January 25, 2024

SpaceX Expanding Staff and Facilities at California Spaceport (Source: NoozHawk)
From engineers to cooks, SpaceX is looking to boost its workforce at Vandenberg Space Force Base as the firm aims for weekly Falcon 9 rocket launches in 2024, and more in the coming years. The firm launched its third Falcon 9 rocket of the year Tuesday afternoon from Vandenberg with 22 Starlink satellites. As SpaceX boosts its launch rate on the West Coast due to satellites needing rides into orbit, the company intends to grow its workforce.

More than 40 positions are posted on the SpaceX website offering jobs for three shifts and weekends. During a REACH Ideas + Action Summit in Goleta last week, Felicia Casciano, SpaceX senior manager of launch operations, spoke about the hiring campaign. In addition to Space Launch Complex-4, SpaceX will be adding a second facility, Space Launch Complex-6, to help as the cadence climbs. (1/23)

Europe Plans Sovereign Broadband Constellation (Source: Space News)
European space giants are putting the final touches on a proposal for a sovereign broadband constellation they say is inspired by Starlink but will not be a copy of SpaceX’s network from across the Atlantic. Executives from Airbus Defence and Space, Thales Alenia Space, and Arianespace — part of a group of companies developing the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS²) constellation, discussed the project Jan. 23 at the European Space Conference in Brussels.

Despite a looming mid-February deadline to submit their best and final offer to the European Commission, they were guarded about their proposal, including how the private sector would fund 60% of the 6 billion euro project ($6.5 billion) not covered by European Union members, not including potential cost overruns. (1/24)

CASIS Aims to Expand Genes-in-Space Toolkit on ISS (Source: CASIS)
For nearly a decade, Genes in Space has challenged students to develop spaceflight experiments that use biotechnology to address spaceflight challenges. Founded by Boeing and miniPCRbio, the program relies on distinct tools that can be used individually or in conjunction with one another to carry out research investigations on the ISS.

To provide student researchers with even more options and expand the capabilities of the Genes in Space toolkit, Boeing is partnering with NASA and the ISS National Laboratory to launch an investigation to the space station to test protocols that can be used as a foundation for future student Genes in Space investigations. The investigation will launch to the space station on January 29. Instead of launching samples that will be analyzed in space, the investigation focuses on collecting samples directly from the space station and then analyzing those samples in orbit. (1/24)

Spain's PLD Space Selected for European Institutional Space Launch Contracts (Source: Space Daily)
PLD Space, a Spain-based aerospace company, has been chosen by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission (EC) to participate in the prestigious Flight Ticket Initiative. This program is designed to form a consortium of private launch providers to cater to the space access demands of European institutions.

PLD Space has earned the distinction of being the only Spanish company in this select group, joining the ranks of Arianespace (France), Isar Aerospace (Germany), Orbex Space (United Kingdom), and Rocket Factory Augsburg (Germany). The selection, announced at the European Space Conference in Brussels, signifies a notable shift in the European space launch landscape. (1/25)

New Findings from Ryugu Samples Reveal Cometary Organic Matter (Source: Space Daily)
In a recent development that adds another layer to our understanding of the solar system's complexity, researchers have uncovered intriguing evidence from the asteroid Ryugu. This near-Earth asteroid, which came into the spotlight following the successful Hayabusa2 mission by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), continues to offer rich insights, particularly about the presence and transportation of organic materials in space. (1/25)

PowerLight Technologies Joins Forces with Blue Origin for DARPA's LunA-10 Lunar Power Project (Source: Space Daily)
In a significant development for lunar exploration and power infrastructure, PowerLight Technologies, a leader in long-distance wireless power beaming, has announced its collaboration with aerospace company Blue Origin under the DARPA Lunar Architecture (LunA-10) initiative. This partnership marks a pivotal step in developing scalable surface power infrastructure for lunar services, utilizing lunar-sourced materials and wireless power beaming. (1/25)

Capella Space and Floodbase Unite to Enhance Parametric Flood Insurance with Advanced SAR Imagery (Source: Space Daily)
Capella Space Corp., an American space technology firm known for its advanced data and satellite solutions, has entered into a strategic partnership with Floodbase, a key player in the parametric flood insurance market. This collaboration is set to introduce high-resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite data into Floodbase's comprehensive solution for parametric flood insurance, a move that is expected to significantly enhance the accuracy and reliability of flood insurance products. (1/25)

