearing minerals in the atmosphere created through interactions with sulfuric acid. (1/16)

Shuttle Endeavour Display Taking Shape in LA (Source: LA Times)
The new display for the space shuttle Endeavour is taking shape in Los Angeles. Workers over the weekend installed an external tank, connecting it to two solid rocket boosters already in place outside the California Science Center museum. Endeavour, which had been on display horizontally at the museum for more than decade, will later be installed on the external tank, depicting the shuttle in its launch configuration. A new exhibit will be built around the shuttle that will open in a few years. (1/16)

NASA Funds Study on Nuclear Engine Rocket (Source: Douglas's Substack)
Nuclear power is all the rage these days. It is being billed as a “clean” alternative to fossil fuels in addressing climate change. There is also a lot of interest in using it in space to send spacecraft to distant locations faster than traditional chemical rocket engines. The NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program recent funded research into an innovative nuclear rocket engine that would allow spacecraft to rendezvous with passing interstellar objects. The abstract is reproduced here. (1/12)

How Brook Park Landed a $235 Million Astronaut Training Facility (Source: Axios Cleveland)
U.K.-based Blue Abyss looked like it was going to locate a $235 million training center in Houston back in 2022 — but then CEO John Vickers visited the Ohio Aerospace Institute in Brook Park to deliver a presentation. Brook Park Mayor Ed Orcutt attended and listened to Vickers talk about the Blue Abyss facility's needs — proximity to both an airport and a NASA research center — and raised his hand to say he had available land that fit the bill. On March 17, 2023, Orcutt and Vickers signed an agreement on the 12.8-acre plot adjacent to Hopkins that they toured that day.

Orcutt said Brook Park will provide a 15-year property tax abatement to Blue Abyss and that the company is now assembling capital for the project, which will include both public and private dollars. An application to the state for $25 million in funding has been submitted, Orcutt said. "We're extremely happy that Blue Abyss is coming to Brook Park, Ohio, rather than Texas," Orcutt said. (1/12)

PowerLight Joins Blue Origin to Study Power Beaming System for the Moon (Source: GeekWire)
PowerLight Technologies says it’s joined a team headed by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space venture to design a power beaming system that might someday charge up robots on the moon. The effort is being funded by the Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency as part of its LunA-10 program, which supports concepts for future lunar infrastructure projects. DARPA selected 14 industry teams, including Blue Origin’s team, to receive up to $1 million each for studies that are due this spring. (1/15)

Twenty Years of Chasing the Moon (Source: Space Review)
In January 2004, President George W. Bush announced the Vision for Space Exploration, which included a goal of landing humans back on the Moon by 2020. Jeff Foust reports on how, despite missing that deadline and recent setbacks, the effort to return to the Moon may be on firmer ground than at any time in the last two decades. Click here. (1/15)
 
How We’re Searching for Alien Life at Previously Unexplored Frequencies (Source: Space Review)
Many of the efforts in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence over the years have focused on radio searches in specific frequency bands. Owen Johnson describes a new project focused at much lower frequencies. Click here. (1/15)
 
A Unified Theory of Suborbital Docking and Refueling (Source: Space Review)
Past studies have looked at doing suborbital refueling or docking for reusable launch vehicles. Francis Chastaing puts those studies together to offer a new approach. Click here. (1/15)

Venus' Atmospheric Chemical Anomalies May Motivate Future Astrobiology Missions (Source: Phys.org)
When scientists detected phosphine in Venus' atmosphere in 2020, it triggered renewed, animated discussions about Venus and its potential habitability. It would be weird if the detection didn't generate interest since phosphine is a potential biomarker. So people were understandably curious. Unfortunately, further study couldn't confirm its presence. But even without phosphine, Venus' atmosphere is full of chemical intrigue that hints at biological processes. Is it time to send an astrobiology mission to our hellish sister planet? (1/12)

Reflectors in Space Could Make Solar Farms on Earth Work for Longer Every Day (Source: Phys.org)
If you happened to be looking at the sky in Europe on a cold night on February 5, 1993, there is a chance you could have seen a dim flash of light. That flash came from a Russian space mirror experiment called Znamya-2. Znamya-2 was a 20-meter reflective structure much like aluminum foil (Znamya means "banner" in Russian), unfurled from a spacecraft which had just undocked from the Russian Mir space station. Its goal was to demonstrate solar energy could be reflected from space to Earth.

This was the first and only time that a mirror had ever been launched into space for that purpose. But, three decades on, colleagues and I believe it's time to revisit this technology. Unlike proposals to build solar power stations in space and transmit energy down to earth, all the generation would still happen down here.  (1/12)

Science Fiction Inspires a New Astrophysics University Class (Source: Symmetry Magazine)
In the beginning, a spaceship called the Yggdrasil is sailing through the cosmos to find a new home for its long-term inhabitants. Suddenly, the ship is hit by a stray asteroid, damaging the hydrogen fuel supply. The people aboard the Yggdrasil must use their knowledge of astrophysics to search for and retrieve a new supply of hydrogen.

