January 22, 2025

Scientists Propose Wild New Interstellar Travel Tech (Source: Space.com)
Researchers have proposed a new propulsion method that could make covering the vast distances required for interstellar missions feasible within a human lifetime. The fundamental challenge in reaching a different star system lies in figuring out how to generate and transfer enough energy to a spacecraft both efficiently and affordably.

The physical limitations of modern spacecraft pose significant challenges for reaching interstellar space in a human lifetime, especially with limited room onboard for carrying propellant or batteries. If we ever want to achieve the tremendous speeds necessary to cross interstellar distances in a human lifetime, we need to find outside-the-box solutions. Enter relativistic electron beams made up of electrons moving close to the speed of light. Click here. (1/22)

Hubble Telescope Captures 2.5-Gigapixel Image of Andromeda Galaxy (Source: ExtremeTech)
Despite its nearness, photographing the entire Andromeda Galaxy is no easy task. Scientists have just finished a decade-long project to image Andromeda in unprecedented detail. The final image clocks in at a whopping 2.5 gigapixels.

The 2.5-gigapixel Andromeda photo is the result of two separate observation programs over the course of a decade. The project started with the Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury (PHAT) program, which collected data from Andromeda's northern half in near-ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared wavelengths with the telescope's Advanced Camera for Surveys and the Wide Field Camera 3. This was followed by the Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Southern Treasury (PHAST) campaign, which, as the name implies, scanned the galaxy's more complex southern half. PHAST added about 100 million new stars to the image. (1/22)

NASA Astronauts Set to Search for Life Clinging to the ISS Exterior (Source: Gizmodo)
Experts are hoping to collect microbiological samples to study how microbes behave, and possibly thrive, in harsh environments—but the harsh environment in question isn’t anywhere near where you’d expect. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) will attempt to collect microbiological samples from the outside of the space station during an upcoming spacewalk. Surface samples will be collected near life support system vents, as detailed in a NASA statement published on Tuesday, and could shed light on how, or even if, the ISS releases microorganisms into space.

The extravehicular sample collection is taking place as part of the ISS External Microorganisms experiment, a NASA project that, as the name suggests, studies microorganisms on the outside of the space station. The samples will be analyzed back on Earth. Astronauts frequently swab the ISS interior to monitor its unique microbiome. The upcoming sample collection from the ISS exterior is happening because the station is likely expelling some of these microbes into space through its ventilation exhaust.

Additionally, the results of the external swabs could inform the concept of Panspermia, a hypothesis suggesting that life originated elsewhere in the galaxy before reaching and colonizing Earth. (1/22)

Nelson Pens Letter to Next NASA Head (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has left the building, and while President Trump’s nominee awaits a confirmation hearing, the head of Kennedy Space Center will keep things afloat. Nelson, who flew to space on board Space Shuttle Columbia while a member of the House of Representatives, later served in the U.S. Senate for Florida. He was nominated by President Biden and confirmed as the agency’s 14th administrator. His likely replacement is billionaire Jared Isaacman, who flew twice to space partnering up with Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

He urged his successor to listen and trust the people who work at NASA. “They understand to their core how to make the impossible real in our time,” he wrote. He said NASA’s role in the government is rare as its mission is nonpartisan and support comes from all sides of the political spectrum. (1/21)

Are We Losing Control of Outer Space? (Source: CBC)
Space exploration is no longer the domain of countries alone. It's rapidly becoming the domain of private interests. More than half of working satellites are now owned by a single company, Elon Musk's SpaceX company. They plan to have a mega-constellation of roughly 42,000 satellites. In a recent lecture, Aaron Boley discussed how the rapidly increasing business interests in space could impact humanity and science. He asks: How can we be better stewards of outer space? Click here. (1/21) https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/who-owns-outer-space-aaron-boley-1.7436686

Vandenberg Achieves Historic Milestone with 51 Launches in 2024 (Source: USSF)
Vandenberg Space Force Base has revolutionized west coast space and test launch with an historic 51 launches in 2024 from the United States Space Force’s West Coast Spaceport and Test Range. This achievement was driven by the base's commitment to innovation, revising practices and procedures and close partnerships with launch and test mission partners. (1/21)

Plans for Spaceport America as Demand for Launches Grows (Source: KOB4)
Around the country, the space industry is booming. The U.S. launched a record 145 rockets into orbit in 2024. But experts say there are too many liftoffs and not enough launch sites. So where does New Mexico’s Spaceport America come in? Executive Director Scott McLaughlin said with the need for more launchpads, the U.S. military and other rocket manufacturers have reached out.