Freedom Space Technologies Secures Contract to Enhance Space Force's FORGE C2 Mission (Source: Space Daily)
Freedom Space Technologies announced a significant collaboration with OMNI Federal, marking its initial contract win in the space technology sector. This partnership is dedicated to supporting the Future Operationally Resilient Ground Evolution System (FORGE) Command and Control (C2) for the Space Systems Command/Space Sensing Directorate (SSC/SN), an essential modernization activity within the Space Force. The FORGE C2 initiative aims to transition the capabilities of both legacy and future space assets to a Missile Warning ground baseline. (1/25)

GITAI's S2 Robotic Arm Set for Launch to ISS (Source: Space Daily)
GITAI USA is gearing up to deploy its 1.5-meter-long autonomous dual robotic arm system, known as S2. This novel robotic system is scheduled for launch to the ISS on January 29. Once onboard the ISS, the S2 will embark on an external demonstration of in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM) capabilities. These activities are vital for the maintenance and extension of satellite operations and the construction of future space infrastructures. GITAI's S2 will be mounted externally on the ISS, utilizing the Nanoracks Bishop Airlock. (1/25)

L3Harris Supports Deep Space Tracking Capability (Source: Air Force Technology)
L3Harris Technologies has received a contract modification from the US Department of Defense to continue supporting the Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance network, raising the total contract value to $818.6 million. GEODSS is key to the tracking of deep space objects. (1/24)

Firefly Aerospace Onboarded as Launch Provider for the NRO with Alpha Rocket (Source: Firefly Aerospace)
Firefly Aerospace announced it was selected by the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) to serve as a launch provider with Firefly’s Alpha rocket. As part of the NRO’s Streamlined Launch Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity Contract (SLIC), the agreement has a 10-year ordering period with a ceiling value of $700 million across all firm fixed-price task orders. (1/25)

Japan's Lunar Lander Suffered Thruster Failure on Moon Landing (Source: Space News)
An engine malfunction caused a Japanese spacecraft to land on the moon on its nose. The Japanese space agency JAXA said Thursday that one of two main thrusters on its Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) failed during the final phase of landing. The spacecraft was designed to tip over to land on its side, but an image taken by a tiny rover ejected from SLIM during its descent showed the spacecraft resting on its nose, the thrusters pointing up.

Despite the anomaly, the spacecraft landed within 55 meters of its target, achieving a key mission goal of demonstrating landing precision of 100 meters or better. The spacecraft remains powered down because its solar panels are not facing the sun, but project leaders said there is a possibility sunlight could reach the panels and revive the lander before sundown next week. (1/25)

European Union Set to Release Draft Space Law (Source: Space News)
The European Commission is preparing to release a draft EU space law proposal by March. Commission officials have been guarded about the contents of the bill, but said at the European Space Conference that the legislation is intended to harmonize the current "fragmented" set of national space laws in Europe and specifically address safety, resilience and sustainability. The law would apply to both European companies as well as non-European companies seeking to do business in the EU, addressing concerns from European companies who say they support the goals of the bill but want a level playing field. (1/25)

ESA Sees Strong Interest in Commercial Cargo Program (Source: Space News)
ESA says it has seen strong interest in its commercial cargo program. The agency released a call for proposals last month for the first phase of the LEO Cargo Return Service program, which will support development of commercial vehicles that can transport cargo to and from the International Space Station and future private space stations. ESA plans to award up to three study contracts in May with a total value of 75 million euros. The goal of the program is to have commercial vehicles in service by 2028. The companies interested in the program range from ArianeGroup, which is considering offering a version of its SUSIE vehicle announced in 2022, to The Exploration Company, a startup that is already developing commercial cargo return vehicles. (1/25)

First Crewed CST-100 Starliner Launch On Track for April (Source: NASA)
The first crewed flight of Boeing's CST-100 Starliner remains on schedule for as soon as the middle of April. NASA said Wednesday that teams have made "significant progress" addressing technical issues with tape used on wiring that turned out to be flammable as well as modifications to the spacecraft's parachutes. That work, the agency said, keeps the Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission on track for a launch no earlier than mid-April, sending NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the ISS for a stay of one to two weeks. Successful completion of the CFT mission would allow NASA to certify Starliner for use in regular crew rotation flights, starting next year. (1/25)

Facing Withering Criticism, State Delays Vote on Proposed Swap to Give State Park Land to SpaceX (Source: San Antonio Express-News)
A state-led swap that would give SpaceX dozens of acres of state park land near its Boca Chica Starship facilities — a plan that surprised Cameron County officials and sparked widespread opposition — was pulled Wednesday from a meeting scheduled for Thursday.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department proposal made public earlier this month aims to give the commercial space company 43 acres of Boca Chica State Park in exchange for 477 acres of land apparently owned by SpaceX near the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, about 10 miles to the northwest.

