January 31, 2025

Clearer Career Pathways Needed to Sustain Space Industry Growth (Source: Space News)
The commercial space industry should establish standardized career paths to attract the talent needed for its rapid expansion, a panel of professional services specialists said. “One of the challenges right now is that space is kind of a scary place to transition to from working in another industry,” said Joseph Horvath, CEO of training provider Nova Space. Someone joining the industry often has no clear roadmap for career progression, Horvath explained, including the education and skills necessary to advance.

Horvath pointed to how IT giants like Microsoft, Cisco and Apple helped establish industry-standard certifications that became prerequisites for many cybersecurity roles. Editor's Note: Over a decade ago, the SpaceTEC consortium established the beginnings of a space industry career certifications program, specifically for technician-level workers. See more on SpaceTEC here. (1/30)

The Ecuadorian Who Designs Systems for Blue Origin (Source: Forbes)
"We are building a path to space," says Luis Alarcón, the 38-year-old Ecuadorian who is part of the Blue Origin team, Jeff Bezos' aerospace firm, which launched the New Glenn rocket into space a couple of weeks ago.His specific position at Blue Origin is Sr. Avionics, Instruments & GNC Engineerand its tasks focus on the design of a series of systems that allow New Glenn to be seen as a new step on the path of human beings in space exploration.

Alarcón, who studied Mechatronics at the Tec de Monterrey, was a key player in this historic event. He performs his duties at the firm at the company's facilities.Pot, the United States government's space agency, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Alarcón has been working there for four years, although the most important moments at Blue Origin were during the first days of January, when the final details for the launch of New Glenn were being finalized. (1/28)

Space Coast Congressman to Chair House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics (Source: Space Coast Daily)
Florida’s Space Coast has gained a significant advocate in Congress as newly elected Representative Mike Haridopolos of Indian Harbor Beach has been appointed chair of the Congressional Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics. This subcommittee, operating under the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, oversees agency budgets exceeding $42 billion and plays a critical role in shaping space policy and initiatives. Haridopolos’ leadership is particularly significant for Brevard County, given his deep understanding of the area’s economic dependence on the space industry. (1/31)

Space Florida Aims Finance Infrastructure Needs at Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: SPACErePORT)
As the new Congress assembles and space policies and funding are debated, Space Florida is looking to ease the requirement for billions in federal appropriations for badly needed spaceport infrastructure. The state agency / spaceport authority says it is able to provide municipal-style financing for projects like wastewater treatment upgrades, which are required to allow continued growth in launch rates at the spaceport.

NASA and the Space Force could back the investment through their annual facility maintenance budgets. Smaller maintenance investments are easier to budget than large facility development items. Avoiding large infrastructure appropriations would allow limited NASA and Space Force funding to go toward ongoing and planned projects. (1/31)

NASA and Boeing Making Progress on Starliner Problems (Source: Space News)
NASA and Boeing are making progress into resolving issues on Starliner's flawed test flight last year, but have yet to fix problems with its thrusters. NASA's Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel stated at a meeting Thursday that NASA and Boeing teams had made "significant progress" on closing out anomalies that took place during the Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission last summer.

Starliner launched two astronauts to the International Space Station on CFT in June, but returned three months later uncrewed because of NASA concerns about the performance of its thrusters. The panel said that NASA and Boeing have yet to find the root cause of the thruster problems and did not offer a schedule for doing so. NASA and Boeing have said little about Starliner since the spacecraft's return in September and have not scheduled the vehicle's next flight to the station. (1/31)

China's Local Governments Are Supporting Space Industry Development, Including Spaceports (Source: Space News)
Local Chinese governments are playing a major role in the development of the country's space industry. Across the country, local governments are rolling out policies to cultivate commercial space industries and attempting to position their regions as key players in the burgeoning space sector. New initiatives include tax incentives, subsidies, industrial clusters and commercial spaceports. This approach allows provinces to experiment with commercial space initiatives as part of decentralized efforts for economic growth. (1/31)

Spain's AVS to Develop Astrophysics Project for ESA (Source: Space News)
Spanish company Added Value Solutions (AVS) has won an ESA study contract for a science mission. AVS said Thursday that it was one of two companies that received contracts from ESA to perform Phase A and B work on an astrophysics mission called ARRAKIHS scheduled to launch into Earth orbit in 2030. ESA will later select which company to build the spacecraft. AVS, a company best known for work in scientific instrumentation, is moving into the space sector, launching its first smallsat last year. The company wants to focus on "high performance" smallsat missions rather than mass manufacturing of standardized spacecraft. (1/31)

Astronauts Complete ISS Spacewalk to Fix Antenna, Swab for Microbes (Source: CBS)
Two astronauts completed a spacewalk outside the ISS Thursday. Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore spent about five and a half hours outside the station on the spacewalk, retrieving a malfunctioning antenna that two previous spacewalks had been unable to detach from the station's exterior. The astronauts also swabbed sections of the station to see if any microbial life can survive there. This was the fifth spacewalk for Wilmore and ninth for Williams, who has spent more than 62 hours in space on those spacewalks. She broke the record for cumulative spacewalking time by a female astronaut, a mark that had been held by Peggy Whitson. (1/31)

Russia: Trump's US Iron Dome is Ploy to Deploy Weapons in Orbit (Source: Reuters)
Russia says the Trump administration's plans for an "Iron Dome for America" missile defense system is a ploy to weaponize space. A spokesperson for Russia's Foreign Ministry said Friday that the proposal, announced earlier this week, was proof of American interest "on turning space into an arena of armed confrontation." That plan, the ministry said, could prevent talks between the United States and Russia on nuclear arms control. (1/31)

Harris and Whitson Picked for Astronaut Hall of Fame (Source: CollectSpace)
Former NASA astronauts Bernard Harris and Peggy Whitson are the latest inductees to the Astronaut Hall of Fame. Harris flew on two shuttle missions in the 1990s, one to the Russian space station Mir, and is the first Black astronaut to perform a spacewalk. Whitson flew on three long-duration missions to the ISS for NASA and holds the U.S. record for cumulative time in space at 675 days. After leaving NASA, she commanded the Ax-2 private astronaut mission to the station for Axiom Space and is preparing for the Ax-4 mission, which could overlap with the Hall of Fame induction ceremony in late May. (1/31)

Will the US Get to Mars Quicker if it Drops or Delays Plans to Visit the Moon? (Source: Space Daily)
The Artemis program has been Nasa's best chance to get "boots on the Moon" again. But with the new US administration taking guidance from tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, who is focused on Mars colonisation, will they end up abandoning or pushing back lunar missions? For example, there's been speculation that returning US president Donald Trump may cancel the Space Launch System rocket, which NASA intended to use to get from the Moon to Mars. But is this approach likely to help them get to Mars quicker?

It would likely mean abandoning the Lunar Gateway project, a space station in orbit around the Moon where astronauts could live. But as this is not planned until 2027 at the earliest, this would seem acceptable. Click here. (1/31)

Hegseth, Trump Blame DEI at FAA, Democrats for DC Plane/Helicopter Collision (Source: Axios)
Well before an substantive post-crash details were available, President Trump repeatedly cited DEI policies at the FAA as having some role in the plane collision. He also blamed Democrats who advanced inclusive workplace policies. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth struck a similar note: "The era of DEI is gone at the Defense Department and we need the best and brightest — whether it's in our air traffic control or whether it's in our generals, or whether it's throughout government," he said.

Trump wasted little time blaming former Presidents Obama and Biden for allegedly lowering safety standards at the FAA at a press conference Thursday. He also railed against former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, saying the former Biden administration official had run the FAA "right into the ground with his diversity" initiatives. Buttigieg hit back at Trump's accusations, calling them "despicable" and noting that one of Trump's first acts in office was to "fire and suspend some of the key personnel who helped keep our skies safe." (1/30)

SPACE ISAC Expands Member Benefits with Access to New Testbeds Network (Source: Space Daily)
The Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Space ISAC) has announced a major new benefit for its members: access to the Accelerating Space Capabilities 100 (ASC-100), an international network of Testbeds and Proving Grounds. This initiative aims to accelerate the development and integration of innovative space technologies into both commercial and government systems.

ASC-100 provides Space ISAC members with streamlined entry to certified testing facilities across the United States and allied nations. These facilities offer both physical and digital environments designed to replicate space operating conditions, enabling agile development, validation, and deployment of advanced space capabilities. (1/31)

Russian Senator Held Stake in SpaceX While Sanctioned (Source: Bloomberg)
A U.S. trust linked to sanctioned Russian senator and billionaire Suleiman Kerimov held a 1% stake in Elon Musk’s SpaceX before authorities blocked the trust, Bloomberg reported Wednesday, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter. Delaware-based Heritage Trust reportedly acquired the SpaceX stake in 2017, a year before the Trump administration’s Treasury Department sanctioned Kerimov along with dozens of other Kremlin-linked oligarchs. (1/30)

Blue Origin to Lobby for Space Launch Funding (Source: The Hill)
Blue Origin hired S-3 Group to lobby on issues related to space launch logistics in the annual defense appropriations bill. Blue Origin has received nearly $1.5 billion in government contracts over the past five years from NASA, according to federal contracting data, including for launch services, research and procurement. One of the lobbyists on the account is John ​Scofield, former communications director for the House Appropriations Committee. (1/30)

Can Malaysia’s Space Dreams Take Off with Sabah’s Bid to Become Spaceport? (Source: South China Morning Post)
A Malaysian state’s ambition to become Southeast Asia’s hub for lucrative satellite assembly and space launches pivots on creating a talent pool of aerospace and rocket engineers to draw the likes of Elon Musk’s Space X, experts say. The Sabah state government last week announced that it had launched a one-year feasibility study into the project, which it hoped would turn the state into an industrial hub for the space industry.

Initially floated in 2023, the state government signed a memorandum of understanding with Ukraine’s Yuzhnoye State Design Office – which specializes in space-rocket technology – and local defense and aerospace firm Sovereign Sengalang, to explore Sabah’s potential as a regional space launch site. (1/30)

SpaceX Builds New Launch Pad, Mechanical Chopsticks Tower at Texas Spaceport (Source: Valley Central)
As SpaceX builds a new launch pad at Boca Chica, it is also building another huge mechanical chopsticks tower that has a slight difference. As the week rolled on, construction continued on tower two, the chopsticks and the tank farm down at the launch site while stacking continued on Booster 17 and Starship 35 at the build site. Back at tower two, the cranes began a tandem lift of the chopstick carriage, rotating it vertically before maneuvering it into position on the assembly stand. (1/30)

New Kind of Hidden Black Hole May Explain the Mystery of Dark Energy (Source: New Scientist)
Space-time may hide a bizarre new kind of black hole that causes Einstein’s theory of gravity to fail – and could solve the mystery of dark energy. A quantum black hole is a theoretical type of black hole that exists at microscopic scales, governed by both general relativity and quantum mechanics. These black holes are different from astrophysical black holes (formed from collapsing stars) because they would be incredibly small—potentially subatomic in size—but still have a strong gravitational pull. (1/30)

MHI’s Expanding Space Business (Source: Spectra)
There are one million parts in a modern rocket. If just one of these malfunctions, the whole rocket can fail. This is what happened in March 2023, when a problem with its second-stage engine forced Japan’s national space agency (JAXA) to cut short the first launch of Japan’s new flagship H3 rocket. It was a bitter setback for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and our customer and partner JAXA. We had spent a decade jointly developing this new launch vehicle.

