March 15, 2024

Starship Mission Supported Various Test Objectives (Source: Space News)
While in space on its suborbital trajectory, SpaceX opened a payload bay door that will be used on later Starship vehicles for deploying Starlink satellites. It also performed an in-space propellant transfer demonstration as part of a NASA contract where it would move propellant from one tank within the vehicle to another. SpaceX said it was evaluating the data from both tests.

SpaceX had planned to perform a brief relight of a Raptor engine on Starship about 40 minutes after liftoff, but the company said on the webcast that this test was skipped for reasons not immediately known. The company later said the engine test was called off because of the vehicle’s roll rates.

Several minutes later, the vehicle started reentry. A camera mounted on a flap on Starship provided dramatic images of the reentry, relayed through Starlink satellites. Telemetry was lost about 49 and a half minutes after liftoff when the vehicle was descending through an altitude of 65 kilometers. SpaceX later said on the webcast that it lost contact through both its own Starlink satellites as well as through NASA TDRSS data relay satellites at the same time, speculating that the vehicle may have broken up. (3/15)

NOAA Office of Space Commerce Invites SSA User Interface Demos for TraCSS Program (Source: Executive Gov)
NOAA is calling on companies with existing space situational awareness, or SSA, capabilities to demonstrate their technology’s viability for the Traffic Coordination System for Space, or TraCSS, program. NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce on Wednesday published a call for demonstrations, which will take place on April 9-10 at the 2024 National Space Symposium in Colorado. OSC is looking for SSA technologies that are compliant with requirements for graphic user interfaces and RESTful web application programming interfaces. The chosen platform will enhance the ability of TraCSS to manage space flight traffic, safety, sustainability and international coordination. (3/14)

Barbara Jackson Joins NASA as Goddard Space Flight Center’s Deputy CIO (Source: Executive Gov)
Barbara Jackson, a government information technology leader, has taken on the role of deputy chief information officer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. In addition to her role as deputy CIO, Jackson will also serve as deputy director of IT and communications at Goddard. (3/14)

Putin Says Setting Up a Nuclear Power Unit in Space is a Priority for Russia (Source: CNN)
Russian President Vladimir Putin told government officials on Thursday that space projects, including setting up a nuclear power unit in space, should be a priority and get proper financing, according to state news agency TASS. Russia “has good competencies and, moreover, even has such reserves that we can be proud of, which we can count on in the future,” Putin said during a meeting with members of the government, pointing as an example to a nuclear power unit that would operate in space. (3/14)

FCC Approves Direct-to-Device Use of Terrestrial Spectrum (Source: Space News)
The FCC has approved rules to allow direct-to-device satellite communications using terrestrial spectrum. FCC commissioners unanimously approved Thursday the Supplemental Coverage from Space (SCS) regulatory framework. The rules will allow satellite operators like SpaceX to use radio waves from terrestrial mobile partners to keep smartphone users connected outside cell tower coverage. SCS providers would have to immediately cease operations if they interfere with a mobile satellite services provider or terrestrial telco with primary rights. The final rules approved by the FCC will go into force after a final review and publication in the Federal Register in the coming weeks. (3/15)

Sierra Space Building DoD/National Security Business (Source: Space News)
Sierra Space is looking to take a larger role in national security space with dual-use spacecraft. The company says it has $1.3 billion in defense orders, including a $740 million contract from the Space Development Agency it won in January to produce 18 missile-tracking satellites. Sierra Space says it is examining how it can make use of spacecraft and related technologies originally developed for civil and commercial applications, like its Dream Chaser spaceplane, for national security applications. That includes what the Pentagon calls "space access, mobility and logistics" or SAML services, which has $40 million earmarked for it in the Space Force's 2025 budget proposal. (3/15)

