January 31, 2024

Starlab Commercial Space Station to Launch on Starship (Source: Space News)
Starlab Space, a joint venture of Voyager Space and Airbus Space and Defence, announced Jan. 31 it reached an agreement with SpaceX to launch the Starlab station on Starship. The companies did not disclose terms of the agreement or a projected launch date, although a spokesperson for Starlab Space said the company was confident that Starlab would be launched before the decommissioning of the International Space Station, currently scheduled for 2030. (1/31)

Rocket Lab Starts Busy Year with Successful Booster Recovery (Source: Space Daily)
A noteworthy aspect of the "Four of a Kind" mission was the successful return of the Electron rocket's first stage, a key milestone in Rocket Lab's journey towards making the Electron a reusable launch vehicle. Following stage separation, the booster descended back to Earth, guided by a parachute, and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean. This recovery operation is part of a broader strategy to reuse previously-launched first stages on future missions, aligning with the industry's move towards sustainable and cost-effective space access. (1/31)

Rocketlab Launches Spire and NorthStar Space Sustainability Mission with Dedicated Flight (Source: Space Daily)
Spire Global has successfully launched the first commercial satellite constellation for Space Situational Awareness (SSA) in partnership with NorthStar Earth and Space. This milestone event took place on January 31, 2024 from Rocket Lab's Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. The launch, aptly named 'Four of a Kind,' saw the deployment of four satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO).

With these satellites, NorthStar Earth and Space becomes the first commercial entity to actively monitor space from space, offering an unprecedented level of SSA services to the global satellite community. This includes essential services such as space object detection, tracking, orbit determination, collision avoidance, and proximity alerts. (1/31)

Northrop Grumman Marks 20th ISS Resupply Mission with Cygnus Launch (Source: Space Daily)
Northrop Grumman has launched its 20th cargo resupply mission to the ISS, solidifying its role in ongoing space logistics and exploration. The mission, designated NG-20, was carried out using SpaceX's renowned Falcon 9 rocket. This launch, taking place from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, marks a significant milestone in Northrop Grumman's history of space missions. (1/31)

SmartSat and New Zealand Space Agency Forge Partnership for Space Sector Innovation (Source: Space Daily)
In a significant development for the Australasian space sector, SmartSat Cooperative Research Center (SmartSat), Australia's leading space research center, has entered into a formal partnership with the New Zealand Space Agency (NZSA). This collaboration is marked by the signing of an agreement to catalyze the growth of the space industries in both Australia and New Zealand. Central to this agreement is the commitment of up to NZ $6 million from the New Zealand Government's Catalyst Fund. This funding is earmarked to support New Zealand researchers in participating in joint research initiatives across several key areas. (1/31)

Innovating Space Nutrition: BioNutrients' 5-Year Space Journey Nears End (Source: Space Daily)
NASA's groundbreaking bio-manufacturing experiment, BioNutrients, is nearing the completion of a five-year mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Since its launch in 2019, the experiment has been critical to exploring the use of microorganisms for producing on-demand nutrients, a key factor for maintaining human health during extended space missions, such as potential crewed missions to Mars.

The BioNutrients experiment, an initiative developed by NASA Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley, utilizes a hand-held system, known as a production pack. This innovative tool is designed to manufacture essential vitamins and other nutrients in the challenging conditions of space. The core idea is to assess the stability and performance of these production packs over a five-year span, under the unique environmental factors present in space. (1/31)

Webb Directly Images Two Planets Orbiting White Dwarfs (Source: Universe Today)
In several billion years, our Sun will become a white dwarf. What will happen to Jupiter and Saturn when the Sun transitions to become a stellar remnant? Life could go on, though the giant planets will likely drift further away from the Sun. Stars end their lives in different ways. Some meet their end as supernovae, cataclysmic explosions that destroy any orbiting planets and even sterilize planets light-years away. But only massive stars explode like that.