But after almost a year of forensic investigation, evaluation and testing we modified some components, achieved ‘Return to Flight’ status for them, successfully launching an H3 in February 2024 – with MHI and JAXA engineers in the control center hugging each other with joy. We have since carried out two more smooth launches and the H3 is fully operational. And I would argue that by honestly and openly facing up to this failure, we have learned important new lessons and even strengthened our relationship with JAXA and our other partners. (1/30)

Feeling the Gravity: When Human Safety is At Stake (Source: Boeing)
NASA and Boeing engineers share what it means to design a rocket to safely send astronauts to deep space. If everything goes according to plan, it’s still perilous. That’s the reality NASA, Boeing and industry engineers face daily as they design and build vehicles planned — from the start — to safely send humans to deep space.

For teammates working on critical hardware in support of NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket for the Artemis missions, that means meeting comprehensive safety requirements from design to launch. NASA's meticulous design of the SLS rocket is driven by the specific mission requirements for sending humans to deep space. The hardware undergoes intentional design and rigorous testing to ensure its suitability for human spaceflight. In short, the mission drives the design.” (1/21)

Sierra Space Dream Chaser 'Mini Shuttle' Space Plane Tests Continue Toward May Maiden Flight (Source: Florida Today)
Sierra Space's "mini shuttle" Dream Chaser space plane may make its maiden flight in May after launching atop a rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Pre-flight testing continues at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Wednesday, Sierra Space officials announced the spacecraft successfully completed and passed another round of test milestones in collaboration with NASA. The test demonstrated Dream Chaser's "ability to power-on, air-cool, and exchange data with multiple powered payloads inside its pressurized cabin."

The 30-foot-long Dream Chaser, which is named Tenacity, will launch atop a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket. The uncrewed space plane is slated to deliver 7,800 pounds of cargo to the International Space Station, then descend to Earth and land like a space shuttle roughly 45 days later at KSC's Launch and Landing Facility. (1/29)

January 30, 2025

Sierra Space Dream Chaser Spaceplane Passes Key NASA Test in Preparation for ISS Resupply Mission (Source: Space Daily)
Sierra Space, a leading innovator in commercial space exploration and defense technology, has announced a significant achievement in its partnership with NASA. The company successfully completed and passed its Joint Test 10B milestone for the Dream Chaser spaceplane. This test is a crucial step in Dream Chaser's mission to deliver supplies to the International Space Station (ISS).

The test focused on demonstrating Dream Chaser's capabilities to power up, air-cool, and manage data exchange with multiple powered payloads inside the spacecraft's pressurized cabin. These advancements bring Sierra Space closer to achieving its goal of supporting long-duration missions to the ISS. (1/30)

White House Issues Baffling Order for US Iron Dome Development (Sources: Via Satellite, Slate, Union of Concerned Scientists)
President Trump has issued an executive order for the development of an "Iron Dome for America," a missile defense project with space-based interceptors. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth must submit a plan within 60 days. The project, likely costing billions, aims to protect against various missile threats and will be included in the FY-2026 budget request.

It is one of Trump's more baffling executive orders. Israel's Iron Dome defends small areas from short-range nonnuclear missiles. It’s a vastly easier task than defending the whole country against missiles that travel 100 times further and seven times faster than those Iron Dome is built for. The U.S. military already has plenty of weapons that can shoot down short- to medium-range rockets at least as effectively as Iron Dome. When it comes to protecting U.S. territory from missiles fired by such nuclear-powered countries as Russia, China, and North Korea, something like Iron Dome would have no capability whatsoever.

The notion of shooting down large-scale attacks—which Trump’s executive order states as its goal—is widely viewed as utter fantasy. First, the process of detecting, tracking, and intercepting dozens, much less hundreds or thousands, of missiles or warheads—as they’re ascending from launchpads, arcing through outer space, or plunging down to their targets—is beyond even our most advanced technology. Even if we did somehow manage a system that could do all that, enemies could overwhelm it in multiple ways. (1/29)

NASA, Partners to Ready for Fourth Axiom Space Mission to Space Station (Source: NASA)
NASA and its international partners have approved the crew for Axiom Space’s fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, launching from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida no earlier than spring 2025.

Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the commercial mission, while ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as pilot. The two mission specialists are ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. (1/29)

Musk Confesses to Cheating on Video Games (Source: Washington Post)
Elon Musk — head of six companies, father of 11 children, a friend of the president and the richest man on the planet — often brags to the world about one of his great passions: his skill at video games. He boasted to Joe Rogan that he ranked among the world’s best at “Diablo IV,” a feat for which Rogan said he had “to be exceptional — period — as a human being.” He bragged about how quickly he had conquered the global leaderboards of “Path of Exile 2,” blasting “through the ‘toughest’ content, popping monsters like balloons.”

Online sleuths recently made a shocking accusation: Musk had cheated. They suspected that he had pursued a widely mocked tactic known as “boosting,” paying strangers to play his character and rake in loot so that, when he logged in, he could face challenges with the most powerful gear. “Elon lost the trust of all gamers overnight,” programmer Dan Nelson said in an X post liked more than 100,000 times. “Boosting your account and lying about it is the worst offense. incredibly cringe, fragile ego on full display.”

Musk fought the allegations before ultimately confessing in messages this month. “It’s impossible to beat players in Asia if you don’t,” he wrote. A few days later, his character could be seen chasing treasure through the game’s sulfuric caverns while Musk was in the Capitol Rotunda, attending President Donald Trump’s inauguration. (1/29)

Thales Alenia Wins ESA Contract for Lunar Cargo Lander (Source: Space News)
Thales Alenia Space has won an ESA contract to develop a key element of a European cargo lunar lander. Thales said Thursday the contract, worth nearly $900 million, includes work to develop and deliver the Lunar Descent Element (LDE) for the Argonaut lander. The contract includes mission design and integration of the LDE, which would be responsible for transporting and landing the spacecraft on the Moon.

Thales said Argonaut's first mission in the 2030s is expected to deliver navigation and telecommunication payloads, along with an energy generation and storage system, supporting commercial European exploration of the lunar south pole. ESA is also positioning Argonaut, which has a capacity of approximately two metric tons of cargo, as a potential asset for future NASA Artemis lunar missions. (1/30)

Planet Gains $230 Million Asia-Pacific Contract for Earth Observation Satellites (Source: Space News)
Planet announced Wednesday a $230 million contract from an unnamed Asia-Pacific customer, the company's biggest deal to date. Planet will build, launch and operate Pelican high-resolution Earth-observation satellites, reserving a portion of the capacity for the Asia-Pacific customer that works closely with a government agency. Planet also will obtain imagery for other government and commercial customers with those satellites. The company said it will recognize that $230 million over six years. (1/30)

Castelion Secures $100 Million for Hypersonic Weapons (Source: Space News)
A hypersonic weapons startup founded by former SpaceX employees raised $100 million. Castelion secured $70 million in Series A funding led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and $30 million in venture debt from Silicon Valley Bank. Castelion aims to disrupt the hypersonic weapons market by applying commercial space industry practices to missile manufacturing. Hypersonic missiles have become a key priority for the Pentagon as China and Russia advance their own capabilities. The company's co-founders previously were executives at SpaceX, and its advisers include Mike Griffin and Lisa Porter. (1/30)

Artemis Contractors Doubt There's a Faster Way to the Moon (Source: Space News)
Companies working on NASA's Artemis lunar exploration effort say the current architecture remains the fastest way to return to the moon. During a panel about the upcoming Artemis 2 mission, executives said they were encouraging their employees to remain focused on their programs amid rumors the Trump administration may seek to revamp or even cancel Artemis. Those officials said dumping the current architecture would not allow NASA to return humans to the moon faster. The Artemis 2 mission has slipped from late 2024 to April 2026, although the NASA manager for the mission said they are looking at ways to move up that launch date. (1/30)

NASA: Astronaut 'Rescue' Already On-Track (Source: Space NewS)
NASA effectively ruled out any major changes in plans to return the Crew-9 astronauts from the International Space Station despite comments by President Trump and Elon Musk. NASA said Wednesday that it was working with SpaceX to "expeditiously" return astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore "as soon as practical" on the Crew-9 Crew Dragon that is docked to the station. NASA added that return would take place after a handover to astronauts arriving on the new Crew-10 mission. That is effectively the same plan NASA had before comments by Musk and Trump Tuesday calling for the return of Williams and Wilmore from the station immediately, although the NASA statement does not rule out moving up the Crew-10 launch, currently planned for late March. (1/30)

Space Force Rapid Capabilities Office Picks 10 Companies for Accelerator (Source: Space News)
The U.S. Space Force's Space Rapid Capabilities Office has picked 10 companies for its first accelerator. The Prime Fusion Pilot Accelerator Program is an initiative aimed at fast-tracking technologies to protect military satellites from orbital threats. The accelerator's first cohort consists of five two-company teams, each bringing specialized expertise in satellite technology and situational awareness, who will present their solutions at an event in March. (1/30)

Apple Direct-to-Device News Pushes Competing Shares Down (Source: Space News)
An emerging partnership between Apple and SpaceX on direct-to-device services caused share prices of others in that market to fall Wednesday. Shares in Globalstar closed down 18% Wednesday, while MDA Space, which is building a new constellation of satellites for Globalstar, fell 9%. Apple is currently using Globalstar satellites for direct-to-device messaging, but a report this week said that an upcoming version of iPhone software will support Starlink services. AST SpaceMobile, developing its own constellation for direct-to-device services, fell 12% in trading Wednesday. (1/30)

SpaceX Launches Spanish Satellite at Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: Florida Today)
A Falcon 9 launched a Spanish military communications satellite Wednesday. The rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center at 8:34 p.m. Eastern and deployed the SpainSat NG-1 satellite for Hidesat into a geostationary transfer orbit. The spacecraft will provide X- and Ka-band military communications services. The first stage, making its 21st flight, was expended to provide additional performance needed for the Airbus-built satellite. (1/30)

Space Force: Lack of Payload Processing Facilities Creates Bottleneck at Spaceports (Source: Space News)
The Space Force says the biggest constraint for increasing launch activity is a lack of payload processing facilities. Brig. Gen. Kristin Panzenhagen, commander of the Eastern Range at Cape Canaveral, said at the Space Mobility conference that she could not set a maximum launch rate for the range after it hosted 93 launches last year.

