January 17, 2024

Pentagon Awards $2.5 Billion in Satellite Contracts to L3Harris, Lockheed Martin and Sierra Space (Source: CNBC)
The Space Development Agency awarded contracts to L3Harris, Lockheed Martin and Sierra Space to build missile defense-related satellites. The fixed-price contracts are worth $919 million for L3Harris, $890 million for Lockheed Martin and $740 million for Sierra Space. SDA is having the trio of companies build 54 satellites as part of a network the U.S. military is building called the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. (1/16)

Lonestar Data Holding Unveils J.F. Honeycutt Mission Control for Lunar Disaster Recovery (Source: Investors Observer)
Lonestar Data Holding announced the inauguration of the J.F. Honeycutt Mission Control at the Maritime and Defense Hub in St. Petersburg, Florida . The official opening took place on Friday, December 15th , presided over by J.F. Honeycutt in person. J.F. Honeycutt is the former NASA Center Director of the Kennedy Space Center and former President of Lockheed Martin Space Operations.

The Mission Control Center is poised to play a crucial role in Lonestar's global data disaster recovery missions, especially for its first two upcoming missions with NASA CLPS provider, Intuitive Machines of Houston, TX , launching on SpaceX scheduled for 2024. (1/16)

AMF and NSS Host Launcheon Series (Source: AMF)
Space Launcheon Series (SLS) hosted by The Astronauts Memorial Foundation and National Space Society is a monthly luncheon and your connection to space! Join us at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in The Center for Space Education's Conference Center for this unique experience to stay in the know about space by hearing from inspiring keynote speakers, pioneers and legends in space history, and former astronauts.

In January, prepare to be captivated by Dr. Tom Jones' engaging storytelling! In his presentation, he will share orbital experiences from his book, Space Shuttle Stories, where he interviewed astronauts from all 135 Space Shuttle missions. During his own career, Tom led three spacewalks to install the centerpiece US Lab at the International Space Station. Overall, he flew on four Space Shuttle missions to Earth orbit and spent fifty-three days working and living in space. Click here. (1/17)

Northrop Grumman Tests Second-Stage Rocket Motor for ICBM (Source: Space News)
Northrop Grumman has tested the motor it will use on the second stage of a new intercontinental ballistic missile. The second-stage motor for the new missile, named LGM-35A Sentinel, was tested in a vacuum chamber at the Air Force Arnold Engineering Development Complex intended to simulate the conditions it would experience in flight. Northrop won a $13.3 billion contract in 2020 to design and develop the ICBM to replace the nation's aging Minuteman 3 missiles. (1/17)
 
Momentus Plans $4 Million Stock Sale (Source: Momentus)
Cash-strapped Momentus plans to sell $4 million in stock. The in-space transportation company said Tuesday that an unnamed "U.S. institutional investor" had agreed to buy the stock in a deal expected to close Wednesday. Momentus announced Friday that it was delaying the next flight of its Vigoride space tug, and had laid off 20% of its workforce, because it was running low on cash. (1/17)

Synopsis to Acquire Ansys for $35 Billion (Source: AP)
The parent company of space software developer AGI is being acquired. Synopsys, a company known for semiconductor and electronic design software, announced Tuesday plans to acquire Ansys for $35 billion. Ansys, a developer of engineering simulation software, purchased AGI in 2020. AGI is known for its STK software suite used in aerospace and defense applications. Synopsys expects its acquisition of Ansys to close in the first half of next year. (1/17)

NASA Names Vogel as Head of Space Tech Mission Directorate (Source: NASA)
NASA has selected a new head of its space technology mission directorate. The agency announced Tuesday it has named Kurt "Spuds" Vogel the new associate administrator for space technology, effectively immediately. Vogel joined NASA in 2021 as director of space architectures, leading work on the development of the the agency's Moon to Mars architecture. He previously held roles at DARPA, Air Force Research Lab and National Reconnaissance Office. Vogel succeeds Jim Reuter, who retired from NASA last June. (1/17)

Investors Fund Commercial Space Infrastructure (Source: CNBC)
Investment in the space sector saw a significant recovery in 2023, approaching the record high of 2021, with a total of $12.5 billion invested, as reported by Space Capital in New York. The firm's report highlights that the majority of investment was in space infrastructure. (1/16)

Mexico Set for Space Sector Boost with New National Rocket and Space Center, Supported by Tampa's Merida Aerospace (Source: Space Daily)
Merida Aerospace, a Tampa-based aerospace company, is set to make a substantial contribution to the space exploration and education landscape in Mexico. Drawing inspiration from the renowned U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, the ambitious project seeks to position Mexico as a significant player in the rapidly expanding space economy.

