The White House publicly confirmed on Thursday that Russia has obtained a “troubling” emerging anti-satellite weapon but said it cannot directly cause “physical destruction” on Earth. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said U.S. intelligence officials have information that Russia has obtained the capability but that such a weapon is not currently operational. U.S. officials are analyzing the information they have on the emerging technology and have consulted with allies and partners on the matter. (2/15)
Why Space Force is Growing More Alarmed by China’s Eyes in the Sky (Source: Space News)
As China expands its presence in orbit, the U.S. Space Force continues to express concern about Beijing’s advancing satellite capabilities. The latest cause for alarm is China’s deployment of imaging satellites in geostationary orbit. China, to be sure, has operated optical imaging satellites in GEO for nearly a decade. Still, the capabilities of these earlier satellites are limited compared to China’s latest additions in 2023.
One that has caught the Space Force’s attention is an advanced optical imaging satellite launched in December, Yaogan-41. With an estimated resolution of 2.5 meters, it brings a significant improvement over previous GEO optical satellites capped at 15-meter resolution. (2/16)
Space Surgery: Doctors on Ground Operate Robot on ISS for First Time (Source: Phys.org)
Earth-bound surgeons remotely controlled a small robot aboard the International Space Station over the weekend, conducting the first-ever such surgery in orbit—albeit on rubber bands. The experiment, deemed a "huge success" by the participants, represents a new step in the development of space surgery, which could become necessary to treat medical emergencies during multi-year manned voyages, such as to Mars. The technology could also be used to develop remote-control surgery techniques on Earth, to serve isolated areas. (2/15)
FSGC Invites Proposals for Space Technology Development Grants (Source: FSGC)
This year’s FSGC-Space Florida-KSC Technology Development and Commercialization Program RFP have topic areas for two KSC patented technologies that fit these criteria. We are now seeking proposals to conduct needed development and testing of these technologies. We are now seeking proposals to conduct testing as described in the topic areas: Capacitive Micro-Gravity Fluid Mass Gauge; and Self-Cleaning Coatings for Space or Earth. Click here. (2/16)
Iridium's Current Constellation Should
Be Operational Through 2035 (Source: Space News)
Iridium says its current satellite constellation should be able to operate for at least another decade. That constellation was launched from 2017 through 2019, along with five spares launched last year. Iridium said Thursday a recent engineering assessment led it to conclude that the constellation should be able to operate to at least 2035, delaying the company's need to invest in a replacement system. Iridium, which reported a 10% increase in revenue in 2023, said it is closely watching threats posed by Starlink to both its data services and direct-to-handset business, but said companies like SpaceX that plan to use terrestrial spectrum for direct-to-device offerings will likely run into regulatory delays. (2/16)
Federal Regulatory and Financial Support Sought for Commercial Space Stations (Source: Space News)
Companies developing commercial space stations are asking for regulatory and financial support from NASA and Congress. At a hearing of the House space subcommittee this week, executives from Axiom Space and Voyager Space offered a range of recommendations to ensure there is no gap between the International Space Station and their facilities, including sufficient funding for both NASA's Commercial LEO Destinations program and a separate project to develop and ISS deorbit vehicle. They warned that any gap risked ceding U.S. leadership in LEO to China and its Tiangong space station. (2/16)
Uruguay Joins Artemis Accords (Source: Space News)
Uruguay is the latest country to sign the Artemis Accords. The country's foreign minister signed the Accords at a ceremony Thursday at NASA Headquarters. Uruguay is the 36th country to sign the Accords, which outline best practices for safe and sustainable space exploration, and is the second in as many weeks after Greece signed last Friday. (2/16)
India Preps for Busy Launch Schedule with Saturday Weather Satellite Mission (Source: Space News)
India is preparing to launch a weather satellite that will mark the start of a surge in launch activity. A GSLV rocket is scheduled to lift off Saturday at 7 a.m. Eastern and place the INSAT-3DS satellite into orbit. The launch is one of an estimated 30 launches by the Indian government and private entities projected to take place over 15 months according to a manifest released last week by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe). Those plans face challenges, though, that include only one operational spaceport and competing demands among government programs and with commercial providers. (2/16)