She said the bottleneck for increasing launch rates is limited room in payload processing facilities at the Cape. Rideshare launches, like SpaceX's Transporter and Bandwagon missions, are particular problems since the dozens of individual payloads require large amounts of processing space. Panzenhagen said the Space Force is searching for solutions beyond traditional infrastructure expansions and is considering novel approaches to payload processing. (1/30)

York Space Systems Unveils Large Satellite Platform (Source: Space News)
York Space Systems rolled out a new satellite platform for payloads as large as 1,000 kilograms. York, which has focused on small satellites, said it developed the M-Class satellite bus in response to customer demands for more power and performance. The platform is designed for payloads with a peak power consumption of 8 kilowatts. The first M-Class satellite will be used for an Earth observation mission for an undisclosed customer. (1/30)

AscendArc to Produce Small GEO Satellites (Source: Space News)
AscendArc has unveiled its plans to produce small GEO satellites. The company, founded by a former SpaceX engineer, emerged from stealth Wednesday after raising $4 million and securing a $1.8 million Phase II Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) contract from AFWERX, the U.S. Air Force innovation arm. The company is working on small GEO satellites but has disclosed few details about its technology. Its first satellite, weighing less than 1,000 kilograms, is projected to launch in 2027. (1/30)

Virgin Galactic Partners with Redwire to Develop Spaceplane Research Lockers (Source: Space News)
Virgin Galactic is partnering with Redwire to develop research lockers for its Delta-class suborbital spaceplane. The lockers will be able to accommodate payloads that are flown on future Delta-class flights, continuing research Virgin Galactic supported on VSS Unity suborbital missions. The lockers are designed to make it easier for researchers to host their experiments and gain experience for future flights in orbit on the ISS or other platforms. (1/30)

NASA Employees Affected by Trump Workforce Reduction, Back-to-Office Efforts (Sources: FNN, NPR, Economic Times)
The White House has mandated that federal employees return to in-person work by 6 February 2025. Employees who do not comply must resign under a "deferred resignation program," which allows them to leave with full pay and benefits until 30 September 2025. NASA employees are among those affected by the initiative. Federal employee unions and attorneys are urging government workers not to accept the offer from the Trump administration to resign from their jobs by Feb. 6 and be paid through the end of September.

A significant majority of federal employees who took a Federal News Network survey say they don’t plan on accepting the offer to resign and go on paid administrative leave. Among those who expect to accept the offer, 54% said they already had plans to retire from federal service soon, or leave for a job outside the federal workforce. (1/29)

Arianespace Secures Three Ariane 6 Launch Deals in Two Days (Source: European Spaceflight)
During the 17th European Space Conference in January, Arianespace was awarded contracts to launch PLATO, Sentinel-1D, and a pair of second-generation Galileo satellites. Arianespace currently has a backlog of 30 Ariane 6 launches, 18 of which are for Amazon’s Kuiper constellation. The company is expected to complete five flights of the rocket in 2025, including the inaugural launch of the more powerful Ariane 64 variant, which features four solid-fuel boosters instead of two. The first operational flight of the rocket is scheduled for 26 February. (1/30)

Vast and SpaceX Call for Research Proposals to Advance Space Habitation (Source: Space Daily)
Vast and SpaceX have issued a joint request for research proposals from the global space science community to drive progress in long-term human space habitation and exploration. The two companies, building upon their partnership, aim to support high-impact scientific research that benefits both life on Earth and humanity's expansion into space. Proposals will be reviewed based on scientific and technical merit, feasibility, and alignment with mission objectives.

Approved projects will have access to the capabilities of the Haven-1 Lab, Dragon spacecraft, and private astronaut missions to the International Space Station (ISS). Haven-1 is set to become the first commercial space station, serving as a microgravity research, development, and manufacturing hub. This facility will enable groundbreaking scientific advancements and technological innovation in space research. (1/30)

NASA IG Spared in Trump Firing of Government Watchdogs (Source: SPACErePORT)
President Trump dismissed at least 17 inspectors general (IGs) from various federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense, State, Housing and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs, Energy, and Transportation. These officials serve as independent watchdogs, ensuring transparency and accountability within government operations. The firings were executed without the legally mandated 30-day notice to Congress, prompting concerns about potential violations of the Inspector General Act of 1978. NASA's IG was among those spared. (1/29)

Ready for 156 Space Coast Launches This Year, Space Force Targets Bottlenecks (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
Space Force is prepped to support an average of 13 launches per month from the Space Coast in 2025, but it’s a juggling act that has the world’s No. 1 spaceport running up against infrastructure roadblocks. The pace has been demanding, Brig. Gen. Kristin Panzenhagen said.

“It’s forcing us to innovate, right? We’ve implemented automation, we relooked at processes and streamlined a lot of things, but it does continue to be a stress on ops tempo when it comes to manpower,” Panzenhagen said. But it also has brought infrastructure shortcomings to the forefront causing backups for national security launches. “The bottleneck itself is that really we just don’t have enough payload processing space,” she said. “With the launch cadence increasing, we, with our government payloads, are using the same payload processing space that the commercial payloads use.” (1/29)

A Second Earth? Scientists Confirm a Nearby Exoplanet That Could Host Life (Source: Daily Galaxy)
Astronomers have confirmed the existence of HD 20794 d, a super-Earth just 20 light-years away, making it one of the most promising candidates for habitability beyond our solar system. This exoplanet orbits in the habitable zone of its star, where liquid water might exist—one of the key conditions for life. (1/29)

A Suspension of DoD Observance of Diversity-Related Events (Source: Ken Klippenstein)
To implement Trump executive orders relating to diversity and inclusion, a DoD agency has been advised to suspend observances of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, Juneteenth, Black History Month, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Hispanic Heritage Month, and others. (1/29)

AstroForge Announces Asteroid Target for Upcoming Mission (Source: Space News)
Space mining company AstroForge has revealed the destination of its next asteroid prospecting mission and has signed a contract with Stoke Space for several future launches. AstroForge announced Jan. 29 that its Mission 2 spacecraft launching next month will travel to the asteroid 2022 OB5, a small near Earth asteroid that could be metallic. The spacecraft, called Odin, will fly by the asteroid about 300 days after launch. (1/29)

Armed Services Chair Supports $200B Defense Increase (Source: Breaking Defense)
Sen. Roger Wicker, R-MS, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, aims to increase defense funding by $200 billion and push major acquisition reforms this year. Wicker's funding plan, part of a Republican reconciliation package, could support projects like an Iron Dome-like missile shield and the Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance fighter. "As the voice of the American aerospace and defense industry, we welcome Senator Wicker's continued focus on strengthening the defense industrial base and reforming defense acquisition," said AIA President and CEO Eric Fanning in December. (1/27)

Artemis Marks Milestone with SLS Core Stage Rollout (Source: American Society of Mechanical Engineers)
NASA marked a significant milestone in the Artemis program by rolling out a 212-foot core stage for the Space Launch System from the Michoud Assembly Facility on the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch. The core stage, the largest NASA has built, will be integral to missions aiming to establish a permanent presence on the lunar south pole and eventually send humans to Mars. (1/21)

Funding Available for ISS Research Projects (Source: CASIS)
The ISS National Laboratory is soliciting flight concepts for technology advancement that utilizes the space-based environment of the orbiting laboratory. This solicitation, “Technology Advancement and Applied Research Leveraging the ISS National Lab,” is open to a broad range of technology areas, including chemical and material synthesis in space, translational medicine, in-space edge computing, and in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing. It also encompasses the application of space station remote sensing data to improve geospatial analytics for commercial use. (1/29)

Trump White House Rescinds Order Freezing Federal Grants After Widespread Confusion (Source: FNN)
President Donald Trump's budget office on Wednesday rescinded an order freezing spending on federal grants, less than two days after it sparked widespread confusion and legal challenges across the country, according to two people familiar with the matter. The Monday evening order from the White House Office of Management and Budget sparked uncertainty over a crucial financial lifeline for states, schools and organizations that rely on trillions of dollars from Washington and left the White House scrambling to explain what would and wouldn't be subject to a pause in funding. (1/29)

Planet Announces $230 Million Contract From Asia-Pacific Customer (Source: Breaking Defense)
Planet announced its largest contract to date, a $230 million multiyear deal with an unnamed commercial customers in the Asia-Pacific region. Under the agreement announced Jan. 29, Planet will build, launch and operate Pelican high-resolution Earth-observation satellites, reserving a portion of the capacity for the Asia-Pacific customer that works closely with a government agency. With the satellites, Planet also will obtain imagery for other government and commercial customers. (1/29)

Can Miami Executive Airport Become a Spaceport? (Source: Miami Today)
Florida legislators will be asked to designate land at and near Miami Executive Airport in West Kendall as a spaceport territory, which could create economic benefits including tax incentives for aerospace-related businesses in the area. County commissioners voted 10-2 to seek the designation two days after President Donald Trump promised to send spacecraft and astronauts to Mars. The commission was assured that no space launches were contemplated in or near the airport.

If the legislature were to approve a spaceport designation in West Kendall, it would become the eighth in the state and second in the county. Homestead Air Force Base was designated a state spaceport last March. (1/29)

Moon is Not as 'Geologically Dead' as Previously Thought (Source: Phys.org)
Evidence from the lunar maria (dark, flat areas on the moon filled with solidified lava) suggested that the moon experienced significant compression in its distant past. Researchers suspected that large, arching ridges on the moon's near side were formed by contractions that occurred billions of years ago—concluding that the moon's maria has remained dormant ever since. However, a new study reveals that what lies beneath the lunar surface may be more dynamic than previously believed. It discovered that small ridges located on the moon's far side were notably younger than previously studied ridges on the near side. (1/28)

Mars' Hot Again, Cold Again History: Explaining Persistent Hydrogen in Mars' Atmosphere (Source: Phys.org)
The fact that the cold, dry Mars of today had flowing rivers and lakes several billion years ago has puzzled scientists for decades. Now, researchers think they have a good explanation for a warmer, wetter ancient Mars. Building on prior theories, a team determined the chemical mechanisms by which ancient Mars was able to sustain enough warmth in its early days to host water, and possibly life.

