Scientists Detect Invisible Electric
Field Around Earth For First Time (Source: Science Alert)
An invisible, weak energy field wrapped around our planet Earth has
finally been detected and measured. It's called the ambipolar field, an
electric field first hypothesized more than 60 years ago, and its
discovery will change the way we study and understand the behavior and
evolution of our beautiful, ever-changing world. (8/30)
NASA Makes Room on SpaceX Trip to
Return Astronauts Stuck in Orbit (Source: The Guardian)
NASA on Friday cut two astronauts from the next crew to make room on
the return trip for the two stuck on the ISS. NASA’s Nick Hague and the
Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will launch in September onboard a
SpaceX rocket for the orbiting laboratory. The duo will return with
Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore in February. Nasa decided it was too
risky for Williams and Wilmore to fly home in their Boeing Starliner
capsule, marred by thruster troubles and helium leaks. Bumped from the
SpaceX flight: the NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson.
NASA said they could fly on future missions. (8/30)
Raytheon Wins AFRL Contract for Satcom
Terminals (Source: Space News)
Raytheon Technologies won an Air Force Force Research Lab contract to
develop satellite communications terminals for military aircraft. The
three-year contract, worth $51.7 million, is part of the Defense
Experimentation Using Commercial Space Internet (DEUCSI) program that
aims to create advanced satcom networks leveraging commercial space
internet constellations. Under the contract, Raytheon will develop
multi-band, high-throughput satellite communications antennas
that can be integrated onto various military aircraft. (8/30)
China Wants Better SSA Too
(Source: Space News)
Chinese researchers say the country needs to improve its space
situational awareness (SSA) capabilities to keep pace with the United
States. A study by researchers, many of whom are affiliated with the
Space Engineering University in Beijing, assessed U.S. SSA space-based
capabilities that involve programs like the Geosynchronous Space
Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP) and Silentbarker. The authors
concluded China needs to enhance its capabilities, although Western
analysts note that China already appears to be doing so. (8/30)
UF Professor Becomes First Academic to
Do Suborbital NASA Research in Space (Source: Tampa Bay Times)
University of Florida professor Rob Ferl first began doing
space-related research in the 1990s. In 2021, he and research partner
Anna-Lisa Paul sent test tubes with British billionaire Richard Branson
on a voyage to space on Virgin Galactic’s Unity spaceship. In 2022,
they grew plants using soil from the moon. They’ve had 12 experiments
at the International Space Station.
On Thursday, Ferl made history again when he became the first academic
to conduct an experiment in space on a suborbital spacecraft through a
NASA-funded program. At 8:07 a.m. Thursday, Ferl and five other
passengers launched on the Jeff Bezos-founded Blue Origin New Shepard
to an altitude of 345,958 feet. They spent several minutes in space
before returning at 8:19 a.m. to West Texas. (8/31)
FAA Clears SpaceX to Resume Falcon 9
Launches Following Starlink Mission Mishap (Source: WESH)
The Federal Aviation Administration has cleared SpaceX to resume Falcon
9 flights after grounding them on Wednesday due to a mishap during the
mission. The FAA had grounded all SpaceX Falcon 9 flights after a fiery
mishap during Wednesday morning's Starlink launch. Although Falcon 9 is
cleared for future flight operations, the investigation remains ongoing
to address what caused the anomaly. (8/30)
Heated Arguments Led to NASA Decision
on Starliner (Source: New York Post)
Days after NASA announced that two astronauts had been stranded on the
International Space Station, the space agency had a series of
contentious meetings with Boeing to determine how to bring them back to
Earth, sources at both Boeing and NASA told The Post. The meetings —
attended by senior-level employees on both sides — were tense, and
often descended into yelling and arguments, sources said. “It was
heated,” said a NASA executive familiar with the talks. (8/30)
The CSA is Looking for a Launch
Service Provider (Source: SpaceQ)
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has issued a request for proposals
(RFP) for a launch service provider for the CubeSats Initiative in
Canada for STEM (CUBICS) program. The CUBICS program is a follow-on to
the Canadian CubeSat Project which saw 14 CubeSats from across Canada
deployed from the International Space Station using the NanoRacks
CubeSat Deployer.
For this RFP the CSA it is seeking “a Sun-Synchronous orbit launch
service provider for CubeSats. University teams from across Canada are
designing, building and will operate their CubeSats largely through the
CSA CUBICS 2022 Announcement of Opportunity. The resulting contract
from this RFP will involve providing technical expertise with regards
to CubeSat development, integrating CubeSats in the contractor’s
deployer, manifesting CubeSats for launch and coordinating all
activities for successful orbital deployment.” (8/30)
Chinese Scientists Release AI Model
for Lunar Exploration (Source: Xinhua)
The world's first professional, multimodal large language model (LLM)
for the field of lunar science has been released in China to
significantly accelerate the processing speed of massive amounts of
lunar data. The new tool was debuted at the China International Big
Data Industry Expo in Guiyang, the capital of southwest China's Guizhou
Province, by the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Geochemistry
and the Alibaba Cloud Intelligence Group.
The Institute of Geochemistry has built a comprehensive "digital moon"
platform with the world's most complete bank of data related to the
exploration of the moon. (8/30)
Scientists Want to Build a ‘Doomsday’
Vault on the Moon (Source: Grist)
As humanity continues to blow past key climate thresholds, the security
risks threatening the longevity of the repository also continue to
climb. Launched in 2008 as a “fail-safe” site for more than 1.3 million
seed samples, the vault is on an archipelago above the Arctic Circle
that researchers have since identified as warming six times faster than
the global average.
Those looming threats are, in part, behind a grand vision a team of
U.S. scientists introduced in a new study published in the journal
BioScience: A new, even more secure vault, this time not just for
seeds, but for plant, animal and microbial samples. Oh, and they want
to build it on the moon. Automated, and without need of human
maintenance, the proposed lunar biorepository would house cryopreserved
cells, stored at temperatures so cold that biological activity is
suspended. (8/27)
Falcon 9 Launches and Lands Twice
Successfully After FAA Stand-Down (Source: Florida Today)
A bright Falcon 9 rocket bolted into the Saturday predawn sky at the
Cape Canaveral Spaceport, kicking off Labor Day weekend and loudly
declaring SpaceX back in business after a brief grounding by the FAA.
Rumbles sounded throughout the Brevard area as the rocket carried 21
Starlink internet satellites to orbit. Not only did SpaceX get back to
business in Florida. But another Starlink launch lifted off just over
an hour afterward from Vandenburg Space Force Base in California.
The big unknown that still remains is the Polaris Dawn launch. As of
Saturday morning, the FAA has the launch slated for no earlier than
3:33 a.m. Wednesday morning. After Polaris Dawn was delayed multiple
days due to poor weather forecasts for the splashdown time, SpaceX has
yet to provide an official new launch date. (8/31)
Boeing’s No Good, Never-Ending
Tailspin Might Take NASA With It (Source: New York Times)
Fifty-five years ago, when humans first walked on the moon, the Apollo
11 astronauts left Earth through the massive power of the Saturn V
rocket. The greatest punch came from the rocket’s first stage, which
provided 7.5 million pounds of thrust. The awesome spectacle of that
first stage was thanks to the work by engineers at Boeing. Fast forward
to the present day, and here is a new spectacle in space provided by
Boeing. It’s not awesome.
NASA spin doctors object to headlines declaring that the Starliner
astronauts are “stranded” or “stuck” in space, pointing out correctly
that they are not in jeopardy. But make no mistake: This is a fiasco.
And not just because of the strain it puts on Ms. Williams and Mr.
Wilmore and their families. Boeing’s engineering woes extend beyond
Starliner; they threaten NASA’s bigger goals of going back to the moon
through its Artemis program, for which Boeing has become an essential
partner.
I was told that a number of retired astronauts are increasingly
troubled by Boeing’s performance. This loss in confidence helps put the
entire Artemis program into a new state of uncertainty. (8/28)
NASA Contracts Intuitive Machines for
2027 Lunar South Pole Research Mission (Source: Space Daily)
NASA has awarded a $116.9 million contract to Intuitive Machines of
Houston to deliver a new set of science experiments and technology
demonstrations to the lunar South Pole in 2027 as part of the agency's
Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. The mission will
involve transporting six NASA payloads to a region of the Moon
characterized by extremely cold nighttime temperatures, rugged terrain,
and permanently shadowed areas that may offer insights into the origins
of water across our solar system.
This delivery is a key component of NASA's broader Artemis program,
which aims to advance scientific understanding of the Moon and support
future crewed missions. The CLPS initiative focuses on enabling a
consistent cadence of lunar science and technology missions. (8/30)
SPACECOM Boss Wants to Talk with China
on Space Debris (Source: Benzinga)
The head of U.S. Space Command hopes the next time China launches a
rocket that leaves behind long-lived space debris, Beijing will give
Washington a heads-up, rather than leaving the U.S. to discover the
orbital mess on its own. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting referenced two recent
incidents involving Chinese space debris as cause for concern and
better communication moving forward. (8/29)
NASA Confronts 72% Asteroid Impact
Probability: A Planetary Defense Test (Source: SciTech Daily)
NASA’s hypothetical asteroid impact exercises, held every two years,
simulate a potential Earth impact to prepare global defense responses.
These exercises incorporate realistic asteroid tracking data and
emphasize international cooperation in emergency planning and asteroid
deflection strategies, highlighted by recent successful tests such as
DART.
Making such a scenario realistic and useful for all involved is no
small task. Scientists from the Center for Near Earth Object Studies
(CNEOS) at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern
California, which specializes in the tracking and orbital determination
of asteroids and comets and finding out if any are hazards to Earth,
have played a major role in designing these exercises since the first
11 years ago. (8/28)
Blue Origin's Powerful New Glenn
Rocket to Debut Oct. 13 with NASA Mars Launch (Source: Space.com)
The inaugural flight of Blue Origin's New Glenn heavy-lift rocket,
which will send NASA's ESCAPADE mission on its way to Mars, now has a
tentative launch date. NASA announced on Monday that the mission will
launch no earlier than Oct. 13. Blue Origin's first New Glenn rocket
will lift off from Space Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space
Force Station in Florida, debuting at last after years of delays in its
development. An Oct. 13 launch falls within the window of opportunity
for traveling to Mars, which occurs every 26 months. (9/29)
NASA Makes Discovery ‘As Important as
Gravity’ About Earth (Source: The Telegraph)
A new planet-wide electric field that is as fundamental to Earth as
gravity has been discovered in a major scientific breakthrough. The
ambipolar electric field, which begins 150 miles above the planet, has
been described as a “great invisible force” that lifts up the sky and
is responsible for the polar winds. The polar winds interact with the
jet streams to help drive the majority of weather patterns across the
globe. (8/29)
Youngest Woman Makes Space History on
Blue Origin's Space Flight (Source: ABC7.com)
A University of North Carolina student achieved one of her lifelong
goals Thursday morning by going into space. Karsen Kitchen, 21, was one
of six crew members for Blue Origin's New Shepard 26 flight, which
launched around 9 a.m. E.T. The flight took just over 10 minutes
launching the crew at a maximum velocity of 2,238 miles per hour. (8/30)
Space Force No. 2 Says There Is Risk
of China or Russia Launching Large-Scale Attack in Orbit
(Source: Air and Space Forces)
China and Russia have been monitoring U.S. efforts to protect its space
assets and are trying to devise ways to counter them, to include a
potential large-scale attack, the Space Force’s No. 2 officer said Aug.
28. The Space Force and the Department of Defense have turned to
proliferated constellations to make the U.S. satellites less vulnerable
to attack and say the U.S. remains ahead in space. (8/28)
Verizon to Start Satellite Messaging
on Android Phones (Source: Space News)
Verizon is starting an emergency messaging service using satellites for
some Android smartphones. The company announced this week a partnership
with Skylo, using L-band services from GEO satellites to provide
messaging services for some Google and Samsung phones when out of reach
fo terrestrial networks. Verizon said it will offer the service at no
charge to customers. Apple started providing a similar service to
iPhone users two years ago using Globalstar satellites. (8/30)
Starlink Embroiled in Musk X
Controversy in Brazil (Source: CNBC)
Starlink has become entangled in a dispute between Elon Musk's X social
network and a Brazilian judge. Supreme Court justice Alexandre de
Moraes ordered Starlink's bank accounts in the country frozen to
guarantee payment of fines levied against X. Musk, who has stridently
attacked de Moraes on X, said that SpaceX would continue to provide
Starlink services in Brazil at no charge while its accounts are frozen.
X itself could be blocked in Brazil as part of the months-long dispute
linked to efforts by the Brazilian government against misinformation on
social media platforms. (8/30)
South Korea to Pursue Human Spaceflight
(Source: JoongAng Daily)
Human spaceflight is a priority for the head of South Korea's new space
agency. Yoon Young-bin, administrator of the Korea AeroSpace
Administration (KASA), said at a conference Thursday that he wants the
agency to "foster new astronauts" through training programs and
international partnerships. One South Korean, Yi So-yeon, has been to
space so far, flying on a short-duration mission to the ISS in 2008
through an agreement with Russia. (8/30)
ACS3 Deploys Solar Sail
(Source: NASA)
A NASA smallsat has successfully deployed a solar sail. NASA said
Thursday that Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) smallsat
deployed its sail, according to telemetry relayed back to Earth earlier
in the day. High-resolution images of the deployed sail will be
downlinked next week. NASA will now test the ability of the
80-square-meter sail to adjust the orbit of the spacecraft. (8/30)
Lueders: SpaceX is Bringing Another
300 Engineers and Technicians to Starbase (Source: Rio Grande
Guardian)
SpaceX is about to bring another 300 engineers and technicians to its
Starbase facility at Boca Chica. This news was revealed by Kathryn
Lueders, general manager of Starbase, at a luncheon event hosted by
Brownsville Chamber of Commerce. Lueders was the keynote speaker for a
program titled: “Bridging Borders & Beyond – The Impact of
US-Mexico Relations and Space Exploration in the Rio Grande Valley.” It
was held at Brownsville Events Center. (8/28)
August 30, 2024
200 Meteorites on Earth Traced to 5
Craters on Mars (Source: Space.com)
Believe it or not, debris from Mars has frequently made its way to Earth after powerful impacts hit the Red Planet's surface and launch it into space. There have been at least 10 of these meteorite-forming events in Mars' recent history. When these massive impacts occur, meteorites can be flung away from the Red Planet with enough velocity that they break free of Mars' gravitational pull to enter orbit around the sun, with some eventually falling to Earth.
Scientists at the University of Alberta have now traced the origins of 200 of these meteorites to five impact craters in two volcanic regions on Mars, known as Tharsis and Elysium. (8/23)
James Webb Telescope Discovers 6 Rogue Worlds Within A Glowing Cosmic Cloud (Source: NDTV)
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have detected six rogue worlds-cosmic objects that do not orbit stars. These celestial bodies are slightly larger than Jupiter and provide new insights into star and planet formation across the universe. The Webb telescope observed the star-forming nebula NGC 1333, located 960 light-years away within the Perseus molecular cloud. This nebula's turbulence creates knots that collapse under gravity, leading to the formation of stars. Unlike the Hubble Space Telescope, which was hindered by dust, Webb's ability to observe in infrared light allowed it to see through the dust and capture detailed images. (8/28)
Sharpest New Images of Black Holes 'Will Likely Reveal New Properties' (Source: Newsweek)
Scientists have snapped the most high-resolution pictures of black holes ever taken from the ground. These two black holes, situated at the hearts of our galaxy and another galaxy named M87, were imaged by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) Collaboration, according to a new paper in The Astronomical Journal.
The new, crisper images of the black holes were created thanks to the detection of light with a frequency of 345 GHz, which could be combined with existing images of black holes captured in 230 GHz light. The new images have 50 percent higher definition than the ones before and reveal greater details of the areas around the black holes' event horizon. (8/28)
Is Betelgeuse Actually a Binary Star? (Source: Phys.org)
Betelgeuse has been a favorite among amateur astronomers for many years. However you pronounce it, its unexpected dimming draws even more attention to this red supergiant variable star in Orion. It has a few cycles of variability. One of them occurs over a 2,170 day period, five times longer than its normal pulsation period. A paper suggests a companion star of 1.17 solar masses could be the cause.
It would need an orbit about 2.43 times the radius of Betelgeuse and it might just lead to the modulation of dust in the region that causes the variations we see. Over the last five years, it's been getting special attention due to its unexpected dimming. The dimming occurred toward the end of 2019, returning to normal in the first half of 2020. It's generally accepted that the dimming was caused by a dust cloud in the event that has now been dubbed the "Great Dimming." (8/29)
Boeing's Uncrewed Starliner Could Return by Late Next Week, NASA Says (Source: Reuters)
NASA will proceed with the undocking of the uncrewed Boeing Starliner capsule not before Sep. 6, the space agency said on Thursday after concluding a review. Starliner's propulsion system issues were deemed too risky for crewed return after the capsule experienced a series of glitches within the first 24 hours of its flight to the ISS.
The journey back to Earth for the Starliner is expected to take approximately six hours from undocking to landing at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico, NASA said. Ground teams will remotely guide the spacecraft through necessary maneuvers for a safe undocking, re-entry and parachute-assisted landing in southwestern United States. Starliner has previously completed a successful uncrewed entry and landing during two orbital flight tests, the agency said. (8/29)
Navarro: Harris Has Been A Disaster For US Space Policy (Source: Daily Caller)
When President Trump reestablished the National Space Council — JFK was the originator — we had a clear, bold vision: America was going back to the Moon, heading to Mars and seeking to ensure American economic and military dominance in space. By the end of Trump’s term, the U.S. Space Force was up and running, the Artemis manned mission to the moon was on track and our commercial partnerships were flourishing.
Today, as Chair of the National Space Council, Vice President Kamala Harris has destroyed everything the Trump administration built. The Boeing Starliner debacle is but the tip of Kamala’s iceberg. (8/28)
Blue Origin Completes 26th Mission to Space with Six Crew Onboard (Source: Blue Origin)
Today, Blue Origin successfully completed its eighth human spaceflight and the 26th flight for the New Shepard program. Our astronaut crew included: Nicolina Elrick, Rob Ferl, Eugene Grin, Dr. Eiman Jahangir, Karsen Kitchen, and Ephraim Rabin. Including today’s crew, New Shepard has now flown 43 people into space. The mission launched from Blue Origin's site in Texas. (8/29)
FAA Plans Revised Environmental Assessment for SpaceX Texas Expansion (Source: FAA)
In July 2024, the FAA released the Draft Tiered Environmental Assessment (Draft EA) for SpaceX’s proposal to increase the number of launches and landings of its Starship/Super Heavy Vehicle at the Boca Chica Launch Site in Texas. The FAA invited interested parties to submit comments on the Draft EA. That public comment period closed on August 29, 2024.