300th Falcon 9 Launch Deploys Starlink Satellites From California (Source: Spaceflight Now)
SpaceX's 300th Falcon 9 launch placed a set of Starlink satellites into orbit Thursday. A Falcon 9 lifted off at 4:34 p.m. Eastern from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and placed 22 Starlink satellites into orbit. The launch was the 300th flight of the rocket since its introduction in 2010, and the third in less than 24 hours. (2/16)
Ukraine Believes Russia is Using Thousands of Starlink Terminals in War Zone (Source: Wall Street Journal)
Ukrainian intelligence believes Russians are using thousands of Starlink terminals in occupied regions of eastern Ukraine. The head of the Ukrainian military's intelligence operations, Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, said in an interview that Russians have been using Starlink in occupied eastern Ukraine for "quite a long time" by acquiring terminals through third parties. SpaceX said several days ago it did not believe that Starlink terminals had been sold, directly or otherwise, to Russia, but did not comment about whether the service was operational in occupied regions of Ukraine. (2/16)
NASA Selects Texas A&M as First Approved Exploration Park Facility (Source: NASA)
NASA and Texas A&M have agreed to build a research facility at the Johnson Space Center. Under an agreement signed Thursday, Texas A&M will construct a facility to enable human spaceflight research and development that enables the commercial space economy. The facility will be built at Exploration Park, a 240-acre portion of JSC that the center is offering to companies and organizations as a research park. (2/16)
NASA’s OSIRIS-Rex Nabbed Over 120 Grams of Space Rocks From Asteroid Bennu (Source: Science News)
It’s official: NASA’s OSIRIS-Rex spacecraft snagged 121.6 grams of pristine space rocks when it bopped the asteroid Bennu four years ago, more than double the mission’s official science goal, the agency confirmed February 15. Launched in 2016, OSIRIS-Rex is NASA’s first mission to collect samples from an asteroid and return them to Earth so scientists can study our solar system’s origins. (2/15)
Dead Star 'Glitches' Could Reveal the Origins of Fast Radio Bursts (Source: Space.com)
Astronomers have observed powerful "glitches" in a highly magnetic neutron star, or magnetar, near the heart of the Milky Way. These glitches appear to have massively accelerated the star's spin speed. Plus, fascinatingly, the phenomenon that helps slow down the neutron star (also known as a dead star) after these glitches could help reveal the star's interior. Understanding what goes on within a magnetar may finally unveil how these strange bodies launch what are known as "Fast Radio Bursts," or FRBs. (2/15)
China Plans Robot-Builder to Construct a Base Using Moon Bricks (Source: Interesting Engineering)
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has been actively striving to enhance the technological capabilities of the Chang'e 8 mission through extensive collaboration. To achieve this goal, CNSA is actively seeking partnerships with various research institutes and companies to develop cutting-edge instruments. The Chang'e 8 mission has a launch timeline of 2028, which will include a lander, rover, and an operational multi-task robot. Altogether, the mission is expected to host 14 scientific instruments to conduct extensive observations and acquire critical lunar surface data that will benefit future exploration. (2/14)
SSC RFI Seeks Input for GPS Prototype Development (Source: GPS World)
The U.S. Space Systems Command (SSC), part of the United States Space Force, is actively seeking insights from the GNSS industry through a Request for Information (RFI) regarding the development of a Global Positioning System (GPS) Rapid Prototype Demonstration, Tranche 0. This initiative is part of a strategic effort to upgrade GPS capabilities to meet modern challenges in space navigation and ensure continued operational superiority. (2/14)
Fueling a Spacecraft While it’s on a Rocket? “Not Trivial,” SpaceX Official Says (Source: Ars Technica)
Unlike most lunar landers developed to date, the Nova-C lander developed by Intuitive Machines has a main engine that uses cryogenic propellants—liquid oxygen and liquid methane. Martin said the company chose these propellants because they are significantly less toxic than hypergolic fuels, and they allow Nova-C to have a more powerful engine that can get to the Moon in days rather than a month or longer. However, cryogenic fuels are more challenging to work with because they must be kept chilled, and this limits the length of time they can be stored for usage.