Researchers think that some white dwarfs have debris disks around them, out of which a new generation of planets can form. But researchers have also wondered if some planets can survive as stars transition from the main sequence to red giant to white dwarf. Researchers at the Space Telescope Science Institute, Goddard Space Flight Center, and other institutions have found what seem to be two giant planets orbiting two white dwarfs in two different systems. (1/30)

Companies Seek "Demand Signals" From Space Force for Satellite Servicing (Source: Space News)
Companies are looking to the Space Force to provide a "demand signal" for satellite servicing capabilities. Executives of satellite servicing firms said a clear signal of future demand is needed sooner rather than later, as companies struggle to secure funding based solely on long-term market potential. The Space Force, besides being a customer, can also set interoperability standards that help companies win business from commercial clients. In a conference keynote, Diane Howard, director of commercial space policy for the National Space Council, said the satellite servicing industry needed a "clear demand signal from government users" that include the Space Force, NRO and NASA. (1/31)

Space Force Reexamining Acquisition Strategy for Secure Narrow-Band Communications (Source: Breaking Defense)
As it studies the potential for new satellites to extend the lifetime of its current network, the Space Force is engaged in an effort to map out a longer-range acquisition strategy for narrow-band satellite communications — including whether, and if so how, commercial systems might be better leveraged. A final report outlining the pros and cons of various options is slated for sometime this spring. (1/30)

Space Force's Orbital Prime Program Aims to Catalyze Orbital Servicing Market (Source: Space News)
A U.S. Space Force initiative aimed at catalyzing the market for on-orbit services is entering a decisive phase. The Orbital Prime program awarded study contracts to more than 100 companies two years ago, later selecting 41 for Phase 2 Small Business Innovation Research contracts. SpaceWERX, the Space Force's innovation arm that runs Orbital Prime, is now weighing next steps for the program. A consulting firm supporting SpaceWERX said at Space Mobility that the ultimate winners will be those that can bridge the gap to commercial markets, but added that without government dollars, the future of Orbital Prime projects is highly uncertain. (1/31)

China's Growing Reconnaissance Fleet a Concern for Space Force (Source: Space News)
The growth of China's fleet of reconnaissance satellites has caught the attention of the Space Force. Chief Master Sgt. Ron Lerch of the Space Systems Command's intelligence directorate said at Space Mobility Tuesday that China's rapidly advancing military space-based reconnaissance capabilities are worrisome. That includes a series of optical and radar imaging satellites that Chinese officials have stated are intended for civilian purposes but which Lerch said have capabilities that point toward military applications like high-resolution reconnaissance of the Asia Pacific. (1/31)

Quindar Raises $6 Million for Satellite Operations Automation (Source: Space News)
Quindar, a startup developing software to automate satellite operations, has raised $6 million. The company announced the funding on Tuesday led by venture capital firm Fuse. The funding is an extension of a seed round Quindar raised last year. The company has developed a software tool to make it easier for customers to operate fleets of satellites, automating much of the work. Quindar is working with KSAT, which is using that software to provide satellite operation services to its customers. (1/31)

ESA Space Weather Mission Features Science and Forecasting (Source: Space News)
An upcoming ESA space weather mission will balance operations with science. Vigil, scheduled for launch in 2030, will operate from the sun-Earth L-5 Lagrange point, providing advance notice of solar storms. The spaceraft is designed to provide data about solar activity to support space weather forecasting, but Vigil's project manager said the spacecraft will also produce data for scientific research whenever possible to support development of improved models of solar activity. (1/31)

Workers Injured During Chinese Propellant Tank Test (Source: South China Morning Post)
Three employees of Chinese launch company LandSpace were injured in a test of a fuel tank. The company said it was conducting a test of a propellant tank, loading it with liquid nitrogen, when it ruptured and that three workers suffered "minor scratches." Residents in a nearby Shanghai neighborhood heard a boom from the test that some compared to an earthquake. The tank is intended for an enhanced version of the Zhuque-2 rocket with an increased payload capacity. (1/31)