Hydrogen was previously theorized as the magic ingredient, mixed with carbon dioxide in the Martian atmosphere to trigger episodes of greenhouse warming. But the lifetime of atmospheric hydrogen is short, so a more detailed analysis was required. Now, Adams, Robin Wordsworth, the Gordon McKay Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering at SEAS, and team have performed photochemical modeling—similar to methods used today to track air pollutants—to fill in details of the early Martian atmosphere's relationship to hydrogen, and how that relationship changed over time. (1/28)

Asteroid Contains Building Blocks of Life, Say Scientists (Source: BBC)
The chemical building blocks of life have been found in the grainy dust of an asteroid called Bennu, an analysis reveals. Samples of the space rock, which were scooped up by a NASA spacecraft and brought to Earth, contain a rich array of minerals and thousands of organic compounds. These include amino acids, which are the molecules that make up proteins, as well as nucleobases - the fundamental components of DNA. This doesn't mean there was ever life on Bennu, but it supports the theory that asteroids delivered these vital ingredients to Earth when they crashed into our planet billions of years ago. (1/29)

January 29, 2025

New York to Paris in 30 Mins? How to Achieve Elon Musk’s Vision of Rockets Replacing Long Haul (Source: The Conversation)
Elon Musk’s plan to use Starship rockets for long-distance flights on Earth could move forward. Dubbed Starship Earth to Earth, this would see passengers transported by rocket between cities. They would briefly leave the planet’s atmosphere during the journey before flying back down to reach their destination. Musk claims it will be possible to travel to anywhere on Earth within an hour. His rocket company, SpaceX, has given examples such as New York to Paris in 30 minutes and London to Hong Kong in 34 minutes. In response to a post about it on his X platform, Musk responded: “This is now possible.” (1/27)  

Space Command: Top Priority for Colorado Representative Jeff Crank (Source: KOAA)
The politics of Space Command and whether it will stay in Colorado Springs continue. "Well, it certainly keeps us up at night. There's no doubt about it," said Colorado 5th District Representative, Jeff Crank. When he says "us” Crank is referring to all of Colorado's representatives and senators working in Washington D.C.

There are multiple members of the Alabama congressional delegation telling reporters President Trump will soon fulfill his promise to move Space Command to their state. Crank is actively working with the rest of Colorado’s delegation to keep space command in Colorado. (1/27)

Guardian Mentors Mapping to Prevent “Lost in Space” (Source: USSF)
Best known for operating the Global Positioning System — a gold standard system that delivers position, navigation and timing signals to users around the world, Mission Delta 31 is equally committed to navigating the growth and development of its people. Through the Guardian and Airmen Development Program developed by Space Operations Command, MD 31 is fostering a new generation of leaders and equipping them with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to meet current and future demands of the U.S. Space Force. (1/27)

Head of Alaska Aerospace Sees Kodiak Island Spaceport as Solution for National Congestion (Source: Alaska Public Media)
No rocket launches are scheduled as of yet for this year at the spaceport on Kodiak Island, but the head of the Alaska Aerospace Corporation is hoping to capitalize on what’s becoming a national shortage of launch space in the Lower 48. Alaska Aerospace’s president and CEO John Oberst went on NBC’s "Today" show earlier this month to discuss what is being described as a “traffic jam” at the country’s spaceports and how Alaska’s facilities could relieve that congestion.

“Now is the time because we offer availability. We can take a customer and get them up on time," Oberst said. "We are not congested.” At the Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska, near Narrow Cape on Kodiak Island, potential customers could launch satellites, support space missions or test government defense projects. (1/27)

DoD Not Affected by Spending Freeze (Source: Space News)
The Defense Department has not paused contracts despite a White House directive freezing other federal spending. The Pentagon said Tuesday it had not stopped contract awards after an OMB memo Monday ordering a "temporary pause" of grants, loans and other financial assistance. The memo, the Pentagon said, did not apply to military programs, although some Army offices did temporarily suspend contracting actions in response to the memo. The Pentagon will "temporarily pause activities related to the obligation or disbursement of financial assistance," though. (1/29)

ULA Plans More Military Launches in 2025 Than SpaceX (Source: Space News)
United Launch Alliance is slated to conduct more military launches this year than SpaceX. Brig. Gen. Kristin Panzenhagen, head of the Space Force's assured access to space office, said at the Space Mobility conference Tuesday that the service has 11 Vulcan launches scheduled for 2025 and seven on Falcon rockets. That schedule depends on the timing of certification of Vulcan, although the Space Force currently expects the first national security Vulcan launch to take place as soon as this spring. (1/29)

Space Force Developing In-Space Logistics Strategy (Source: Space News)
The Space Force is still developing its strategy for the use of in-space logistics. Following a $30 million congressional allocation in 2023 aimed at accelerating these efforts, the Space Force has yet to solidify its long-term strategy for in-space services to allow the maneuvering and servicing of satellites. The service has awarded contracts to commercial players including Astroscale, Starfish Space, Northrop Grumman and Orbit Fab for various prototype projects. Space Force Maj. Gen. Dennis Bythewood, a special assistant to the chief of space operations, said at the Space Mobility conference that the service has not decided on a funding level for those efforts in its 2026 budget request amid reports that at least one version of that proposal zeroed out funding for it. (1/29)

FAA Optimistic for Launch Licensing Shift (Source: Space News)
FAA officials believe they can meet a March 2026 deadline to shift existing launch licenses to new regulations. Those regulations, called Part 450, were intended to streamline the launch licensing process, but companies have complained they are difficult to work with. An FAA official said at the Space Mobility conference Tuesday that they are working with the companies that hold 20 older launch licenses that need to move to the new regulations, and have schedules in place that would allow that transition to be complete by the end of this year. The FAA is also working on ways to improve Part 450, including an aerospace rule-making committee that started work last month. (1/29)

India Launches NavSat (Source: Space News)
India's first launch of the year placed a navigation satellite into orbit Tuesday night. A GSLV Mark 2 rocket lifted off at 7:53 p.m. Eastern from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota. It placed into orbit NVS-02, the second of five new-generation spacecraft for the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC). NVS-02 will operate from GEO, replacing the IRNSS-1E satellite. The mission was the first of 10 orbital launches planned by India in 2025 and also the 100th launch from Sriharikota. (1/29)

Blue Origin Scrubs New Shepard Launch (Source: Space.com)
Blue Origin scrubbed a New Shepard suborbital flight Tuesday because of weather and technical issues. The company called off launch of the NS-29 mission from its West Texas test site after an extended hold initially caused by weather conditions. The company later said it was working on a technical issue with the vehicle as well. New Shepard is carrying 30 payloads, most of which will take advantage of lunar gravity levels during a portion of the flight when the capsule is spun. Blue Origin did not announce a new launch date for NS-29. (1/29)

Aerospace Corp. and Google Collaborate on Space Weather Forecasting (Source: Space News)
The Aerospace Corp. is collaborating with Google Public Sector to improve space weather forecasts. The organizations announced Tuesday they will work together to apply artificial intelligence and high-performance computing to solar-activity forecasts. Forecasters have struggled to predict solar flares and coronal mass ejections due in part to the complexity of solar activity and the volume of observations. Google will apply technologies like Vertex AI, a Google Cloud machine-learning platform, to the problem. (1/29)

Airbus and Leonardo Consider Satellite Alliance (Source: Reuters)
The CEOs of Airbus and Leonardo met Tuesday to discuss a possible satellite alliance. The CEO of Leonardo, Roberto Cingolani, said he met with his counterpart at Airbus, Guillaume Faury, to discuss how the two companies, along with Thales Alenia Space, could work together to combine their satellite businesses in some way. Such a combination, which has been rumored since last year, could allow those European companies to be more competitive against American firms. Cingolani didn't offer a timeline for reaching an agreement on an alliance, noting that such discussions take time. (1/29)

Starlink Direct-to-iPhone Coming Soon? (Source: Bloomberg)
Starlink direct-to-smartphone connectivity may soon be coming to iPhones. Apple has been working with SpaceX and T-Mobile to incorporate Starlink into the next update of the iPhone's operating system. T-Mobile, which is partnered with SpaceX on Starlink direct-to-device services in the United States, currently only offers the service on some Samsung phones. Adding Starlink to iPhones would compete with Apple's existing partnership with Globalstar to provide satellite connectivity through that company's satellites. (1/29)

NASA DOGE Countdown (Source: SatNews)
Has America’s space ambition finally hit rock bottom? Or should we say, hit DOGE bottom? Because from 21st January, America’s cosmic dreams will be officially leashed to a new master. The newly christened Department of Government Economies (DOGE) – because, apparently, we needed another acronym in DC – will operate from Elon Musk‘s personal office. You know, the same place where tweets turn into government policy and memes into monetary strategy.

Meanwhile, NASA’s leadership transition reads like a billionaire’s bucket list achievement. Out goes the old guard (apparently not crypto savvy enough). In comes Jared Isaacman, whose main qualification appears to be having done a spacewalk while his accountant calculated the tax deductions. (1/23)

Trump to the Rescue: Musk 'Announces' Plan to Return Stranded ISS Astronauts, Blames Biden (Source: CNN)
In a post on the social media platform X, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk claimed Tuesday that the Biden Administration left two astronauts “stranded” and said President Donald Trump has asked SpaceX to step in to rescue them. But NASA already put such a plan in place months ago when it asked SpaceX to return astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station as part of its Crew-9 mission. A delay in that plan was then announced in December because mission teams said they needed more time to prepare a new SpaceX vehicle. (1/28)

ESA Enlists Thales Alenia Space for Mission to Venus (Source: Space News)
The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded Thales Alenia Space a contract worth a total €367 million ($383 million) to lead the development of EnVision, a satellite slated to launch in November 2031 on a 15-month journey to study Venus. EnVision would carry five scientific instruments and a radio science experiment — on behalf of space agencies from Italy, France, Germany, Belgium and the United States — to provide a comprehensive view of Venus from its inner core to upper atmosphere. (1/28)

NASA Space Tech’s Favorite Place to Travel in 2025: The Moon! (Source: NASA)
NASA Space Technology has big travel plans for 2025, starting with a trip to the near side of the Moon! Among ten groundbreaking NASA science and technology demonstrations, two technologies are on a ride to survey lunar regolith – also known as “Moon dust” – to better understand surface interactions with incoming lander spacecraft and payloads conducting experiments on the surface. These dust demonstrations and the data they’re designed to collect will help support future lunar missions. (1/24)

New Asteroid Tops NASA’s Impact Risk Chart, 1.2% Chance of 2032 Collision (Source: Gizmodo)
2024 YR4 is a newly spotted asteroid with the potential to hit Earth—and its chances of smashing into our planet in 2032 is definitely more than zero. There is a 1.2% chance the asteroid hits Earth based on very preliminary calculations. Which means—obviously—a 98.8% chance the rocky object misses us! But those odds are still upsettingly high, so let’s bear down on what we know about the recently discovered asteroid. The Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) first spotted 2024 YR4 on December 27, 2024. (1/28)

Boom Supersonic XB-1 Jet Breaks Sound Barrier on Historic Test Flight (Source: Space.com)
Boom Supersonic made history today (Jan. 28) when its XB-1 jet broke the sound barrier for the first time. Boom Supersonic's chief test pilot Tristan "Geppetto" Brandenburg took off in the company's XB-1 jet from the storied Mojave Air & Space Port in California this morning under mostly clear skies. Some 11.5 minutes into the flight — the 12th overall for the XB-1 — at an altitude of around 35,000 feet (10,668 meters), the test plane exceeded Mach 1, the speed of sound. (1/28)

Everyone Who Has Ever Been to Space, Charted (Source: Scientific American)
The number of space visitors peaked in the 1990s, when NASA flew an average of six space shuttle missions a year, each usually carrying five to seven astronauts. For many years NASA and Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, were the only spacefaring entities in the world. The Chinese National Space Administration launched its first astronaut in 2003. After NASA’s space shuttles retired in 2011, NASA bought transportation for its astronauts on Russian and then private American spacecraft. Click here. (1/21)

French Space Tech Loft Orbital Hits Billion-Dollar Valuation with €170m Raise (Source: Sifted)
Loft Orbital, a French-American space tech company, has raised €170m in equity as part of a Series C round, to build infrastructure ready-to-use in orbit that it says will allow customers to easily deploy space-based missions. The new injection of capital values Loft at more than $1bn, meaning it has reached unicorn status, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the deal. Loft declined to confirm the latest company valuation.