“It’s definitely becoming of interest, especially since for example the Spaceport Vandenberg in California is susceptible to earthquakes, the one in Florida is susceptible to hurricanes,” he said. MacLaughlin said right now the Spaceport can only accommodate small rockets. “We’ve been paid for with only New Mexico tax dollars, so we don’t have the benefit of the sort of infrastructure required to launch even a medium-sized rocket,” he said.

But don’t rule it out. He said there are plans to expand. They want to be able to launch larger rockets in the next decade, but they need money from the federal government. (1/21)

ISRO Dispatches Crew Module For First Uncrewed Mission Of Gaganyaan (Source: NDTV)
Liquid Propulsion Systems Center of ISRO has dispatched the Crew Module for the first uncrewed mission of Gaganyaan (G1) after successfully completing the integration of the liquid propulsion system, the space agency said on Wednesday. Gaganyaan will be ISRO's first attempt towards acquiring human spaceflight capabilities. Before sending the crew, the ISRO is planning to send uncrewed mission to the space under its Gaganyaan project. (1/22)

Astronaut Sleep Study Reveals How Spaceflight Alters Rest Patterns (Source: PsyPost)
Astronauts face unique challenges during space missions, and their sleep patterns are no exception. A recent study conducted by researchers at Harvard College, Harvard Medical School, and NASA Ames Research Center sheds new light on how spaceflight reshapes astronauts’ sleep patterns. Published in the Journal of Sleep Research, the findings reveal the dynamic and adaptive changes in sleep architecture that occur during extended missions in space.

Sleep is critical for physical health, emotional regulation, and cognitive performance, especially in high-stakes environments like space missions. However, astronauts frequently report disrupted sleep patterns during spaceflight. Factors such as stress, microgravity, circadian misalignment, and environmental conditions aboard spacecraft are thought to contribute to reduced sleep quality and duration. (1/21)

Hitler Salute: Deutsches Museum Removes Elon Musk Portrait From Space Travel Exhibit (Source: Agenzia Nova)
The Deutsches Museum in Munich, Germany, has removed a portrait of Elon Musk which was part of a permanent exhibition on space travel. “It can always be problematic to honor living people in such a prominent position in an exhibition, because such a display can be seen as an uncritical tribute. However, a person’s lifetime achievements can often only be properly assessed in retrospect,” said a spokesperson for the Deutsches Museum.

Yesterday, during the event organized for the inauguration of the US president Donald Trump at the Capital One Arena in Washington, the entrepreneur seemed to perform a salute romano. Responding to the controversy, Musk called the accusation an instrumental attack: “Frankly, they should come up with better tricks. The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is tired now,” the billionaire wrote on the social platform X. (1/22)

Governor Newsom Meets with NASA JPL Workers, Small Business Owners Impacted by Firestorm (Source: Gov.CA)
Continuing to have an eye toward recovery and rebuilding, Governor Gavin Newsom today met with workers and small business owners impacted by the devastating Los Angeles firestorm to hear their stories and highlight the state’s work to help communities rebuild. The Governor visited NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in La Cañada Flintridge for a conversation with employees impacted by the Eaton Fire.

Hundreds of JPL employees lost their homes, with over 100 more likely to be displaced due to damage to their homes. Joined by Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger, Governor Newsom talked with the employees about rebuilding efforts, as well as concerns about home insurance. (1/21)

Satellite Firm Bucks Miniaturization Trend, Aims to Build Big for Big Rockets (Source: Ars Technica)
A potentially disruptive satellite company launched its first spacecraft last week as part of a Transporter mission flown on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket. The demonstration mission from a California-based firm named K2 aims to "burn down" the risk of the technology that will fly on the company's first full-sized satellite. So far, so good, but it's early days for the demo flight.

Founded a little less than three years ago, K2 seeks to disrupt the production of large satellites by focusing on vertical integration and taking advantage of large launch vehicles, such as SpaceX's Starship and Blue Origin's New Glenn, which can throw a lot of payload into space. (1/21)

ESA Selects Consortia to Define Payload Platforms for Mars Tug (Source: European Spaceflight)
As part of its LightShip initiative, the European Space Agency has chosen four consortia to conduct parallel studies to define small, low-cost Mars satellite platforms. The ESA Mars LightShip tug is a proposed interplanetary transfer service that will ferry satellites to Mars orbit. With this initiative, ESA aims to reduce the cost of mounting a mission to Mars while also expanding access to the Red Planet. After delivering its payloads, the tug will transition to a secondary role as a dedicated data relay service. (1/21)

Avio Ships Space Rider Service Module Structure for Testing (Source: European Spaceflight)
Italian rocket builder Avio has delivered the main structure of the first Space Rider service module to ESA’s ESTEC facility in the Netherlands for testing ahead of its inaugural flight. Space Rider is an uncrewed, reusable spacecraft designed to host in-orbit experimentation and technology demonstrations. The spacecraft is capable of remaining in orbit for up to three months before returning to Earth.