Orion Capsule Heading to Smithsonian (Source: CollectSpace)
The Orion capsule from the Artemis 1 mission is heading to the Smithsonian. The capsule will be part of a new "At Home in Space" gallery at the National Air and Space Museum set to open in 2026 as part of renovations of the National Mall museum. NASA agreed to loan the capsule to the museum after it completes its use of the capsule for environmental tests. (1/31)

Why Defense Contractors Are Saying No to Their Biggest Customer: The Pentagon (Source: Wall Street Journal)
The Pentagon wants to develop advanced weapons systems to counter emerging overseas threats. Many defense contractors are avoiding projects that could turn into money-losers. The industry’s discontent has been brewing for months and reached a crescendo this past week when Northrop Grumman said it would take a charge of $1.2 billion building the first batches of the new B-21 Raider. The long-range bomber aircraft will be capable of carrying nuclear weapons and is a centerpiece of efforts to deter military actions from China and Russia. (1/30)

NASA Extends Goddard Logistics, Technical Information Services Contract (Source: NASA)
NASA has awarded a contract extension to TRAX International Corporation of Las Vegas for the Goddard Logistics and Technical Information II (GLTI II) services contract. GLTI II is a cost-plus, fixed-fee contract extension including technical performance incentive fees with a six-month base beginning Jan. 31, 2024, and three one-month options. The total potential award if all three options are exercised is about $46,760,000. The current contract, originally awarded in 2017 and extended in 2023, is valued at $419,869,000. (1/30)

What We Know About the Stars Where NASA Will Hunt for Alien Life (Source: New Scientist)
To prepare for one of the most advanced searches for life on other planets, astronomers have examined the stars that a new multibillion-dollar telescope might target. They discovered some may be better suited than others to hunt for potential alien life. In the 2040s, NASA plans to launch the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), a successor to the James Webb Space Telescope. Its primary goal is to image 25 Earth-like planets in the habitable zones of sun-like stars. Click here. (1/31)

Orbital Outpost X Names Negar Feher CEO (Source: Space News)
Negar Feher is the new CEO of Silicon Valley space technology startup Orbital Outpost X. OOX announced Jan. 30 that Feher, who has held management and technical roles at Lockheed Martin, Maxar Technologies, Momentus Space and SpaceRyde, would bring her “proven track record in scaling startups to commercial operations” to the company. In addition, Feher “served as a catalyst for early revenue generation” and secured key partnerships in her previous posts. (1/30)

'Starfield' Spacesuit Contest: ESA and Xbox will Build the Winner Their Own Custom Design (Source: Space.com)
The sci-fi gaming world has always had its fair share of awesome spacesuit designs, as seen in popular video game titles like "Starfield," "Mass Effect," "Halo," "Destiny," "Dead Space," "Gears of War," and countless others featuring the cold black abyss of space. Now Xbox, Microsoft's "Starfield," and ESA want to tap your brain for cool spacesuits and have partnered up to offer prizes and rewards for creative fans who submit a winning entry that, if picked as the top suit, can be privately worn at home for stylish space venturing. (1/30)

White House Official Urges More ‘Real’ Pentagon Investment in Space Mobility (Source: Breaking Defense)
The Space Force, National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and NASA need to move more quickly to provide “real” resources and funding to developing space mobility and logistics, a senior official at the White House National Space Council (NSpC) said in Orlando. Diane Howard, NSpC head of commercial space policy, said that while there has been some progress, government agencies are not moving out fast enough to pursue these new capabilities that “have the potential to transform commercial, civil and national national security space activities.”