Taiwan Considers Homegrown Satellite Options, Wary of Starlink (Source: New York Times)
Taiwan, wary of relying on Starlink, may develop its own satellite communications network. The government is planning to launch its first communications satellite in 2026, with a second to follow within two years and several more test satellites in development. The satellites would provide connectivity to back up a telecommunications infrastructure reliant on undersea cables that could be severed in a natural disaster or crisis with China. The country is also working with SES and Eutelsat OneWeb on connectivity services, but some officials say they worry that SpaceX might not make Starlink available in Taiwan during a crisis because of Elon Musk's business interests in China. (3/15)

SpaceX Transporter-Erector Problem Scrubs Starlink Launch at Florida Spaceport (Source: Florida Today)
SpaceX again scrubbed a Falcon 9 launch of Starlink satellites Thursday because of a ground equipment issue. SpaceX called off the launch two minutes before the scheduled liftoff Thursday evening from the Kennedy Space Center, later stating that there was a problem with arms on the transporter erector that cradle the rocket on the pad before launch. The launch is now scheduled for 6:39 p.m. Eastern Friday. (3/15)

Space Force FY2025 Budget Includes $4 Million for Point-to-Point Rocket Cargo (Source: Breaking Defense)
The Pentagon is taking the next step in a "rocket cargo" program. The Space Force's fiscal year 2025 budget proposal includes $4 million for the initiative, now called Point-to-Point Delivery, to support continued research and development of the concept that would use rockets to deliver cargo around the world in as little as an hour. The Air Force Research Laboratory started the effort in 2021 and awarded SpaceX a $102 million contract in early 2022 to study use of the company's Starships for cargo delivery. (3/15)

South Korea Staffing Up New Space Agency (Source: Chosun Ilbo)
South Korea is offering high salaries for staff of its new space agency. The Korea Aerospace Administration, or KASA, plans to hire 120 people by May, when it formally starts operations, with a goal of reaching 300 people later in the year. The director of the space agency will receive a salary of nearly $190,000, the same as the country's president, with the potential for additional compensation. KASA would become the first South Korean agency where staff could earn more than the president. The government says it is offering the high salaries to attract talent, emphasizing the importance it is placing on growing the country's space capabilities. (3/15)

Flying First on Ariane 6 (Source: ESA)
With Europe’s new Ariane 6 rocket now at its spaceport in French Guiana, the passengers it will launch to space are getting ready to be added to the top of the tall new rocket. Ariane 6 will launch several satellites, deployers and experiments from space agencies, companies, research institutes, universities and young professionals on its first flight.

“Ariane 6 is designed to be versatile, offering space actors bespoke launch options all while keeping costs down,” says Michel Bonnet, head of Ariane 6 missions and system engineering and ESA’s lead for the Ariane 6 inaugural flight. “The varied missions launching on the first flight, from nine countries and dozens of organisations, are a perfect demonstration of the team spirit behind this rocket and the design ethos that underpins it.” (3/14)

Former Space Coast Congressman Running for State House (Source: Florida Politics)
State Rep. Tyler Sirois is endorsing Dave Weldon for House District 32 in the Melbourne area. “We owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Weldon for his good work to expand the space program, improve healthcare for Brevard veterans, preserve our environment, and protect our values in Congress,” Sirois said.

Weldon, a former U.S. Representative, is running to succeed state Rep. Thad Altman. Altman cannot seek re-election due to term limits. Weldon was first elected to the U.S. House in 1994, flipping a seat that had been previously held by Democrat Jim Bacchus. He decided not to seek re-election in 2008, when he endorsed then-state Sen. Bill Posey to succeed him. (3/14)

The World’s Most Expensive Meal Will Cost You $495,000—and It Be Will Served in a Space Balloon (Source: Robb Report)
Forget the freeze-dried space meals and Tang. One of the first luxury-space tourism companies is hosting a meal aboard in the stratosphere that is priced at $495,000 each. Now, they just need to find a group of six to pay for what amounts as history’s most expensive meal, on Earth or in space. SpaceVIP has enlisted chef Rasmus Munk, whose Copenhagen-based restaurant Alchemist has earned two Michelin stars since 2020, to cook one of his most impressive meals and serve as host aboard a space balloon.