On August 9, 2024, the FAA became aware of allegations that SpaceX violated the Clean Water Act at the Boca Chica Launch Site. The FAA was unable to confirm the accuracy of certain representations in SpaceX’s license application and the Draft Tiered Environmental Assessment prior to the public meetings scheduled for August 13th, 15th, and 20th. As a result, the FAA chose to postpone the public meetings until these matters could be resolved.
The FAA will release a Revised Draft Tiered Environmental Assessment (Revised Draft EA) in the future. The Revised Draft EA will be accompanied by an additional public comment period and public meetings. (8/29)
Firefly Aerospace Names Space Industry Veteran Jason Kim as New CEO (Source: Space News)
Firefly Aerospace, a developer of launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles, announced Aug. 29 the appointment of space industry veteran Jason Kim as its new chief executive officer, effective Oct. 1. The move comes just weeks after former CEO Bill Weber stepped down amid misconduct allegations.
Kim joins Firefly from Millennium Space, a Boeing subsidiary specializing in small satellites primarily for U.S. government agencies, where he served as CEO. He previously held executive positions at Raytheon Intelligence & Space, and Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. (8/29)
Chinese Astronauts Conduct Medical Tests and Grow Plants in Orbit (Source: Space.com)
The astronauts living aboard China's Tiangong space station have been busy. The three Shenzhou 18 crewmembers — commander Ye Guangfu and crewmates Li Cong and Li Guangsu — have been aboard the Tiangong space station since April 25. A new update via China's human spaceflight agency, CMSA, demonstrates the broad range of the trio's orbital activities. For example, the newly released footage shows the astronauts engaging in environmental monitoring and equipment maintenance, exercising using a treadmill and growing plants. (8/28)
UK Project Aims to Build Space Workforce (Source: University of Portsmouth)
A new project, led by the University of Portsmouth, has launched to help companies overcome the skills gap in software, data and artificial intelligence (AI) in the space sector. The Securing the future of space: Space Software and Data/AI CPD program is one of five new projects, worth £2.1m, announced by UK Space Agency to break down barriers to opportunities within this fast-growing, high-tech sector. The course, delivered by experts from the Space South Central partnership of universities of Portsmouth, Southampton and Surrey, will equip mid-career professionals with the expertise needed to strategically navigate the rapidly changing fields of AI and data-science. (8/27)
Believe it or not, debris from Mars has frequently made its way to Earth after powerful impacts hit the Red Planet's surface and launch it into space. There have been at least 10 of these meteorite-forming events in Mars' recent history. When these massive impacts occur, meteorites can be flung away from the Red Planet with enough velocity that they break free of Mars' gravitational pull to enter orbit around the sun, with some eventually falling to Earth.
Scientists at the University of Alberta have now traced the origins of 200 of these meteorites to five impact craters in two volcanic regions on Mars, known as Tharsis and Elysium. (8/23)
James Webb Telescope Discovers 6 Rogue Worlds Within A Glowing Cosmic Cloud (Source: NDTV)
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have detected six rogue worlds-cosmic objects that do not orbit stars. These celestial bodies are slightly larger than Jupiter and provide new insights into star and planet formation across the universe. The Webb telescope observed the star-forming nebula NGC 1333, located 960 light-years away within the Perseus molecular cloud. This nebula's turbulence creates knots that collapse under gravity, leading to the formation of stars. Unlike the Hubble Space Telescope, which was hindered by dust, Webb's ability to observe in infrared light allowed it to see through the dust and capture detailed images. (8/28)
Sharpest New Images of Black Holes 'Will Likely Reveal New Properties' (Source: Newsweek)
Scientists have snapped the most high-resolution pictures of black holes ever taken from the ground. These two black holes, situated at the hearts of our galaxy and another galaxy named M87, were imaged by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) Collaboration, according to a new paper in The Astronomical Journal.
The new, crisper images of the black holes were created thanks to the detection of light with a frequency of 345 GHz, which could be combined with existing images of black holes captured in 230 GHz light. The new images have 50 percent higher definition than the ones before and reveal greater details of the areas around the black holes' event horizon. (8/28)
Is Betelgeuse Actually a Binary Star? (Source: Phys.org)
Betelgeuse has been a favorite among amateur astronomers for many years. However you pronounce it, its unexpected dimming draws even more attention to this red supergiant variable star in Orion. It has a few cycles of variability. One of them occurs over a 2,170 day period, five times longer than its normal pulsation period. A paper suggests a companion star of 1.17 solar masses could be the cause.
It would need an orbit about 2.43 times the radius of Betelgeuse and it might just lead to the modulation of dust in the region that causes the variations we see. Over the last five years, it's been getting special attention due to its unexpected dimming. The dimming occurred toward the end of 2019, returning to normal in the first half of 2020. It's generally accepted that the dimming was caused by a dust cloud in the event that has now been dubbed the "Great Dimming." (8/29)
Boeing's Uncrewed Starliner Could Return by Late Next Week, NASA Says (Source: Reuters)
NASA will proceed with the undocking of the uncrewed Boeing Starliner capsule not before Sep. 6, the space agency said on Thursday after concluding a review. Starliner's propulsion system issues were deemed too risky for crewed return after the capsule experienced a series of glitches within the first 24 hours of its flight to the ISS.
The journey back to Earth for the Starliner is expected to take approximately six hours from undocking to landing at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico, NASA said. Ground teams will remotely guide the spacecraft through necessary maneuvers for a safe undocking, re-entry and parachute-assisted landing in southwestern United States. Starliner has previously completed a successful uncrewed entry and landing during two orbital flight tests, the agency said. (8/29)
Navarro: Harris Has Been A Disaster For US Space Policy (Source: Daily Caller)
When President Trump reestablished the National Space Council — JFK was the originator — we had a clear, bold vision: America was going back to the Moon, heading to Mars and seeking to ensure American economic and military dominance in space. By the end of Trump’s term, the U.S. Space Force was up and running, the Artemis manned mission to the moon was on track and our commercial partnerships were flourishing.
Today, as Chair of the National Space Council, Vice President Kamala Harris has destroyed everything the Trump administration built. The Boeing Starliner debacle is but the tip of Kamala’s iceberg. (8/28)
Blue Origin Completes 26th Mission to Space with Six Crew Onboard (Source: Blue Origin)
Today, Blue Origin successfully completed its eighth human spaceflight and the 26th flight for the New Shepard program. Our astronaut crew included: Nicolina Elrick, Rob Ferl, Eugene Grin, Dr. Eiman Jahangir, Karsen Kitchen, and Ephraim Rabin. Including today’s crew, New Shepard has now flown 43 people into space. The mission launched from Blue Origin's site in Texas. (8/29)
FAA Plans Revised Environmental Assessment for SpaceX Texas Expansion (Source: FAA)
In July 2024, the FAA released the Draft Tiered Environmental Assessment (Draft EA) for SpaceX’s proposal to increase the number of launches and landings of its Starship/Super Heavy Vehicle at the Boca Chica Launch Site in Texas. The FAA invited interested parties to submit comments on the Draft EA. That public comment period closed on August 29, 2024.
On August 9, 2024, the FAA became aware of allegations that SpaceX violated the Clean Water Act at the Boca Chica Launch Site. The FAA was unable to confirm the accuracy of certain representations in SpaceX’s license application and the Draft Tiered Environmental Assessment prior to the public meetings scheduled for August 13th, 15th, and 20th. As a result, the FAA chose to postpone the public meetings until these matters could be resolved.
The FAA will release a Revised Draft Tiered Environmental Assessment (Revised Draft EA) in the future. The Revised Draft EA will be accompanied by an additional public comment period and public meetings. (8/29)
Firefly Aerospace Names Space Industry Veteran Jason Kim as New CEO (Source: Space News)
Firefly Aerospace, a developer of launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles, announced Aug. 29 the appointment of space industry veteran Jason Kim as its new chief executive officer, effective Oct. 1. The move comes just weeks after former CEO Bill Weber stepped down amid misconduct allegations.
Kim joins Firefly from Millennium Space, a Boeing subsidiary specializing in small satellites primarily for U.S. government agencies, where he served as CEO. He previously held executive positions at Raytheon Intelligence & Space, and Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. (8/29)
Chinese Astronauts Conduct Medical Tests and Grow Plants in Orbit (Source: Space.com)
The astronauts living aboard China's Tiangong space station have been busy. The three Shenzhou 18 crewmembers — commander Ye Guangfu and crewmates Li Cong and Li Guangsu — have been aboard the Tiangong space station since April 25. A new update via China's human spaceflight agency, CMSA, demonstrates the broad range of the trio's orbital activities. For example, the newly released footage shows the astronauts engaging in environmental monitoring and equipment maintenance, exercising using a treadmill and growing plants. (8/28)
UK Project Aims to Build Space Workforce (Source: University of Portsmouth)
A new project, led by the University of Portsmouth, has launched to help companies overcome the skills gap in software, data and artificial intelligence (AI) in the space sector. The Securing the future of space: Space Software and Data/AI CPD program is one of five new projects, worth £2.1m, announced by UK Space Agency to break down barriers to opportunities within this fast-growing, high-tech sector. The course, delivered by experts from the Space South Central partnership of universities of Portsmouth, Southampton and Surrey, will equip mid-career professionals with the expertise needed to strategically navigate the rapidly changing fields of AI and data-science. (8/27)
August 29, 2024
Space Force STARCOM Visits Orlando
Simulation & Training Cluster Ahead of Florida Move (Source:
Team Orlando)
Space Force Guardians assigned to the Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) visited with multiple Team Orlando organizations at the University of Central Florida (UCF) and the Central Florida Tech Grove, Aug. 9. STARCOM’s mission includes preparing Guardians to conduct combat operations in the space domain through education and training; developing space warfighting doctrine, tactics, techniques and procedures; as well as testing and evaluating Space Force capabilities.
“STARCOM is the training and education arm of Space Force, and there are a lot of opportunities for synchronizing efforts with large institutions [near the Space Coast],” said Eric Shwedo, UCF’s associate vice president of federal relations. “Having so many modeling and simulation resources in their backyard is strong reason to collaborate.”
“With the world’s top modeling and simulations organizations in Research Park… we can do a lot to prepare Guardians for their future missions,” Shwedo said. “Team Orlando [members have] a way of getting things done, not by being individual members, but being a team.” The Department of the Air Force officially announced last May that Patrick Space Force Base would be STARCOM’s new, permanent home after concluding an environmental review that lasted roughly a year. (8/20)
Lockheed Martin Tests Inflatable Airlock (Source: Space News)
Lockheed Martin is testing inflatable airlock modules. The company put a model of an airlock unit through pressurization and depressurization tests earlier this month to test the performance of the Vectran material it is made of. Lockheed Martin is engaged in inflatable structure work as part of NASA’s Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP) program, investigating its use for a range of structures. (8/29)
China's Galactic Energy Launches Six Satellites From Ocean Platform (Source: Space News)
Chinese company Galactic Energy placed six satellites into orbit on a sea launch. The company's Ceres-1 rocket lifted off from a ship off the coast of Haiyang, Shandong province, at 1:22 a.m. Eastern Thursday. Three of the satellites were Yunyao-1 spacecraft with radio occultation and infrared imaging payloads for meteorological observations, along with three other satellites with hyperspectral and optical imaging payloads. The launch was the 15th flight of the Ceres-1 solid rocket and the third sea launch. (8/29)
ESA Astronaut Opens Paralympic Games in Paris (Source: Space.com)
ESA astronaut John McFall participated in the opening ceremonies of the Paralympic Games Wednesday in Paris. McFall carried the Paralympic flag into the opening ceremonies with French sailor and Paralympic champion Damien Seguin. McFall, who lost part of one leg in a motorcycle accident, won a bronze medal in the 100 meters at the 2008 Paralympic Games. ESA selected McFall as a reserve astronaut in 2022 and a recently concluded study found no obstacles for him going to space. (8/29)
Top 5 Trends in Aerospace Workplaces (Source: Thomas.net)
The aerospace industry is thriving and growing, with the latest reports showing 2.2 million employees and an annual revenue of $952 billion. Needless to say, things are looking good. But the success of the top aerospace and defense companies is, for the most part, thanks to the people who work for them.
The achievements of all sectors, from aerospace manufacturing and air traffic control to space exploration and national security, are built on the efforts of their employees. The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) 2024 report on workforce trends in the aerospace and defense industry (A&D) showed some key areas in the sector that could do with some improvement, which will only lead to benefits for everyone involved. Click here. (8/27)
CEO of Boeing’s Satellite Maker Millennium Space Has Quietly Left the Company (Source: Tech Crunch)
Boeing’s satellite maker Millennium Space Systems will soon have a new CEO. Jason Kim, the executive who held the position for nearly four years, has departed the company, TechCrunch has learned.
Boeing acquired Millennium Space Systems in 2018. Since that point, the company has scored mega-deals with the U.S. Department of Defense to build satellites to help warfighters track missiles and other threats. Millennium also successfully executed a “responsive space” mission for the U.S. Space Force; that mission, called Victus Nox, sought to establish a new record for the time it takes to put a defense payload into orbit. (8/28)
Guetlein Outlines U.S. Space Force Vision for ‘Allied by Design’ Space Systems (Source: Space News)
In a shift from the military’s historically insular approach, the U.S. Space Force is actively pursuing expanded partnerships with allied nations to bolster space defense capabilities. This marks a transformative moment for the youngest branch of the U.S. military, Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein said Aug. 28.
The Space Force will pursue joint development of technologies to protect satellites and respond to attacks on space networks, Guetlein said. He emphasized the need for partnerships to achieve deterrence, interoperability, resiliency, redundancy and scale in space operations. (8/28)
FAA Grounds SpaceX Ahead of Historic Polaris Dawn Launch (Source: Space.com)
The FAA has grounded SpaceX rockets following a failure of one of the company’s Falcon 9 rocket boosters early Wednesday morning. The grounding comes as a crew of four astronauts waits in quarantine for the launch of the Polaris Dawn mission aboard a Falcon 9. The private flight, funded by internet entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, is set to conduct the world’s first commercial spacewalk. It had already been pushed back several days due to technical issues and weather concerns. (8/28)
Why Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics Just Declared War on Rocket Engines (Source: Motley Fool)
Northrop Grumman and L3Harris are the two defense giants that dominate the production of missile engines. Both have caught flak from Lockheed and RTX for their failure to produce enough to meet demand. To remedy this situation, Lockheed Martin has proposed that it get into the rocket engine-making business itself.
It's a big job, though, and Lockheed can't do it alone. Last week, the company confirmed it would form a joint venture with defense rival General Dynamics, aiming to develop a new generation of military missile motors to supplement the constrained supply produced by Northrop and L3Harris. (8/26)
Space Force Guardians assigned to the Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) visited with multiple Team Orlando organizations at the University of Central Florida (UCF) and the Central Florida Tech Grove, Aug. 9. STARCOM’s mission includes preparing Guardians to conduct combat operations in the space domain through education and training; developing space warfighting doctrine, tactics, techniques and procedures; as well as testing and evaluating Space Force capabilities.
“STARCOM is the training and education arm of Space Force, and there are a lot of opportunities for synchronizing efforts with large institutions [near the Space Coast],” said Eric Shwedo, UCF’s associate vice president of federal relations. “Having so many modeling and simulation resources in their backyard is strong reason to collaborate.”
“With the world’s top modeling and simulations organizations in Research Park… we can do a lot to prepare Guardians for their future missions,” Shwedo said. “Team Orlando [members have] a way of getting things done, not by being individual members, but being a team.” The Department of the Air Force officially announced last May that Patrick Space Force Base would be STARCOM’s new, permanent home after concluding an environmental review that lasted roughly a year. (8/20)
Lockheed Martin Tests Inflatable Airlock (Source: Space News)
Lockheed Martin is testing inflatable airlock modules. The company put a model of an airlock unit through pressurization and depressurization tests earlier this month to test the performance of the Vectran material it is made of. Lockheed Martin is engaged in inflatable structure work as part of NASA’s Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP) program, investigating its use for a range of structures. (8/29)
China's Galactic Energy Launches Six Satellites From Ocean Platform (Source: Space News)
Chinese company Galactic Energy placed six satellites into orbit on a sea launch. The company's Ceres-1 rocket lifted off from a ship off the coast of Haiyang, Shandong province, at 1:22 a.m. Eastern Thursday. Three of the satellites were Yunyao-1 spacecraft with radio occultation and infrared imaging payloads for meteorological observations, along with three other satellites with hyperspectral and optical imaging payloads. The launch was the 15th flight of the Ceres-1 solid rocket and the third sea launch. (8/29)
ESA Astronaut Opens Paralympic Games in Paris (Source: Space.com)
ESA astronaut John McFall participated in the opening ceremonies of the Paralympic Games Wednesday in Paris. McFall carried the Paralympic flag into the opening ceremonies with French sailor and Paralympic champion Damien Seguin. McFall, who lost part of one leg in a motorcycle accident, won a bronze medal in the 100 meters at the 2008 Paralympic Games. ESA selected McFall as a reserve astronaut in 2022 and a recently concluded study found no obstacles for him going to space. (8/29)
Top 5 Trends in Aerospace Workplaces (Source: Thomas.net)
The aerospace industry is thriving and growing, with the latest reports showing 2.2 million employees and an annual revenue of $952 billion. Needless to say, things are looking good. But the success of the top aerospace and defense companies is, for the most part, thanks to the people who work for them.
The achievements of all sectors, from aerospace manufacturing and air traffic control to space exploration and national security, are built on the efforts of their employees. The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) 2024 report on workforce trends in the aerospace and defense industry (A&D) showed some key areas in the sector that could do with some improvement, which will only lead to benefits for everyone involved. Click here. (8/27)
CEO of Boeing’s Satellite Maker Millennium Space Has Quietly Left the Company (Source: Tech Crunch)
Boeing’s satellite maker Millennium Space Systems will soon have a new CEO. Jason Kim, the executive who held the position for nearly four years, has departed the company, TechCrunch has learned.
Boeing acquired Millennium Space Systems in 2018. Since that point, the company has scored mega-deals with the U.S. Department of Defense to build satellites to help warfighters track missiles and other threats. Millennium also successfully executed a “responsive space” mission for the U.S. Space Force; that mission, called Victus Nox, sought to establish a new record for the time it takes to put a defense payload into orbit. (8/28)
Guetlein Outlines U.S. Space Force Vision for ‘Allied by Design’ Space Systems (Source: Space News)
In a shift from the military’s historically insular approach, the U.S. Space Force is actively pursuing expanded partnerships with allied nations to bolster space defense capabilities. This marks a transformative moment for the youngest branch of the U.S. military, Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein said Aug. 28.
The Space Force will pursue joint development of technologies to protect satellites and respond to attacks on space networks, Guetlein said. He emphasized the need for partnerships to achieve deterrence, interoperability, resiliency, redundancy and scale in space operations. (8/28)
FAA Grounds SpaceX Ahead of Historic Polaris Dawn Launch (Source: Space.com)
The FAA has grounded SpaceX rockets following a failure of one of the company’s Falcon 9 rocket boosters early Wednesday morning. The grounding comes as a crew of four astronauts waits in quarantine for the launch of the Polaris Dawn mission aboard a Falcon 9. The private flight, funded by internet entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, is set to conduct the world’s first commercial spacewalk. It had already been pushed back several days due to technical issues and weather concerns. (8/28)
Why Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics Just Declared War on Rocket Engines (Source: Motley Fool)
Northrop Grumman and L3Harris are the two defense giants that dominate the production of missile engines. Both have caught flak from Lockheed and RTX for their failure to produce enough to meet demand. To remedy this situation, Lockheed Martin has proposed that it get into the rocket engine-making business itself.