Parks and wildlife commissioners were set to vote on the plan Thursday morning but the item was withdrawn from the agenda after they were hit with criticism from concerned residents, county officials and environmental groups including the Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter and SaveRGV. Many called on the state to table the proposal to allow more time for public disclosure and discussion. (1/24)

Lack Of Appropriations Limiting Space Force Growth, Service Argues (Source: Aviation Week)
At just more than four years old, the U.S. Space Force still needs to grow in size, budget and influence so the military can effectively use capabilities on orbit in planning and operations—and that is a challenge under current budget restrictions, according to a serivce official. (1/24)

Chinese Reusable Rocket One Step Closer (Source: China Daily)
A recent test by LandSpace, a leading private space launch company in China, has moved the company closer to its goal of building the nation's first reusable carrier rocket, according to industry observers. LandSpace, which shot the world's first methane-propelled rocket into orbit last year, carried out its first "hop test" — in which a rocket lifts off to a certain altitude and then makes a controlled vertical landing — at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China's Gobi Desert.

During the one-minute "vertical takeoff and vertical landing (VTVL)" test, the experimental rocket reached a height of approximately 350 meters and then descended to softly land on a designated point with a descent speed of 0.75 meters per second and an accuracy of about 2.4 meters. The rocket's liftoff weight for the test was 50.3 metric tons, and it can contain more propellants in subsequent tests to a maximum overall weight of 68 tons, designers said.

Powered by a modified 80-ton-thrust TQ 12 methane engine, the experimental vehicle is 18.3 meters tall with a diameter of 3.35 meters, and is made of stainless steel. "The rocket landed steadily and accurately, and remained in good condition. The flight was a complete success," LandSpace announced after the test, noting it laid a solid technical foundation for the maiden launch of its ZQ 3 reusable rocket. (1/23)

SpaceX, Blue Origin Space Race Is Boosting Suppliers' Bottom Lines (Source: Financial Post)
As private space firms like Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin step up rocket production and development and more nations race to the moon, mid-size manufacturers that provide their equipment and supplies are reaping the benefits. Satellite builder MDA Ltd, heat-transfer manufacturer Graham Corp and aluminum maker Constellium SE all saw share gains of two-thirds or more last year, driven in part by the billions of dollars in private and government funding for space exploration and the creation of large-scale satellite networks. (1/23)

Space Florida Seeks to Expand Spaceport Designations and Tax Exemptions During the Legislative Session (Source: WMFE)
Space Florida, the state agency responsible for developing Florida’s private space industry, recently released its top priorities for the ongoing Legislative Session. Leaders in Florida’s space industry are looking to expand aerospace infrastructure and make spaceport bonds tax exempt. HB 577 and SB 968 seek to expand Florida's spaceport system territory to include Tyndall Air Force Base and Homestead Air Reserve Base.

Space Florida says the land owners still have authority over what projects or improvements can be made. CS/HM 143 and SB 370 seeks to add seaports as a qualified tax-exempt category of private activity bonds. Space Florida is urging Congress to take action, as receiving the tax exemption is not something the state alone can change. Jim Gregory, Dean of the College of Engineering at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, said Space Florida's expansion plans are an indication that the aerospace industry is on the rise in the Sunshine State. (1/23)

New European Launcher Policy Pledge After Ariane Failure, Trump Risk (Source: EurpNews)
Reliance on US tech to get into orbit is causing jitters, as the prospect of a second Trump presidency gets closer. The EU has vowed to safeguard its access to space, as the failure of the landmark Ariane programme leaves the bloc reliant on US launchers. An “unprecedented crisis” required a “paradigm shift”, the European Commission’s Thierry Breton told a conference in Brussels after repeated delays to Ariane 6 put ambitions at risk.