Because of this, the Nova-C lander was fueled just a couple of hours before liftoff. "It's not trivial to load the liquid oxygen and liquid methane into the vehicle," said Bill Gerstenmaier, vice president of build and flight reliability for SpaceX. The company had to modify the second stage of the Falcon 9 rocket to add propellants onto the Nova C lander at the launch pad shortly before liftoff. (2/14)
US Cancels Multibillion-Dollar Northrop Grumman Classified Military Satellite Program (Source: Bloomberg)
The US Space Force canceled a multibillion-dollar Northrop Grumman program to develop a classified military communications satellite because of increased costs, difficulties developing its payload and a schedule delay, according to a regulatory filing and people familiar with the decision. Northrop was formally notified last month of the termination within “our restricted Space Business,” the defense contractor said in a regulatory filing, using jargon for classified programs. The filing offered no details on the classified satellite or the reasons it was called off, which were provided by people who commented on condition of anonymity because of its secret status. (2/15)
Investors Can Shoot for the Stars with This Space Economy ETF (Source: Yahoo! Finance)
As emerging tech explodes onto the scene and interest in space exploration continues, investors are wondering where they can gain the best exposure to the space economy. Procure's Space ETF should be considered as interest in space exploration gains momentum. "Roughly 80% of the fund looks at these more pure play space companies, but also recognizing that some of the biggest players in the space industry are your prime contractors, your diversified aerospace and defense companies," Chanin explains. (2/14)
Lunar Lander Laser Range Finder Technology Tested at Spaceport America (Source: KRQE)
As SpaceX and Intuitive Machines ready for the launch of the IM-1 mission, the lunar lander, Nova-C, features technology that was tested at Spaceport America. The lander will be using a laser range finder, tested at Spaceport America. The laser range finder will be on the downward side of the lander and used to help navigate the area to safely land on the lunar surface. “We are very happy that we can support testing of such a wide range of space technologies at Spaceport America,” Executive Director of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority Scott McLaughlin said. (2/14)
Reagan’s Free-Market Moon Shot (Source: Wall Street Journal)
You’ve probably heard of John F. Kennedy’s 1962 “moon shot” speech, but perhaps not Ronald Reagan’s equally visionary 1984 speech in which he predicted a great future for private space travel. After the moon-landing successes, American space travel no longer made such rapid progress. It became clear that the state was too sluggish to overcome the next big challenges. Thus Reagan, in his radio address that Jan. 28, promised “to encourage American industry to move quickly and decisively into space.” (2/13)
Japan Set to Launch New H3 Rocket Saturday After Delay (Source: Mainichi Japan)
Japan's space agency said Wednesday it has rescheduled the launch of its new H3 rocket from the southwestern island of Tanegashima to this weekend following its postponement of Thursday's planned liftoff due to a bad weather forecast. The No. 2 H3 rocket, a successor to the current mainstay H2A rocket, will be launched in a window from 9:22 a.m. to 1:06 p.m. Saturday at Tanegashima Space Center. If JAXA misses this window, the next liftoff opportunity will fall between Sunday and March 31, the agency said. (2/14)
Iridium says its current satellite constellation should be able to operate for at least another decade. That constellation was launched from 2017 through 2019, along with five spares launched last year. Iridium said Thursday a recent engineering assessment led it to conclude that the constellation should be able to operate to at least 2035, delaying the company's need to invest in a replacement system. Iridium, which reported a 10% increase in revenue in 2023, said it is closely watching threats posed by Starlink to both its data services and direct-to-handset business, but said companies like SpaceX that plan to use terrestrial spectrum for direct-to-device offerings will likely run into regulatory delays. (2/16)
Federal Regulatory and Financial Support Sought for Commercial Space Stations (Source: Space News)
Companies developing commercial space stations are asking for regulatory and financial support from NASA and Congress. At a hearing of the House space subcommittee this week, executives from Axiom Space and Voyager Space offered a range of recommendations to ensure there is no gap between the International Space Station and their facilities, including sufficient funding for both NASA's Commercial LEO Destinations program and a separate project to develop and ISS deorbit vehicle. They warned that any gap risked ceding U.S. leadership in LEO to China and its Tiangong space station. (2/16)
Uruguay Joins Artemis Accords (Source: Space News)
Uruguay is the latest country to sign the Artemis Accords. The country's foreign minister signed the Accords at a ceremony Thursday at NASA Headquarters. Uruguay is the 36th country to sign the Accords, which outline best practices for safe and sustainable space exploration, and is the second in as many weeks after Greece signed last Friday. (2/16)