It's a big job, though, and Lockheed can't do it alone. Last week, the company confirmed it would form a joint venture with defense rival General Dynamics, aiming to develop a new generation of military missile motors to supplement the constrained supply produced by Northrop and L3Harris. (8/26)
August 28, 2024
Florida Tech Astrobiologist Explores
Likelihood of Life Originating on Earth (Source: Space Daily)
Florida Tech astrobiologist Manasvi Lingam is creating his own models to explore complex topics such as the origin of life. He exchanged the pursuit of definitive answers for scholarly inferences, embracing the universe's uncertainties by exploring chance. According to Lingam, models - or simplified representations of reality - accomplish two main tasks: they help researchers make predictions and they offer an alternative to experiments that may be too costly or impractical. That was the case with Lingam's recently published analysis regarding the potential origin of life on Earth.
Together with other researchers he has compiled potentially urable sites - those viable for life to start - identified in previous research, each with different levels of conduciveness for the genesis of life. They included several different environments, ranging from underwater volcanoes to soap bubbles and tar to natural nuclear reactors akin to one that formed in Gabon two billion years ago. Two main questions shaped their models: from how many sites on Earth could life have emerged; and what is the probability of life actually emerging from one of those sites? The goal of the study was not to directly answer the questions but to find the most accurate way of interpreting the data the models generate. (8/27)
NASA Unveils New Pod to Enhance Autonomous Aircraft Vision (Source: Space Daily)
To prepare self-flying aircraft for safe operation, understanding and reacting to environmental challenges is crucial. NASA aeronautics researchers have created a new camera pod equipped with sensors designed to improve computer vision systems for autonomous aviation. The device, named the Airborne Instrumentation for Real-world Video of Urban Environments (AIRVUE), was developed at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The pod recently underwent initial testing aboard a piloted helicopter at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
This technology aims to gather extensive visual datasets featuring weather patterns and various obstacles. The collected data will be made available to manufacturers of autonomous air taxis, drones, and similar aircraft. These datasets are intended to assist developers in assessing and enhancing the situational awareness of their aircraft. (8/28)
Global Investment Boosts Space Intelligence's Nature Mapping Initiative (Source: Space Daily)
Space Intelligence, a leader in high-precision nature mapping using satellite data, has announced the successful completion of its Series A funding round. The investment was led by new backers, AzurX Space Ventures (ASV), with participation from Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. The newly secured funds will be directed towards expanding Space Intelligence's global database of forest mapping, aimed at supporting the development and financing of forest carbon projects. Additionally, the investment will enhance the company's ability to monitor environmental impacts across corporate supply chains. (8/27)
Can China Challenge SpaceX's Starlink? (Source: IEEE Spectrum)
China launched its first batch of satellites for its Qianfan megaconstellation earlier this month. It now has 18 satellites in orbit, but much more will be needed to build out this network of nearly 14,000 satellites. Qianfan—”thousands sails” in Chinese and also referred to as Spacesail or G60—is a project run by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST).
Last February, the company announced it had raised 6.7 billion yuan ($943 million) in funding, with backing from Shanghai’s municipal government. This makes it a serious project, and one meant to catch up with SpaceX’s Starlink, providing global connectivity, including direct mobile connections, while also providing rural connectivity, supporting e-commerce, and bolstering national security within China. The aim, SSST says, is to launch all 13,904 satellites by 2030. That works out to launching an average of just over seven satellites per day, every day, until the end of the decade.
To put this in perspective, SpaceX, with its reusable Falcon 9 rocket, has launched 6,895 satellites since the Starlink constellation’s first launch in May 2019. Of these, around 5,500 are still in orbit and operational. That works out to about 3.5 satellites launched per day. To get off the ground, in other words, Qianfan will require both a boom in Chinese launch rates and a surge in satellite manufacturing. (8/27)
Lunar Outpost Establishes Lunar Dawn Science Council (Source: ASU)
Lunar Outpost has established the Lunar Dawn Science Council, naming Arizona State University (ASU) as the lead research organization. The Lunar Dawn team was awarded a Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services (LTVS) contract by NASA in April 2024 and is leading the way by implementing an experienced Science Council to maximize the scientific return of the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV). This group of vetted, academic and industry professionals will provide input and guidance from the lunar science community to enhance the quality of science generated from the LTV through the 10+ years of operational life on the lunar surface. (8/27)
NASA IG Sees Ballooning Cost for SLS Launch Tower (Source: Ars Technica)
NASA's problems with the mobile launch tower that will support a larger version of its SLS rocket are getting worse rather than better. According to a new report from NASA's inspector general, the estimated cost of the tower, which is a little bit taller than the length of a US football field with its end zones, is now $2.7 billion. Such a cost is nearly twice the funding it took to build the largest structure in the world, the Burj Khalifa, which is seven times taller.
This is a remarkable explosion in costs as, only five years ago, NASA awarded a contract to the Bechtel engineering firm to build and deliver a second mobile launcher (ML-2) for $383 million, with a due date of March 2023. That deadline came and went with Bechtel barely beginning to cut metal.
According to NASA's own estimate, the project cost for the tower is now $1.8 billion, with a delivery date of September 2027. However the new report, published Monday, concludes that NASA's estimate is probably too conservative. "Our analysis indicates costs could be even higher due in part to the significant amount of construction work that remains," states the report, signed by Deputy Inspector General George A. Scott. (8/28)
UK University Breaks Ground on New £2.5M Optical Ground Station (Source: HW.AC.UK)
Work has started on a new Quantum Communications Hub Optical Ground Station (HOGS), a state-of-the-art telescope which is being built on Heriot-Watt University’s Research Park. The new facility will demonstrate and test satellite quantum secure communications, maintaining and growing the UK’s strength in the field of quantum technologies. It is scheduled to be fully operational by late Autumn [2024].
As well as helping to tackle future cyberattacks by researching methods to send secure transmissions via satellites, it will unlock new research on space environmentalism alongside innovative R&D activities for future laser communication networks. These provide high bandwidth communications services like 6G and beyond. (8/28)
Vanderbilt Doctor Wins Space Sweepstakes for Flight on Blue Origin Rocket (Source: The Tennessean)
Sure, the trip is only 11 minutes, and yes, the rocket-capsule will barely cross the 68-mile-high line into space. The space tourism flight is suborbital and sub-optimal in a way for a Vanderbilt University cardiologist who has spent a lifetime dreaming of — and, lately, training for — walking on the moon. Or orbiting Earth in the ISS, anyway. "I see the Blue Origin flight as an opportunity to do something amazing," Jahangir told The Tennessean last week. (8/28)
Whisper Aero is Working with NASA to Bring its Ultra-Quiet Tech to Outer Space (Source: Tech Crunch)
Crewed spacecraft, whether that be a transportation vehicle or a station module, are made noisy by life support systems, electronic fans, radios and crew activity. NASA has long been concerned about the effects of this acoustic environment on its astronauts, and the agency has introduced a number of modifications over the years to make the International Space Station a quieter place.
But there’s still plenty of room for improvement. Whisper Aero, a Tennessee-based startup best known for its ultra-quiet electric propulsor for aircraft, drones and even leaf blowers, scored a new NASA contract to design the quietest possible fan that’s suitable for crewed space environments. At the end of the six-month effort, the startup is aiming to have prototype parts to show to NASA; if the agency deems this Phase 1 project successful, Whisper would likely move on to test a design prototype next year.
In Phase 2, NASA and Whisper would compare the acoustic and aerodynamic estimates from this Phase 1 small business and innovation research (SBIR) contract with the measurements of its fan and a baseline NASA Spacecraft Cabin Ventilation Fan. (8/27)
SpaceX Starship Flotillas Could Outrace NASA To Create Moon Base Alpha (Source: Forbes)
SpaceX, with its rapidly expanding squadron of Starship rockets and super-capsules, looks poised to dominate the creation of humanity’s first base camp on the Moon. As it ramps up producing Starship upper stages that can double as Moon-orbiting space stations or as spectacular lunar resorts, SpaceX is positioned to speed past NASA’s plans for Spartan astronaut habitats on the orb’s South Pole.
NASA’s “lunar surface habitat concepts are currently in early conceptual stages or pre-formulation,” said NASA's Corinne Beckinger. Next-generation Starships will be colossal, mobile habitats that can host up to 100 explorers during the trip to the Moon, and after touching down around its ancient impact craters, SpaceX says in its Starship Users Guide. (8/27)
New UK Spaceport Collaboration Signed (Source: Business Cornwall)
Spaceport Cornwall, alongside Cornwall Airport Newquay, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Wholeship Ltd, which operates the National Drone Hub at Predannack. With access to over 5,500 square kilometers of segregated airspace, the partnership will provide the opportunity for UK flight trials of sub-scale air systems and test operating procedures to be conducted at the drone hub, enabling Spaceport Cornwall to gather evidence in support of future operational flights from Newquay.
The MoU highlights a number of other potential areas for collaboration, including the ability for Spaceport Cornwall to demonstrate Cornwall’s combined future air and space offer to prospective customers and clients, and to investigate possible partnerships with UK industry and the Ministry of Defense (MoD). (8/27)
MDA Space Expands Aurora Supply Chain Adding Beyond Gravity (Source: SpaceQ)
Beyond Gravity, a Swiss space industry supplier, has been selected by MDA Space as part of its supply chain for MDA Aurora, the companies software-defined digital satellite product line. Beyond Gravity said it “will provide 252 ‘constellation On-Board Computers (cOBCs)’ with integrated navigation receivers and antennas for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations.” Beyond Gravity will begin providing the cOBCs this year and they will be used in Telesat’s Lightspeed constellation. (8/26)
Mattel Rolling Out Matchbox Toy of SpaceX's Tesla Astronaut Transport (Source: Collect Space)
As SpaceX's next commercial astronaut mission rolls out for launch, Mattel is counting down to the release of its latest Matchbox toy based on the space company's vehicles. Unlike Mattel's earlier sets, which were modeled after spacecraft and rockets, this upcoming issue is more of a natural fit for the iconic line of die-cast cars. Matchbox's 1:64 scale version of SpaceX's Crew Transport Vehicle is set to arrive in U.S. stores on Oct. 1 for $1.25 each. (8/26)
Impulse Space Selected for $60M STRATFI Award to Support Development of Helios for Responsive GEO Capabilities (Source: Impulse)
Impulse Space announced its selection by SpaceWERX, sponsored by U.S. Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command’s (SSC) Space Safari Office, for a Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) award with the value of $60M between government funds, matching Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funds, and private funds.
The work will focus on the company’s high-performance kick stage, Helios, to address pressing challenges in geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO) for the Department of the Air Force (DAF). This award builds on Impulse’s momentum in the government sector, having previously been selected in January for two SBIR Phase II contracts via the 2023 SpaceWERX Tactically Responsive Space Challenge. (8/27)
US Leaders Have Been Warned to Focus on GPS and PNT to Protect the Nation (Source: Space News)
In Ukraine and the Middle East, smart weapons are degraded or neutralized. Drones and missiles are deflected or turned back on attackers. In the Baltic, South China Sea and elsewhere, denial and manipulation of satellite navigation signals has become a daily part of great power competition. These stark demonstrations of vulnerabilities have highlighted long-standing concerns about the capability of GPS and other American positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) capabilities. (8/28)
Chinese GF-7 Satellite Enhances Forest Height Measurement Accuracy (Source: Space Daily)
Scientists have introduced a new technique to measure forest heights using advanced satellite technology, reducing the reliance on traditional, labor-intensive fieldwork. A recent study, published on July 29 in the 'Journal of Remote Sensing', involved an international team of researchers who used high-resolution satellite imagery from China's GF-7 satellite and historical images from Google Earth to achieve precise forest height measurements.
The GF-7 satellite, known for its very high-resolution (VHR) stereoscopic images, captures detailed views of the Earth's surface, including forests. Historically, measuring forest heights with such images required ground control points (GCPs) obtained through extensive and costly fieldwork, posing challenges in remote or mountainous regions. (8/27)
Guidelines Proposed for Evaluating Solar Geoengineering Research (Source: Space Daily)
Scientists have been exploring the potential of injecting sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere as a method to reflect solar heat and mitigate the effects of global warming. However, there is a growing need to ensure that these solar geoengineering strategies are assessed not only for their cooling potential but also for their technical viability and possible ecological and societal impacts.
In response, an international team of researchers, led by the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR), has released a set of recommendations for evaluating proposals involving stratospheric aerosol intervention (SAI)-a technique involving the injection of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere. The published guidelines also suggest criteria for discontinuing projects that face insurmountable scientific, technical, or societal challenges. (8/26)
NASA Supports Research to Enhance Astronaut Health on Extended Space Missions (Source: Space Daily)
NASA has committed funding to 11 new research projects aimed at improving the health and performance of astronauts during long-duration space missions. These studies will be conducted on Earth and do not require direct data or samples from astronauts in space. The research will explore various physiological and psychological responses to the unique challenges of space travel, including team performance, communication, living environments, decision-making, blood flow, and brain health.
The findings are expected to help NASA reduce risks and safeguard astronaut well-being during future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Selected from 123 proposals in response to the 2024 Human Exploration Research Opportunities, the 11 studies represent 10 different institutions and have a combined award value of approximately $14.6 million. The duration of these projects ranges from one to five years. (8/27)
Solar Panels for Roman Space Telescope Complete Testing (Source: Space Daily)
The solar array sun shield for NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has successfully passed a series of crucial tests, ensuring that the assembly remains on track for timely completion. These solar panels are essential for powering and shading the observatory, enabling mission-critical observations while maintaining optimal instrument temperatures. (8/27)
UAH HERC rover team makes STEM outreach trip to Dominican Republic (Source: Space Daily)
Winning the 2024 Human Rover Explorer Challenge (HERC) provided an engineering student team at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of the University of Alabama System, the opportunity to perform STEM outreach in the Dominican Republic (DR) this summer. UAH rover team THESEUS members traveled to the DR capital to give presentations to attendees at the Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo, or INTEC University, at the invitation of DR rover team Apolo27. UAH was the overall winner of the NASA competition in April, and the DR team took home second place in the same division. The two squads bonded when UAH hosted visits to the UAH team's rover design and construction facilities. (8/26)
NASA Advances Solar Sail Deployment Efforts After Initial Delay (Source: Space Daily)
NASA's Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) has initiated deployment operations for its innovative solar sail. However, during the initial attempt to unfurl the sail, the process was paused when an onboard power monitor detected higher-than-expected motor currents. Despite this, communications, power, and attitude control for the spacecraft all remain normal. Mission managers are now focused on analyzing data from the spacecraft to understand and resolve the cause of this interruption. (8/27)
SETI Launches Low-Frequency Search for Extraterrestrial Technology in Distant Galaxies (Source: Space Daily)
The SETI Institute, in collaboration with the Berkeley SETI Research Center and the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, has initiated a pioneering study using the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) in Western Australia. Led by Dr. Chenoa Tremblay of the SETI Institute and Prof. Steven Tingay of Curtin University, this research marks the first search for alien technology in galaxies beyond our own, specifically targeting low radio frequencies (100 MHz). The MWA's extensive field of view (FOV) allowed the research team to examine approximately 2,800 galaxies in a single observation, with known distances for 1,300 of these galaxies. (8/27)
Relationships with Space Colonists (Source: Space Daily)
One day soon we may have long-term orbiting colonies circling the planet in microgravity space stations with complete, self-sustained ecosystems, governance bodies and a completely independent society that operates as a sovereign entity. The relationship between on-Earth societies and colonists would likely be complicated. Several factors would shape this relationship, including the very different living environment, economic dependencies, cultural differences, governance structures, and technological advancements. Let's speculate on these differences. Click here. (8/26)
Might Boeing Cancel Starliner? (Source: Futurism)
When we asked Boeing whether Starliner might get canceled, the company didn't exactly jump to defend the project. "Boeing continues to focus, first and foremost, on the safety of the crew and spacecraft," a spokesperson said. "We are executing the mission as determined by NASA, and we are preparing the spacecraft for a safe and successful uncrewed return."
Worse yet, NASA's inspector general released a damning report earlier this month, finding that Boeing's contributions to NASA's Moonbound Space Launch System are also many years behind and way over budget. And that's not to mention years' worth of controversies plaguing Boeing's passenger jet business and executive shakeups. (8/27)
Earth’s Temperature Could Increase by 25 Degrees: Research Reveals CO2 Has More Impact Than Previously Thought (Source: SciTech Daily)
Analysis of Pacific Ocean sediments shows doubling atmospheric CO2 might raise Earth’s temperature by up to 14 degrees, exceeding IPCC predictions, with historical data indicating significant future climate impacts. Doubling the atmospheric CO2 levels could raise Earth’s average temperature by 7 to 14 degrees Celsius (13 to 25.2 degrees Fahrenheit), according to sediment analysis from the Pacific Ocean near California.