“We will know today if Donald Trump is likely to be the next American president,” said Thomas Dermine, State Secretary for Strategic Investments in Belgium, which is currently chairing the EU Council grouping of member states. “The fact that we live with stable allies with the US is not a given for sure in the future, and this must be a wake-up call,” Dermine said, adding: “We will need increasingly to rely on our own European resources.”

“Europe has lost its independent access to space,” putting at risk the sovereign development of its flagship space initiatives, Breton said. "There are still too many conservatisms and postures that do not serve Europe ... We need to go further and join forces to radically change our European approach,” defining a “European launcher policy within an EU framework,” he added – promising measures to aggregate demand for launchers from European civilian and military institutions and boost research. (1/23)

'Ohioans in Space' Statehouse Painting Features Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, Jim Lovell, Judith Resnik (Source: Columbus Dispatch)
Later this week, the likenesses of Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, Jim Lovell and Judith Resnik will join those of Wilbur and Orville Wright at the Ohio Statehouse. At an event on Wednesday night at the statehouse, a newly commissioned 9-by-12-foot painting of those Ohio-born pioneer astronauts will receive its official unveiling. It will soon be hung directly across from an identically proportioned large-scale painting of the Wright brothers that has been on display for decades. (1/23)

Scientists, Astronauts, Medical Experts, Legislators Attend Space Workshop in Tulsa (Source: KRMG)
Oklahoma has a long and storied history in the realms of aviation and space exploration. The state produced pioneer aviators like Wiley Post, as well as astronauts like Gordon Cooper, one of the original seven Mercury Astronauts, and Tom Stafford, who spent more than five hundred hours in space during four Gemini and Apollo missions. This week, he brought experts from a number of fields together for a workshop in Tulsa that may open a new chapter in the race to space.

It was organized under the auspices of the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety, or IAASS. “This workshop in Tulsa is all about understanding human physiology, so that the people living and working in space can do so safely,” Jim Bridenstine. “The challenge that we have is that the ‘informed’ piece of informed consent is very, very small. We just don’t have data.” (1/23)

Erdoğan’s 2021 Criticism of Space Spending Resurfaces After First Turkish Astronaut Reaches ISS (Source: Turkish Minute)
After the first Turkish astronaut aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket embarked on a 14-day mission to the ISS, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s 2021 speech, in which he criticized the enormous spending of the rich on space tourism and highlighted the plight of millions of people struggling to access basic food, was revisited on social media.

Many argue that the funds could have been better spent, especially considering Turkey’s current economic situation. The mission’s funding and its timing, closely preceding local elections, have fueled suspicions of it being a political maneuver by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). President Erdoğan, however, has defended the mission, aligning it with Turkey’s National Space Program and its potential scientific contributions. His previous remarks from 2021, criticizing the extravagant spending on space tourism amid widespread poverty, have resurfaced, adding an ironic twist to the current discourse. (1/23)

Can Private Companies Carry NASA Back to the Moon? (Source: The Verge)
The most significant difference between lunar programs then and now is the amount of money being invested by the government into NASA. With a relatively smaller budget, the agency is turning to private companies to help its lunar ambitions. “I think now the governments are not as involved,” said astrophysicist Ehud Behar of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. “They’re not as determined. And that’s maybe a good thing because the private sector is coming in and filling in that gap.”

“The resources are not as much as they were back then [in the Apollo era] but I think the private sector involvement is going to get us there eventually,” Behar said. That approach has arguably worked well for low Earth orbit, where companies are already building out an economy that spans far beyond the kind of launch services offered by SpaceX or Rocket Lab.

“Space has become a place where you can do business,” Behar said. “The main businesses right now in space are communications, navigation, development of special materials, optics, medicine. Companies realize that it’s worth the investment of doing these kinds of missions or these kinds of experiments in space.” (1/23)

Eyes in the Sky: The Increasing Importance of Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) for National Security (Source: Space News)
In the evolving landscape of satellite imagery for aerospace and defense, the strategic significance of very low Earth orbit (VLEO) is becoming increasingly apparent. Specifically, satellites flying at half the altitude of legacy low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites — commonly 250 to 350 km — are twice as close to the action on the ground, and therefore better able to observe it. The ability to position satellites closer to Earth has unlocked new possibilities for military and intelligence operations in particular. While orbiting at this altitude came with engineering challenges to overcome, the fruits of R&D labor are now being realized.