The National Rocket and Space Center, envisioned for the Yucatan Peninsula, promises to be a multifaceted facility, equipped with state-of-the-art amenities. These include a museum, observatory, and immersive experiences open to the public. Additionally, the center will feature space camps, offering hands-on training for students and individuals interested in space operations. (1/17)

NASA KSC Managing NASA/DOD Cubesat Collaboration with Universities (Source: Space Daily)
NASA, in partnership with the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, is initiating an innovative program aimed at fostering small satellite development skills among higher education institutions. This collaborative effort seeks to provide comprehensive systems engineering training to faculty and students, enhancing their proficiency in small satellite technology.

As part of the University Nanosatellite Program Mission Concepts 2024 Summer Series, selected teams will undergo a series of hands-on learning engagements. This initiative is not just an educational endeavor; it is also a strategic move to bolster small satellite expertise within U.S. universities. Running from May through August 2024, the program promises to be a conduit for practical knowledge and industrial workforce preparation.

Managed by NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the program's leadership comes from an agency with a rich history in space exploration and technology development. NASA's expertise, combined with the operational and strategic capabilities of the U.S. Air Force and Space Force, creates a robust framework for advancing the skills and knowledge of the next generation of aerospace professionals. (1/17)

Ciccateri to Lead Development of Space Prep Spacecraft Processing Facilities (Source: All Points Logistics)
All Points Logistics, a diversified space and technical services company developing new launch support infrastructure in Florida and California, appoints Mr. Dan Ciccateri to the position of senior vice president of development and operations for launch support services. In this role, Dan will be responsible for the designs, development, and operations of the company’s new Space Prep facilities for preparing future spacecraft for launch in Florida and California. (1/11)

With Access to Space on the Line, the U.S. is Eating its Seed Corn (Source: Space News)
Sometimes, success has unforeseen consequences. The Space Force and Air Force (and NASA) have, in essence, decided they will simply procure space launch as a service from SpaceX. This isn’t an actual decision but is nevertheless true enough, as it has become the default situation. Cost and availability — the comparative ease of getting a launch slot — have resulted in tremendous business success for SpaceX.

An unforeseen consequence of this success is that the Space Force, the Air Force, and NASA have deprioritized rocket research and development efforts that would foster continued independent space access. Some programmatic officers would suggest there is no need for the government to continue to pursue rocket science. SpaceX is doing the required R&D, so why spend money on anything other than what’s needed for deep space? Imagine if the U.S. government had decided to stop further aircraft R&D because the Ford Tri-Motor was finally flying between Cleveland and Chicago. (1/17)

Congress Preparing Stopgap Funding Bill to Avert Shutdown (Source: Politico)
Congress is preparing another stopgap funding bill to keep the federal government open until March. Congressional leaders are working on a continuing resolution (CR) that would fund some agencies through March 1 and the rest through March 8. The current CR is set to expire this week for some agencies, like the Department of Transportation, and Congress has made slow progress on full-year appropriations bills for 2024. (1/15)

Indian Astronauts May Use Russian Pressure Suit (Source: Hindustan Times)
Indian astronauts may use a Russian-made pressure suit. Documents from the Indian space agency ISRO show that while the agency is finishing development of its own pressure suits, it expects to use Russian suits on the first crewed Gaganyaan flight given "the programmatic requirements and to doubly ensure the crew safety." ISRO has declared 2024 the "year of Gaganyaan" with several uncrewed test flights planned, although the first flight with Indian astronauts is not expected until 2025. (1/15)

Apex Completes Ultra-Fast Satellite Qualification (Source: Payload Space)
LA-based satellite manufacturer Apex Space Systems has assembled, integrated, and tested its first satellite bus less than a year after beginning the design process. The first build of the company’s Aries platform, a 200-kg ESPA-class vehicle, is ready to ship for launch on Transporter-10 in a few months. According to Apex, it’s the fastest an ESPA-class vehicle has ever progressed from the design phase to completion. Design work began in February 2023, and testing wrapped in the first few days of 2024. It’s a key validation of the build-fast ethos that defines the company’s approach to satellite design. (1/16)

Northrop Tech Helps AUKUS Safeguard Satellites (Source: Air Force Technology)
Northrop Grumman, in collaboration with the AUKUS alliance, is enhancing space security with the development of the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability. DARC offers continuous, weather-resistant monitoring and protection for satellites in geosynchronous orbit through a global network of three advanced ground-based sensors. (1/12)

Space and Submarine Explorers Are Right to Take Risks (Source: Scientific American)
As we await the final investigation results from the loss of the Titan submersible, which killed five people last summer at a depth of over 12,000 feet in the Atlantic, the tragedy has drawn questions far above the ocean depths, asking whether similar hazards face the burgeoning private exploration of space.