The researchers developed a new approach to derive past atmospheric CO2 content by using the chemical composition of two specific substances commonly found in algae: chlorophyll and cholesterol. This is the first study to use cholesterol for quantitative CO2 and the first study to use chlorophyll for this time period. To create these substances, algae must absorb CO2 from the water and fix it via photosynthesis. (8/27)
MIT's Rocket Horizon Project Reimagines SpaceX Starship HLS as Sustainable Lunar Habitats (Source: DesignBoom)
Rocket Horizon, led by a team from MIT, represents a pioneering interdisciplinary effort to create sustainable lunar habitats. This project blends architectural innovation with advanced technology and robust engineering solutions, drawing on the expertise of MIT’s Department of Architecture, Media Lab, AeroAstro, and the Sloan School of Management. Central to Rocket Horizon is the principle of reusability—adapting SpaceX‘s Starship HLS (a lunar lander variant of the Starship spacecraft that is slated to transfer astronauts from a lunar orbit to the surface of the Moon and back) not only for transport but also as a core component of lunar infrastructure. Click here. (8/27)
Into The Field With NASA: Valley Of Ten Thousand Smokes (Source: NASA)
In June 2024, the Goddard Instrument Field Team (GIFT) hiked deep into the backcountry of Alaska’s Katmai National Park to study the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, site of the largest volcanic eruption of the twentieth century. The team’s task: traverse a vast volcanic debris field layered with glacier ice, gathering data and samples to help us better understand this place on Earth and similar terrain on other worlds. Click here. (8/22) https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/into-the-field-with-nasa-valley-of-ten-thousand-smokes/
When Boeing's Starliner Comes Back Empty, It'll Destroy the Malfunctioning Thrusters, Making It Impossible to Study What Went Wrong (Source: Futurism)
Before the mission even launched, engineers noticed several gas leaks affecting the capsule's propulsion system. The affected thrusters are attached to Starliner's service module, which is designed to separate from the crew module during re-entry and burn up in the Earth's atmosphere. That could make it far more difficult for Boeing to figure out what went wrong, as that won't leave any hardware behind for engineers to inspect. (8/26)
SpaceX Competitor Emerges With A Larger Rocket That Could Challenge Musk's Dominance (Sources: Benzinga, Seeking Alpha)
Peter Beck believes that offering businesses a rocket that can compete with the Falcon 9 will provide valuable choices, especially for companies building rivals to SpaceX’s satellite internet service, Starlink. Beck revealed his plans to launch a new, larger rocket, named Neutron, in mid-2025. The Neutron is expected to be a direct competitor to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, offering partially reusable transportation of cargo into orbit at a fraction of the cost of traditional rockets. (8/27)
Rocket Lab informed investors that the entirety of Neutron is now in production and qualification. Given Rocket Lab’s years of experience with the Electron rocket, the company does have a good track record with carbon fiber manufacturing, flight computers, software, etc. As such, I would say that these elements of Neutron’s design and production are somewhat less worrisome than the (totally new) engine design. Of course, there are a lot of pieces to the puzzle and Rocket Lab could still run into problems here, but for now, they seem to be on track to meet their target of a 2025 launch. (8/26)
Starlink, OneWeb, Amazon Want Indian Gateways to be Open for the World (Source: Financial Express)
Satellite communication service providers such as OneWeb India, SpaceX-owned Starlink and Amazon’s Kuiper Systems, have urged the government to allow them to use their gateways in India to service other nations also. It remains to be seen whether the government accepts their demand or not because in this case data of Indian users will be sent out of the country. Usually in such cases, for security reasons the government insists that consumer data should be stored within the country itself. (8/27)
Can the Pentagon Get to the ‘Next Level’ of Space Domain Awareness? (Source: Air and Space Forces)
Retired Lt. Gen. John E. Shaw is often credited as the Pentagon’s trailblazer in advocating for dynamic space operations—maneuvering satellites in and between orbits and refueling them to better operate in a contested domain. Now, he wants the military to get more dynamic in how it monitors and tracks objects and threats in orbit, as part of a broader shift and upgrade in space domain awareness, he said Aug. 26.
The former Space Force general isn’t alone in calling for enhanced SDA, as space domain awareness is known. Earlier this year, Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman said the service needs to invest in “actionable space domain awareness” that gives decision-makers more context and understanding of what’s happening in the domain. (8/26)
Securing US Space Assets is Busting the Air Force Budget, Kendall Says (Source: Defense News)
When Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall unveiled his seven no-fail mission priorities two years ago — dubbed operational imperatives — creating a resilient space architecture was at the top of the list. Kendall’s emphasis on resilience in space is underpinned by two ideas that have picked up traction across the Defense Department in recent years.
First, capabilities like GPS, satellite communications and space-based intelligence collection play an essential, enabling role in most U.S. military operations. And second, threats from adversaries like China and Russia have put those capabilities at risk. The creation of the Space Force in 2019 was a step toward strengthening the resourcing and organizational heft of the military space enterprise. In making space resilience central to the secretary’s operational imperatives, the push is expected to get top billing when it comes to divvying up scarce Air Force and Space Force budget dollars.
Kendall’s call for a larger space budget follows several years of steady funding growth for the Space Force. The service’s budget has nearly doubled in the five years since it was established, but that increase reflects mission consolidation more than it does new investment, as many space-focused personnel and programs from the Army and Navy as well as the Space Development Agency moved under the purview of the new service. (8/27)
VIPER’s Failure and the Future of Space Exploration (Source: AEI.org)
It’s clear that VIPER was just too big of a project for CLPS. The CLPS program was designed to support the Artemis moon mission through iterative progress, focusing on quickly demonstrating success for small payloads of 10kg to 15kg that could then be ramped up in size over time. But VIPER, at approximately 500kg, represented a massive leap in payload size. This significant increase necessitated considerable design changes, adding costs and risks to the project. Since VIPER was also a major project, NASA again added more testing, again raising costs. By way of comparison, the tally for the other 52 payloads in CLPS sums to $245.5 million.
In the end, NASA worried that VIPER’s additional costs would threaten “cancellation or disruption to other CLPS missions” and so VIPER was shelved. Ensuring that CLPS succeeds is the agency’s top priority, which was reiterated in the bill report for NASA’s 2025 budget. Still all is not lost. The agency solicited proposals from private companies on what to do with the rover, and at least a dozen have reached out. Among them is Intuitive Machines, a Houston-based firm that attracted significant attention this year with the successful lunar landing of its Nova-C spacecraft. (8/26)
DiBello Joins Florida Tech Board of Trustees (Source: Florida Tech)
Frank DiBello, former CEO of Space Florida, has been added to the Florida Institute of Technology's board of trustees. DiBello’s distinguished career spans civil and government work. After graduating from Villanova with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, he began working with aerospace businesses in the mid-1970s and in 1984 became founder and managing partner of the Space & Advanced Technology Division of KPMG Peat Marwick. He came to Brevard County in the early 2000s to serve as president and CEO of Florida Aerospace Finance Corporation.
Editor's Note: The state's creation of FAFC coincided with its creation of the Florida Space Research Institute (FSRI), both as spinoffs of the Spaceport Florida Authority. I moved from the Spaceport Authority to FSRI (under Sam Durrance) at the same time Frank led FAFC. Ultimately, both spinoff organizations were collapsed with the Spaceport Authority into a new organization, Space Florida, which hired Frank as CEO. (8/28)
SpaceX Loses Booster After Florida Starlink Launch (Source: Space News)
A Falcon 9 booster tipped over in a fiery landing after a launch early Wednesday morning. The rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral and successfully deployed 21 Starink satellites into low Earth orbit. The booster landed on a droneship eight minutes and 20 seconds after liftoff, but upon landing flames erupted from the base of the booster and it tipped over within seconds. SpaceX said it was investigating what happened with the booster, which was making its fleet-leading 23rd flight, and postponed another Falcon 9 launch also scheduled for early today from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. (8/28)
US Falling Behind in Use of Commercial Satellite Imagery for Intelligence (Source: Space News)
Experts warn that the United States is falling behind in utilization of commercial satellite imagery for real-time intelligence. At a conference Tuesday, David Gauthier, the former head of commercial operations at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), said the commercial satellite industry has to innovate further to meet the U.S. military's needs for continuous monitoring of military activity, based on the experience from the war in Ukraine. He called for "virtual constellations" of satellites collecting different kinds of intelligence as well as crosslinks so that those satellites can provide data faster. He noted that while the NRO has committed to spending $4 billion over 10 years on commercial imagery, that is less money on an annual basis than what the government spent on commercial imagery in 2011. (8/28)
Faulty Valve Blamed for Astrobotic Lunar Lander Failure (Source: Space News)
Astrobotic's Peregrine lunar lander failed to make it to the moon because of a faulty valve. The company released Tuesday the results of an independent review into the mission, where the spacecraft had a propellant leak hours after launch that prevented a lunar landing attempt. That investigation found that a valve used to control the flow of helium into an oxidizer tank failed, over-pressurizing the tank and causing it to burst. The valve suffered "vibration-induced relaxation" missed in earlier tests of the spacecraft, causing a mechanical failure. The company is redesigning the valves and other parts of the propulsion system for its larger Griffin lander, scheduled to launch late next year. (8/28)
Hungary's 4iG Looks to Expand to Space (Source: Space News)
A communications company is trying to make Hungary into a major European space power. 4iG, a terrestrial telecoms and IT specialist that made nearly $1.7 billion last year, is looking to build out a vertically integrated space company following a series of investments inside and outside Hungary. It has sought to buy a controlling stake in Israeli satellite operator Spacecom while also establishing a joint venture that plans to order its own GEO communications satellite. The efforts to take over Spacecom, though, have been slowed by that company's financial problems as well as objections from the Israeli government. (8/28)
Europa Clipper Gets its Wings (Source: NASA)
NASA has installed solar arrays on the Europa Clipper spacecraft. The agency said Tuesday that the two arrays, each 14.2 meters long and 4.1 meters high, are now in place on the spacecraft at the Kennedy Space Center as part of prelaunch preparations. The arrays, the largest used on a NASA planetary mission, are so big because of the relatively feeble sunlight at Jupiter's distance from the sun. Europa Clipper is scheduled to launch in a three-week window that opens Oct. 10, but NASA has not provided any recent updates on whether an issue with transistors on the spacecraft, reported in July, will affect those plans. (8/28)
ISRO Chief Hopes for Big Budget Boost (Source: Reuters)
The head of India's space agency is counting on big budget increases in the coming years. In an interview, ISRO chairman S. Somanath said he expects his agency's budget to grow by 20% to 30%, but over "a long period of time." ISRO is projected to get about $1.5 billion this year. He added that he believed that India's space sector is growing increasingly competitive on global markets, with the LVM-3 similar in price to Falcon 9, although that vehicle has captured few contracts from foreign customers. (8/28)
NASA ACS3 Solar Sail Deployment Stalls for Troubleshooting (Source: NASA)
NASA is troubleshooting a deployment problem with a solar sail on a smallsat. NASA reported this week that it attempted to unfurl the solar sail on the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) smallsat earlier this month, but paused the deployment of booms when the spacecraft reported higher motor currents than expected. ACS3 is designed to test new deployable structure technologies with booms that, when extended, would deploy a solar sail nine meters on a side. NASA said other systems on ACS3 are operating normally. (8/28)
Florida Tech astrobiologist Manasvi Lingam is creating his own models to explore complex topics such as the origin of life. He exchanged the pursuit of definitive answers for scholarly inferences, embracing the universe's uncertainties by exploring chance. According to Lingam, models - or simplified representations of reality - accomplish two main tasks: they help researchers make predictions and they offer an alternative to experiments that may be too costly or impractical. That was the case with Lingam's recently published analysis regarding the potential origin of life on Earth.
Together with other researchers he has compiled potentially urable sites - those viable for life to start - identified in previous research, each with different levels of conduciveness for the genesis of life. They included several different environments, ranging from underwater volcanoes to soap bubbles and tar to natural nuclear reactors akin to one that formed in Gabon two billion years ago. Two main questions shaped their models: from how many sites on Earth could life have emerged; and what is the probability of life actually emerging from one of those sites? The goal of the study was not to directly answer the questions but to find the most accurate way of interpreting the data the models generate. (8/27)
NASA Unveils New Pod to Enhance Autonomous Aircraft Vision (Source: Space Daily)
To prepare self-flying aircraft for safe operation, understanding and reacting to environmental challenges is crucial. NASA aeronautics researchers have created a new camera pod equipped with sensors designed to improve computer vision systems for autonomous aviation. The device, named the Airborne Instrumentation for Real-world Video of Urban Environments (AIRVUE), was developed at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The pod recently underwent initial testing aboard a piloted helicopter at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
This technology aims to gather extensive visual datasets featuring weather patterns and various obstacles. The collected data will be made available to manufacturers of autonomous air taxis, drones, and similar aircraft. These datasets are intended to assist developers in assessing and enhancing the situational awareness of their aircraft. (8/28)
Global Investment Boosts Space Intelligence's Nature Mapping Initiative (Source: Space Daily)
Space Intelligence, a leader in high-precision nature mapping using satellite data, has announced the successful completion of its Series A funding round. The investment was led by new backers, AzurX Space Ventures (ASV), with participation from Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. The newly secured funds will be directed towards expanding Space Intelligence's global database of forest mapping, aimed at supporting the development and financing of forest carbon projects. Additionally, the investment will enhance the company's ability to monitor environmental impacts across corporate supply chains. (8/27)
Can China Challenge SpaceX's Starlink? (Source: IEEE Spectrum)
China launched its first batch of satellites for its Qianfan megaconstellation earlier this month. It now has 18 satellites in orbit, but much more will be needed to build out this network of nearly 14,000 satellites. Qianfan—”thousands sails” in Chinese and also referred to as Spacesail or G60—is a project run by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST).
Last February, the company announced it had raised 6.7 billion yuan ($943 million) in funding, with backing from Shanghai’s municipal government. This makes it a serious project, and one meant to catch up with SpaceX’s Starlink, providing global connectivity, including direct mobile connections, while also providing rural connectivity, supporting e-commerce, and bolstering national security within China. The aim, SSST says, is to launch all 13,904 satellites by 2030. That works out to launching an average of just over seven satellites per day, every day, until the end of the decade.
To put this in perspective, SpaceX, with its reusable Falcon 9 rocket, has launched 6,895 satellites since the Starlink constellation’s first launch in May 2019. Of these, around 5,500 are still in orbit and operational. That works out to about 3.5 satellites launched per day. To get off the ground, in other words, Qianfan will require both a boom in Chinese launch rates and a surge in satellite manufacturing. (8/27)
Lunar Outpost Establishes Lunar Dawn Science Council (Source: ASU)
Lunar Outpost has established the Lunar Dawn Science Council, naming Arizona State University (ASU) as the lead research organization. The Lunar Dawn team was awarded a Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services (LTVS) contract by NASA in April 2024 and is leading the way by implementing an experienced Science Council to maximize the scientific return of the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV). This group of vetted, academic and industry professionals will provide input and guidance from the lunar science community to enhance the quality of science generated from the LTV through the 10+ years of operational life on the lunar surface. (8/27)
NASA IG Sees Ballooning Cost for SLS Launch Tower (Source: Ars Technica)
NASA's problems with the mobile launch tower that will support a larger version of its SLS rocket are getting worse rather than better. According to a new report from NASA's inspector general, the estimated cost of the tower, which is a little bit taller than the length of a US football field with its end zones, is now $2.7 billion. Such a cost is nearly twice the funding it took to build the largest structure in the world, the Burj Khalifa, which is seven times taller.
This is a remarkable explosion in costs as, only five years ago, NASA awarded a contract to the Bechtel engineering firm to build and deliver a second mobile launcher (ML-2) for $383 million, with a due date of March 2023. That deadline came and went with Bechtel barely beginning to cut metal.
According to NASA's own estimate, the project cost for the tower is now $1.8 billion, with a delivery date of September 2027. However the new report, published Monday, concludes that NASA's estimate is probably too conservative. "Our analysis indicates costs could be even higher due in part to the significant amount of construction work that remains," states the report, signed by Deputy Inspector General George A. Scott. (8/28)
UK University Breaks Ground on New £2.5M Optical Ground Station (Source: HW.AC.UK)
Work has started on a new Quantum Communications Hub Optical Ground Station (HOGS), a state-of-the-art telescope which is being built on Heriot-Watt University’s Research Park. The new facility will demonstrate and test satellite quantum secure communications, maintaining and growing the UK’s strength in the field of quantum technologies. It is scheduled to be fully operational by late Autumn [2024].
As well as helping to tackle future cyberattacks by researching methods to send secure transmissions via satellites, it will unlock new research on space environmentalism alongside innovative R&D activities for future laser communication networks. These provide high bandwidth communications services like 6G and beyond. (8/28)
Vanderbilt Doctor Wins Space Sweepstakes for Flight on Blue Origin Rocket (Source: The Tennessean)
Sure, the trip is only 11 minutes, and yes, the rocket-capsule will barely cross the 68-mile-high line into space. The space tourism flight is suborbital and sub-optimal in a way for a Vanderbilt University cardiologist who has spent a lifetime dreaming of — and, lately, training for — walking on the moon. Or orbiting Earth in the ISS, anyway. "I see the Blue Origin flight as an opportunity to do something amazing," Jahangir told The Tennessean last week. (8/28)
Whisper Aero is Working with NASA to Bring its Ultra-Quiet Tech to Outer Space (Source: Tech Crunch)
Crewed spacecraft, whether that be a transportation vehicle or a station module, are made noisy by life support systems, electronic fans, radios and crew activity. NASA has long been concerned about the effects of this acoustic environment on its astronauts, and the agency has introduced a number of modifications over the years to make the International Space Station a quieter place.
But there’s still plenty of room for improvement. Whisper Aero, a Tennessee-based startup best known for its ultra-quiet electric propulsor for aircraft, drones and even leaf blowers, scored a new NASA contract to design the quietest possible fan that’s suitable for crewed space environments. At the end of the six-month effort, the startup is aiming to have prototype parts to show to NASA; if the agency deems this Phase 1 project successful, Whisper would likely move on to test a design prototype next year.
In Phase 2, NASA and Whisper would compare the acoustic and aerodynamic estimates from this Phase 1 small business and innovation research (SBIR) contract with the measurements of its fan and a baseline NASA Spacecraft Cabin Ventilation Fan. (8/27)
SpaceX Starship Flotillas Could Outrace NASA To Create Moon Base Alpha (Source: Forbes)
SpaceX, with its rapidly expanding squadron of Starship rockets and super-capsules, looks poised to dominate the creation of humanity’s first base camp on the Moon. As it ramps up producing Starship upper stages that can double as Moon-orbiting space stations or as spectacular lunar resorts, SpaceX is positioned to speed past NASA’s plans for Spartan astronaut habitats on the orb’s South Pole.
NASA’s “lunar surface habitat concepts are currently in early conceptual stages or pre-formulation,” said NASA's Corinne Beckinger. Next-generation Starships will be colossal, mobile habitats that can host up to 100 explorers during the trip to the Moon, and after touching down around its ancient impact craters, SpaceX says in its Starship Users Guide. (8/27)
New UK Spaceport Collaboration Signed (Source: Business Cornwall)
Spaceport Cornwall, alongside Cornwall Airport Newquay, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Wholeship Ltd, which operates the National Drone Hub at Predannack. With access to over 5,500 square kilometers of segregated airspace, the partnership will provide the opportunity for UK flight trials of sub-scale air systems and test operating procedures to be conducted at the drone hub, enabling Spaceport Cornwall to gather evidence in support of future operational flights from Newquay.
The MoU highlights a number of other potential areas for collaboration, including the ability for Spaceport Cornwall to demonstrate Cornwall’s combined future air and space offer to prospective customers and clients, and to investigate possible partnerships with UK industry and the Ministry of Defense (MoD). (8/27)
MDA Space Expands Aurora Supply Chain Adding Beyond Gravity (Source: SpaceQ)
Beyond Gravity, a Swiss space industry supplier, has been selected by MDA Space as part of its supply chain for MDA Aurora, the companies software-defined digital satellite product line. Beyond Gravity said it “will provide 252 ‘constellation On-Board Computers (cOBCs)’ with integrated navigation receivers and antennas for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations.” Beyond Gravity will begin providing the cOBCs this year and they will be used in Telesat’s Lightspeed constellation. (8/26)
Mattel Rolling Out Matchbox Toy of SpaceX's Tesla Astronaut Transport (Source: Collect Space)
As SpaceX's next commercial astronaut mission rolls out for launch, Mattel is counting down to the release of its latest Matchbox toy based on the space company's vehicles. Unlike Mattel's earlier sets, which were modeled after spacecraft and rockets, this upcoming issue is more of a natural fit for the iconic line of die-cast cars. Matchbox's 1:64 scale version of SpaceX's Crew Transport Vehicle is set to arrive in U.S. stores on Oct. 1 for $1.25 each. (8/26)
Impulse Space Selected for $60M STRATFI Award to Support Development of Helios for Responsive GEO Capabilities (Source: Impulse)
Impulse Space announced its selection by SpaceWERX, sponsored by U.S. Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command’s (SSC) Space Safari Office, for a Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) award with the value of $60M between government funds, matching Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funds, and private funds.