Howard led the NSpC’s effort to develop both a legislative proposal and an administration framework to establish a new system for regulating novel space activities, including mobility and logistics missions such as on-orbit servicing and in-space refueling — missions that the Space Force and US Space Command consider key to enabling “dynamic space operations” necessary in any future fight in space with China. (1/30)

Asia's 1st Private Astronaut Training Facility Planned at Mumbai (Source: Times of India)
Making strides towards advancing human spaceflight capabilities and space tourism, Astroborne Aerospace, a Mumbai-based company, is in talks with the regional government for four acres of land in Navi Mumbai to establish what could become Asia's first private astronaut training facility. Astroborne is also developing India's first six-seater commercial space module -- Airawat -- engineered for suborbital space tourism missions. (1/31)

Vandenberg to See Weekly SpaceX Launch Cadence in 2024, SpaceX Leader Says (Source: Santa Maria Times)
With establishment of the state Space Industry Task Force in 2022, and the lease by SpaceX of Space Launch Complex 4 at Vandenberg Space Force Base, the base and the Central Coast are positioned to be increasingly prominent players in the global space race. SpaceX Senior Manager of Launch Operations, Felicia Casciano, said she sees the future demand for space launch capability from commercial and national security entities to do nothing but increase.

The recent lease of Space Launch Complex 4 is part of the foundation for increasing launch frequency on the West Coast, Casciano said. “Not only is the demand there, but now we’re really investing in infrastructure. We are in the middle of developing a state-of-the-art new production facility that we expect to be on line in the next one to two months here," she said. The launch complex and production facility will enable SpaceX to achieve a weekly launch cadence by 2024, said Casiano. Editor's Note: I believe she's referring to both Florida and California launches. (1/30)

SpaceX: DOD Has Requested Taking Over Starship For Individual Missions (Source: Aviation Week)
The Pentagon has approached SpaceX about potentially taking over Starship for sensitive and potentially dangerous missions as a government-owned, government-operated asset instead of contracting the company to launch payloads. The company has been exploring its options in responding, Gary Henry, a senior adviser with SpaceX, told the audience at the Space Mobility Conference here Jan. 30.

SpaceX is already on contract for development of the Department of the Air Force’s Rocket Cargo mission, with the goal of delivering cargo point to point through space. But this is beyond that plan, Henry says. “We have had conversations … and it really came down to specific missions, where it’s a very specific and sometimes elevated risk or maybe a dangerous use case for the DOD where they’re asking themselves: Do we need to own it as a particular asset … SpaceX, can you accommodate that?” he says. (1/30)

Ground Delays Holding Back Eutelsat’s Global LEO Broadband Services (Source: Space News)
Eutelsat expects to take a 7% revenue hit as delays securing landing rights in India, Thailand, Turkey, and elsewhere prevent the OneWeb broadband constellation it finished launching nearly a year ago from providing global coverage before the second half of 2024. The company had planned to start providing the service worldwide in early 2024 after deploying 633 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), including in-orbit spares. (1/29)

Former Naval Aviator and Accomplished NASA Astronaut Coming to Florida Tech (Source: Florida Tech)
Former NASA astronaut Chris Ferguson speaks at the 2024 Astronaut Scholar Awards presentation on Feb. 1 at Florida Tech. This event commemorate the achievements of Florida Tech students who have earned the Astronaut Scholarship, an award given to the best up-and-coming students in the STEM fields. (1/29)

NatGeo’s ‘The Space Race’ Spotlights Unsung Black Astronauts Who Changed NASA (Source: The Wrap)
National Geographic dropped its first trailer for “The Space Race” on Monday, a documentary charting the impact little-known Black men and women had on the early days of space exploration. “The Space Race” discloses experiences and stories from the unheard voices of the first Black individuals at Nasa who were involved with American space exploration. Centering on Guion Bluford (famous for becoming the first African American to fly in space), Ed Dwight and Charles Bolden, the doc showcases the history-making Black engineers, scientists and astronauts that previously were left out of our history books. (1/29)

Trump’s Presidential Push Renews Fears for US Science (Source: Nature)
Donald Trump’s promise to “dismantle the deep state” moved one step closer to reality last week as he cruised to victory in New Hampshire’s Republican presidential primary. Faced with the possibility of Trump winning the US presidency for a second time, science advocates are gearing up to fight what they see as an existential threat to the future of science in the US government.