To be more realistic, these questions lead to an uncomfortable truth about what eventually will happen in space. No matter how safe a system or stringent regulations, someday, somehow, something will go wrong in private space travel, and people will die. So, how much can be done to minimize the chance of this occurring, and how do we react when it inevitably does? Click here. (1/15)

NASA Backs Solar-Powered eVTOL That Can Explore the Entire Surface of Mars (Source: DesignBoom)
NASA backs the creation of CoFlow Jet’s MAGGIE (Mars Aerial and Ground Intelligent Explorer), a solar-powered eVTOL that can be used to explore nearly the entire surface of Mars for research and studies. MAGGIE forms part of NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts program (more about this below) which aims to foster and fund technology and transform these concept studies into real products with potential commercialization.

MAGGIE is expected to employ the advanced deflected slipstream technology of CoFlow Jet – the author of the project – which involves directing the airflow to enhance the performance and efficiency of the solar-powered eVTOL. NASA’s support to MAGGIE sees the production of the aircraft that may be used to conduct three atmospheric and geophysical investigations, all supporting different timescales of the Dynamic Mars science theme. (1/15)

Expect North Korean Provocations in Low Earth Orbit (Source: The Diplomat)
There is good news and bad news in North Korea’s successful November 21, 2023 launch of Malligyong-1, a military optical reconnaissance satellite. The good news is that this technological success gave North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un the opportunity to abandon reunification of the Korean peninsula as a regime goal, a concession made in a typically bellicose speech on December 31, 2023. The bad news is that space offers North Korea new opportunities to engage in more diplomacy provocation cycle gaming.

Given that North Korea is unlikely to be planning a suicidal nuclear attack on South Korea, Japan and the United States, what more do satellites offer the regime? The answer is that space is a new realm to engage in its strategy of extracting diplomatic or economic concessions from the United States and South Korea in what observers term a provocation-diplomacy cycle. Like an aggressive panhandler, North Korea uses physical intimidation and menacing language to win payoffs from wealthier democratic countries that prefer peace to perpetual crisis. (1/12)

Starlink Close Encounters Decrease Despite Ever-Growing Number of Satellites (Source: Space.com)
SpaceX has reported that the number of close encounters between its satellites and other orbital objects has not increased in the past six months despite the constellation's growth. Space sustainability experts say the development is good news but warn the decrease in avoidance maneuvers is likely just a deviation from what has been a longer-term upward trend. (1/15)

SpaceX Updates on Starship and Starbase (Source: Ars Technica)
SpaceX is constructing a second Starship launch pad at Starbase in Texas. "We’re going to really be launching a lot, and we’re going to be upgrading one tower while we’re launching from another tower, so two towers is important," Musk said. The Starship will come in different configurations, such as the lunar lander, tanker, propellant depot, and satellite deployer.

Musk said SpaceX is developing upgraded Starships, which he called Version 2 and Version 3, with "better performance and endurance." Version 3 of Starship, in particular, will be a taller vehicle, extending the world's largest rocket from its current height of 121 meters up to 140 meters or more. For Artemis, SpaceX will likely need to fly Starships nearly as often as it's launching Falcon 9 rockets—multiple times per week—to aggregate methane and liquid oxygen propellants into a storage depot in Earth orbit. Then the human-rated Starship lander will launch into low-Earth orbit, link up with the depot, and receive its full propellant load to head for the Moon.

The human-rated Starship lander, the Starship depot, and Starship tankers will all launch on top of Super Heavy boosters from sites in Texas and Florida. NASA's astronaut crews will depart Earth on NASA's Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, then link up with the Starship lander in orbit around the Moon. Starship will ferry two of the four-person Artemis crew from Orion to the lunar surface, then back to Orion for the ride home. (1/15)