The work will focus on the company’s high-performance kick stage, Helios, to address pressing challenges in geosynchronous equatorial orbit (GEO) for the Department of the Air Force (DAF). This award builds on Impulse’s momentum in the government sector, having previously been selected in January for two SBIR Phase II contracts via the 2023 SpaceWERX Tactically Responsive Space Challenge. (8/27)
US Leaders Have Been Warned to Focus on GPS and PNT to Protect the Nation (Source: Space News)
In Ukraine and the Middle East, smart weapons are degraded or neutralized. Drones and missiles are deflected or turned back on attackers. In the Baltic, South China Sea and elsewhere, denial and manipulation of satellite navigation signals has become a daily part of great power competition. These stark demonstrations of vulnerabilities have highlighted long-standing concerns about the capability of GPS and other American positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) capabilities. (8/28)
Chinese GF-7 Satellite Enhances Forest Height Measurement Accuracy (Source: Space Daily)
Scientists have introduced a new technique to measure forest heights using advanced satellite technology, reducing the reliance on traditional, labor-intensive fieldwork. A recent study, published on July 29 in the 'Journal of Remote Sensing', involved an international team of researchers who used high-resolution satellite imagery from China's GF-7 satellite and historical images from Google Earth to achieve precise forest height measurements.
The GF-7 satellite, known for its very high-resolution (VHR) stereoscopic images, captures detailed views of the Earth's surface, including forests. Historically, measuring forest heights with such images required ground control points (GCPs) obtained through extensive and costly fieldwork, posing challenges in remote or mountainous regions. (8/27)
Guidelines Proposed for Evaluating Solar Geoengineering Research (Source: Space Daily)
Scientists have been exploring the potential of injecting sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere as a method to reflect solar heat and mitigate the effects of global warming. However, there is a growing need to ensure that these solar geoengineering strategies are assessed not only for their cooling potential but also for their technical viability and possible ecological and societal impacts.
In response, an international team of researchers, led by the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR), has released a set of recommendations for evaluating proposals involving stratospheric aerosol intervention (SAI)-a technique involving the injection of sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere. The published guidelines also suggest criteria for discontinuing projects that face insurmountable scientific, technical, or societal challenges. (8/26)
NASA Supports Research to Enhance Astronaut Health on Extended Space Missions (Source: Space Daily)
NASA has committed funding to 11 new research projects aimed at improving the health and performance of astronauts during long-duration space missions. These studies will be conducted on Earth and do not require direct data or samples from astronauts in space. The research will explore various physiological and psychological responses to the unique challenges of space travel, including team performance, communication, living environments, decision-making, blood flow, and brain health.
The findings are expected to help NASA reduce risks and safeguard astronaut well-being during future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Selected from 123 proposals in response to the 2024 Human Exploration Research Opportunities, the 11 studies represent 10 different institutions and have a combined award value of approximately $14.6 million. The duration of these projects ranges from one to five years. (8/27)
Solar Panels for Roman Space Telescope Complete Testing (Source: Space Daily)
The solar array sun shield for NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has successfully passed a series of crucial tests, ensuring that the assembly remains on track for timely completion. These solar panels are essential for powering and shading the observatory, enabling mission-critical observations while maintaining optimal instrument temperatures. (8/27)
UAH HERC rover team makes STEM outreach trip to Dominican Republic (Source: Space Daily)
Winning the 2024 Human Rover Explorer Challenge (HERC) provided an engineering student team at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of the University of Alabama System, the opportunity to perform STEM outreach in the Dominican Republic (DR) this summer. UAH rover team THESEUS members traveled to the DR capital to give presentations to attendees at the Instituto Tecnologico de Santo Domingo, or INTEC University, at the invitation of DR rover team Apolo27. UAH was the overall winner of the NASA competition in April, and the DR team took home second place in the same division. The two squads bonded when UAH hosted visits to the UAH team's rover design and construction facilities. (8/26)
NASA Advances Solar Sail Deployment Efforts After Initial Delay (Source: Space Daily)
NASA's Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) has initiated deployment operations for its innovative solar sail. However, during the initial attempt to unfurl the sail, the process was paused when an onboard power monitor detected higher-than-expected motor currents. Despite this, communications, power, and attitude control for the spacecraft all remain normal. Mission managers are now focused on analyzing data from the spacecraft to understand and resolve the cause of this interruption. (8/27)
SETI Launches Low-Frequency Search for Extraterrestrial Technology in Distant Galaxies (Source: Space Daily)
The SETI Institute, in collaboration with the Berkeley SETI Research Center and the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, has initiated a pioneering study using the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) in Western Australia. Led by Dr. Chenoa Tremblay of the SETI Institute and Prof. Steven Tingay of Curtin University, this research marks the first search for alien technology in galaxies beyond our own, specifically targeting low radio frequencies (100 MHz). The MWA's extensive field of view (FOV) allowed the research team to examine approximately 2,800 galaxies in a single observation, with known distances for 1,300 of these galaxies. (8/27)
Relationships with Space Colonists (Source: Space Daily)
One day soon we may have long-term orbiting colonies circling the planet in microgravity space stations with complete, self-sustained ecosystems, governance bodies and a completely independent society that operates as a sovereign entity. The relationship between on-Earth societies and colonists would likely be complicated. Several factors would shape this relationship, including the very different living environment, economic dependencies, cultural differences, governance structures, and technological advancements. Let's speculate on these differences. Click here. (8/26)
Might Boeing Cancel Starliner? (Source: Futurism)
When we asked Boeing whether Starliner might get canceled, the company didn't exactly jump to defend the project. "Boeing continues to focus, first and foremost, on the safety of the crew and spacecraft," a spokesperson said. "We are executing the mission as determined by NASA, and we are preparing the spacecraft for a safe and successful uncrewed return."
Worse yet, NASA's inspector general released a damning report earlier this month, finding that Boeing's contributions to NASA's Moonbound Space Launch System are also many years behind and way over budget. And that's not to mention years' worth of controversies plaguing Boeing's passenger jet business and executive shakeups. (8/27)
Earth’s Temperature Could Increase by 25 Degrees: Research Reveals CO2 Has More Impact Than Previously Thought (Source: SciTech Daily)
Analysis of Pacific Ocean sediments shows doubling atmospheric CO2 might raise Earth’s temperature by up to 14 degrees, exceeding IPCC predictions, with historical data indicating significant future climate impacts. Doubling the atmospheric CO2 levels could raise Earth’s average temperature by 7 to 14 degrees Celsius (13 to 25.2 degrees Fahrenheit), according to sediment analysis from the Pacific Ocean near California.
The researchers developed a new approach to derive past atmospheric CO2 content by using the chemical composition of two specific substances commonly found in algae: chlorophyll and cholesterol. This is the first study to use cholesterol for quantitative CO2 and the first study to use chlorophyll for this time period. To create these substances, algae must absorb CO2 from the water and fix it via photosynthesis. (8/27)
MIT's Rocket Horizon Project Reimagines SpaceX Starship HLS as Sustainable Lunar Habitats (Source: DesignBoom)
Rocket Horizon, led by a team from MIT, represents a pioneering interdisciplinary effort to create sustainable lunar habitats. This project blends architectural innovation with advanced technology and robust engineering solutions, drawing on the expertise of MIT’s Department of Architecture, Media Lab, AeroAstro, and the Sloan School of Management. Central to Rocket Horizon is the principle of reusability—adapting SpaceX‘s Starship HLS (a lunar lander variant of the Starship spacecraft that is slated to transfer astronauts from a lunar orbit to the surface of the Moon and back) not only for transport but also as a core component of lunar infrastructure. Click here. (8/27)
Into The Field With NASA: Valley Of Ten Thousand Smokes (Source: NASA)
In June 2024, the Goddard Instrument Field Team (GIFT) hiked deep into the backcountry of Alaska’s Katmai National Park to study the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, site of the largest volcanic eruption of the twentieth century. The team’s task: traverse a vast volcanic debris field layered with glacier ice, gathering data and samples to help us better understand this place on Earth and similar terrain on other worlds. Click here. (8/22) https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/into-the-field-with-nasa-valley-of-ten-thousand-smokes/
When Boeing's Starliner Comes Back Empty, It'll Destroy the Malfunctioning Thrusters, Making It Impossible to Study What Went Wrong (Source: Futurism)
Before the mission even launched, engineers noticed several gas leaks affecting the capsule's propulsion system. The affected thrusters are attached to Starliner's service module, which is designed to separate from the crew module during re-entry and burn up in the Earth's atmosphere. That could make it far more difficult for Boeing to figure out what went wrong, as that won't leave any hardware behind for engineers to inspect. (8/26)
SpaceX Competitor Emerges With A Larger Rocket That Could Challenge Musk's Dominance (Sources: Benzinga, Seeking Alpha)
Peter Beck believes that offering businesses a rocket that can compete with the Falcon 9 will provide valuable choices, especially for companies building rivals to SpaceX’s satellite internet service, Starlink. Beck revealed his plans to launch a new, larger rocket, named Neutron, in mid-2025. The Neutron is expected to be a direct competitor to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, offering partially reusable transportation of cargo into orbit at a fraction of the cost of traditional rockets. (8/27)
Rocket Lab informed investors that the entirety of Neutron is now in production and qualification. Given Rocket Lab’s years of experience with the Electron rocket, the company does have a good track record with carbon fiber manufacturing, flight computers, software, etc. As such, I would say that these elements of Neutron’s design and production are somewhat less worrisome than the (totally new) engine design. Of course, there are a lot of pieces to the puzzle and Rocket Lab could still run into problems here, but for now, they seem to be on track to meet their target of a 2025 launch. (8/26)
Starlink, OneWeb, Amazon Want Indian Gateways to be Open for the World (Source: Financial Express)
Satellite communication service providers such as OneWeb India, SpaceX-owned Starlink and Amazon’s Kuiper Systems, have urged the government to allow them to use their gateways in India to service other nations also. It remains to be seen whether the government accepts their demand or not because in this case data of Indian users will be sent out of the country. Usually in such cases, for security reasons the government insists that consumer data should be stored within the country itself. (8/27)
Can the Pentagon Get to the ‘Next Level’ of Space Domain Awareness? (Source: Air and Space Forces)
Retired Lt. Gen. John E. Shaw is often credited as the Pentagon’s trailblazer in advocating for dynamic space operations—maneuvering satellites in and between orbits and refueling them to better operate in a contested domain. Now, he wants the military to get more dynamic in how it monitors and tracks objects and threats in orbit, as part of a broader shift and upgrade in space domain awareness, he said Aug. 26.
The former Space Force general isn’t alone in calling for enhanced SDA, as space domain awareness is known. Earlier this year, Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman said the service needs to invest in “actionable space domain awareness” that gives decision-makers more context and understanding of what’s happening in the domain. (8/26)
Securing US Space Assets is Busting the Air Force Budget, Kendall Says (Source: Defense News)
When Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall unveiled his seven no-fail mission priorities two years ago — dubbed operational imperatives — creating a resilient space architecture was at the top of the list. Kendall’s emphasis on resilience in space is underpinned by two ideas that have picked up traction across the Defense Department in recent years.
First, capabilities like GPS, satellite communications and space-based intelligence collection play an essential, enabling role in most U.S. military operations. And second, threats from adversaries like China and Russia have put those capabilities at risk. The creation of the Space Force in 2019 was a step toward strengthening the resourcing and organizational heft of the military space enterprise. In making space resilience central to the secretary’s operational imperatives, the push is expected to get top billing when it comes to divvying up scarce Air Force and Space Force budget dollars.
Kendall’s call for a larger space budget follows several years of steady funding growth for the Space Force. The service’s budget has nearly doubled in the five years since it was established, but that increase reflects mission consolidation more than it does new investment, as many space-focused personnel and programs from the Army and Navy as well as the Space Development Agency moved under the purview of the new service. (8/27)
VIPER’s Failure and the Future of Space Exploration (Source: AEI.org)
It’s clear that VIPER was just too big of a project for CLPS. The CLPS program was designed to support the Artemis moon mission through iterative progress, focusing on quickly demonstrating success for small payloads of 10kg to 15kg that could then be ramped up in size over time. But VIPER, at approximately 500kg, represented a massive leap in payload size. This significant increase necessitated considerable design changes, adding costs and risks to the project. Since VIPER was also a major project, NASA again added more testing, again raising costs. By way of comparison, the tally for the other 52 payloads in CLPS sums to $245.5 million.
In the end, NASA worried that VIPER’s additional costs would threaten “cancellation or disruption to other CLPS missions” and so VIPER was shelved. Ensuring that CLPS succeeds is the agency’s top priority, which was reiterated in the bill report for NASA’s 2025 budget. Still all is not lost. The agency solicited proposals from private companies on what to do with the rover, and at least a dozen have reached out. Among them is Intuitive Machines, a Houston-based firm that attracted significant attention this year with the successful lunar landing of its Nova-C spacecraft. (8/26)
DiBello Joins Florida Tech Board of Trustees (Source: Florida Tech)
Frank DiBello, former CEO of Space Florida, has been added to the Florida Institute of Technology's board of trustees. DiBello’s distinguished career spans civil and government work. After graduating from Villanova with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, he began working with aerospace businesses in the mid-1970s and in 1984 became founder and managing partner of the Space & Advanced Technology Division of KPMG Peat Marwick. He came to Brevard County in the early 2000s to serve as president and CEO of Florida Aerospace Finance Corporation.
