December 12, 2024

3D Printable Bioreactor Designs to Support Space Nutrition (Source: Space Daily)
NASA's Synthetic Biology Project is collaborating with the GrabCAD community to create innovative 3D-printable bioreactor designs. These bioreactors aim to reduce the mass and volume of supplies needed for extended space missions by enabling in-situ production of essential nutrients through reusable or recyclable solutions.

The project focuses on enhancing BioNutrient Production Packs, which use bio-engineered microorganisms to generate critical nutrients like beta carotene. Crews activate these microorganisms by adding water and growth media to dormant cultures. The existing bioreactors include early polycarbonate Gen-0 models and lightweight Gen-1 soft packs. Both designs allow gas exchange to prevent over-pressurization while ensuring safe nutrient production. (12/11)

NASA Administrator Must Deal with Budgets and Politics (Source: Space Daily)
With the recent announcement that the around-the-moon mission of Artemis II is delayed until spring of 2026, NASA still has much work to do in its Artemis program. Major issues remain to be addressed with the crew vehicle, including problems with the capsule's heat shield and electronic systems. Further, the success of commercial space companies like SpaceX means there will be more pressure on NASA to find ways to reduce costs by leveraging the services of commercial companies.

More broadly, many other countries are looking to how the U.S. is operating in space. Aside from what some see as a new space race with China, questions about space debris, space traffic management and space resources will involve cooperation with other countries and will require administrator involvement. The NASA administrator will have to contend with a recurring issue: fewer resources. This situation leads to hard decisions about what kinds of missions to support. Space science and robotic exploration typically lose out to things like human spaceflight. (12/8)

Mars Dust Storms May Be Linked to Warming Weather Patterns (Source: Space Daily)
A team of planetary scientists from Colorado has shed new light on the dynamics behind Mars' infamous dust storms. These events, which sometimes enshroud the entire planet in fine particles, may be triggered by warmer and sunnier conditions on the Martian surface. Lead researcher Heshani Pieris emphasized the importance of understanding these storms for the safety of Mars missions. "Dust storms have a significant effect on rovers and landers on Mars, not to mention what will happen during future crewed missions to Mars," said Pieris. "This dust is very light and sticks to everything." (12/10)

NASA Research Uncovers Expanding Dark Comet Populations (Source: Space Daily)
NASA researchers have announced the discovery of seven additional dark comets, celestial bodies that appear asteroid-like but exhibit cometary behavior. This finding doubles the total known count to 14 and reveals two distinct populations based on size, location, and orbital characteristics within the solar system. The new results were published on Dec. 9 in the *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences*. The concept of dark comets emerged after the 2016 study of "asteroid" 2003 RM, whose unexpected orbital deviation could not be explained by known asteroid dynamics. (12/10)

Apple to Bring Satellite Communications to Smartwatch Next Year (Source: Reuters)
Apple plans to bring satellite connections to its smartwatch in 2025 and is ramping up work on a blood-pressure feature for the device. The satellite feature is expected to come to next year's version of the iPhone maker's Apple Watch Ultra. The feature will allow users to send messages without cellular or internet connection. Apple began to offer satellite communication through its iPhones in 2022. In November, it invested $1.5 billion into satellite provider Globalstar to fund the expansion of iPhone communication services. (12/10)

Pixxel Secures Additional $24M in Funding Reaching $60M Total (Source: Space Daily)
Pixxel, a US-India-based leader in hyperspectral satellite technology, has raised $24 million in additional funding for its Series B round, bringing the total for this round to $60 million and its overall funding to $95 million. This positions Pixxel among the most well-funded space technology startups in India and the leading hyperspectral imaging company globally. (12/10)

Innovative AstroRad Vest Poised to Safeguard Astronauts from Space Radiation (Source: CASIS)
The latest issue of Upward, official magazine of the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory, highlights the AstroRad vest—a pioneering wearable technology designed to safeguard astronauts from harmful solar radiation during deep-space missions. Developed through a collaboration between StemRad and Lockheed Martin, the vest has undergone extensive testing through the ISS National Lab, leading to significant enhancements in its design and functionality. (12/12)