National security missions will soon be able to use VLEO to unlock higher resolution imagery while also reducing cost. Cost can be reduced by using smaller launchers; using commercially available cameras which don’t require the radiation hardened electronics necessary for operation in higher orbits; and by not requiring large optics to make up for the higher altitudes of LEO. But operating in VLEO isn’t just about higher resolution and cost savings, it also presents a unique mitigation to the growing threat of space debris in LEO. (1/24)

Vera Rubin Will Help Us Find the Weird and Wonderful Things Happening in the Solar System (Source: Phys.org)
The Vera Rubin Observatory (VRO) is something special among telescopes. It's not built for better angular resolution and increased resolving power like the European Extremely Large Telescope or the Giant Magellan Telescope. It's built around a massive digital camera and will repeatedly capture broad, deep views of the entire sky rather than focus on any individual objects.

By repeatedly surveying the sky, the VRO will spot any changes or astronomical transients. Astronomers call this type of observation time domain astronomy. When the VRO spots something transient in the night sky, it'll automatically send alerts out to other observatories that will observe the transient object in detail. It could be a distant supernova explosion, a hazardous asteroid here in the inner solar system, or anything that registers a change in the sky. The VRO's job is to spot it and then pass the baton to other observatories. (1/23)

NASA Invests in Novel Nuclear In-Space Propulsion Concept (Source: Universe Today)
Nuclear concepts that are possible with current technology include nuclear-thermal and nuclear-electric propulsion (NTP/NEP), which have the necessary thrust to reach locations in deep space. However, as Bickford and his team noted, they are also large, heavy, and expensive to manufacture. “In contrast, we propose a thin film nuclear isotope engine with sufficient capability to search, rendezvous, and then return samples from distant and rapidly moving interstellar objects.” they write. “The same technology allows a gravitational lens telescope to be repointed so a single mission could observe numerous high-value targets.”

The basic concept is similar to a solar sail, except that it relies on thin sheets of a radioactive isotope that uses the momentum of its decay products to generate thrust. As they describe it, the baseline design incorporates sheets of the Thorium-228 measuring about ~10 micrometers thick. This naturally radioactive metal (typically used in radiation therapy) undergoes alpha decay with a half-life of 1.9 years. Thrust is produced by coating one side with a ~50-micrometer thick absorber layer, forcing alpha particles in the direction opposite of travel. (1/23)

Japan's Moon Lander Could Still Be Saved, And Lots of Data Has Been Received (Source: Science Alert)
Japan switched off its Moon lander almost three hours after a historic touchdown to allow for a possible recovery of the craft when the sun hits its solar panels, the space agency said Monday. Before turning the lander off remotely, mission control was able to receive technical and image data from its descent, and from the lunar surface.

"We're relieved and beginning to get excited after confirming a lot of data has been obtained," JAXA said Monday in a statement, adding that "according to the telemetry data, SLIM's solar cells are facing west"... "If sunlight hits the Moon from the west in the future, we believe there's a possibility of power generation, and we're currently preparing for restoration," it said. (1/24)

Why NASA Advised Astrobotic Not to Ditch Peregrine on the Moon (Source: BGR)
The destruction of Astrobotic’s iconic lander on Earth re-entry was probably for the best and was even spurred on by NASA, according to certain reports. See, Peregrine was Astrobotic’s first space mission. As such, the company is still very much learning things as it goes. Which is perfectly fine. However, when the Peregrine lander found itself facing destruction during its mission, Astrobotic turned to NASA. According to John Thornton, the CEO of Astrobotic, NASA’s recommendation was to send the lander back to Earth, where it could safely be disposed of as it burned up during re-entry. (1/23)

Blue Origin Gets U.S. Space Force Funding for New Glenn ‘Integration Studies’ (Source: Space News)
Blue Origin has secured a contract with the Space Force for integration studies related to its New Glenn launch vehicle. The new agreement marks a significant step in Blue Origin’s potential participation in the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 program, a multi-billion dollar procurement of launch services for national security satellites. The Space Force awarded nearly $18 million for “National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 2 early integration studies to assess launch vehicle trajectory and mission design, coupled launch loads, and integrated thermal environments to inform compatibility between launch vehicles and space vehicles for missions planned in fiscal years 2025 and 2026.” (1/24)