Editor's Note: The state's creation of FAFC coincided with its creation of the Florida Space Research Institute (FSRI), both as spinoffs of the Spaceport Florida Authority. I moved from the Spaceport Authority to FSRI (under Sam Durrance) at the same time Frank led FAFC. Ultimately, both spinoff organizations were collapsed with the Spaceport Authority into a new organization, Space Florida, which hired Frank as CEO. (8/28)
SpaceX Loses Booster After Florida Starlink Launch (Source: Space News)
A Falcon 9 booster tipped over in a fiery landing after a launch early Wednesday morning. The rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral and successfully deployed 21 Starink satellites into low Earth orbit. The booster landed on a droneship eight minutes and 20 seconds after liftoff, but upon landing flames erupted from the base of the booster and it tipped over within seconds. SpaceX said it was investigating what happened with the booster, which was making its fleet-leading 23rd flight, and postponed another Falcon 9 launch also scheduled for early today from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. (8/28)
US Falling Behind in Use of Commercial Satellite Imagery for Intelligence (Source: Space News)
Experts warn that the United States is falling behind in utilization of commercial satellite imagery for real-time intelligence. At a conference Tuesday, David Gauthier, the former head of commercial operations at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), said the commercial satellite industry has to innovate further to meet the U.S. military's needs for continuous monitoring of military activity, based on the experience from the war in Ukraine. He called for "virtual constellations" of satellites collecting different kinds of intelligence as well as crosslinks so that those satellites can provide data faster. He noted that while the NRO has committed to spending $4 billion over 10 years on commercial imagery, that is less money on an annual basis than what the government spent on commercial imagery in 2011. (8/28)
Faulty Valve Blamed for Astrobotic Lunar Lander Failure (Source: Space News)
Astrobotic's Peregrine lunar lander failed to make it to the moon because of a faulty valve. The company released Tuesday the results of an independent review into the mission, where the spacecraft had a propellant leak hours after launch that prevented a lunar landing attempt. That investigation found that a valve used to control the flow of helium into an oxidizer tank failed, over-pressurizing the tank and causing it to burst. The valve suffered "vibration-induced relaxation" missed in earlier tests of the spacecraft, causing a mechanical failure. The company is redesigning the valves and other parts of the propulsion system for its larger Griffin lander, scheduled to launch late next year. (8/28)
Hungary's 4iG Looks to Expand to Space (Source: Space News)
A communications company is trying to make Hungary into a major European space power. 4iG, a terrestrial telecoms and IT specialist that made nearly $1.7 billion last year, is looking to build out a vertically integrated space company following a series of investments inside and outside Hungary. It has sought to buy a controlling stake in Israeli satellite operator Spacecom while also establishing a joint venture that plans to order its own GEO communications satellite. The efforts to take over Spacecom, though, have been slowed by that company's financial problems as well as objections from the Israeli government. (8/28)
Europa Clipper Gets its Wings (Source: NASA)
NASA has installed solar arrays on the Europa Clipper spacecraft. The agency said Tuesday that the two arrays, each 14.2 meters long and 4.1 meters high, are now in place on the spacecraft at the Kennedy Space Center as part of prelaunch preparations. The arrays, the largest used on a NASA planetary mission, are so big because of the relatively feeble sunlight at Jupiter's distance from the sun. Europa Clipper is scheduled to launch in a three-week window that opens Oct. 10, but NASA has not provided any recent updates on whether an issue with transistors on the spacecraft, reported in July, will affect those plans. (8/28)
ISRO Chief Hopes for Big Budget Boost (Source: Reuters)
The head of India's space agency is counting on big budget increases in the coming years. In an interview, ISRO chairman S. Somanath said he expects his agency's budget to grow by 20% to 30%, but over "a long period of time." ISRO is projected to get about $1.5 billion this year. He added that he believed that India's space sector is growing increasingly competitive on global markets, with the LVM-3 similar in price to Falcon 9, although that vehicle has captured few contracts from foreign customers. (8/28)
NASA ACS3 Solar Sail Deployment Stalls for Troubleshooting (Source: NASA)
NASA is troubleshooting a deployment problem with a solar sail on a smallsat. NASA reported this week that it attempted to unfurl the solar sail on the Advanced Composite Solar Sail System (ACS3) smallsat earlier this month, but paused the deployment of booms when the spacecraft reported higher motor currents than expected. ACS3 is designed to test new deployable structure technologies with booms that, when extended, would deploy a solar sail nine meters on a side. NASA said other systems on ACS3 are operating normally. (8/28)
August 27, 2024
Mynaric Fires CEO, Loses CFO
(Source: Space News)
Laser communications terminal manufacturer Mynaric fired its CEO because of production problems. The company announced Monday it had dismissed CEO Mustafa Veziroglu after announcing last week its revenue fell far short of productions because of slow production of satellite laser communications terminals. The company's chief financial officer also resigned last week. Mynaric did not disclose who would replace Veziroglu as CEO but did announce the hiring of Andreas Reif as chief restructuring officer, tasked with reducing costs and addressing cash flow issues while maintaining customer deliveries. (8/27)
More Work Needed to Integrate Commercial Capabilities for Military Space (Source: Space News)
More work is needed to integrate commercial capabilities into national security space systems. Mandy Vaughn, an industry consultant and co-chair of a recent study by the Defense Science Board, said the Defense Department has yet to institutionalize processes that prioritize commercial capabilities early in the budgeting cycle. Real change, she said, would require a significant cultural shift within the government that entails not merely using contractors for support but potentially replacing government-owned systems with privately developed services. She cited as an example of such a shift NASA's use of commercial cargo and crew transportation services. (8/27)
More Work Needed to Improve Military Space Domain Awareness (Source: Space News)
The military needs to improve its space domain awareness (SDA) capabilities. Retired general John Shaw, a former deputy commander of U.S. Space Command, said at a SpaceNews webinar Monday that development of SDA technologies has fallen behind expectations. It remains limited to basic cataloging of objects and does not provide the predictive and analytical capabilities needed in an increasingly congested and contested space environment. Those capabilities, he argues, have changed little in the last five to seven years. He emphasized the need to move beyond simple cataloging to "dynamic tracking of hard to detect and track targets in non-standard orbits." (8/27)
ABL's Engine Problems Led to Fuel Leaks That Led to Fires That Destroyed Rocket (Source: Space News)
ABL Space Systems said fuel leaking from damaged engines fed a pad fire that ultimately destroyed its RS1 rocket last month. The company released details Monday about the July 19 incident that took place after an aborted static-fire test ahead of a second launch of the RS1. ABL said after the test was stopped, fuel leaked from two engines to keep a fire going on the pad. When supplies of water at the pad used to contain the fire were exhausted, the fire spread and eventually led to the destruction of the vehicle. An initial analysis found that 2 of the 11 engines in the first stage suffered combustion instabilities at startup that damaged components, which may be linked to changes in the propellant feed system in the Block 2 version of the RS1 compared to the initial version that made a single, unsuccessful launch attempt last year. ABL did not offer a timeline for attempting another launch. (8/27)
Firefly Tests Lunar Lander (Source: Space News)
Firefly Aerospace's first lunar lander is beginning environmental testing ahead of a launch late this year. Firefly said Monday it shipped its Blue Ghost lander from its Texas headquarters to JPL, where it will undergo thermal vacuum, acoustic, vibration and other tests. If the lander passes those tests, it will go to Florida for final preparations for a launch on a Falcon 9, currently scheduled for the fourth quarter this year. The lander, intended to touch down at Mare Crisium in the northeastern quadrant of the near side of the moon, is carrying 10 payloads for NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. (8/27)
Trump Supports Creation of Space National Guard (Source: Stars and Stripes)
Donald Trump says he backs the creation of a Space National Guard. Speaking at the annual meeting of the National Guard Association on Monday, the Republican presidential nominee said that he supports the establishment of a Space National Guard as the "primary combat reserve" of the Space Force. The National Guard Association has advocated for a Space National Guard as well as members of both parties in Congress. The Pentagon, though, has opposed that proposal, instead seeking to allow people to serve part-time in the Space Force. (8/27)
Chinese Constellation Satellites Brighter Than Starlink, to Astronomers' Dismay (Source: Sky & Telescope)
Observations of the first satellites launched for a Chinese broadband constellation show they are brighter than SpaceX Starlink satellites. Amateur astronomers have monitored the first set of Qianfan, or "Thousand Sails," satellites since their launch early this month. Those observations show that the satellites can be as bright as magnitude 4 when passing directly overhead, bright enough to be seen by the naked eye. They are considerably brighter than Starlink satellites despite being in higher orbits, suggesting a lack of measures to mitigate their brightness. Without such measures, astronomers warn the Qianfan satellites would pose a major problem for astronomers. (8/27)
LeoLabs Tracks Chinese Rocket's Debris in Orbit (Source: Wall Street Journal)
The breakup of a Chinese Long March 6A rocket after launching satellites on August 6 created over 300 pieces of debris in low-Earth orbit, raising concerns about space junk. US Space Command and LeoLabs estimate the debris could include up to 700 fragments, potentially remaining in orbit for decades. (8/23)
Laser communications terminal manufacturer Mynaric fired its CEO because of production problems. The company announced Monday it had dismissed CEO Mustafa Veziroglu after announcing last week its revenue fell far short of productions because of slow production of satellite laser communications terminals. The company's chief financial officer also resigned last week. Mynaric did not disclose who would replace Veziroglu as CEO but did announce the hiring of Andreas Reif as chief restructuring officer, tasked with reducing costs and addressing cash flow issues while maintaining customer deliveries. (8/27)
More Work Needed to Integrate Commercial Capabilities for Military Space (Source: Space News)
More work is needed to integrate commercial capabilities into national security space systems. Mandy Vaughn, an industry consultant and co-chair of a recent study by the Defense Science Board, said the Defense Department has yet to institutionalize processes that prioritize commercial capabilities early in the budgeting cycle. Real change, she said, would require a significant cultural shift within the government that entails not merely using contractors for support but potentially replacing government-owned systems with privately developed services. She cited as an example of such a shift NASA's use of commercial cargo and crew transportation services. (8/27)
More Work Needed to Improve Military Space Domain Awareness (Source: Space News)
The military needs to improve its space domain awareness (SDA) capabilities. Retired general John Shaw, a former deputy commander of U.S. Space Command, said at a SpaceNews webinar Monday that development of SDA technologies has fallen behind expectations. It remains limited to basic cataloging of objects and does not provide the predictive and analytical capabilities needed in an increasingly congested and contested space environment. Those capabilities, he argues, have changed little in the last five to seven years. He emphasized the need to move beyond simple cataloging to "dynamic tracking of hard to detect and track targets in non-standard orbits." (8/27)
ABL's Engine Problems Led to Fuel Leaks That Led to Fires That Destroyed Rocket (Source: Space News)
ABL Space Systems said fuel leaking from damaged engines fed a pad fire that ultimately destroyed its RS1 rocket last month. The company released details Monday about the July 19 incident that took place after an aborted static-fire test ahead of a second launch of the RS1. ABL said after the test was stopped, fuel leaked from two engines to keep a fire going on the pad. When supplies of water at the pad used to contain the fire were exhausted, the fire spread and eventually led to the destruction of the vehicle. An initial analysis found that 2 of the 11 engines in the first stage suffered combustion instabilities at startup that damaged components, which may be linked to changes in the propellant feed system in the Block 2 version of the RS1 compared to the initial version that made a single, unsuccessful launch attempt last year. ABL did not offer a timeline for attempting another launch. (8/27)
Firefly Tests Lunar Lander (Source: Space News)
Firefly Aerospace's first lunar lander is beginning environmental testing ahead of a launch late this year. Firefly said Monday it shipped its Blue Ghost lander from its Texas headquarters to JPL, where it will undergo thermal vacuum, acoustic, vibration and other tests. If the lander passes those tests, it will go to Florida for final preparations for a launch on a Falcon 9, currently scheduled for the fourth quarter this year. The lander, intended to touch down at Mare Crisium in the northeastern quadrant of the near side of the moon, is carrying 10 payloads for NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. (8/27)
Trump Supports Creation of Space National Guard (Source: Stars and Stripes)
Donald Trump says he backs the creation of a Space National Guard. Speaking at the annual meeting of the National Guard Association on Monday, the Republican presidential nominee said that he supports the establishment of a Space National Guard as the "primary combat reserve" of the Space Force. The National Guard Association has advocated for a Space National Guard as well as members of both parties in Congress. The Pentagon, though, has opposed that proposal, instead seeking to allow people to serve part-time in the Space Force. (8/27)
Chinese Constellation Satellites Brighter Than Starlink, to Astronomers' Dismay (Source: Sky & Telescope)
Observations of the first satellites launched for a Chinese broadband constellation show they are brighter than SpaceX Starlink satellites. Amateur astronomers have monitored the first set of Qianfan, or "Thousand Sails," satellites since their launch early this month. Those observations show that the satellites can be as bright as magnitude 4 when passing directly overhead, bright enough to be seen by the naked eye. They are considerably brighter than Starlink satellites despite being in higher orbits, suggesting a lack of measures to mitigate their brightness. Without such measures, astronomers warn the Qianfan satellites would pose a major problem for astronomers. (8/27)
LeoLabs Tracks Chinese Rocket's Debris in Orbit (Source: Wall Street Journal)
The breakup of a Chinese Long March 6A rocket after launching satellites on August 6 created over 300 pieces of debris in low-Earth orbit, raising concerns about space junk. US Space Command and LeoLabs estimate the debris could include up to 700 fragments, potentially remaining in orbit for decades. (8/23)
August 26, 2024
Cause Described for RFA's Test Failure
(Source: Daily Record)
"We actually ignited eight motors, unfortunately one of these motors has developed an anomaly. We know now from the debris analysis that we have conducted that this anomaly was a very unusual one. It was most likely a fire in the oxygen pump. That's really difficult to contain, that spread on to neighboring engines."
An emergency stop and fire suppression systems were simply not enough to contain the fire, he said, and the remaining fuel and liquid oxygen on board the vehicle ignited. He said that no "major" parts of the launch site infrastructure were damaged in the explosion, and RFA are confident their engine design is "very sound". (8/24)
Loft Orbital and Marlan Space Join Forces to Create First Satellite Production Company in the Middle East (Source: Loft Orbital)
Abu Dhabi-based Marlan Space, a new space company affiliated with International Holding Company (IHC), has established a joint venture with Loft Orbital to form Orbitworks, the Middle East’s first private space infrastructure company.
Orbitworks marks a significant milestone in the UAE’s rapidly growing space sector, becoming the first to produce commercial low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations. With an initial investment of over $100 million, Orbitworks aims to produce up to fifty 500 kg satellites annually. Loft Orbital, established in 2017, brings extensive expertise, technology, and a strong reputation to the venture, supporting a wide range of missions across telecommunications, earth observation, and scientific research. (8/26)
Space Coast Team Wins NASA Challenge to Make 'Deep Space Food' (Source: Space.com)
The challenge began in 2021 and, to date, has included more than 300 teams from 32 countries.; the endeavor is also split between NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).Winners were selected during the first two phases of the competition, and the final, Phase 3, began in September 2023. Four American teams were awarded $50,000 each and invited to compete in the third and final phase of the competition, during which they had to construct a full-scale model of their food production system and demonstrate how it works.
Interstellar Lab in Merritt Island, Florida, took home the grand prize of $750,000. Barbara Belvisi and her team developed a small business that uses a combo of artificial intelligence, advanced equipment and bioscience to create ingredients that are plant-based and can be used in space as well as on Earth. Through its growth system, the food production operation is self-sustained, procuring microgreens, vegetables and even the insects needed to produce micronutrients. (9/25)
NASA Can Save its VIPER Rover with Private-Sector Help (Source: The Hill)
When NASA canceled its Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) project, it reached out to private companies to see if anyone in the commercial sector could complete the mission. Several companies have responded, including Intuitive Machines of Houston. The VIPER rover is designed to roll about the lunar south pole, prospecting for water ice. Water ice will be essential for humans to live and work on the moon long term.
According to Space News, Intuitive Machines is developing detailed plans to take VIPER to the moon if it can work out a deal with NASA. The prospect of VIPER becoming more of a public-private partnership illustrates the great advantage of a thriving commercial space sector to pick up where the space agency has let a project fall. (8/25)
New Hyperluminous Quasar Discovered (Source: Phys.org)
An international team of astronomers reports the discovery of a new hyperluminous quasar. The newfound hyperluminous quasar eFEDSJ0828–0139 has a spectroscopic redshift of 1.62. The mass of the SMBH in this quasar was found to be approximately 620 million solar masses. The study found that eFEDSJ0828–0139 has a very high infrared luminosity—at a level of 68 trillion solar luminosities and its Eddington ratio is 3.6. This confirms that eFEDSJ0828–0139 is a hyperluminous quasar with a very high black hole mass accretion rate. (8/26)
Boeing Employees Humiliated That SpaceX Will Rescue the Astronauts Stranded by Starliner (Source: Futurism)
"We have had so many embarrassments lately, we’re under a microscope," one Boeing worker told the NY Post, speaking under condition of anonymity. "This just made it, like, 100 times worse... We hate SpaceX," he added. "We talk shit about them all the time, and now they’re bailing us out."
"They have their own PR issues and don’t need two dead astronauts," he told NYPost. "But we didn’t think that there would be dead astronauts. We’d never have recommended that they use us if they thought that it was going to be unsafe for them." During a press conference over the weekend, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stich characterized the argument as a "little disagreement about risk." (8/26)
LeoLabs Sees Defense Business Grow as Space-Tracking Needs Multiply (Source: Defense News)
When LeoLabs was founded in 2016, its focus was on using a network of ground-based radars to track space debris and satellites. Its customers were commercial companies and civil agencies concerned about safety in orbit. A lot has changed since then. The number of satellites in low Earth orbit — about 1,200 miles above the planet — grew from less than 1,000 to closer to 9,000.
The creation of the Space Force in 2019 and increasing threats from adversaries is driving more demand from military customers in the U.S. and abroad who want more insight into what’s happening in the domain. LeoLabs CEO Tony Frazier, who joined the company in February after 13 years at Maxar Technologies and its legacy companies, said those shifts have significantly changed the make up of the firm’s customer base, which is now mostly made up of defense clients. In the first quarter of this year, the company booked a record $20 million in new contracts, the majority of them for military customers. (8/26)
How the Search for Aliens Is Redefining Life in the Golden Age of Astrobiology (Source: Scientific American)
We’re at the time where we are looking at what astronomy, astrobiology, environmental sciences, climate sciences, exoplanets [and] planetary exploration are telling us, and we’re starting to [make a] universal Venn diagram of what things are and where they overlap. And I think we’re starting to see something pop out of this.
One of the great debates of astrobiology today is, is something alive? We don’t know. Is something intelligent? We don’t know. Is something conscious? We don’t know. If we’re starting to build organic robots and they are starting to act independently in a way that looks like they are living, then where is this frontier between living and nonliving? (8/22)
Racism Kept Him From Space When We Met. 61 Years Later, He Made It (Source: Washington Post)
It was Wednesday afternoon on Nov. 6, 1963, when I interviewed Capt. Edward J. Dwight Jr. at the Pentagon. He was 30, a U.S. Air Force jet fighter pilot with more than 1,500 hours of flying time and had recently been selected as the first African American for astronaut training. After the article was published, I lost track of Dwight. He faced overt racism in the training program, and less than three weeks after our interview, he lost his protector in the Oval Office when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
He was soon “de-selected” from the program, and he resigned from the Air Force in 1966. He became a sculptor and historian. And then, 61 years after he was first picked to train to exit Earth’s orbit, he finally made it to space on board the Blue Origin New Shepard-25 capsule on May 19, becoming the oldest person ever — at age 90 — to leave the planet’s atmosphere. “The trip on the Blue Origin capsule fulfilled my imagination . . . blasting off and being able to look down on Earth from the edge of space,” he told me. “It was absolutely fantastic.” “It was a long time coming,” he added. (8/25)
Nine Companies Picked for SpaceWERX Contracts (Source: Space News)
Nine space technology companies won a new round of contracts from the Space Force's SpaceWERX organization. The companies range from developers of satellites and reentry vehicles to producers of components such as batteries and antennas. The nine companies received a total of $146 million in Small Business Innovation Research funds, $155 million in additional government matching funds, and $217 million in private matching funds. Click here. (8/23)
RFA Inaugural Launch Delayed to 2025 After Pad Mishap (Source: Space News)
Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) has delayed its inaugural flight to 2025 after losing a first stage in an explosion last week. The company said Friday that one of nine engines in the first stage suffered a "very unusual" anomaly during a static-fire test four days earlier, one not seen in previous engine tests. The engine had a fire in its oxygen pump that engineers could not contain, leading to the destruction of the entire stage. RFA is working on improvements in the next first stage, already being manufactured, that would contain damage if an engine suffered a similar failure. RFA confirmed that the failure will delay the first launch of its ONE rocket to some time next year. (8/26)
Chevron Deference Decision Could Impact Orbital Debris Regulation (Source: Space News)
A Supreme Court decision could affect the FCC's ability to issue and enforce orbital debris mitigation regulations. The FCC has regulated orbital debris for companies it licenses for two decades, citing provisions in the Communications Act of 1934 that give it the authority to encourage "the larger and more effective use of radio in the public interest." However, officials at recent events have warned that may not be sufficient after the Supreme Court struck down the concept of "Chevron deference" in a ruling in June that had given agencies wider authority to interpret ambiguities in law.
The solution, they argue, is to give the FCC or another agency explicit authority to issue orbital debris mitigation regulations through law, perhaps as part of broader efforts to enact "mission authorization" regulations for new space activities. It comes as the FCC prepares to bring into force regulations passed nearly two years ago that shortens the time companies have to deorbit debris from 25 years to 5 years. (8/26)
Australia's Space Machines Co. Loses Smallsat After Transportter-10 Rideshare Launch (Source: Cosmos)
An Australian company says it has some regrets launching its first satellite on a rideshare mission. Space Machines Company launched its 280-kilogram Optimus satellite on the Transporter-10 mission in March, but was unable to establish communications with it and wrote the satellite off as a loss in May. The company's CEO said it took the company weeks to determine which of the dozens of satellites deployed on Transporter-10 was Optimus, which "sup-optimized" efforts to establish communications and do any troubleshooting. It was unclear, though, if the spacecraft could have worked if it had been identified earlier. The company is planning to launch a larger version of Optimus, to demonstrate satellite servicing technologies, on a dedicated Indian SSLV rocket in 2026. (8/26)
JAXA Ends Lunar SLIM Mission (Source: AFP)
Japan's space agency JAXA has formally ended the SLIM lunar lander mission. JAXA announced Monday that it was ending the mission after failing to hear from the lander in the latest communications pass. SLIM, or Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, landed on its side in January after suffering a thruster failure during its descent. Despite the off-kilter lander, the spacecraft was able to communicate with controllers. While not designed to survive the two-week lunar night, SLIM was able to operate into April. (8/26)
Milky Way Navigation in Dung Beetles Inspires Advanced Drone and Satellite Systems (Source: Space News)
An insect that has been navigating using the Milky Way for 130 million years is now inspiring innovations in drone, robot, and satellite navigation systems. The dung beetle, known for its unique ability to steer using the stars. Australian engineers are applying this natural technique to artificial intelligence technology with a sensor that accurately determines the orientation of the Milky Way in low-light conditions. (8/26)
Dramatic Surge in Deuterium/Hydrogen Ratio Unveiled in Venus’ Atmosphere (Source: SciTech Daily)
Recent findings from the Venus Express mission reveal unexpected water molecule concentrations in Venus’ atmosphere, suggesting it once harbored Earth-like water volumes. The study explores how solar radiation has increased the HDO/H2O ratio, providing insights into Venus’ climatic history and its implications for planetary habitability. (8/24)
China Produced Large Quantities of Water Using the Moon’s Soil (Source: BGR)
Researchers from China might have made a big step towards setting up a permanent mission on the Moon. They turned lunar soil into large quantities of water, using soil that the 2020 Chang’e-5 mission brought back from the Moon for their experiments. According to China’s state broadcaster CCTV, researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences discovered that minerals in the lunar soil contain large amounts of hydrogen. Heated to very high temperatures, the soil reacts to other elements. The chemical reaction produces water vapor that can then be collected. (8/25)
FCC Effectively Kills Off T-Mobile and SpaceX's Satellite Ambitions (For Now) (Source: Phone Arena)
T-Mobile and SpaceX have been trying to convince the Federal Communications Commission to reconsider its out-of-band power flux-density (“PFD”) limit of -120 dBW/m2 /MHz so that they can go forward with their plan of introducing satellite texting this year. They might want to prepare themselves for some bad news. In a new report that states the current rules for the deployment of supplemental coverage from space (SCS), the FCC has laid down its technical requirements. According to the rules, there won't be any relaxation on the power flux density limit of -120 dBW/m2 /MHz. (8/25)
Bluestone Invests in Qualis Corporation to Boost Missile Defense and Space Tech (Source: Space Daily)
Bluestone Investment Partners has finalized a strategic investment in Qualis Corporation, a Huntsville, Alabama-based firm specializing in missile defense and space systems technology. Qualis is known for its role in advancing next-generation missile defense and satellite communications systems, providing key services in modeling, simulation, and testing. The company excels in simulating RF waveforms, which is crucial for developing resilient communication and navigation systems in environments where GPS is unreliable or contested. At its headquarters, Qualis operates a state-of-the-art laboratory equipped with a hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) high-performance computing setup for advanced modeling and simulation. (8/26)
"We actually ignited eight motors, unfortunately one of these motors has developed an anomaly. We know now from the debris analysis that we have conducted that this anomaly was a very unusual one. It was most likely a fire in the oxygen pump. That's really difficult to contain, that spread on to neighboring engines."