India Preps for Busy Launch Schedule with Saturday Weather Satellite Mission (Source: Space News)
India is preparing to launch a weather satellite that will mark the start of a surge in launch activity. A GSLV rocket is scheduled to lift off Saturday at 7 a.m. Eastern and place the INSAT-3DS satellite into orbit. The launch is one of an estimated 30 launches by the Indian government and private entities projected to take place over 15 months according to a manifest released last week by the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe). Those plans face challenges, though, that include only one operational spaceport and competing demands among government programs and with commercial providers. (2/16)
300th Falcon 9 Launch Deploys Starlink Satellites From California (Source: Spaceflight Now)
SpaceX's 300th Falcon 9 launch placed a set of Starlink satellites into orbit Thursday. A Falcon 9 lifted off at 4:34 p.m. Eastern from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and placed 22 Starlink satellites into orbit. The launch was the 300th flight of the rocket since its introduction in 2010, and the third in less than 24 hours. (2/16)
Ukraine Believes Russia is Using Thousands of Starlink Terminals in War Zone (Source: Wall Street Journal)
Ukrainian intelligence believes Russians are using thousands of Starlink terminals in occupied regions of eastern Ukraine. The head of the Ukrainian military's intelligence operations, Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, said in an interview that Russians have been using Starlink in occupied eastern Ukraine for "quite a long time" by acquiring terminals through third parties. SpaceX said several days ago it did not believe that Starlink terminals had been sold, directly or otherwise, to Russia, but did not comment about whether the service was operational in occupied regions of Ukraine. (2/16)
NASA Selects Texas A&M as First Approved Exploration Park Facility (Source: NASA)
NASA and Texas A&M have agreed to build a research facility at the Johnson Space Center. Under an agreement signed Thursday, Texas A&M will construct a facility to enable human spaceflight research and development that enables the commercial space economy. The facility will be built at Exploration Park, a 240-acre portion of JSC that the center is offering to companies and organizations as a research park. (2/16)
NASA’s OSIRIS-Rex Nabbed Over 120 Grams of Space Rocks From Asteroid Bennu (Source: Science News)
It’s official: NASA’s OSIRIS-Rex spacecraft snagged 121.6 grams of pristine space rocks when it bopped the asteroid Bennu four years ago, more than double the mission’s official science goal, the agency confirmed February 15. Launched in 2016, OSIRIS-Rex is NASA’s first mission to collect samples from an asteroid and return them to Earth so scientists can study our solar system’s origins. (2/15)
Dead Star 'Glitches' Could Reveal the Origins of Fast Radio Bursts (Source: Space.com)
Astronomers have observed powerful "glitches" in a highly magnetic neutron star, or magnetar, near the heart of the Milky Way. These glitches appear to have massively accelerated the star's spin speed. Plus, fascinatingly, the phenomenon that helps slow down the neutron star (also known as a dead star) after these glitches could help reveal the star's interior. Understanding what goes on within a magnetar may finally unveil how these strange bodies launch what are known as "Fast Radio Bursts," or FRBs. (2/15)
China Plans Robot-Builder to Construct a Base Using Moon Bricks (Source: Interesting Engineering)
The China National Space Administration (CNSA) has been actively striving to enhance the technological capabilities of the Chang'e 8 mission through extensive collaboration. To achieve this goal, CNSA is actively seeking partnerships with various research institutes and companies to develop cutting-edge instruments. The Chang'e 8 mission has a launch timeline of 2028, which will include a lander, rover, and an operational multi-task robot. Altogether, the mission is expected to host 14 scientific instruments to conduct extensive observations and acquire critical lunar surface data that will benefit future exploration. (2/14)
SSC RFI Seeks Input for GPS Prototype Development (Source: GPS World)
The U.S. Space Systems Command (SSC), part of the United States Space Force, is actively seeking insights from the GNSS industry through a Request for Information (RFI) regarding the development of a Global Positioning System (GPS) Rapid Prototype Demonstration, Tranche 0. This initiative is part of a strategic effort to upgrade GPS capabilities to meet modern challenges in space navigation and ensure continued operational superiority. (2/14)
Fueling a Spacecraft While it’s on a Rocket? “Not Trivial,” SpaceX Official Says (Source: Ars Technica)
Unlike most lunar landers developed to date, the Nova-C lander developed by Intuitive Machines has a main engine that uses cryogenic propellants—liquid oxygen and liquid methane. Martin said the company chose these propellants because they are significantly less toxic than hypergolic fuels, and they allow Nova-C to have a more powerful engine that can get to the Moon in days rather than a month or longer. However, cryogenic fuels are more challenging to work with because they must be kept chilled, and this limits the length of time they can be stored for usage.
