February 11, 2024

Ed Dwight Was to Be The First Black Astronaut. At 90, He’s Finally Getting his Due (Source: AP)
Ed Dwight grew up in segregated 1930s Kansas on a farm on the edge of town. An airfield was within walking distance, and, as a boy, he’d often go to marvel at the planes and gawk at the pilots. Most were flying back from hunting trips and their cabins were messy with blood and empty beers cans on the floor. In recent years, Dwight is finally being celebrated. The new National Geographic documentary “The Space Race,” which premieres Monday on National Geographic Channels and streams Tuesday on Disney+ and Hulu, chronicles the stories of Black astronauts — and their first pioneer, Dwight.

It wasn’t until 1983 that the first African American, Guion Bluford, reached space. But two decades earlier, Dwight found himself at a fulcrum of 20th Century America, where the space race and the struggle for social justice converged. In “The Space Race,” astronaut Bernard Harris, who became the first Black man to walk in space in 1995, contemplates what a difference it might have made if Dwight had become an astronaut in the tumultuous ‘60s. Click here. (2/9)

Tracy Dyson Talks Space Ahead of Six-Month ISS Mission (Source: BLAG)
On spacewalks: “They’re interesting and also very rewarding for those of us that have trained for them. It’s the culmination of many years and hard work. We have various tasks ahead of us that will help improve the Space Station or put it in a safer posture and also to do experiments. Our increment will now have three EVAs. We go out in pairs and they run anywhere from six and a half to eight hours long.”

“…it takes a lot of work to get up there. It’s very physically demanding with the work aswell as the training. Mentally exhausting — as you can imagine, being out in the vacuum of space and all that you have to think about as you are conducting yourself. We have a team of folks on the ground who help walk us through procedures and timelines and problems if we run into them. So, we’re not alone when we’re out there.”

"Some of the greatest enjoyment that we get out of doing this work is the incredible team we get to work with. All of the work they put into orchestrating and choreographing these spacewalks that we do, not to mention being experts on the spacesuit itself, which is really our life support... Just being able to work with such dedicated professionals and skilled people. What they do is really a treat in addition to the uniqueness of being able to be your own satellite. Going out to the vacuum of space, seeing this wild thing and seeing the planet rotate underneath your feet.” Click here to pre-order the BLAG magazine. (2/10)

Space Force May Launch GPS Demonstration Satellites to Test New Tech (Source: C4ISRnet)
The Space Force is exploring options for expanding the capabilities of its GPS satellites and is asking companies to propose ideas for delivering low-cost demonstration spacecraft to help test new technologies. Space Systems Command, the service’s primary acquisition organization, said in a Feb. 5 notice it is conducting market research to refine its concept for a constellation of GPS demonstration satellites. “The government is studying ways to reduce lifecycle cost and increase the pace of GPS satellite development, production and on-orbit deployment,” Space Systems Command said. (2/9)

Distant Universe Explosion Can Wipe Out Life On Earth (Source: GFR)
A groundbreaking study revealed a cosmic phenomenon capable of ending life on Earth—and without warning. The culprit: the kilonova explosion. The phenomenon discussed is the explosive aftermath of a collision between two neutron stars within a binary system. It also occurs when a neutron star collides with a black hole. These cataclysmic events eventuate a kilonova explosion, an unleashing of unimaginable amounts of electromagnetic radiation, gamma-ray bursts among them, across the cosmos. (2/9)

Cosmic Dark Matter Web Detected in Coma Cluster (Source: Phys.org)
The Subaru Telescope has spotted the terminal ends of dark matter filaments in the Coma cluster stretching across millions of light years. This is the first time that strands of the cosmic web spanning the entire universe have been directly detected. This provides new evidence to test theories about the evolution of the universe. (2/8)

Satellite Operators Join Forces to Chase Direct-to-Smartphone Opportunity (Source: Space News)
A group of satellite operators have joined forces to push the fledgling direct-to-smartphone market to adopt services using their radiowaves, rather than spectrum derived from terrestrial mobile network operators. Viasat, Terrestar Solutions, Ligado Networks, Omnispace, and Yahsat announced the creation of the Mobile Satellite Services Association (MSSA) Feb. 9, a non-profit aiming to harmonize Mobile Satellite Services for integrating with standardized devices. Together, they hold more than 100 megahertz of L- and S-band spectrum that they say could help extend terrestrial cellular networks worldwide. (2/9)

Sisus Space Gets New CFO (Source: Sidus Space)
Sidus Space announced the appointment of Bill White as Chief Financial Office. Mr. White will oversee the Company’s accounting, financial planning, capital raise, treasury, legal and regulatory functions. (2/8)

SmartSat Backs Autonomous Satellite Technologies for Australian In-Orbit Servicing (Source: SmartSat)
SmartSat is backing innovative research to develop end-to-end Australian capabilities in In-orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM), in a project underwritten by a total investment of $2.3 million. The new project, developing robotic satellite technologies to reliably connect with other satellites to perform in-orbit repairs and maintenance, will be led by SmartSat research partner, the University of Sydney, and supported by NSW-based industry partners Abyss Solutions, ANT61, Space Machines Company, Sperospace and Spiral Blue. (2/6)

SatRev & Locus Dynamics Join Forces to Advance Earth Observation Capabilities in Rwanda (Source: SatRev)
SatRev and Locus Dynamics have entered into a transformative Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Poland – Rwanda Economic Summit, marking a significant milestone in bilateral cooperation and technological advancement. The agreement signals a joint commitment to provide comprehensive satellite solutions for Earth Observation Data in Africa, with a particular focus on Rwanda. (2/9)