Silicon Valley's Fast Pace Meets Pentagon's Slow Grind (Source: Politico)
Tech executives are expected to play significant roles in the next administration, potentially clashing with Pentagon bureaucracy. Executives such as Stephen Feinberg, Shyam Sankar and Trae Stephens are being considered for top Pentagon posts, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest. The executives face the challenge of adapting to the slow pace of Pentagon decision-making and navigating a complex bureaucracy. (12/11)

Commercial Manufacturing Could Show DOD Way Forward (Source: Breaking Defense)
The Pentagon should shift its weapons manufacturing approach to leverage existing commercial components and elastic production facilities to prepare for potential conflicts and address shortages, write Bryan Clark and Dan Patt of the Hudson Institute. They cite programs such as the Air Force's Enterprise Test Vehicle and the Navy's Multi-mission Affordable Capacity Effector as examples of using modular design and commercial parts to enhance adaptability and production scale. (12/11)

Australia's Fleet Space Raises $100 Million for Mineral Exploration Tech (Source: Space News)
Australian company Fleet Space Technologies has raised $100 million to advance satellite-based mineral exploration technologies on the Earth and moon. Teachers' Venture Growth, part of the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, led the nine-year-old company's Series D funding round announced Wednesday, valuing the company at $525 million. The proceeds will help the company miniaturize mineral prospecting ground sensors that use its satellites to send seismic data to customers. Fleet says more than 50 exploration companies have used its ExoSphere service on projects across five continents. The company has also developed a version of the technology for use on the moon, with a sensor going on Firefly Aerospace's second Blue Ghost lunar lander mission in 2026. (12/12)

Isaacman: US Cannot Be Second in Space (Source: Space News)
President-elect Trump's choice to be NASA administrator said the U.S. "can't be second" in space. Speaking at the Spacepower Conference Wednesday, Jared Isaacman did not comment directly on Trump's intent to nominate him to be NASA administrator, focusing instead on broader issues of American competitiveness in space. Isaacman was emphatic about the transformative potential of space entrepreneurship, stating that he believes we are entering "an era of great experimentation" with promising economic horizons, and urged companies to take risks in developing solutions ahead of government demand. He acknowledged that his Polaris program of private astronaut missions is "a little bit of a question mark" now. (12/12)

Space Force Accelerates Space Intel Sharing in Europe (Source: Space News)
The head of a U.S. Space Force unit in Europe says the military is now sharing intelligence more rapidly. Brig. Gen. Jacob Middleton, commander of U.S. Space Forces Europe and Space Forces Africa, said in an interview at the Spacepower Conference that it is now delivering critical data to users within just 90 minutes. However, he added that adversaries are trying to disrupt that flow of information through cyberattacks. He said the military should tap commercial capabilities from private industry and specify what should be handled by government-specific requirements, while also striking a balance between public and classified operations. (12/12)

Maxar Partners with Satellogic for Geospatial Intelligence (Space News)
Maxar announced a partnership with Satellogic to provide improved geospatial intelligence for national security agencies. The agreement, announced Wednesday, allows Maxar to task, collect and distribute imagery from Satellogic's constellation of more than 20 satellites. That constellation can provide more frequent updates than Maxar's smaller fleet, although Maxar satellites can provide imagery at higher resolutions. Maxar said it can leverage this capability to address government demands for comprehensive site and change monitoring, using its own satellites to take high-resolution followup images of areas of interest. (12/12)

Oman Startup Joins China's Lunar Base Initiative (Source: Space News)
A startup in Oman has joined China's International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) program. Oman Lens signed a memorandum of understanding with China's Deep Space Exploration Laboratory last week regarding participation on ILRS. It's unclear what role Oman Lens, a company planning a satellite constellation, would play in ILRS. The signing came around the same time that Oman conducted a sounding rocket launch from the site of a future spaceport as the country seeks to expand its role in space. (12/12)