The spacecraft consists of two main components: the reusable Re-entry Module, developed by Thales Alenia Space, and the expendable Service Module, led by Avio. The Service Module is a modified Vega C AVUM+ upper stage, upgraded with the AVUM Life Extension Kit (ALEK), which includes a pair of deployable solar wings developed by Leonardo. (1/22)

Astronauts on NASA's Artemis Mission to the Moon Will Need Better Boots (Source: Space Daily)
The U.S.'s return to the Moon with NASA's Artemis program will not be a mere stroll in the park. Instead it will be a perilous journey to a lunar location representing one of the most extreme environments in the solar system. For the Artemis program astronauts, walking on the Moon will require new ways of thinking, the latest technology and innovative approaches to improve boot and spacesuit design.

The Apollo program's journeys to the Moon 50 years ago were all to the milder, equatorial regions of the lunar surface, where the coolest temperatures reached -9 degrees Fahrenheit (-23 degrees Celsius). In contrast, the Artemis missions are designed to take astronauts to the Moon's extreme polar regions, where temperatures can reach -369 degrees Fahrenheit (-223 degrees Celsius). Apollo-era equipment designed for short-term stays in a moderate zone will not be enough for extended stays in this new, more hostile region. (1/21)

Amazon Looks to Low-Orbit Satellites to Improve Global Connectivity (Source: Design News)
Project Kuiper is deploying a constellation of more than 3,200 low Earth orbit satellites to provide access to fast, reliable internet connectivity to customers all over the world. Designing the communications payload for these satellites requires the typical balancing act of size, weight, and power, but that is just one piece of a bigger puzzle to make best use of available bandwidth and spectrum across Project Kuiper’s network, while providing a service that is affordable for customers.

The company is scaling up a new plant in Kirkland WA that will perform manufacturing and testing of the satellites used in Project Kuiper. The 172,000-square-foot facility includes a wide variety of custom equipment required to manufacture and test space-grade hardware, including liquid nitrogen tanks that help quickly cool test chambers to temperatures found in space and robotic arms that help test and calibrate the advanced communications payload onboard each spacecraft. At peak capacity, the factory will enable Project Kuiper to build up to five satellites per day. The company has reportedly developed an innovative testing process that has reduced the test time from months to days for individual satellites. (1/21)

Redwire to Acquire Drone Manufacturer (Source: Space News)
Redwire is expanding into defense markets with the $925 million acquisition of a drone maker. Redwire said it is buying Edge Autonomy, a manufacturer of military uncrewed aircraft systems, for $150 million in cash and $775 million in stock in a deal expected to close in the second quarter. The deal represents a major pivot by Redwire, which had primarily been a space technology provider, into the defense sector. Redwire executives said they see an opportunity to combine its expertise in satellites with Edge Autonomy's drone technology to create integrated command-and-control networks that cater to military operators. (1/22)

Voyager Technologies to Go Public (Source: Wall Street Journal)
Voyager Technologies is planning to go public. The company, which changed its name from Voyager Space last week, has confidentially filed paperwork for an initial public offering (IPO) that would value the company at between $2 billion and $3 billion. That IPO is planned for later this year. Voyager is best known as the leading partner on the Starlab commercial space station project but has been emphasizing its work in defense technologies, such as missile propulsion and avionics. (1/22)

Finland Signs Artemis Accords (Source: Space News)
Finland is the latest country to sign the Artemis Accords. The country's minister of economic affairs, Wille Rydman, signed the Accords Tuesday during a conference at Aalto University. Finland is the 53rd country overall to sign the Accords and the first to do so this year, after nearly 20 nations signed on in 2024. There are some questions about the future of the Accords, though, given the new Trump administration's "America First" foreign policy. (1/22)

Agreement to Allow US Rocket Launches From Norway (Source: Space News)
The United States and Norway have signed an agreement to permit launches of American spacecraft from Norway. The technology safeguards agreement, signed last week, allows the export of American hardware to Norway for launches there while preserving export controls. The agreement would clear the way for the launch of American spacecraft on rockets from Andøya Spaceport in Norway. One company, Germany's Isar Aerospace, is planning to conduct launches from Andøya as soon as later this year. (1/22)