An emergency stop and fire suppression systems were simply not enough to contain the fire, he said, and the remaining fuel and liquid oxygen on board the vehicle ignited. He said that no "major" parts of the launch site infrastructure were damaged in the explosion, and RFA are confident their engine design is "very sound". (8/24)
Loft Orbital and Marlan Space Join Forces to Create First Satellite Production Company in the Middle East (Source: Loft Orbital)
Abu Dhabi-based Marlan Space, a new space company affiliated with International Holding Company (IHC), has established a joint venture with Loft Orbital to form Orbitworks, the Middle East’s first private space infrastructure company.
Orbitworks marks a significant milestone in the UAE’s rapidly growing space sector, becoming the first to produce commercial low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations. With an initial investment of over $100 million, Orbitworks aims to produce up to fifty 500 kg satellites annually. Loft Orbital, established in 2017, brings extensive expertise, technology, and a strong reputation to the venture, supporting a wide range of missions across telecommunications, earth observation, and scientific research. (8/26)
Space Coast Team Wins NASA Challenge to Make 'Deep Space Food' (Source: Space.com)
The challenge began in 2021 and, to date, has included more than 300 teams from 32 countries.; the endeavor is also split between NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).Winners were selected during the first two phases of the competition, and the final, Phase 3, began in September 2023. Four American teams were awarded $50,000 each and invited to compete in the third and final phase of the competition, during which they had to construct a full-scale model of their food production system and demonstrate how it works.
Interstellar Lab in Merritt Island, Florida, took home the grand prize of $750,000. Barbara Belvisi and her team developed a small business that uses a combo of artificial intelligence, advanced equipment and bioscience to create ingredients that are plant-based and can be used in space as well as on Earth. Through its growth system, the food production operation is self-sustained, procuring microgreens, vegetables and even the insects needed to produce micronutrients. (9/25)
NASA Can Save its VIPER Rover with Private-Sector Help (Source: The Hill)
When NASA canceled its Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) project, it reached out to private companies to see if anyone in the commercial sector could complete the mission. Several companies have responded, including Intuitive Machines of Houston. The VIPER rover is designed to roll about the lunar south pole, prospecting for water ice. Water ice will be essential for humans to live and work on the moon long term.
According to Space News, Intuitive Machines is developing detailed plans to take VIPER to the moon if it can work out a deal with NASA. The prospect of VIPER becoming more of a public-private partnership illustrates the great advantage of a thriving commercial space sector to pick up where the space agency has let a project fall. (8/25)
New Hyperluminous Quasar Discovered (Source: Phys.org)
An international team of astronomers reports the discovery of a new hyperluminous quasar. The newfound hyperluminous quasar eFEDSJ0828–0139 has a spectroscopic redshift of 1.62. The mass of the SMBH in this quasar was found to be approximately 620 million solar masses. The study found that eFEDSJ0828–0139 has a very high infrared luminosity—at a level of 68 trillion solar luminosities and its Eddington ratio is 3.6. This confirms that eFEDSJ0828–0139 is a hyperluminous quasar with a very high black hole mass accretion rate. (8/26)
Boeing Employees Humiliated That SpaceX Will Rescue the Astronauts Stranded by Starliner (Source: Futurism)
"We have had so many embarrassments lately, we’re under a microscope," one Boeing worker told the NY Post, speaking under condition of anonymity. "This just made it, like, 100 times worse... We hate SpaceX," he added. "We talk shit about them all the time, and now they’re bailing us out."
"They have their own PR issues and don’t need two dead astronauts," he told NYPost. "But we didn’t think that there would be dead astronauts. We’d never have recommended that they use us if they thought that it was going to be unsafe for them." During a press conference over the weekend, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stich characterized the argument as a "little disagreement about risk." (8/26)
LeoLabs Sees Defense Business Grow as Space-Tracking Needs Multiply (Source: Defense News)
When LeoLabs was founded in 2016, its focus was on using a network of ground-based radars to track space debris and satellites. Its customers were commercial companies and civil agencies concerned about safety in orbit. A lot has changed since then. The number of satellites in low Earth orbit — about 1,200 miles above the planet — grew from less than 1,000 to closer to 9,000.
The creation of the Space Force in 2019 and increasing threats from adversaries is driving more demand from military customers in the U.S. and abroad who want more insight into what’s happening in the domain. LeoLabs CEO Tony Frazier, who joined the company in February after 13 years at Maxar Technologies and its legacy companies, said those shifts have significantly changed the make up of the firm’s customer base, which is now mostly made up of defense clients. In the first quarter of this year, the company booked a record $20 million in new contracts, the majority of them for military customers. (8/26)
How the Search for Aliens Is Redefining Life in the Golden Age of Astrobiology (Source: Scientific American)
We’re at the time where we are looking at what astronomy, astrobiology, environmental sciences, climate sciences, exoplanets [and] planetary exploration are telling us, and we’re starting to [make a] universal Venn diagram of what things are and where they overlap. And I think we’re starting to see something pop out of this.
One of the great debates of astrobiology today is, is something alive? We don’t know. Is something intelligent? We don’t know. Is something conscious? We don’t know. If we’re starting to build organic robots and they are starting to act independently in a way that looks like they are living, then where is this frontier between living and nonliving? (8/22)
Racism Kept Him From Space When We Met. 61 Years Later, He Made It (Source: Washington Post)
It was Wednesday afternoon on Nov. 6, 1963, when I interviewed Capt. Edward J. Dwight Jr. at the Pentagon. He was 30, a U.S. Air Force jet fighter pilot with more than 1,500 hours of flying time and had recently been selected as the first African American for astronaut training. After the article was published, I lost track of Dwight. He faced overt racism in the training program, and less than three weeks after our interview, he lost his protector in the Oval Office when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
He was soon “de-selected” from the program, and he resigned from the Air Force in 1966. He became a sculptor and historian. And then, 61 years after he was first picked to train to exit Earth’s orbit, he finally made it to space on board the Blue Origin New Shepard-25 capsule on May 19, becoming the oldest person ever — at age 90 — to leave the planet’s atmosphere. “The trip on the Blue Origin capsule fulfilled my imagination . . . blasting off and being able to look down on Earth from the edge of space,” he told me. “It was absolutely fantastic.” “It was a long time coming,” he added. (8/25)
Nine Companies Picked for SpaceWERX Contracts (Source: Space News)
Nine space technology companies won a new round of contracts from the Space Force's SpaceWERX organization. The companies range from developers of satellites and reentry vehicles to producers of components such as batteries and antennas. The nine companies received a total of $146 million in Small Business Innovation Research funds, $155 million in additional government matching funds, and $217 million in private matching funds. Click here. (8/23)
RFA Inaugural Launch Delayed to 2025 After Pad Mishap (Source: Space News)
Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) has delayed its inaugural flight to 2025 after losing a first stage in an explosion last week. The company said Friday that one of nine engines in the first stage suffered a "very unusual" anomaly during a static-fire test four days earlier, one not seen in previous engine tests. The engine had a fire in its oxygen pump that engineers could not contain, leading to the destruction of the entire stage. RFA is working on improvements in the next first stage, already being manufactured, that would contain damage if an engine suffered a similar failure. RFA confirmed that the failure will delay the first launch of its ONE rocket to some time next year. (8/26)
Chevron Deference Decision Could Impact Orbital Debris Regulation (Source: Space News)
A Supreme Court decision could affect the FCC's ability to issue and enforce orbital debris mitigation regulations. The FCC has regulated orbital debris for companies it licenses for two decades, citing provisions in the Communications Act of 1934 that give it the authority to encourage "the larger and more effective use of radio in the public interest." However, officials at recent events have warned that may not be sufficient after the Supreme Court struck down the concept of "Chevron deference" in a ruling in June that had given agencies wider authority to interpret ambiguities in law.
The solution, they argue, is to give the FCC or another agency explicit authority to issue orbital debris mitigation regulations through law, perhaps as part of broader efforts to enact "mission authorization" regulations for new space activities. It comes as the FCC prepares to bring into force regulations passed nearly two years ago that shortens the time companies have to deorbit debris from 25 years to 5 years. (8/26)
Australia's Space Machines Co. Loses Smallsat After Transportter-10 Rideshare Launch (Source: Cosmos)
An Australian company says it has some regrets launching its first satellite on a rideshare mission. Space Machines Company launched its 280-kilogram Optimus satellite on the Transporter-10 mission in March, but was unable to establish communications with it and wrote the satellite off as a loss in May. The company's CEO said it took the company weeks to determine which of the dozens of satellites deployed on Transporter-10 was Optimus, which "sup-optimized" efforts to establish communications and do any troubleshooting. It was unclear, though, if the spacecraft could have worked if it had been identified earlier. The company is planning to launch a larger version of Optimus, to demonstrate satellite servicing technologies, on a dedicated Indian SSLV rocket in 2026. (8/26)
JAXA Ends Lunar SLIM Mission (Source: AFP)
Japan's space agency JAXA has formally ended the SLIM lunar lander mission. JAXA announced Monday that it was ending the mission after failing to hear from the lander in the latest communications pass. SLIM, or Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, landed on its side in January after suffering a thruster failure during its descent. Despite the off-kilter lander, the spacecraft was able to communicate with controllers. While not designed to survive the two-week lunar night, SLIM was able to operate into April. (8/26)
Milky Way Navigation in Dung Beetles Inspires Advanced Drone and Satellite Systems (Source: Space News)
An insect that has been navigating using the Milky Way for 130 million years is now inspiring innovations in drone, robot, and satellite navigation systems. The dung beetle, known for its unique ability to steer using the stars. Australian engineers are applying this natural technique to artificial intelligence technology with a sensor that accurately determines the orientation of the Milky Way in low-light conditions. (8/26)
Dramatic Surge in Deuterium/Hydrogen Ratio Unveiled in Venus’ Atmosphere (Source: SciTech Daily)
Recent findings from the Venus Express mission reveal unexpected water molecule concentrations in Venus’ atmosphere, suggesting it once harbored Earth-like water volumes. The study explores how solar radiation has increased the HDO/H2O ratio, providing insights into Venus’ climatic history and its implications for planetary habitability. (8/24)
China Produced Large Quantities of Water Using the Moon’s Soil (Source: BGR)
Researchers from China might have made a big step towards setting up a permanent mission on the Moon. They turned lunar soil into large quantities of water, using soil that the 2020 Chang’e-5 mission brought back from the Moon for their experiments. According to China’s state broadcaster CCTV, researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences discovered that minerals in the lunar soil contain large amounts of hydrogen. Heated to very high temperatures, the soil reacts to other elements. The chemical reaction produces water vapor that can then be collected. (8/25)
FCC Effectively Kills Off T-Mobile and SpaceX's Satellite Ambitions (For Now) (Source: Phone Arena)
T-Mobile and SpaceX have been trying to convince the Federal Communications Commission to reconsider its out-of-band power flux-density (“PFD”) limit of -120 dBW/m2 /MHz so that they can go forward with their plan of introducing satellite texting this year. They might want to prepare themselves for some bad news. In a new report that states the current rules for the deployment of supplemental coverage from space (SCS), the FCC has laid down its technical requirements. According to the rules, there won't be any relaxation on the power flux density limit of -120 dBW/m2 /MHz. (8/25)
Bluestone Invests in Qualis Corporation to Boost Missile Defense and Space Tech (Source: Space Daily)
Bluestone Investment Partners has finalized a strategic investment in Qualis Corporation, a Huntsville, Alabama-based firm specializing in missile defense and space systems technology. Qualis is known for its role in advancing next-generation missile defense and satellite communications systems, providing key services in modeling, simulation, and testing. The company excels in simulating RF waveforms, which is crucial for developing resilient communication and navigation systems in environments where GPS is unreliable or contested. At its headquarters, Qualis operates a state-of-the-art laboratory equipped with a hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) high-performance computing setup for advanced modeling and simulation. (8/26)
August 25, 2024
NASA Decides Starliner Astronauts to
Remain on ISS Through February and Return on Dragon Capsule
(Source: Washington Post)
NASA announced Saturday that it will use SpaceX’s Dragon capsule to bring home two astronauts stuck in space for months, because the agency does not have confidence in Boeing’s troubled Starliner capsule. “It was just too much risk for the crew,” said Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew program manager.
The highly anticipated decision, one of the most consequential by the space agency in years, is a devastating blow to Boeing, which had argued vehemently that Starliner was safe even though it suffered a series of thruster problems and helium leaks as it brought NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore to the International Space Station in early June.
The decision means that the autonomous Starliner spacecraft will return to Earth, likely in early September, without anyone on board and that Williams and Wilmore will have their stay on the space station, originally intended to last eight days, extended to about eight months — the next Dragon return flight is scheduled for February. (8/24)
Alabama Rockets Appear in Demand Following Apparent Blow to Boeing Over Starliner (Source: Alabama Public Radio)
NASA’s decision to land two astronauts aboard a SpaceX capsule, and not the Starliner craft they used to go to orbit, is considered a blow to Boeing. Despite all the controversy surrounding NASA’s new spacecraft, the Alabama built rocket that carried the Starliner to space did that job. United Launch Alliance’s Decatur factory built the Atlas-V used for the launch of Starliner. ULA is moving onto a newer and less expensive replacement for the Atlas and is reportedly in talks regarding a possible buy-out by Sierra Space.
In an exclusive report by Reuters, Lockheed Martin is considering selling United Launch Alliance to the Sierra Space company. The news website quotes sources that say the deal might put the value of ULA at up to $3 billion dollars. ULA is launching the last of its Atlas-V’s and moving onto a new model of booster called Vulcan. Sierra Space is under contract with NASA to resupply the International Space Station with its new mini shuttle called “Dream Chaser.” That small, winged, spacecraft is designed to fly on Vulcan rockets.
Reuters' report quotes sources that says ULA’s possible acquisition by Sierra Space would enable the builder of the Dream Chaser shuttle to handle its launches ”in-house,” rather than be a customer of ULA, buying rockets one at a time for hundreds of millions of dollars each. Boeing could also see some benefit from the deal while it wrestles with ongoing problems with its Starliner spacecraft. The aerospace contractor teamed up with Lockheed Martin to create United Launch Alliance back in 2006. The deal combined the rocket building efforts of both aerospace giants. (8/25)
Blue Origin Landing Barge En Route to Port Canaveral From France (Source: Gav Cornwell)
Make room at the port! Blue Origin's landing barge is on its way from Europe. From Gav Cornwell: "Blue Origin's New Glenn landing barge, named Landing Platform Vessel #1, is underway from France and heading to Port Canaveral... Tentative arrival date Aug 27" Click here. (8/24)
NASA announced Saturday that it will use SpaceX’s Dragon capsule to bring home two astronauts stuck in space for months, because the agency does not have confidence in Boeing’s troubled Starliner capsule. “It was just too much risk for the crew,” said Steve Stich, NASA’s commercial crew program manager.
The highly anticipated decision, one of the most consequential by the space agency in years, is a devastating blow to Boeing, which had argued vehemently that Starliner was safe even though it suffered a series of thruster problems and helium leaks as it brought NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore to the International Space Station in early June.
The decision means that the autonomous Starliner spacecraft will return to Earth, likely in early September, without anyone on board and that Williams and Wilmore will have their stay on the space station, originally intended to last eight days, extended to about eight months — the next Dragon return flight is scheduled for February. (8/24)
Alabama Rockets Appear in Demand Following Apparent Blow to Boeing Over Starliner (Source: Alabama Public Radio)
NASA’s decision to land two astronauts aboard a SpaceX capsule, and not the Starliner craft they used to go to orbit, is considered a blow to Boeing. Despite all the controversy surrounding NASA’s new spacecraft, the Alabama built rocket that carried the Starliner to space did that job. United Launch Alliance’s Decatur factory built the Atlas-V used for the launch of Starliner. ULA is moving onto a newer and less expensive replacement for the Atlas and is reportedly in talks regarding a possible buy-out by Sierra Space.
In an exclusive report by Reuters, Lockheed Martin is considering selling United Launch Alliance to the Sierra Space company. The news website quotes sources that say the deal might put the value of ULA at up to $3 billion dollars. ULA is launching the last of its Atlas-V’s and moving onto a new model of booster called Vulcan. Sierra Space is under contract with NASA to resupply the International Space Station with its new mini shuttle called “Dream Chaser.” That small, winged, spacecraft is designed to fly on Vulcan rockets.