Orbite Raises $4 Million for Luxury Spaceflight Training (Source: Space News)
Spaceflight training company Orbite has raised $4 million. The company, founded in 2019, offers astronaut orientation programs in France and Cape Canaveral, combining training with luxury vacations. The Series A funding will support its Experience Train Fly Program, where customers can learn what it's like to train for space or live in space. The company also plans to develop a Spaceflight Gateway campus in Florida. (12/12)

Chinese National Arrested for Drone Flight Over Vandenberg (Source: LA Times)
A Chinese national was arrested for flying a drone over Vandenberg Space Force Base. Yinpiao Zhou, a Chinese citizen and U.S. permanent resident, was arrested just before boarding a flight back to China Monday. He flew a drone over the base hours after a SpaceX launch last month, taking footage of launch sites there. He allegedly modified the drone's software to enable it to go higher than designed and to go into no-fly zones. According to court documents Zhou admitted flying the drone over the base was "probably not a good idea." (12/12)

Sally Ride Documentary to Premiere at Sundance (Source: CollectSpace)
A documentary about Sally Ride will premiere next month at Sundance. SALLY, from National Geographic and director Cristina Costantini, will profile Ride's life using archival footage and interviews with Ride's family and friends. The film has already won the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize, given to the film at the Sundance Film Festival with the most outstanding depiction of science and technology. (12/12)

Automating Connectivity Across Orbits (Source: Space News)
Modern satellite networks are increasingly complex, operating across multiple orbits (LEO, MEO, GEO) with dynamic beam configurations. Don Claussen explained that AI-powered resource orchestration is essential for managing this complexity. “Instead of having someone watch a screen or pre-plan beam coverage, AI can automatically shift capacity between regions as needed,” Claussen said.

AI can analyze real-time data about “patterns of life” — such as ship movements or flight routes — and adjust satellite beams dynamically to match demand. As satellite-enabled smartphones emerge, AI-driven automation could help unify terrestrial and satellite networks. The goal: enabling a future where devices stay seamlessly connected, no matter where users travel. (12/12)

Executives Urge Closer Integration of Commercial and Military Tech (Source: Space News)
Despite recent progress, space industry executives stress the need for greater integration of commercial technology with military capabilities to enhance the resilience and effectiveness of hybrid architectures. The National Security Agency and National Cyber Center helped Viasat combat a cyber attack on one of its satellites in the early days of Russia’s war in Ukraine, said Rebecca Cowen-Hirsch. The incident underscored the critical role of partnerships between government and commercial entities in navigating shared challenges in the space domain. Optimizing and improving interoperability is particularly important for integrating allied systems and resources, she added. (12/11)

NASA Pinpoints What Went Wrong During Ingenuity’s Final Flight (Source: Gizmodo)
It’s been nearly a year since the record-breaking Ingenuity helicopter broke a blade, ending the airborne ventures of the first powered, controlled aircraft to take flight on another planet. Now, NASA engineers are investigating the rotorcraft’s final flight, to better understand the circumstances of its end. Ingenuity broke records on Mars, with the Perseverance rover capturing mind-blowing video as it flew above the Martian surface. That all came to an end in January 2024, and now, researchers are getting close to understanding how the helicopter broke apart.

Based on photographs taken after the flight, the team believes that in-flight navigation errors caused “high horizontal velocities at touchdown,” according to the release. In other words, a crash landing that likely made Ingenuity pitch and roll on a sandy Martian slope. That snapped the rotor blades, with one blade completely separating from the helicopter. (12/11)

SpaceX Became the World’s Most Valuable Private Startup Overnight (Source: Euro News)
The valuation of Elon Musk's rocket company jumped to $350bn (€332bn) due to an insider deal. An internal share trade pushed the, otherwise not publicly traded company's value to the stratosphere. SpaceX was last valued at around $250bn (€238bn) and its share price was $112/stock in September.