If he wins, Trump, who now dominates the Republican party with his far-right following, has promised to revive a plan to reclassify tens of thousands of federal employees. These include scientists and others who are currently shielded from politics in permanent professional positions. This plan, known as Schedule F, would allow his administration to more easily fire “rogue bureaucrats” — those who he says oppose his political agenda and are part of the ‘deep state’. The administration could then appoint replacements, regardless of their scientific or technical expertise, who are aligned with Trump politically. (1/29)

Colorado Celebrates Victory in the National Battle for Space Command, But the Future is Uncertain (Source: CPR)
Anyone paying attention to Colorado news even casually over the past few years has likely heard something about Space Command headquarters and the years-long tussle between Colorado Springs and Huntsville, Alabama, over which city would finally claim it as their own. When it looked like the state would lose the command, Colorado’s entire political leadership agreed to set their differences aside and work together for a common goal: keeping it in Colorado Springs.

Aside from the bragging rights of housing another combatant command (Colorado Springs is already the home to NorthCom), Space Command could bring the region a long-term economic boost of over $1 billion, as well as attract and keep more companies interested in space national security. Colorado already has a strong aerospace sector. Space Command has the potential to boost it even further and help insulate it from downturns.

To understand the role Colorado’s political leaders played in convincing President Biden to keep the command in their state, CPR News spoke with many of the people who led the charge. They revealed a saga of intense lobbying, unlikely cooperation and pivotal conversations. CPR also reached out to Air Force officials, past and present, who were involved in the decision. All declined to comment. Click here. (1/29)

Virgin Galactic Adds Paid Seat On Sixth Commercial Flight (Source: Aviation Week)
For the first time, Virgin Galactic flew paying passengers without a company employee in the SpaceShipTwo crew cabin—another step in the evolution of a revenue-generating commercial suborbital flight service business. The Jan. 26 flight of Galactic 06 marked the first time all four passenger seats in the crew cabin of the VSS Unity spaceship were occupied by private astronauts. Virgin Galactic previously reserved one of the seats for an astronaut instructor.

As part of a strategic realignment to save money for the development of its next-generation Delta-class spaceships, Virgin Galactic plans to cut scheduled commercial spaceflight missions from the monthly rate it achieved in the second half of 2023 to just one per quarter until mid-2024. Editor's Note: That employee/instructor that's being eliminated--I presume--serves as a kind of flight attendant, responsible for ensuring cabin safety rules are followed and responding when passengers are ill or acting unsafe. In an environment as new and risky as suborbital flight, this seems unwise. (1/29)

Virgin Galactic’s Arizona Hangar Facility Completed (Source: AZ Big Media)
Agate Construction announced the successful completion of a 35,000 square foot, clear span hangar that will be used by the world’s first commercial space line, Virgin Galactic. The hangar’s building structure and enclosure completion marks a significant milestone in the construction of the Project at Mesa Gateway Airport. This newly constructed hangar will serve as the local base for Virgin Galactic’s spaceflight operations and is designed to accommodate Virgin Galactic’s spacecraft and support equipment. (1/29)

Florida Bills Urge Congress to Expand PABs for Spaceports (Sources: The Bond Buyer, SPACErePORT)
Florida lawmakers are asking Congress to expand the use of tax-exempt private activity bonds to include commercial spaceports. The bills moving through the ongoing Legislative Session are considered "memorials" to Congress, urging the members of Congress to add spaceports as a qualified tax-exempt category of private activity bonds. Memorials have no force of law, as they are mechanisms for formally petitioning the federal government to act on a particular subject. (1/29)

Space Florida Seeks Budget Increase During Legislative Session (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
Space Florida has requested its first bump in state funding in about a decade. It is seeking a $5 million increase to its $12.5 million operating budget. Space Florida President and CEO Rob Long said during a board meeting that the aerospace sector in Florida has grown 40% in the past decade. He said the funding request is mainly to increase staff, “to help us with the flow of deals that are constantly coming in...There is no shortage of business right now,” Long said.