It is one of Europe’s only private space tech companies with a billion-dollar valuation. In 2022 UK satellite operator OneWeb was valued at $3.4bn when it merged with rival European company Eutelsat. Loft provides “space infrastructure”, meaning that it owns and operates satellites that it offers to customers that wish to launch missions into space. The startup compares its model to cloud computing infrastructure back on Earth, but for space. (1/14)

Astroscale Japan Selected to Develop In-Space Refueling Technologies (Source: Astroscale)
Astroscale Japan has been selected to develop in-space refueling technologies under the “Key and Advanced Technology R&D through Cross Community Collaboration Program” (K Program), led by Japan’s Cabinet Office and promoted by the Japan Science and Technology Agency. The project will span five years with a total budget of up to JPY 12 billion.

The K Program was established to support the research and development of key technologies critical for maintaining Japan’s global competitiveness. Astroscale Japan was selected under the “Refueling Technology Contributing to Satellite Life Extension” initiative and will develop and demonstrate in-space refueling technologies for prepared satellites. (1/22)

Dwarf Planet Ceres May Have Received Organic Material From Space Objects (Source: Phys.org)
The organic material found in a few areas on the surface of dwarf planet Ceres is probably of exogenic origin. Impacting asteroids from the outer asteroid belt may have brought it with them. Researchers presented the most comprehensive analysis to date of this mysterious material and its geological context. To this end, the team has, for the first time, used artificial intelligence to analyze observational data from NASA's Dawn spacecraft.

According to the study, the dwarf planet's unique cryovolcanism, in which salty brine rises from the body's interior to the surface, is not responsible for the organic deposits discovered so far. The authors of the current study have now used artificial intelligence to comb the entire surface of the dwarf planet for traces of aliphatic organic molecules. "At none of the deposits do we find evidence of current or past volcanic or tectonic activity: no trenches, canyons, volcanic domes or vents. Furthermore, there are no deep impact craters nearby." (1/27)

Super-Earth Discovery Reveals an Exoplanet Potentially Capable of Sustaining Life (Source: Phys.org)
Thirty years after the discovery of the first exoplanet, astronomers have detected more than 7,000 of them in our galaxy. But there are still billions more to be discovered. At the same time, exoplanetologists have begun to take an interest in their characteristics, with the aim of finding life elsewhere in the universe. This is the background to the discovery of super-Earth HD 20794 d by an international team including the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the NCCR PlanetS.

The new planet lies in an eccentric orbit, so that it oscillates in and out of its star's habitable zone. This discovery is the fruit of 20 years of observations using the best telescopes in the world. The results are published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. (1/28)

Intuitive Machines Delivers Second Lunar Mission Lander to Cape Canaveral (Source: Intuitive Machines)
Intuitive Machines has delivered its IM-2 mission lunar lander, named Athena, to Cape Canaveral, Florida following a historic southeast Texas snowfall. In coordination with SpaceX, the liftoff of the IM-2 lunar mission is targeted for a four-day launch window that opens no earlier than February 26. In case of unfavorable launch conditions, such as inclement weather, backup opportunities will be determined based on the lunar blackout window and other factors. (1/28)

How the Roots of the ‘PayPal Mafia’ Extend to Apartheid South Africa (Source: Guardian)
When Elon Musk’s arm shot out in a stiff arm salute at Donald Trump’s inaugural celebrations, startled viewers mostly drew the obvious comparison. But in the fired-up debate about Musk’s intent that followed, as the world’s richest man insisted he wasn’t trying to be a Nazi, speculation inevitably focused on whether his roots in apartheid-era South Africa offered an insight. Musk is part of the “PayPal mafia” of libertarian billionaires with roots in South Africa under white rule now hugely influential in the US tech industry and politics.

They include Peter Thiel, the German-born billionaire venture capitalist and PayPal cofounder, who was educated in a southern African city in the 1970s where Hitler was still openly venerated. Thiel, a major donor to Trump’s campaign, has been critical of welfare programs and women being permitted to vote as undermining capitalism. A 2021 biography of Thiel, called The Contrarian, alleged that as a student at Stanford he defended apartheid as “economically sound”. David Sacks, formerly PayPal’s chief operating officer and now a leading fundraiser for Trump, was born in Cape Town and grew up within the South African diaspora after his family moved to the US when he was young.

Among them, Musk stands out for his ownership of X (increasingly a platform for far-right views) and his proximity to Trump, who has nominated Musk to head a “department of government efficiency” to slash and burn its way through the federal bureaucracy. Some draw a straight line between Musk’s formative years atop a complex system of racial hierarchy as a white male. The week before the inauguration, Steve Bannon, Trump’s former adviser, described white South Africans as the “most racist people on earth”, questioned their involvement in US politics and said Musk was a malign influence who should go back to the country of his birth. (1/26)

Musk Decries Multiculturalism in Support for German Far-Right (Sources: Guardian, Newsweek)
After facing widespread accusations of making a Nazi gesture twice during a speech to a crowd of Trump supporters, a German aerospace museum removed a space exhibit that prominently featured Elon Musk. Days later, Musk appeared at a rally for a far-right German political party, saying:
“It’s good to be proud of German culture, German values, and not to lose that in some sort of multiculturalism that dilutes everything.” The AfD party leader Alice Weidel, said Republicans were making America great again, and called on her supporters to make Germany great again. (1/25)

A Cosmic 'CT scan' Shows the Universe is Far More Complex Than Expected (Source: Space.com)
A powerful combination of data from two very different astronomical surveys has allowed researchers to build a "cosmic CT scan" of the universe's evolution. These snapshots reveal that, as forces like gravity have reshaped the universe, the universe has in turn become less clumpy. In other words, the universe grew more complicated than expected. The team behind these findings used the sixth and final data release from the Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) in combination with Year 1 data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) to reach these conclusions. (1/28)

January 28, 2025

BlackSky Prepares for Milestone February Launch with New Gen-3 Satellite (Source: Space Daily)
BlackSky Technology has shipped its first Gen-3 satellite to Rocket Lab for an anticipated February launch. The satellite is scheduled to lift off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand. This next-generation addition to BlackSky's constellation is designed to deliver advanced capabilities, including high-resolution 35-centimeter imagery and AI-enhanced analytics at unprecedented speed and scale. (1/24)

Space Force Zeroed Out Funding for In-Space Mobility in FY26 Budget Request (Source: Breaking Defense)
The Space Force this year decided against including any new money in its initial fiscal 2026 budget request for in-space servicing mobility and logistics, according to two former senior government officials who had been involved in the process, despite strong support for such an investment from lawmakers and officials then serving in the Biden administration. Both the National Space Council and the Office of Management and Budget had been pushing the service to reinstate some funds for those efforts as the Biden administration wound down, according to those sources, but the Space Force declined to do so. (1/27)

Eutelsat and NIGCOMSAT Forge Partnership to Expand Satellite Services in Nigeria (Source: Space Daily)
Eutelsat and Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) have announced a major multi-year, multi-million-dollar partnership aimed at introducing low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite services in Nigeria. This pivotal agreement designates NIGCOMSAT as the primary satellite service provider in Nigeria, leveraging the OneWeb LEO satellite network to deliver high-speed, low-latency connectivity. The collaboration will support diverse sectors, including government operations, enterprises, and underserved rural communities, facilitating critical applications such as remote communications, mobile connectivity, and offshore activities. (1/24)

NASA's Artemis II Rocket Booster Stacking Process Reaches New Milestone (Source: Space Daily)
Assembly of the Artemis II moon rocket has reached its latest milestone with the stacking of the twin boosters' right forward center segment, NASA announced. The most recent addition is the sixth of the 10 motor segments in the Artemis II Space Launch System rocket to be integrated onto mobile launcher 1 inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, according to an update from the space agency's Exploration Ground Systems Program.

Next to be installed will be the left center segment, which is adorned with the NASA "worm" insignia, they said. Both assemblies were transported to the VAB from the spaceport's Booster Fabrication Facility on Jan. 14. The forward assemblies will be the last segments needed to complete the booster configuration, with assembly of the core stage to follow. The 177-foot-tall twin solid rocket boosters provide more than 75% of the total SLS thrust during liftoff, the agency says. (1/24)

UK Government Invests in Orbex (Source: Gov.UK)
The UK Government has invested £20 million and become a shareholder in spaceflight company Orbex. UK's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) announced the investment, which comes as the UK government vows to develop Britain’s mission to regularly launch into orbit from its shores using UK-manufactured rockets. Initial launch operations will take place from SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland. (1/29)

With Successful New Glenn Flight, Blue Origin May Finally be Turning the Corner (Source: Ars Technica)
If one were to observe that I have written critically about Blue Origin over the last half-decade, they would not be wrong. The reality is that the space company founded by Jeff Bezos has underperformed. Its chief executive for most of this time, Bob Smith, was poorly regarded by his employees. He brought the worst of "old space" tendencies to Blue Origin from Honeywell. And under Smith's leadership, Blue was litigious, slow, and unproductive.

Frankly, it was a bad look for Bezos. He was pumping something on the order of $2 billion a year into Blue Origin for what, exactly? Lawsuits against NASA? Jokes about BE-4 rocket engine delays? Finally, about 18 months ago, Bezos moved on from Bob Smith. He installed a long-time lieutenant from Amazon, Dave Limp, to get Blue Origin moving forward. Although there were concerns about Limp's background, which included little aerospace experience, it now seems clear that he has taken a strong hand at Blue since he took over the reins in December 2023.

In the time I have spent with him, Limp seems energetic, enthused, and committed to turning the ship around at Blue Origin. He has made it clear that the mandate he received from Bezos is to execute on the company's programs—and to do so with urgency. This competition will play out over the coming years as Blue Origin seeks to ramp up its launch cadence. Blue Origin has not disclosed its internal costs to produce New Glenn, but with seven main engines on the booster stage, it's likely not cheap. From talking to Bezos and Limp, it's clear they want to drive down those costs. Click here. (1/27)

Sidus Space Receives FCC Approval for Direct-to-Device Transmit and Receive Capability for LizzieSat (Source: Sidus Space)
Sidus Space announced the FCC's approval of integration of a direct-to-device module for the Sidus Space LizzieSat constellation. Obtaining this FCC license marks a significant milestone in the company’s mission to enhance global connectivity and space data transfer and expands the operational capabilities of its LizzieSat fleet. By incorporating this advanced technology, Sidus Space is set to provide rapid-delivery data services across remote locations. (1/28)

US Space Force Breaks Ground on Space Campus at Al Udeid Air Base (Source: Space Daily)
In a pivotal development for the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Forces - Central officially commenced construction on the Space Campus at Al Udeid Air Base on January 14. The groundbreaking ceremony, which involved key personnel and stakeholders, marked the start of a transformative phase in space capabilities for the region.