The fresh deal between the rocket company and its investors to purchase up to $1.25bn (€1.19bn) of the company's common shares shows a 65% rise in the share price, at $185 a piece, putting the company's value at $350bn (€332bn), according to Bloomberg. SpaceX alone is offering to purchase as much as $500m (€476m) worth of common stock, it said in an internal document, seen by the media company. The new valuation makes SpaceX the most valuable private startup in the world. (12/11)

Astronomers Discover Magnetic Loops Around Supermassive Black Hole (Source: Phys.org)
NGC 1068 is a well-known, relatively nearby, bright galaxy with a supermassive black hole at its center. Despite its status as a popular target for astronomers, however, its accretion disk is obscured by thick clouds of dust and gas. A few light-years in diameter, the outer accretion disk is dotted by hundreds of distinct water maser sources that hinted for decades at deeper structures. Masers are distinct beacons of electromagnetic radiation that shine in microwave or radio wavelengths; in radio astronomy, water masers observed at a frequency of 22 GHz are particularly useful because they can shine through much of the dust and gas that obscures optical wavelengths.

By measuring the polarization of water masers as well as the continuum of radio emissions from NGC 1068, the team generated a map revealing the compact radio source now known as NGC 1068* as well as mysterious extended structures of more faint emissions. Mapping the astrometric distribution of NGC 1068 and its water masers revealed that they are spread along filaments of structure. (12/11)

Space Force’s First Silent Barker Satellites to Go Live in Early 2025 (Source: Defense One)
The Space Force expects its newest space observation satellites, Silent Barker, to be ready for initial operations early next year, according to the head of U.S. Space Command. Gen. Stephen Whiting told reporters Wednesday that the spacecraft, which launched in September 2023, has been undergoing a series of on-orbit tests for the last year. The service hasn’t confirmed how many spacecraft it launched in the first mission but has said there were at least two. (12/11)

Geminid Meteors Shower Onto Lunar Surface Too (Source: Gizmodo)
Daichi Fujii recently captured videos of bright flashes on the Moon, which coincide with the Geminid meteor showers. Ergo: Some of these fireballs may be hitting our rocky satellite. The Moon’s pockmarked face is no stranger to impacts from rocky debris in our cosmos. In fact, it’s been smacked by Geminids before—according to a 2015 NASA study, the Moon was hit by 19 Geminids in 2006 and impacted by 21 in 2010. (12/11)

Rocket Lab Pushes Ahead with Suborbital Hypersonic Technology Initiative for the Department of Defense (Source: Seeking Alpha)
Rocket Lab USA successfully launched a suborbital mission in November to test hypersonic technology for the DoD. Hypersonic technology refers to vehicles and systems capable of traveling at speeds exceeding Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound. These systems operate in a unique aerodynamic regime characterized by extreme temperatures, thin shock layers, and complex air flows.

The Rocket Lab mission provided hypersonic test launch capabilities under the Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonics Test Bed project, which aims to increase hypersonic flight testing for the United States. The project was awarded by Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane through the Strategic and Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems Other Transaction Authority vehicle on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense Test Resource Management Center.

Notably, Rocket Lab's test platform showcased a new suite of cutting-edge technologies optimized for hypersonic technology tests with vastly increased payloads. The company also designed, manufactured, assembled, and integrated the experimental hypersonic instrumentation which was launched on this mission, but on a highly accelerated timeline. (12/10)

Skykraft Announces International Collaboration to Lead Next-Gen Space Project (Source: Skykraft)
Skykraft announces the formal signing of Participating Project Partner Agreement for the "Demonstration of Collaborative Position Navigation and Timing (PNT) in Low Earth Orbit (LEO)" project. Supported by an International Space Investment (ISI) India Projects grant from the Australian Government, this initiative marks a key step in supporting the growth of joint space projects between Australia and India.

The primary goal of the project is the development of next-generation collaborative PNT systems. PNT systems play a critical role in sectors such as transportation, communication, and infrastructure, however existing systems can be prone to errors. For example, the aviation industry has been particularly affected in a growing number of regions, with aircraft navigation systems being impacted or incorrect information being reported to Air Traffic Management (ATM) controllers. (12/11)