Reuters' report quotes sources that says ULA’s possible acquisition by Sierra Space would enable the builder of the Dream Chaser shuttle to handle its launches ”in-house,” rather than be a customer of ULA, buying rockets one at a time for hundreds of millions of dollars each. Boeing could also see some benefit from the deal while it wrestles with ongoing problems with its Starliner spacecraft. The aerospace contractor teamed up with Lockheed Martin to create United Launch Alliance back in 2006. The deal combined the rocket building efforts of both aerospace giants. (8/25)
Blue Origin Landing Barge En Route to Port Canaveral From France (Source: Gav Cornwell)
Make room at the port! Blue Origin's landing barge is on its way from Europe. From Gav Cornwell: "Blue Origin's New Glenn landing barge, named Landing Platform Vessel #1, is underway from France and heading to Port Canaveral... Tentative arrival date Aug 27" Click here. (8/24)
August 24, 2024
EarthDaily Analytics Secures $1.7M
Contract with Malaysia's MySpatial for Advanced Geospatial Solutions
(Source; Space Daily)
EarthDaily Analytics ("EDA") has entered into a $1.7 million contract with MySpatial, a prominent geospatial mapping company in Malaysia that serves both government and private sectors. The agreement, which started in July 2024 and spans an initial term of four years, will grant MySpatial and its clients access to EDA's data and analytics capabilities. These resources will support various applications, including Civil Government, Agriculture, Environmental Monitoring, Natural Resources, Urban Development, Coastal Monitoring, Defense, Maritime Intelligence, and Enterprise sectors. (8/22)
Finland's Kuva Space Launches First Commercial Hyperspectral Satellite Hyperfield-1 (Source: Space Daily)
Finnish company Kuva Space has successfully launched its first commercial microsatellite, Hyperfield-1, aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 smallsat rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The satellite has established initial contact, marking the beginning of Kuva Space's expansive constellation plan. This network is set to deliver daily Earth observation by 2027 and achieve uninterrupted subdaily global monitoring with 100 satellites by 2030. (8/22)
Potential Seen for US-China Space Relations (Source: Space Daily)
China's recent retrieval of the first-ever samples from the far side of the moon has renewed talks about the possibilities of the United States and China joining in space-based research programs aimed at addressing global challenges, particularly climate change. "The US and China each have very innovative space programs, and one area, for example, where the US and China could work together today would be space-based solar," Daniel Kammen said.
Space-based solar power, a concept involving the collection of solar energy in outer space via satellites and its distribution to Earth, has been gaining traction globally. As countries worldwide invest in research and development for the technology, international organizations are simultaneously pushing for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. (8/22)
TrustPoint Secures $3.8M in SpaceWERX Direct-to-Phase II Contracts (Source: Space Daily)
TrustPoint has been awarded two Direct-to-Phase II contracts by SpaceWERX, valued at a combined $3.8 million. These contracts are aimed at advancing the company's GPS-independent ground control segment and developing an advanced position, navigation, and timing (PNT) security application to address critical challenges within the Department of the Air Force (DAF).
The Air Force Research Laboratory and SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force and a unique division within AFWERX, have collaborated to expedite the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) processes. Their efforts include accelerating proposal-to-award timelines, broadening opportunities for small businesses, and reducing bureaucratic hurdles through ongoing improvements in contract execution. (8/22)
How The Space Force Must Lead: Forget ‘The Valley Of Death’ (Source: Forbes)
The Pentagon will never be able to adapt as modern technology companies must do to survive. The necessary decision-making to develop and deploy innovative technology into the marketplace today occurs on a timeline of weeks and months, while the Pentagon must lock in decisions for five years at a time. Perhaps in the 1960s these timelines were sufficient, when technology was not yet software led and paced by Moore’s Law. But today, these timelines leave the country’s defense, and the commercial industries essential to support it, in a death spiral.
The Pentagon’s 23,000 employee bureaucracy was never supposed to innovate technology though; it exists to support the civilian leaders to make wise, calculated, policy and budgetary decisions that best enable the country’s defense. But for all the valuable advice they and their hired consultants routinely accomplish, one thing has become glaringly obvious: the Pentagon will never be able to design a profitable company, build a functioning satellite, or produce a working rocket. What they can (and must urgently) do is redesign the bureaucracy itself to advance the commercial space economy by buying from it rather than continuing to attempt to command it. If they cannot, the $43 billion already invested in space ventures will be for naught, and so too will American leadership in space. (8/23)
Northrop Grumman Awarded $200M Deal for Deep-Space Radar That Will be Hosted in Wales (Source: Defense Scoop)
The Space Force has awarded Northrop Grumman a $200 million contract to build its second Deep-space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) that will be stationed in the United Kingdom, the Defense Department announced Friday.
Under development by Northrop Grumman, DARC is an all-weather, ground-based radar system designed to detect and track objects moving through geosynchronous orbit — over 22,000 miles above the Earth’s equator. Expected to serve as a key capability for the U.S. military’s space domain awareness mission, the service plans to position three radars around the world as part of the AUKUS alliance between the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. (8/23)
UF Scientist Prepares to Launch Into Space Thursday, Aug. 29 (Source: UF)
As a crew member on board the Blue Origin New Shepard rocket, UF/IFAS researcher Rob Ferl will conduct his own study on plants in space
What does the adaptation process look like for plants in space? That’s the question the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hopes to answer with a novel space-based experiment happening Thursday at 9 a.m. EST when a UF/IFAS horticultural sciences researcher launches with his experiment into suborbital space on a Blue Origin New Shepard rocket.
Rob Ferl, Ph.D., the University of Florida Astraeus Space Institute director, will fly in the Blue Origin craft and perform the experiment himself. The experiment builds on prior research that showed a type of plant – Arabidopsis thaliana – can detect that it is in space and then change how its genes are expressed. (8/23)
In Fiji: What is the Point of Space Exploration? (Source: Fiji Times)
The Starlink satellite constellation provides high-speed internet access even in the most remote regions, including isolated areas of Fiji. By bridging the digital divide, Starlink empowers grassroots communities with reliable connectivity, enabling access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities that were previously out of reach.
For many rural Fijians, this means having access to all the information on the web and the ability to learn and even compete globally in spaces such as tech and business. This has also provided employment in Fiji and increased the number of businesses that have now popped up as Starlink resellers, acting as third-party vendors for Starlink and providing both the hardware and installation for Fijians who may not be as well versed in the technology. (8/23)
Former Lockheed Martin CFO Joins Rocket Lab Board (Source: Rocket Lab)
Rocket Lab announced that Kenneth Possenriede has been appointed to the Company’s Board of Directors. A seasoned executive with strong business and financial acumen, Mr. Possenriede joins Rocket Lab after a 35-year career at Lockheed Martin Corporation in financial leadership positions, including serving as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). (8/22)
Without Funds, Indian Space Innovators are Grounded (Source: Times of India)
On National Space Day today, India marks the historic landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon exactly a year ago on Aug 23. It was a milestone that not only catapulted India into an elite group of lunar-landing nations but also reignited public enthusiasm for space exploration. The journey to the Moon has a history of over six decades. While ISRO has long been lauded for its capacity to carry out intricate missions with budgets incomparable with top space-faring nations, given the competitive landscape that is Space, GOI will have to revisit its criteria for annual budgetary allocations. (8/23)
Plans for Spaceport at New Zealand's Kaitorete Spit in Strife as Government Rejects Further Funding (Source: RNZ)
Work on setting up an international spaceport at New Zealand's best site for launching rockets is in strife. The government is pulling back at Kaitorete Spit, south of Christchurch, without signing up a single international customer and despite its high aerospace ambitions.
Facing east in largely empty skies, Kaitorete is the jewel in the crown of launch sites, even by world standards. But the fledgling national aerospace centre Tāwhaki has failed in early efforts to attract international investors, has underspent its $4 million a year budget and is not making enough return on investment. (8/23)
JAXA Forms Special Team to Protect Earth from Asteroids (Source: Japan-Forward)
Asteroids drifting through space occasionally strike Earth. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has intensified its efforts to prevent a potentially catastrophic event. In April, JAXA established a planetary defense team for the early detection and avoidance of hazardous asteroids.
A European spacecraft equipped with devices from this team is scheduled to launch in October. It aims to participate in an on-site investigation of a collision experiment conducted in 2022. With the asteroid Apophis set to pass near the geostationary orbit in five years, JAXA is rapidly developing a system to rival those of the United States and Europe. (8/21)
NASA Provides Asteroid Samples to JAXA for Further Research (Source: NHK)
The US space agency has provided its Japanese counterpart with a portion of the geological samples that its spacecraft collected from an asteroid. Last September, NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission brought back a capsule containing sand and other samples taken from Bennu, an asteroid located between the orbits of Earth and Mars. The samples weighed 121.6 grams in total. NASA handed over roughly 0.6 grams of them to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, on Thursday in accordance with a bilateral deal. (8/22)
AI Powered Moonbase Concept by India Mirrors Russian Controversy (Source: NewsNine)
The Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) that works closely with ISRO released a video on humanity's fascination with the Moon. We get a glimpse of India's future moonbase in the form of a cringeworthy AI generated image. The AI chose to depict the Moon shining brightly over India's base... on the Moon. During launch programming for the Luna 25 mission, Roscosmos courted similar controversy by using AI generated images to depict its planned moonbase. It too depicted the Moon in the skies of the Moon. (8/23)
Polaris Dawn: Another Small Step to Mars? (Source: DW)
If it succeeds, Polaris Dawn will be the first non-government mission to perform a spacewalk. But not only that — it'll do that about 700 kilometers (435 miles) above Earth. The highest ever. To compare: the ISS orbits Earth at about 400 kilometers, where the radiation is less intense. It will also orbit Earth through regions of a highly-charged belt of radiation. There are two of these "Van Allen Belts", an inner and an outer one. Astronauts tend to avoid the hazardous Van Allen Belts, but they will have to travel through them if humans want to fly to Mars and survive. This privately-funded mission could be a first step toward that goal. (8/23)
India Celebrates First National Space Day (Source: Outlook)
India celebrates its first National Space Day on August 23 with the theme, "Touching lives while touching the Moon: India's space saga". The day commemorates the one-year anniversary of the successful moon landing of ISRO's Vikram Lander from Chandrayaan-3. India made history on August 23, 2023 by becoming the fourth nation to successfully land on the Moon and the first to reach its southern polar region. To commemorate this monumental achievement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared August 23 as "National Space Day." (8/23)
EarthDaily Analytics ("EDA") has entered into a $1.7 million contract with MySpatial, a prominent geospatial mapping company in Malaysia that serves both government and private sectors. The agreement, which started in July 2024 and spans an initial term of four years, will grant MySpatial and its clients access to EDA's data and analytics capabilities. These resources will support various applications, including Civil Government, Agriculture, Environmental Monitoring, Natural Resources, Urban Development, Coastal Monitoring, Defense, Maritime Intelligence, and Enterprise sectors. (8/22)
Finland's Kuva Space Launches First Commercial Hyperspectral Satellite Hyperfield-1 (Source: Space Daily)
Finnish company Kuva Space has successfully launched its first commercial microsatellite, Hyperfield-1, aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 smallsat rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The satellite has established initial contact, marking the beginning of Kuva Space's expansive constellation plan. This network is set to deliver daily Earth observation by 2027 and achieve uninterrupted subdaily global monitoring with 100 satellites by 2030. (8/22)
Potential Seen for US-China Space Relations (Source: Space Daily)
China's recent retrieval of the first-ever samples from the far side of the moon has renewed talks about the possibilities of the United States and China joining in space-based research programs aimed at addressing global challenges, particularly climate change. "The US and China each have very innovative space programs, and one area, for example, where the US and China could work together today would be space-based solar," Daniel Kammen said.
Space-based solar power, a concept involving the collection of solar energy in outer space via satellites and its distribution to Earth, has been gaining traction globally. As countries worldwide invest in research and development for the technology, international organizations are simultaneously pushing for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. (8/22)
TrustPoint Secures $3.8M in SpaceWERX Direct-to-Phase II Contracts (Source: Space Daily)
TrustPoint has been awarded two Direct-to-Phase II contracts by SpaceWERX, valued at a combined $3.8 million. These contracts are aimed at advancing the company's GPS-independent ground control segment and developing an advanced position, navigation, and timing (PNT) security application to address critical challenges within the Department of the Air Force (DAF).
The Air Force Research Laboratory and SpaceWERX, the innovation arm of the U.S. Space Force and a unique division within AFWERX, have collaborated to expedite the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) processes. Their efforts include accelerating proposal-to-award timelines, broadening opportunities for small businesses, and reducing bureaucratic hurdles through ongoing improvements in contract execution. (8/22)
How The Space Force Must Lead: Forget ‘The Valley Of Death’ (Source: Forbes)
The Pentagon will never be able to adapt as modern technology companies must do to survive. The necessary decision-making to develop and deploy innovative technology into the marketplace today occurs on a timeline of weeks and months, while the Pentagon must lock in decisions for five years at a time. Perhaps in the 1960s these timelines were sufficient, when technology was not yet software led and paced by Moore’s Law. But today, these timelines leave the country’s defense, and the commercial industries essential to support it, in a death spiral.
The Pentagon’s 23,000 employee bureaucracy was never supposed to innovate technology though; it exists to support the civilian leaders to make wise, calculated, policy and budgetary decisions that best enable the country’s defense. But for all the valuable advice they and their hired consultants routinely accomplish, one thing has become glaringly obvious: the Pentagon will never be able to design a profitable company, build a functioning satellite, or produce a working rocket. What they can (and must urgently) do is redesign the bureaucracy itself to advance the commercial space economy by buying from it rather than continuing to attempt to command it. If they cannot, the $43 billion already invested in space ventures will be for naught, and so too will American leadership in space. (8/23)
Northrop Grumman Awarded $200M Deal for Deep-Space Radar That Will be Hosted in Wales (Source: Defense Scoop)
The Space Force has awarded Northrop Grumman a $200 million contract to build its second Deep-space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) that will be stationed in the United Kingdom, the Defense Department announced Friday.
Under development by Northrop Grumman, DARC is an all-weather, ground-based radar system designed to detect and track objects moving through geosynchronous orbit — over 22,000 miles above the Earth’s equator. Expected to serve as a key capability for the U.S. military’s space domain awareness mission, the service plans to position three radars around the world as part of the AUKUS alliance between the United States, United Kingdom and Australia. (8/23)
UF Scientist Prepares to Launch Into Space Thursday, Aug. 29 (Source: UF)
As a crew member on board the Blue Origin New Shepard rocket, UF/IFAS researcher Rob Ferl will conduct his own study on plants in space
What does the adaptation process look like for plants in space? That’s the question the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) hopes to answer with a novel space-based experiment happening Thursday at 9 a.m. EST when a UF/IFAS horticultural sciences researcher launches with his experiment into suborbital space on a Blue Origin New Shepard rocket.
Rob Ferl, Ph.D., the University of Florida Astraeus Space Institute director, will fly in the Blue Origin craft and perform the experiment himself. The experiment builds on prior research that showed a type of plant – Arabidopsis thaliana – can detect that it is in space and then change how its genes are expressed. (8/23)
In Fiji: What is the Point of Space Exploration? (Source: Fiji Times)
The Starlink satellite constellation provides high-speed internet access even in the most remote regions, including isolated areas of Fiji. By bridging the digital divide, Starlink empowers grassroots communities with reliable connectivity, enabling access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities that were previously out of reach.
For many rural Fijians, this means having access to all the information on the web and the ability to learn and even compete globally in spaces such as tech and business. This has also provided employment in Fiji and increased the number of businesses that have now popped up as Starlink resellers, acting as third-party vendors for Starlink and providing both the hardware and installation for Fijians who may not be as well versed in the technology. (8/23)
Former Lockheed Martin CFO Joins Rocket Lab Board (Source: Rocket Lab)
Rocket Lab announced that Kenneth Possenriede has been appointed to the Company’s Board of Directors. A seasoned executive with strong business and financial acumen, Mr. Possenriede joins Rocket Lab after a 35-year career at Lockheed Martin Corporation in financial leadership positions, including serving as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). (8/22)
Without Funds, Indian Space Innovators are Grounded (Source: Times of India)
On National Space Day today, India marks the historic landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon exactly a year ago on Aug 23. It was a milestone that not only catapulted India into an elite group of lunar-landing nations but also reignited public enthusiasm for space exploration. The journey to the Moon has a history of over six decades. While ISRO has long been lauded for its capacity to carry out intricate missions with budgets incomparable with top space-faring nations, given the competitive landscape that is Space, GOI will have to revisit its criteria for annual budgetary allocations. (8/23)
Plans for Spaceport at New Zealand's Kaitorete Spit in Strife as Government Rejects Further Funding (Source: RNZ)
Work on setting up an international spaceport at New Zealand's best site for launching rockets is in strife. The government is pulling back at Kaitorete Spit, south of Christchurch, without signing up a single international customer and despite its high aerospace ambitions.
Facing east in largely empty skies, Kaitorete is the jewel in the crown of launch sites, even by world standards. But the fledgling national aerospace centre Tāwhaki has failed in early efforts to attract international investors, has underspent its $4 million a year budget and is not making enough return on investment. (8/23)
JAXA Forms Special Team to Protect Earth from Asteroids (Source: Japan-Forward)
Asteroids drifting through space occasionally strike Earth. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has intensified its efforts to prevent a potentially catastrophic event. In April, JAXA established a planetary defense team for the early detection and avoidance of hazardous asteroids.
A European spacecraft equipped with devices from this team is scheduled to launch in October. It aims to participate in an on-site investigation of a collision experiment conducted in 2022. With the asteroid Apophis set to pass near the geostationary orbit in five years, JAXA is rapidly developing a system to rival those of the United States and Europe. (8/21)
NASA Provides Asteroid Samples to JAXA for Further Research (Source: NHK)
The US space agency has provided its Japanese counterpart with a portion of the geological samples that its spacecraft collected from an asteroid. Last September, NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission brought back a capsule containing sand and other samples taken from Bennu, an asteroid located between the orbits of Earth and Mars. The samples weighed 121.6 grams in total. NASA handed over roughly 0.6 grams of them to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, on Thursday in accordance with a bilateral deal. (8/22)
AI Powered Moonbase Concept by India Mirrors Russian Controversy (Source: NewsNine)
The Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) that works closely with ISRO released a video on humanity's fascination with the Moon. We get a glimpse of India's future moonbase in the form of a cringeworthy AI generated image. The AI chose to depict the Moon shining brightly over India's base... on the Moon. During launch programming for the Luna 25 mission, Roscosmos courted similar controversy by using AI generated images to depict its planned moonbase. It too depicted the Moon in the skies of the Moon. (8/23)
Polaris Dawn: Another Small Step to Mars? (Source: DW)
If it succeeds, Polaris Dawn will be the first non-government mission to perform a spacewalk. But not only that — it'll do that about 700 kilometers (435 miles) above Earth. The highest ever. To compare: the ISS orbits Earth at about 400 kilometers, where the radiation is less intense. It will also orbit Earth through regions of a highly-charged belt of radiation. There are two of these "Van Allen Belts", an inner and an outer one. Astronauts tend to avoid the hazardous Van Allen Belts, but they will have to travel through them if humans want to fly to Mars and survive. This privately-funded mission could be a first step toward that goal. (8/23)
India Celebrates First National Space Day (Source: Outlook)
India celebrates its first National Space Day on August 23 with the theme, "Touching lives while touching the Moon: India's space saga". The day commemorates the one-year anniversary of the successful moon landing of ISRO's Vikram Lander from Chandrayaan-3. India made history on August 23, 2023 by becoming the fourth nation to successfully land on the Moon and the first to reach its southern polar region. To commemorate this monumental achievement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared August 23 as "National Space Day." (8/23)