The Space Campus is a key project aimed at strengthening the base's space operations and supporting its growing role in space activities. The new facility will provide an advanced workspace for personnel to collaborate and push the mission forward, addressing the increasing demands of space-related functions. (1/26)

Estonia to Host Europe's Premier Space Cybersecurity Hub (Source: Space Daily)
The European Space Agency (ESA) has partnered with the Estonian Space Office to establish a state-of-the-art space cyber range designed to bolster the security and accessibility of Europe's space technologies. Following an industry-wide call for proposals last year, a contract has been awarded to a consortium led by Spaceit to spearhead the development of this cutting-edge facility.

The space cyber range will provide a controlled and cost-efficient platform for space companies to test, validate, and enhance secure satellite technologies. It will also facilitate cyber training and exercises. This environment, akin to a highly advanced simulator, allows companies to create digital replicas of their satellites and systems. These replicas enable the identification of vulnerabilities and the simulation of responses to cyber threats before deploying hardware into orbit. (1/27)

Researchers Create AI Tool for Realistic Satellite Images of Climate Impacts (Source: Space Daily)
Researchers from the University of Granada (UGR) have unveiled a major advancement in using artificial intelligence to generate realistic satellite images depicting the impacts of climate change. This innovation holds promise for better communicating the consequences of environmental shifts, such as flooding and reforestation, to policymakers and the public.

The project, spearheaded by Natalia Diaz of the Andalusian Inter-University Institute for Data Science and Computational Intelligence (DaSCI), involved collaboration with experts from institutions in the United States, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom, including MIT. The team demonstrated how deep generative vision models could synthesize satellite images that depict future climate-related events with striking realism. (1/22)

General Atomics Tests Advanced Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Fuel at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (Source: Space Daily)
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) announced a major step forward in nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP) technology with successful testing of its reactor fuel at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). This progress supports the development of rapid and flexible cislunar transportation and deep space missions, including human exploration of Mars. The collaborative effort with NASA aims to validate GA-EMS's unique nuclear fuel design under conditions expected in space. (1/21)

Top Beijing Official Urges Musk to Deepen Ties with China (Source: Space Daily)
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with tech tycoon Elon Musk and urged US firms to "seize the opportunity" to deepen economic ties with China, Beijing's state media said Monday. Han -- who is set to attend the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump later on Monday -- met with Musk and other American business representatives on Sunday, Xinhua said.

The world's richest person, Tesla and SpaceX CEO and majority owner of X has become one of Trump's closest allies, sharing his hard-right politics and putting millions of dollars into supporting his presidential campaign. Musk also enjoys a cult following in China, a major market for Tesla, where the company has one of its so-called gigafactories and is trying to compete with fast-growing home-grown manufacturers. (1/20)

Trump Orders Development of American 'Iron Dome' for Missile Defense (Source: Space News)
President Trump has ordered the development of a missile defense system for the United States that would include space-based interceptors. Trump signed an executive order Monday for the development of "Iron Dome for America," which invokes Israel's successful rocket defense system. It directs the Pentagon to accelerate development of defenses against hypersonic weapons and other advanced aerial threats. Unlike traditional ground- or sea-based missile defense systems, the envisioned architecture leans on space-based solutions, which have long been controversial. The Pentagon must submit within 60 days a proposed architecture for the system, including efforts to accelerate ongoing missile-tracking satellite programs. (1/28)

Raytheon Teams with Array Labs and Umbra to Develop Earth Observing Tech (Source: Space News)
Defense contractor Raytheon is partnering with satellite imaging startups Array Labs and Umbra Space to develop 3-D Earth observation technologies. The companies announced Monday that they will jointly offer a new product called Site3D, combining synthetic aperture radar (SAR) technology with specialized mapping algorithms to create detailed 3-D models of the Earth's surface. Umbra currently operates a fleet of SAR satellites while Array Labs is working on clusters of small radar satellites designed to work in formation to capture multiple angles of the same location simultaneously. The partnership leverages Raytheon's experience in imagery processing. (1/28)

Chinese Launch Startup Raises Millions for Reusable Launcher (Source: Space News)
A Chinese launch startup has raised a seed round of funding to develop a reusable launcher. Nayuta Space secured "tens of millions of yuan," or several million dollars, in pre-A round funding last week. Nayuta Space is developing a series of stainless steel rockets named Black Bird, referring to a creature from Chinese mythology rather than the common blackbird. The company aims, eventually, to achieve reusability of both stages, including a Starship chopstick-style catch of the first stage, called an "eagle grab." (1/28)

Firefly Plans Alpha Launches From Virginia and Sweden in 2026 (Source: Space News)
Firefly Aerospace says it remains on track to launch its Alpha rocket from Virginia and Sweden as soon as next year. At a spaceport conference Monday, a Firefly executive said the company expected to conduct the first Alpha launch from Wallops Island, Virginia, in early 2026, with the first launch from Esrange Space Center in Sweden in late 2026 or early 2027. The company, which has launched Alpha to date only from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, says it is diversifying its launch sites to avoid traffic jams at Vandenberg and in Florida. The company is planning five Alpha launches in 2025, all from Vandenberg. (1/28)

GITAI Develops 16U Cubesat (Source: Space News)
Space technology company GITAI has developed its first satellite. The company, best known for work on space robotics, launched a 16U cubesat on a SpaceX rideshare mission in December. That 20-kilogram spacecraft completed all its goals, including capturing and transmitting image and video data. GITAI has plans for spacecraft as large as 500 kilograms that would be equipped with robotic arms for a rendezvous and docking demonstration. The company wants to differentiate itself from other satellite manufacturers through greater vertical integration. (1/28)

Commercial Weather Startups Forecast Increased Funding Under Trump (Source: Space News)
Companies see new opportunities for commercial weather data in the Trump administration. Operators for satellites providing weather data to NOAA expect the second Trump administration to reshape the market for their data and push tens of millions of dollars in new money toward their businesses. NOAA's spending on commercial weather data has grown from $5 million in 2017 to $27.5 million in 2024, but companies and other advocates for commercial weather data note it is only about 1.5% of the budget of NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service, which focuses on traditional weather satellites. (1/28)

SpaceX Launches Starlink Satellites at Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: SpaceFlight Now)
SpaceX launched a set of Starlink satellites Monday. A Falcon 9 lifted off from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport and placed 23 Starlink satellites into orbit. The launch was the 12th this month by SpaceX, with two more launches on the manifest through the end of the month. (1/28)

Sen Unveils 4K Livestream of Earth and Space Station Docking Port (Source: Space News)
UK-based Sen has started a high-definition livestream of the Earth as seen from the International Space Station. The London-based company formally started a 4K livestream from the ISS Monday after several months of tests, using a camera mounted on the Bartolomeo platform outside the Columbus module. Sen plans to make money through advertising, sponsorships and subscriptions. (1/28)

SpaceX Fights Affirmative Action Policy in South Africa (Source: TechCentral)
SpaceX is seeking changes to South African policies before offering Starlink services there. The company informed South African regulators that it opposed rules that require "historically disadvantaged" groups to hold a 30% stake in the local venture managing the service. The company said such policies run afoul of "global policies" against local shareholding. SpaceX is scheduled to participate in hearings next month about its license application to operate in the country. (1/28)

Israeli Female Astronaut to Fly to Space with NASA (Source: JNS)
An Israeli government minister says that NASA has agreed to fly the country's first female astronaut. Speaking at the Ilan Ramon International Space Conference on Monday, Gila Gamliel, Israel's science and technology minister, said that she "received a confirmation from NASA to send the first Israeli woman astronaut into space" and that the government was starting the process to select that astronaut. She did not disclose when and how that astronaut would fly, and NASA has not commented on the report. (1/28)

A Tumultuous Start to a New Administration at NASA (Source: Space Review)
Many people expected the Trump Administration to shake up NASA. Jeff Foust reports that while the space agency saw changes in the first week of the new administration, those had little to do with space policy. Click here. (1/27)
 
The Satellite Eavesdropping Stations of Russia’s Intelligence Services (Source: Space Review)
In the second part of his examination of Russian eavesdropping stations, Bart Hendrickx reviews antennas at those sites and potential satellite targets of those stations. Click here. (1/27)
 
Titan’s Spinners: the FARRAH Satellites (Source: Space Review)
Through the Cold War, the US launched a series of signals intelligence satellites, initially as hitchhikers on other launches.  Dwayne Day links the later history of that program with an unusual object found at a California airport. Click here. (1/27)
 
Phasing Out the SLS and Orion Programs and Embracing Starship (Source: Space Review)
The new Trump Administration is reportedly considering major changes to NASA’s Artemis lunar exploration effort. Gerald Black argues one such change is to replace the Space Launch System and Orion with a version of Starship. Click here. (1/27)

Zenno Expands Superconducting Space Technologies in Japan (Source: Space Daily)
New Zealand-based Zenno Astronautics (Zenno) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ANA Trading to introduce Zenno's superconducting space technologies to the Japanese market. ANA Trading, a division of Japan's premier airline conglomerate ANA Group, is leveraging its aerospace expertise under the group's strategic initiative, "Next Stop, Space," to explore space-focused opportunities. As part of this collaboration, ANA Trading will facilitate the adoption of Zenno's Z01 superconducting magnetic torquers, which are designed for precise satellite positioning, across Japan's growing space sector. (1/24)

Satellite Technology Paves Way for Space Traffic Management (Source: Space Daily)
The European Space Agency's Guidance, Navigation and Control (GNC) Test Facilities at the ESTEC technical centre in the Netherlands have been pivotal in supporting Lithuanian company Blackswan Space in testing their autonomous satellite navigation technology. The collaboration focused on the use of the GRALS (Guidance, Navigation, and Control Rendezvous, Approach, and Landing Simulator), which is designed to simulate real-world space conditions.