Space Perspective’s Spaceship Neptune can seat eight passengers and a captain. In honor of the occasion, the “astronauts” will be wearing made-to-measure clothing by Ogier. Think stylish space suits. Space Perspective plans to begin manned test flights by the end of this year, with commercial flights starting  in 2025. (3/14)

Leonardo Organizes Dedicated Space Unit (Source: Aviation Week)
Leonardo is launching a dedicated space business unit to consolidate its efforts in the space sector, addressing its previously "fragmented" market presence through various joint ventures, as explained by CEO Roberto Cingolani. "Basically, Leonardo can do everything in space. We are in launchers. We are in satcoms [satellite communications]. We are in satellite services. But the point is there was no clear identity," Cingolani said. (3/12)

Aerospace Industry in Houston Set to Boom as Numerous Projects Hit Key Milestones (Source: ABC13)
With new businesses moving in, missions incoming, and developments locking in by the month, Houston aerospace industry officials expect the city to be home to some of the world's most cutting-edge projects and a space exploration hub. At NASA, along with a slate of new missions taking place, the Johnson Space Center is planning a new development called Exploration Park, which will be home to research and testing for future space travel.

There has yet to be a set timeline on when it could be built out, but in February, NASA locked in two partnership agreements for the site. Meanwhile, officials expect the Houston Spaceport to be home to many new projects in the coming years, Szczesniak said. Spaceport officials not only expect to add more businesses in the coming years - in a pursuit to make the spot a destination - but companies located there have plans to launch more of their creations into space. Meanwhile, companies like Aegis Aerospace, a woman-owned business founded in 2021, are adding to the commercial space sector. (3/14)

SDA Plans $25.5 Billion in Spending Over the Next Five Years (Source: Air and Space Forces)
The Space Development Agency plans to spend roughly $25.5 billion from 2025 through the end of the decade building out its massive constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites, budget documents show. The Space Force unveiled its fiscal 2025 budget request on March 11, with the service’s $29.4 billion request marking its first-ever year-over-year cut.

SDA, the agency at the forefront of revolutionizing space acquisition and driving the Space Force toward launching smaller satellites in larger numbers, similarly saw a decline in spending, from 2024’s total of $4.7 billion to $4.2 billion. After that, however, budget documents project SDA’s funding rebounding quickly and reaching $6 billion by fiscal 2027, followed by more than $5 billion in both 2028 and 2029. (3/13)

Why This Space Force Buzzword Will Endure (Source: Forbes)
Too often, a word or phrase becomes the “it” word in Washington, while the issue it speaks to may never actually be addressed. In recent years, though, one word emerged out of the space policy milieu – resilience – that has become a remarkable exception. The seeds of our desire for space resilience in this century were planted many years before the birth of the Space Development Agency (SDA) five years ago, the Space Force’s new purpose-built agency charged with providing it. (3/14)

Every War Is a Space War Now (Source: Geopolitical Monitor)
The escalation of militarization and weaponization in outer space has become an urgent issue of concern. The once-fictional notion of using nuclear space weapons to incapacitate satellites with powerful energy waves is now a tangible reality. Nations across the globe are making unprecedented strides in both civilian space exploration and its military application.

According to the Secure World Foundation’s annual Global Counterspace Capabilities report, there is a noticeable trend wherein an increasing number of countries are harnessing space to bolster their military capabilities and safeguard national security. This involves the development of a wide array of defensive and offensive technologies with dual-use applications.

Notably, countries like France, India, Iran, Japan, and North Korea are actively investing in counter-space programs, while major players such as China, Russia, and the United States are leading the charge in research, development, testing, and operationalizing systems and weapons. This proliferation of capabilities significantly heightens the risk of potential conflicts in space. (3/12)

Arizona Stratospheric Balloon Company Opens Funding Round, Aims to Tap Into Space Tourism Market (Source: AZ Inno)
A Tucson-based stratospheric balloon company has launched a new funding round to advance flight capabilities and production of its remote sensing platforms. World View in February opened a series D round with an undisclosed initial investment by aerospace and defense company Sierra Nevada Corp., along with participation from new and existing investors. (3/13)