With legislative leaders indicating this could be a year of fiscal belt-tightening, the Space Florida request didn’t appear in the initial budget proposals (PCB APC 24-01 and SPB 2500) released Friday by the House and Senate. Combined line items for the agency would match funding in the current fiscal year, which started July 1. Lawmakers in the coming weeks will negotiate a final budget for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Space Florida members last week had already seen the initial House budget figures, but Lt. Gov. Nunez remained optimistic. (1/29)

Shetlands Spaceport Could See Launch Every Month (Source: Sky News)
A German company is set to use the Shetland Islands to send rockets into space – with plans to launch at least one a month. Rocket Factory Augsburg's (RFA) chief commercial officer said excitement is building ahead of their "Olympic gold medal" moment this summer. If everything goes to plan, it will be Europe's first-ever launch delivering satellites into orbit. (1/29)

Canadian Space Agency Opens up Next Technology AO With $15 Million Available (Source: SpaceQ)
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has published its next Space Technology Development Program announce of opportunity (AO) with upwards of $15 million available. This round of funding for the Space Technology Development Program (STDP) is divided into three AO’s; 8.1 Space R&D – Advanced technologies; 8.2 Space R&D – Small businesses; and 8.3 Space R&D – Next wave of technologies.

All the AO’s have the same objective, “to support the technology development activities of the Canadian space sector. These activities will enable selected Canadian organizations to further their basic R&D capabilities with the ultimate purpose of increasing the commercial potential.” All the AO’s have the same application deadline, February 19, 2024. (1/29)

India, France Join Hands to Use LVM-3, Ariane-6 for Global Satellite Launches (Source: India Today)
NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and Arianespace SAS, France, have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to India. Under the terms of the MoU, NSIL's heavy-lift launch vehicle, LVM-3, and Arianespace's Ariane-6 will be at the forefront of this joint endeavor. Both launch vehicles are poised to play a crucial role in meeting the needs of the global launch service market, particularly for heavier communication and earth observation satellites, as well as for deploying satellites that form part of mega constellations. (1/30)

New Satellite Could Help Scientists Unravel Some of Earth's Mysteries (Source: USA Today)
Imagine coloring a picture with 200 crayons instead of eight. That’s the difference in light and color that a new satellite bound for orbit will bring to the study of microscopic particles in our atmosphere and waterways, said Jeremy Werdell. The satellite – called the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud and Ocean Ecosystem, or PACE – will provide critical new information to help better understand the role such particles play in the exchange of carbon dioxide and energy in the atmosphere and ocean, and in our changing climate, scientists said. (1/30)

Galileo, Now Fit for Aviation (Source: ESA)
Galileo, already the world’s most precise satellite navigation system, now meets international standards to guide civil aviation from take-off to landing, complementing Europe’s EGNOS for the most critical operations. Galileo was not designed to comply with these strict safety requirements, so how did engineers at ESA achieve this feat? This is a tale of engineering excellence. (1/29)

How Bockchain Technology Could Help Reveal the Origins of Life (Source: Space.com)
Investigating pre-life or "prebiotic" chemistry requires looking at as many as over 11 billion possible reactions between molecules. There are just so many permutations to deal with. As you can imagine, completing such a task in full would require a huge amount of computing power. Yet, the team behind the new discovery, led by Bartosz Grzybowsk of the Korea Institute for Basic Science and the Polish Academy of Sciences, lacked a supercomputer to conduct this kind of massive investigation. So, instead, they turned to what's known as "Golem."

Golem is a cryptocurrency-mining platform that orchestrates various calculations over hundreds of computers across the world, then exchanges cryptocurrency for computing time. First, the team created the Network of Early Life (NOEL) of starting molecules, or molecules likely to have been present on early Earth around 4 billion years ago, including water, methane and ammonia. Then, the researchers took the 11 billion possible prebiotic reactions laid out and trimmed the figure down to a more manageable 4.9 billion reactions. (1/29)