Blackswan's Vision-Based Navigation (VBN) system, powered by AI, enables satellites to autonomously identify, approach, or avoid objects in space. This system functions similarly to self-driving cars on Earth, significantly enhancing space traffic management and satellite servicing capabilities. (1/26)

January 27, 2025

Space Robotics Leader Says Humans Will Soon Join Robots On Moon, Mars (Source: Forbes)
One of the globe’s top designers of space robots says a new “Golden Age of Space Exploration” - spearheaded by the world’s twin Titans of spaceflight - will speed up astronauts joining robotic scouts in trekking around the Moon and Mars. Gigantic new rockets now being tested by spacecraft makers Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos - the planet’s leading hyper-billionaires - are setting the stage for human explorers to sojourn across an expanding realm of off-world outposts, says Kris Zacny, Director of the Exploration Technology Group at Honeybee Robotics. (1/26)

NASA’s CLPS Program Accelerates as Two Landers Head for the Moon (Source: NSF)
As NASA focuses on returning humans to the Moon with Artemis, commercial providers are gearing up to deliver cargo to the lunar surface for NASA and other customers. Over a dozen uncrewed lunar missions are scheduled to be launched in the coming years, and more concepts are being developed globally. Two commercial lunar landers are currently on their way to the Moon, and at least two more are set to follow this year under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. Meanwhile, space agencies and companies worldwide are preparing for the next steps in their lunar exploration programs. (1/26)

Defense Acquisition Overhaul Expected (Source: Space News)
The defense industry is bracing for an acquisition overhaul in the Trump administration. A new guard of tech billionaires and venture capitalists expects to work with an administration stacked with like-minded reformers such as commercial space advocates and Silicon Valley veterans, all of whom want to take on legacy defense contractors. That could mean a shift from traditional cost-plus contracts to fixed-price ones. The role Elon Musk in particular plays in the administration presents both opportunities and challenges to the industry, given SpaceX's demonstration of the abilities of the commercial sector but also that company's market dominance.

A key political figure in those debates will be Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE), who will lead a Senate subcommittee. The Senate Armed Services Committee announced Friday that Fischer will chair the strategic forces subcommittee, whose jurisdiction includes military space programs. Fischer has advocated for increased funding for next-generation missile defense systems and space-based surveillance technologies to counter emerging threats. Sen. Angus King (I-ME), who chaired the subcommittee in the previous Congress, will serve as ranking member. (1/27)

ESA Seeks Modest Increase to Science Budget (Source: Space News)
ESA is seeking a "very modest" increase to its science budget at the next ministerial conference. At an online town hall meeting last week, Carole Mundell, director of science at ESA, said that while science programs received a 13% increase at the previous ministerial in 2022, that increase was wiped out by inflation and impacts from the war in Ukraine. The agency has found some efficiencies among its science missions, but she said an increase is needed at the ministerial in November to support new proposed missions, like one to land on Saturn's icy moon Enceladus. ESA's science programs are funded by mandatory contributions from its 23 member states, and all must agree on any increase. (1/27)

China's Lunar Program Open to Commercial Participation (Source: Space News)
China is opening up its lunar exploration program to commercial participation. STAR.VISION Aerospace Group Limited is working with Chinese and Turkish universities on small robots that will fly on the Chang'e-8 mission launching in 2028. STAR.VISION is the first Chinese private enterprise approved by the China National Space Administration to participate in the lunar exploration program, and its participation in this mission could signal broader roles for companies in the program, one that could include allowing commercial entities to attempt their own lunar missions. (1/27)

Astronomers Seek Bans on Space Advertising (Source: Space News)
Astronomers want a ban on space advertising, fearing the potential for interference with their observations. The American Astronomical Society announced this month a statement calling on nations to adopt bans on "obtrusive space advertising" that can be seen by the naked eye from the ground. Such advertising has been banned in federal law in the United States for decades, but astronomers said they are concerned other nations may pursue it, noting a space advertising technology demonstration mission by a Russian company last year. The society called on U.S. officials to advocate for a ban in international fora such as the U.N. Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). (1/27)

NASA-DARPA DRACO Project On Hold (Source: Aviation Week)
A joint NASA-DARPA project to demonstrate nuclear thermal propulsion technologies is on hold. The Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) planned to test nuclear thermal propulsion in Earth orbit as soon as 2027, but project officials say that launch will be delayed indefinitely because of problems finding ways to safely test the system on the ground. Nuclear thermal propulsion uses a nuclear reactor to heat a propellant like hydrogen to create thrust and is more efficient than chemical propulsion. Testing the system on the ground is a challenge, project officials said, since there are no active facilities that could capture the exhaust and prevent the release of any radioactivity. Project officials said they still hope to fly the mission as they look for ways to conduct ground tests safely. (1/27)

Japan Eyes Space Telescope Cooperation with USA (Source: Kyodo)
Japan is interested in cooperating with NASA on a future large space telescope. The Japanese government has created a team to look at ways the space agency JAXA could contribute to the Habitable Worlds Observatory, a mission projected to launch in the 2040s to observe the universe at optical and ultraviolet wavelengths. While JAXA did not participate on past space telescopes, like JWST, it hopes to leverage technologies from ground-based telescopes to find ways to contribute to this mission. (1/27)

Trump Says We're Going to Mars. It's Not Well Thought-Out (Source: MSNBC)
President Donald Trump says we’re going to Mars, but don’t start packing your bags just yet. There are a lot of reasons to doubt that his plans will get us to the Red Planet, and he may even put us further behind schedule. Almost everything that Trump has said and done indicates that a trip to Mars is about as likely to happen as Trump's broken first-term promise to repeal Obamacare.

It’s an ambitious goal and one of the few he’s laid out for his second term that has broad support. In a 2023 poll, 57% of Americans favored sending astronauts to Mars, making it much more popular than Trump’s pardons for Jan. 6 participants, attempt to overturn birthright citizenship and proposal for broad-based tariffs on foreign goods, all of which majorities oppose. (1/26)

Women Should Avoid Pregnancy in Space, For Now (Source: Forbes)
Many female astronauts have gone on to have successful pregnancies after one or more successful space missions, despite the reproductive challenges of space travel. Thus, women's reproductive systems appear to be somewhat resilient to the challenges of space travel. Nevertheless, NASA offers pre-flight egg and embryo freezing for female astronauts, recognizing the career sacrifices involved in space exploration.

Many astronauts delay childbearing, with the average age of first spaceflight being 36 and the average age of first child being 38. This makes IVF a reasonable choice for astronauts. Despite concerns about radiation and microgravity, Dr. Steller reports that from what has been observed so far, the uterus and menstruation seem to function relatively normally in space.

Although it is likely to increase the risk of miscarriage and other complications, scientists have yet to find evidence that radiation or microgravity completely prevent pregnancy. Given how the uterus functions during labor, Dr. Steller also hypothesizes that it may eventually be possible to deliver a baby in space. His biggest fears are not just the risks of spaceflight on pregnancy and childbirth, but also the complications that could arise afterwards, such as how a newborn baby can develop the neck strength in weightlessness to hold its head upright when gravity returns. We still know too little about the consequences of pregnancy in space to allow it, so the focus at the moment is on preventing pregnancy in space. (1/27)

Intuitive Machines Awarded $2.5 Million NASA Contract to Develop Moon-to-Mars Tech (Source: Houston Chronicle)
NASA awarded Houston-based Intuitive Machines a $2.5 million contract, which the company said it would use to help develop a "heavy-cargo-class" lunar lander, according to a recent news release. The lander, which the company said is still in development, is being designed as part of a greater plan to help NASA explore the solar system. Dubbed the Moon-to-Mars Architecture, the plan's goal is to establish a framework for sustainable, human-led exploration of deep space, according to their website. NASA's four-step strategy is to first return to the moon, explore it, develop a sustainable human presence and finally set the first pair of boots down on the surface of Mars. (1/26)

Aligning Ambition with Action: Driving Investments in Critical Technologies (Source: Space Florida)
While allocating capital is an important step, the measure of success always lies in execution. Federal capital programs can achieve their potential if they align with the practical realities faced by companies, equity investors, and debt investors. If the mechanisms are overly cumbersome, their transformative potential could be stunted. This is a critical consideration as the federal government moves to align with investor and market norms.

At Space Florida, we understand and have lived these challenges firsthand. Over the years, we’ve worked to develop programs that fuel innovation and economic growth in the aerospace sector. Our experience has taught us that designing impactful programs requires constant refinement, responsiveness to market needs, and a commitment to breaking down barriers that hinder participation. In other words, we had to stop thinking like government and start operating like the companies and financial institutions with which we work. Click here. (1/27)

January 26, 2025

Texas Grant to Fund New Spaceport Study (Source: Fox West Texas)
The Concho Valley Council of Governments (CVCOG) is among the four grant recipients for proposed projects from the Texas Space Commission (TSC). In an open meeting Friday, the TSC's board of directors voted to approve the grants that total $21.5 million - the CVCOG's share is $500,000.

Funds will be spent to manage a feasibility study of site assessments for the region - which covers Coke, Concho, Crockett, Irion, Kimble, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Reagan, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton and Tom Green counties - for "Concho Valley Operation: Mission to Space". The objective of the feasibility study is to identify a location within the 13-county region of the Concho Valley for the construction of one or more launch sites. (1/24)

$21.5 Million Approved by Texas Space Commission for SEARF Grant Awards (Source: Texas Space Commission)
The Texas Space Commission has approved $21.5 million for four projects, including $19.7 million for the El Paso-based Borderplex Alliance; $800K for El Paso County; $500K for the South Plains Association of Governments; and $500K for the Concho Valley Council of Governments. One of the projects is to study the potential for a new spaceport in the Concho Valley. Details on the others will follow in my next newsletter. (1/24)

Electric Spacecraft Propulsion May Soon Take a Leap, Thanks to New Supercomputer (Source: Space.com)
Researchers performed supercomputer simulations of an ion engine's exhaust, modeling the thermodynamic behavior of the electrons and how they affect the overall characteristics of the plume. "These particles may be small, but their movement and energy play an important role in determining the macroscopic dynamics of the plume emitted from the electric propulsion thruster," said Chen Cui. What Cui and Wang found was that the electrons in the plume behave differently depending upon their temperature and their velocity.

Now that scientists better understand the behavior of the electrons in the ion plume, they can incorporate this into designs for future electric propulsion engines, looking for ways to limit the back-scatter, or perhaps confine the electrons more to the core of the beam. Ultimately, this could help missions powered by electric propulsion to fly farther and for longer, pushed by the gentle blue breeze of its ion plume. (1/25)

Globalstar: Undervalued And Diversifying Into High Margin High-Growth Opportunities (Source: Seeking Alpha)
Globalstar's partnership with Apple cements Globalstar as a leader in the sector. Band n53 is potentially worth $6-$13.8 billion, highlighting Globalstar's significant undervaluation compared to its current market cap. The IoT segment offers high-margin growth opportunities with minimal additional CapEx, supported by increasing demand for remote asset monitoring. XCOM RAN technology, using Band n53 for private 5G networks, can provide incredible growth with Globalstar planning to capture 35% of a $15 billion TAM by 2030. (1/24)

Survey Finds More Hidden Supermassive Black Holes Than Expected (Source: Phys.org)
Multiple NASA telescopes recently helped scientists search the sky for supermassive black holes—those up to billions of times heavier than the sun. The new survey is unique because it was as likely to find massive black holes that are hidden behind thick clouds of gas and dust as those that are not. Astronomers think that every large galaxy in the universe has a supermassive black hole at its center. But testing this hypothesis is difficult because researchers can't hope to count the billions or even trillions of supermassive black holes thought to exist in the universe. (1/13)

Satellites Detect Hidden Magnetic Signals in Earth's Oceans (Source: Earth.com)
Data from the European Space Agency’s Swarm mission has revealed a fascinating discovery. Researchers have found that faint magnetic signals created by ocean tides can help map magma distribution beneath the seabed. These signals could also provide insights into long-term changes in global ocean temperatures and salinity. Swarm’s ability to detect these subtle magnetic variations is a significant step forward in geophysical research. By studying these weak signals, scientists can better understand the complex interactions between Earth’s magnetic field, ocean currents, and even volcanic activity beneath the sea. (1/23)

3 No-Brainer Space Stocks to Buy Right Now for Less Than $500 (Source: Motley Fool)
If you have a high-risk tolerance and a long-term outlook, here are three exciting space stocks to buy and hold for the next decade and beyond. Rocket Lab has established itself as a go-to partner for businesses launching small satellites into orbit. Its flagship rocket, the Electron, has helped the company position itself as the second-most frequently used orbital rocket in the U.S.