Florida Space Race Could be in Store if Gov. DeSantis Signs Bill Expanding Spaceport Territory (Source: Orlando Business Journal)
If Gov. Ron DeSantis signs a newly passed bill that activates more spaceports across Florida, clients could have more options for commercial launches and the Department of Defense will be able to grow its Space Force presence in Florida. The bases will be added to the roster of spaceports named in Florida Statutes: Patrick Space Force Base, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Space Coast Regional Airport — all in Brevard County — and Eglin Air Force Base in Northwest Florida, Cape San Blas in Gulf County [part of Eglin AFB], and Cecil Airport in Duval County.

By definition, spaceports are “gateways to space, providing places for both launch and re-entry. ... Typically, they also have a host of associated facilities such as processing facilities, range assets, and ground control centers, which can be located away from launch/re-entry sites.” Following the passage of the bill, Long said Space Florida will kick off an update to the 2018 strategic plan that will be completed in about a year.

Editor's Note: There's little that Space Florida can do on such spaceport territories that it cannot do elsewhere in the state. The agency has developed or financed several facilities outside of such territories. I believe the unique capabilities that come with a spaceport territory designation are mainly aimed at hosting launch operations...something unlikely in the new territories. (3/13)

After a Soft Lunar Touchdown, Canadensys Plans More Missions to the Moon (Source: SpaceQ)
Technology from Ontario’s Canadensys Aerospace was recently on the first U.S. Moon lander to make a soft touchdown in more than 50 years, since the Apollo 17 human landing mission of 1972. Intuitive Machines’ robotic IM-1 mission, which included NASA payloads as well for the agency’s Commercial Lunar Services Program (CLPS), touched down at the south pole on the Moon on Feb. 22. "Our next mission of significance will likely be the NASA Vertex mission," said Christian Sallaberger.

"Canadensys is providing the multi-spectral microscope for this mission, which will land in the Reiner Gamma region of the moon. This area is very unusual, with swirling patterns in the surface regolith and magnetic anomalies as well... We have already delivered our instrument to APL some months ago. ...Another significant lunar mission Canadensys is currently preparing is the Canadian Lunar Rover Mission. Canadensys is leading a team of about 20 organizations across Canada to design and build Canada’s first lunar rover, which will land near the Moon’s south pole. (3/13)

‘Space Headaches’ Could Be a Real Pain for Astronauts (Source: Popular Science)
Space travel is certainly not for the faint of heart, for many reasons including its effects on physical health. It can potentially disturb human immune systems and increase red blood cell death. It could also increase headaches. Astronauts with no prior history of headaches may experience migraine and tension-type headaches during long-haul space flights–over 10 days in space. “Changes in gravity caused by space flight affect the function of many parts of the body, including the brain,” said W. P. J. van Oosterhout.

“The vestibular system, which affects balance and posture, has to adapt to the conflict between the signals it is expecting to receive and the actual signals it receives in the absence of normal gravity.” The changes to the brain’s balance and posture system, combined with adjusting to zero gravity during the first week of space flight, “can lead to space motion sickness in the first week, of which headache is the most frequently reported symptom. Our study shows that headaches also occur later in space flight and could be related to an increase in pressure within the skull.” (3/13)

Meet the 24-Year-Old Coloradan Building a ‘MapQuest’ for Space Missions (Source: CPR)
Don the goggles and ride along with a CU graduate student who’ll let you hold a holographic sun in the palm of your hand. Dezell Turner wants to use augmented reality to map trajectories in space. His souped-up gaming laptop and that eyewear may someday help aerospace companies chart new paths through the solar system. “I’m sort of trying to build MapQuest for planning space missions,” he said.

Turner often demonstrates his project, operating his computer while visitors don the goggles to see colorful holograms of our sun and eight planets, displayed to show their location at a given date and time, down to the millisecond. Then, users move their fingers – think about changing the size of a photo on a smartphone – to shift things around. The next step, Turner said, would be for operators to interactively draw possible routes for their vehicles through his virtual solar system, and pick the ideal one. (3/14)