Because of this, the Nova-C lander was fueled just a couple of hours before liftoff. "It's not trivial to load the liquid oxygen and liquid methane into the vehicle," said Bill Gerstenmaier, vice president of build and flight reliability for SpaceX. The company had to modify the second stage of the Falcon 9 rocket to add propellants onto the Nova C lander at the launch pad shortly before liftoff. (2/14)
US Cancels Multibillion-Dollar Northrop Grumman Classified Military Satellite Program (Source: Bloomberg)
The US Space Force canceled a multibillion-dollar Northrop Grumman program to develop a classified military communications satellite because of increased costs, difficulties developing its payload and a schedule delay, according to a regulatory filing and people familiar with the decision. Northrop was formally notified last month of the termination within “our restricted Space Business,” the defense contractor said in a regulatory filing, using jargon for classified programs. The filing offered no details on the classified satellite or the reasons it was called off, which were provided by people who commented on condition of anonymity because of its secret status. (2/15)
Investors Can Shoot for the Stars with This Space Economy ETF (Source: Yahoo! Finance)
As emerging tech explodes onto the scene and interest in space exploration continues, investors are wondering where they can gain the best exposure to the space economy. Procure's Space ETF should be considered as interest in space exploration gains momentum. "Roughly 80% of the fund looks at these more pure play space companies, but also recognizing that some of the biggest players in the space industry are your prime contractors, your diversified aerospace and defense companies," Chanin explains. (2/14)
Lunar Lander Laser Range Finder Technology Tested at Spaceport America (Source: KRQE)
As SpaceX and Intuitive Machines ready for the launch of the IM-1 mission, the lunar lander, Nova-C, features technology that was tested at Spaceport America. The lander will be using a laser range finder, tested at Spaceport America. The laser range finder will be on the downward side of the lander and used to help navigate the area to safely land on the lunar surface. “We are very happy that we can support testing of such a wide range of space technologies at Spaceport America,” Executive Director of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority Scott McLaughlin said. (2/14)
Reagan’s Free-Market Moon Shot (Source: Wall Street Journal)
You’ve probably heard of John F. Kennedy’s 1962 “moon shot” speech, but perhaps not Ronald Reagan’s equally visionary 1984 speech in which he predicted a great future for private space travel. After the moon-landing successes, American space travel no longer made such rapid progress. It became clear that the state was too sluggish to overcome the next big challenges. Thus Reagan, in his radio address that Jan. 28, promised “to encourage American industry to move quickly and decisively into space.” (2/13)
Japan Set to Launch New H3 Rocket Saturday After Delay (Source: Mainichi Japan)
Japan's space agency said Wednesday it has rescheduled the launch of its new H3 rocket from the southwestern island of Tanegashima to this weekend following its postponement of Thursday's planned liftoff due to a bad weather forecast. The No. 2 H3 rocket, a successor to the current mainstay H2A rocket, will be launched in a window from 9:22 a.m. to 1:06 p.m. Saturday at Tanegashima Space Center. If JAXA misses this window, the next liftoff opportunity will fall between Sunday and March 31, the agency said. (2/14)
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