Intuitive Machines (LUNR 4.06%) had an impressive 2024. In February of last year, the company launched its inaugural lunar mission, IM-1, using its Nova-C lunar lander, Odysseus. AST SpaceMobile aims to transform global communication by delivering reliable cellular broadband through its low-Earth-orbit satellites. The company looks to work with telecommunications companies to bridge connectivity gaps in regions that traditional infrastructure can't reach. (1/25)

Space Capital Tracks Rebound in Space Investment in ‘24, Expects More Interest in ‘25 (Source: Via Satellite)
Investment and consulting firm Space Capital reports that investment in space companies hit $26 billion in 2024, an increase of 30% year-over-year. The firm recently released its fourth quarter Space IQ report, with predictions for 2025. The $26 billion in investment in 2024 includes investment activity across a broad range of companies impacted by space, including infrastructure companies that build and launch satellites; distribution companies that manage data from space-based assets; and applications that use data from space-based assets. (1/23)

During the fourth quarter of 2024, space infrastructure companies received $2 billion in investment. This was up 7% quarter-on-quarter, but 28% below the three-year average of $2.8 billion. Top infrastructure funding rounds in Q4 included Blue Origin’s self-capitalization of $500 million, Firefly Aerospace’s fundraising of $176 million, and The Exploration Company raising $160 million.

Space Capital also issued predictions for space capital markets in 2025, looking at the political environment with the administration change, and an expected increase in defense spending. Anderson expects there to be a greater focus on promoting the space economy and integrating commercial capabilities into the U.S. government. While he expects Elon Musk to benefit from his close relationship with President Trump, he also said other companies can stand to benefit as well. (1/23)

ISRO Gears Up For Historic 100th Launch From Sriharikota With GSLV-G15 Mission (Source: News24)
India’s space organization ISRO is set for the 100th launch from Sriharikota’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre. This Indian Space Research Organization will achieve this with the GSLV-G15 mission. This mission is tentatively set for the launch on January 29. This launch will deploy the NVS-02 satellite, advancing India’s homegrown Navigation with the Indian Constellation System. (1/25)

Isaacman's Shift4 Beats Investor Suit Over Misleading Accounting Claims (Source: Bloomberg)
Shift4 Payments Inc. beat an investor suit that alleged the payment processing company inflated its cash flows from operating activities to prop up the stock price for its chief executive officer. Lead plaintiff Robert Baer’s second amended complaint offered an incoherent theory for motive behind the faulty accounting, the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania ruled. Judge Joseph F. Leeson Jr. judge dismissed the case with prejudice Wednesday, stating in his opinion that the investor didn’t allege the necessary level of intent for securities fraud. (1/25)

New Launchers Could Light Up Space Economy (Source: Aviation Week)
Blue Origin’s successful launch of the New Glenn rocket could kick off a year of rocket debuts, initiating a period of global space economy growth. “We are at an inflection point,” says Kelli Kedis Ogborn, vice president of Space Commerce and Entrepreneurship at the Space Foundation. While the industry for several years has talked about the space economy and its growth potential, “the pieces are really going to start to click,” he said.

More than 20 new launchers could achieve first flight this year. Rocket Factory Augsburg, for instance, received its vertical launch license from British authorities this month. Isar Aerospace and South Korean’s Innospace are among others looking to achieve the milestone. SpaceX has driven down launch costs and boosted the pace of flights, in part by demonstrating first-stage reuse.

While other commercial launchers have become available, such as Rocket Lab’s Electron, the commercial launch market, particularly to fly multiple satellites, has still been somewhat constrained. New Glenn, with its 45-metric-ton payload capacity to low Earth orbit, and SpaceX’s Starship, once it has demonstrated payload deployment, promise to change the cost equation. SpaceX aims for another Starship test next month. (1/23)

Moon Dust Into Oxygen: Sierra Space Tests Lunar Oxygen Extraction Tech (Source: Interesting Engineering)
A team of Sierra Space engineers is advancing space innovation by developing a groundbreaking machine to produce oxygen on the moon. The project takes place within a giant vacuum sphere, pushing the limits of current technology. The device, a silvery metal contraption adorned with colorful wires, represents a major step in developing life-sustaining technology for lunar habitats.

The experiment involved feeding simulated lunar regolith—dusty, sharp, and gritty soil—into the box-like machine. Heated to over 1,650°C, the regolith transformed into a molten gloop. When combined with reactants, oxygen-containing molecules began to bubble out. But studies on molten regolith electrolysis, another oxygen-extraction method, revealed that low gravity might hinder the detachment of oxygen bubbles from electrodes in the molten material. (1/24)

JWST Facing Potential Cuts to its Operational Budget (Source: Space News)
While the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) continues to exceed astronomers’ expectations, a potential funding shortfall could reduce the telescope’s effectiveness as soon as this fall. Officials with the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), which handles JWST science, say the telescope, halfway through its official five-year prime mission, is performing better than expected and demand for observing time far outpacing supply. (1/25)

The U.S. Should Stop Holding Back its Military Potential in Space (Source: Space News)
Five years after the creation of the Space Force, the United States hasn’t quite unlocked the full military potential of space, continuing perennial efforts to normalize space as an operational domain. However, to realize its vision of seamlessly operating across all domains, the U.S. military should urgently rethink its approach to space power, maximizing and diversifying the types of space weapons brought to bear across the joint force. Senior Pentagon and Space Force leaders should reverse policies that seem to automatically rule out developing and using kinetic counterspace weapons and reassess the feasibility and military advantages of space-to-ground weapons. (1/24)

A Tether Covered in Solar Panels Could Boost the ISS's Orbit (Source: Phys.org)
It uses a new idea called a Bare Photovoltaic Tether (BPT), which is based on an older idea of an electrodynamic tether (EDT) but has some advantages due to the addition of solar panels along its length.

The basic idea behind a BPT, and EDTs more generally, is to extend a conductive boom out into a magnetic field and use the natural magnetic forces in the environment to provide a propulsive force. Essentially, it deploys a giant conductive rod into a magnetic field and uses the force on an electric field created in that rod to transfer force to where the rod is connected. It's like the wind picking up an umbrella if the umbrella were a massive conductive rod and the wind were the planet's natural magnetic field. (1/21)

Pre-Trump Petro Reflects on Diversity (Source: Engineering News-Record)
At NASA and Kennedy Space Center, our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility has been paramount to mission success. ... “We embrace diversity because we understand that different opinions, backgrounds and perspectives create an enriching environment that fuels innovation and personal growth. Every difference of opinion, background or perspective is an opportunity to learn and build relationships … It’s also how we achieve missions of unparalleled complexity and ambition that inspire the world.” (1/10/21)

NASA Wants to launch rockets Into Northern Lights to Study 'Black Auroras' (Source: Space.com)
NASA plans to fly two rockets through active auroras to help study the unique ribbons of light that dance across the Alaskan night sky. The rockets are expected to lift off from the Poker Flat Research Range in Fairbanks, Alaska, as part of two missions led by space physicists Marilia Samara and Robert Michell from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The team aims to better understand why some auroras flicker, others pulsate and others appear to have holes. (1/25)

Hainan’s Commercial Launch Site Phase II Breaks Ground, Two Liquid Rocket Launch Pads Planned (Source: Global Times)
The construction of the second phase of the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in South China's Hainan Province, broke ground on Saturday, featuring plans to build two liquid rocket launch pads, the Global Times learned from the company. The expansion of the launch site marks another milestone for Hainan's aerospace industry, playing a crucial role in driving the high-quality growth of China's aerospace sector, as well as meeting the growing demand for commercial launches, said Liu Xiaoming, governor of Hainan Province. (1/25)

European Launch Startups Send Open Letter to ESA Outlining Key Priorities (Source: European Spaceflight)
Six European launch startups have penned and released an open letter to ESA outlining key priorities they urge the agency to consider when implementing the European Launch Challenge. With the draft resolution for European space transportation shared with member states, the path to the opening of the ELC invitation to tender by February 2025 has been outlined. To fine-tune the implementation proposal, the following three elements are crucial: substantial funding commitment, access to Kourou launch pads, and service-type contracts. Click here. (1/24)

ESA Member States to Vote on Future of Space Rider in November (Source: European Spaceflight)
ESA Member States will decide on the future of the Space Rider programme during the agency’s Ministerial Council meeting in Bremen this November, Program Manager Dante Galli said. Space Rider is a reusable spacecraft designed to carry scientific and technology demonstration payloads to orbit and return them to Earth, using a parafoil for precise landing and easy recovery. This ESA-initiated project is led by prime contractors Thales Alenia Space, responsible for the Re-entry Module, and Avio, in charge of developing the Service Module. (1/25)

US Judge Pauses SpaceX's Challenge to Case Over Anti-Immigrant Bias (Source: Reuters)
A federal judge on Friday granted the U.S. Department of Justice's request to pause a lawsuit by Elon Musk's SpaceX claiming the agency lacks the power to pursue claims that the space technology company refused to hire certain immigrants. U.S. Magistrate Judge Ignacio Torteya in Brownsville, Texas, made the decision following the agency's Jan. 19 request to stay the lawsuit for 45 days, in which it signaled that it could drop or settle the case.

Republican President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20, ushering in a new administration. Musk, a top adviser to Trump, is leading a commission tasked with identifying waste and inefficiency in the federal government. SpaceX and the Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. DOJ claims that from at least 2018 to 2022, SpaceX routinely discouraged asylum recipients and refugees from applying for jobs and refused to consider or hire them.

The company has denied wrongdoing, saying federal export control laws require it to employ only U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents.
In 2023, a different judge had blocked DOJ from pursuing the case, which would be heard in-house by an administrative judge, pending the outcome of the lawsuit. SpaceX sued to block the case, claiming that DOJ administrative judges are improperly appointed by the U.S. attorney general because they are granted powers that should be reserved only for officials appointed by the president. (1/24)