SpaceX Launches Starlink Satellites From California (Source: Spaceflight Now)
SpaceX launched a set of Starlink satellites Tuesday morning. A Falcon 9 lifted off at 10:45 a.m. Eastern from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and placed 27 Starlink satellites into orbit. The launch carried more satellites than on recent flights, which SpaceX said was due to design changes that reduced the mass of individual satellites. The launch also featured the 400th landing of a booster, as the Falcon 9 first stage B1082 completed its tenth flight. (1/22)

NASA Delays ISS Spacewalk (Source: NASA)
NASA is delaying a spacewalk outside the International Space Station that had been scheduled for this week. NASA said Tuesday that the spacewalk by Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore, scheduled for Thursday, would be pushed back a week to provide more time to replenish ammonia in one of two cooling loops on the station. Williams and Wilmore will stow a radio antenna assembly mounted on the exterior of the station during the spacewalk and also swab surfaces to see if microbes can survive outside the station. (1/22)

Rocket Lab Plans First Launch on Feb. 3 (Source: Rocket Lab)
Rocket Lab's first launch of 2025 is scheduled for early February. The company said it is planning a launch no earlier than Feb. 3 of an Electron carrying five Internet-of-things satellites for French company Kinéis. The launch will be the fourth of five under a contract between Rocket Lab and Kinéis. Rocket Lab conducted 16 Electron launches in 2024 and said it plans to exceed that mark in 2025, but did not disclose a specific target. (1/22)

NASA Sets Sights on Mars Terrain with Revolutionary Tire Tech (Source: Space Daily)
The mystique of Mars has been studied for centuries. The fourth planet from the Sun is reminiscent of a rich, red desert and features a rugged surface challenging to traverse. While several robotic missions have landed on Mars, NASA has only explored 1% of its surface. Ahead of future human and robotic missions to the Red Planet, NASA recently completed rigorous rover testing on Martian-simulated terrain, featuring revolutionary shape memory alloy spring tire technology developed at the agency's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland in partnership with Goodyear Tire and Rubber.

Rovers - mobile robots that explore lunar or planetary surfaces - must be equipped with adequate tires for the environments they're exploring. As Mars has an uneven, rocky surface, durable tires are essential for mobility. Shape memory alloy (SMA) spring tires help make that possible. Shape memory alloys are metals that can return to their original shape after being bent, stretched, heated, and cooled. NASA has used them for decades, but applying this technology to tires is a fairly new concept. (1/22)

Scientists Detect Chirping Cosmic Waves in an Unexpected Part of Space (Source: ABC News)
Scientists have detected cosmic waves that sound like birds chirping in an unexpected place. These bursts of plasma, called chorus waves, ripple at the same frequency as human hearing. When converted to audio signals, their sharp notes mimic high-pitched bird calls. Researchers have captured such sounds in space before, but now they have sensed the chirping waves from much farther away: over 62,000 miles from Earth, where they've never been measured before.

“That opens up a lot of new questions about the physics that could be possible in this area,” said Allison Jaynes, a space physicist at the University of Iowa who was not involved with the work. Scientists still aren’t sure how the perturbations happen, but they think Earth’s magnetic field may have something to do with it. (1/22)

Scientists Left Shocked as They Finally Identify Source of Mysterious Space Signals (Source: GB News)
Scientists have tracked a mysterious radio signal from deep space to its source, making a discovery which has left researchers stunned. A powerful blast of energy, known as a fast radio burst, has been traced back to its home galaxy in a breakthrough which challenges existing theories about these cosmic phenomena. The findings, revealed this week, mark a significant development in astronomers' efforts to understand these enigmatic space signals, which have puzzled the scientific community for years.

What they discovered has challenged their expectations, as the galaxy appears to be old and lifeless. The host galaxy's unusual shape has added another layer of intrigue to the discovery. This finding stands in stark contrast to previous observations, where fast radio bursts were exclusively detected emanating from much younger galaxies. (1/22)

Blue Abyss Partners with NASA Glenn Research Center (Source: Blue Abyss)
Blue Abyss has signed a Space Act Agreement with NASA’s Glenn Research Center. This collaboration aims to accelerate advancements in commercial space training, research, and infrastructure development, further positioning Blue Abyss as a key player in the global space industry. The partnership between Blue Abyss and NASA Glenn Research Center focuses on developing next-generation capabilities for human spaceflight, training, and simulations of extreme environments.

Under the agreement, Blue Abyss and NASA will work together to explore several crucial areas, including: Selection and Training: Developing innovative methods for preparing the next generation of space travelers. Human Performance Research: Studying the effects of extreme gravity conditions on humans, robotics, and biological and physical sciences. Infrastructure Development: Planning and mapping advanced facilities such as underwater facilities, parabolic flights, and augmented reality training tools. NASA will lend its technical expertise and insights from decades of space exploration to guide the development of future capabilities and facilities. (1/22)