This is the story students enter in “The Salvation of the Yggdrasil: An Immersive Astronomy Experience,” a new class developed by Sean Lindsay, a senior lecturer in astronomy at the University of Tennessee. Along with undergraduate physics student Adam Tilley, Lindsay has developed a science-fictional story arc for the class to follow. Tilley wrote a series of vignettes to accompany the curriculum and set the stage and characters for the class. (1/9)

Living on the Moon: Inside Artemis’ Foundation Habitat (Source: America Space)
The Foundation Habitat will not launch for a decade or more. It is still in the early stages of development and NASA is continually refining its design. However, the general characteristics of the habitat have remained somewhat constant since 2021: a three-story structure, airlock on the metallic bottom floor, and the upper two stories inside an inflatable volume.  The metallic portion is 13 feet in diameter, while the inflatable portion is 21 feet in diameter.

While the habitat’s exterior has been depicted in multiple renderings, its interior has received less public attention. A 2022 paper describes the life support equipment, private crew quarters, a galley, exercise equipment, hygiene and medical facilities, scientific workspaces, and more. The authors crafted an optimal layout for these components inside the confines of the Foundation Habitat. Their schematics provide a unique glimpse inside what will become mankind’s first lunar base. Click here. (1/13)

NASA Wants You to Help Track Gamma Ray Bursts (Source: Washington Post)
You may be able to help NASA trace the origins of the most powerful explosions in the universe. NASA telescopes regularly identify the far-off explosions, which release massive amounts of energy. Astronomers believe the bursts of gamma rays are probably produced by the collapse of massive stars or the merging of multiple neutron stars. NASA’s Burst Chaser initiative seeks volunteers to examine plots that show energy captured by the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a gamma ray-detecting telescope that has been in low Earth orbit since 2004. (1/14)

Blue Origin's First New Glenn Stages are Now at the Launch Site (Source: Space Explored)
If it seems we’ve gotten the most New Glenn updates in the last few months than ever before, that’s because we have. While the rocket has been far delayed from its original launch date in 2020, its current 2024 date has way more merit now than it did before these recent updates. David Limp, Blue Origin’s new CEO, shared images not just of the new booster tucked inside LC-36’s hanger but also of the second stage! (1/14)

Satellite Glints Grow in Night Skies (Source: Nikkei)
A sharp increase in constellations of low-altitude satellites is transforming the night sky. Used mostly to facilitate high-speed communications, the satellites may soon account for 10% of the nighttime glow in the skies of Japan, South Korea and part of China, raising concerns about their interference with astronomical observations. Samantha Lawler said telescopes cannot avoid the effects of satellite glints, which often wash out starlight. Satellites shine the brightest when they are outside the Earth's shadow during twilight at dawn or dusk and receive sunlight directly. (1/13)

Army to Refine Requirements for Next-Generation Satellite Terminals (Source: Space News)
The U.S. Army plans to launch later this year a new procurement of satellite communications terminals through the so-called Family of Terminals – Large (FoT-L) program. The Army is trying to consolidate as many as six types of terminals into just two variants. Having fewer large terminal antenna variants is a key goal, said the RFI, due to the logistics burden and rising cost of operating aging equipment. (1/14)

Chinese Rocket Maker Working on Medium-Lift Model (Source: Space Daily)
CAS Space, a Beijing-based rocket maker owned by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is working on the development of its new carrier rocket, Kinetica 2, and plans to conduct the new type's maiden flight in 2025. The Kinetica 2 is a medium-lift, liquid-fuel rocket and the second launch vehicle developed by CAS Space, following the Kinetica 1, formerly known as ZK 1A. Its liftoff weight will be 628 metric tons and the maximum thrust will be 766 tons, able to transport spacecraft with a combined weight of 7.8 tons into a sun-synchronous orbit or 12 tons into a low-Earth orbit. (1/15)

Indonesian MoD Partners with BlackSky for Advanced Space-Based Intelligence Services (Source: Space Daily)
BlackSky announced its significant contract win from PT Len, exceeding $1 million, to support the Indonesian Ministry of Defense. This multi-year agreement underscores the growing need for immediate, high-frequency imagery and analytics services in defense operations. (1/15)

New Instrument to Capture Stardust as Part of NASA Mission (Source: Space Daily)
Scientists and engineers at the CU Boulder will soon take part in an effort to collect a bit of stardust-the tiny bits of matter that flow through the Milky Way Galaxy and were once the initial building blocks of our solar system. The pursuit is part of NASA's Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission to explore our solar neighborhood-decoding the messages in particles from the sun and beyond our cosmic shield. (1/15)