February 27, 2025

Xona Wins AFRL Contract for GPS Alternative (Source: Space News)
Xona Space Systems won an Air Force Research Lab contract to demonstrate an alternative to GPS. Xona is developing a commercial positioning, navigation, and timing service through a constellation of LEO satellites, named Pulsar, which aims to serve as both a complement and a backup to GPS. The $4.6 million contract announced Tuesday covers demonstrations of key technologies for Pulsar. The company is working on a constellation of 258 satellites for Pulsar, with initial services beginning as soon as 2027. (2/26)

Wargaming is a Challenge for the Space Force (Source: Space News)
The Space Force is grappling with how to conduct space wargaming. The lack of historical precedent for battles in space is a unique challenge for the service as it works to build a wargaming and experimentation infrastructure capable of modeling a domain where the rules of warfare remain largely untested. A proposed Space Futures Command in the Space Force would include a warfare analysis center using wargaming and artificial intelligence to guide investments in next-generation technologies. Proponents of the command argue that it would help model how systems are integrated and operated in a conflict, which could provide a key advantage separate from space technologies. (2/26)

Neutron Delay Report Sends Rocket Lab Shares Tumbling (Source: Interest)
Shares in Rocket Lab tumbled Tuesday after a report suggested its Neutron rocket could be significantly delayed. The report by Bleecker Street Research, linked to investment fund Bleecker Street Capital, argued that Rocket Lab's Neutron rocket may not make its first launch until as late as mid-2027, two years behind the company's public schedule for the reusable vehicle. It also said Rocket Lab may have to sell many initial Neutron launches at steep discounts of its list price of $50-55 million. Rocket Lab shares closed down nearly 10% Tuesday on the news. The company is scheduled to release its 2024 financial results and hold an earnings call Thursday. (2/26)

UK's Magdrive Raises $10.5 Million for US Expansion (Source: Space News)
British electric propulsion startup Magdrive has raised $10.5 million and is expanding to the United States. Magdrive will use the seed round funding to build a U.K. manufacturing facility and conduct on-orbit tests of high-power electric plasma thrusters, one of which will be on a D-Orbit transfer vehicle launching in June. The company is opening a U.S. subsidiary based in Los Angeles focused on business development. (2/26)

China Plans Solar Poles Mission (Source: Space News)
China is developing a mission to study the poles of the sun. The Solar Polar Orbit Observatory mission is scheduled to launch in 2029 and will use a gravity assist flyby of Jupiter to move into a high-inclination orbit around the sun, an approach similar to that used by the ESA/NASA Ulysses mission. An orbit over the Sun's poles would provide a vantage point that would offer unique data on solar magnetic activity cycles and high-speed solar winds, including their effect on space weather. (2/26)

FCC's Kearney Joins Law Firm (Source: Space News)
The first chief of the FCC's Space Bureau is joining a major law firm. DLA Piper announced Tuesday that Julie Kearney had joined the firm as co-chair of its Space Exploration and Innovation Practice. Kearney was named chief of the Space Bureau in April 2023 shortly after the FCC created it as part of a reorganization intended to devote more resources to space activities. Kearney said the space industry is in a "hyper-growth mode" and wants to find a balance between that growth and legal and regulatory frameworks. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr named Jay Schwarz as the new chief of the Space Bureau earlier this month. (2/26)

Russian Cargo Capsule Undocks From ISS (Source: NASA)
A Progress cargo spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station Tuesday ahead of the launch of a new Progress. The Progress MS-28 spacecraft, designated Progress 89 by NASA, undocked from the station at 3:17 p.m. Eastern after spending six months at the station. Its departure frees up a docking port for the Progress MS-30 spacecraft, scheduled to launch Thursday and arrive at the station two days later. (2/26)

Why Is Mars Red? (Source: Space.com)
Scientists have offered a new reason why the Red Planet is red. The reddish tint of Mars comes from iron oxide, but research this week offered an explanation of how that iron oxide formed. Lab tests showed that the best match for spacecraft measurements is a dust that includes ferrihydrite, a water-rich form of iron oxide. That suggests that the iron oxide formed early in the planet's history, when it had liquid water on its surface. "Mars rusted earlier than we previously thought," said one scientist involved in the research. (2/26)

BlackSky Wins DIU Contract for Gen-3 Imaging Satellite (Source: Via Satellite)
BlackSky Technology has secured a Defense Innovation Unit contract to manage and operate a Generation 3 Earth imaging satellite for the Tactical GEOINT program. BlackSky will handle hardware integration and mission management while the government will own and task the satellite. (2/26)

Space Command Deputy Commander Visits Alabama's Redstone Arsenal (Source: AL.com)
A top general with U.S. Space Command visited Redstone Arsenal this week, according to an Army news release, at a time of heightened speculation over the command’s future home. The visit by Lt. Gen. Thomas L. James, Space Command deputy commander, was intended to be a fact-finding trip on the Army’s space capabilities. Army Space and Missile Defense Command is headquartered at Redstone. (2/27)

Keep NASA’s Innovation Engine Going (Source: Space News)
Sustainably funded and dedicated R&D groups are essential elements of the innovation engineers that enable both commercial and government technology organizations to provide solutions now and in the future. Especially when it comes to NASA, a robust R&D group focused on the whole of NASA’s mission rather than short-term operational needs is critical to enabling the United States to achieve its long-term space exploration ambitions and critical to preserving America’s competitive edge in space. (2/26)

NASA's Experimental Hybrid Hydrogen Engine Could Finally Cut Flight Emissions (Source: Science Alert)
Air travel produces around 2.5 percent of all global CO2 emissions, and despite decades of effort in developing alternative fuels or more efficient aircraft designs, that number hasn't budged much. However, NASA has kept plugging away at trying to build a more sustainable future for air travel.

An Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC) grant to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to develop a hybrid hydrogen-based aircraft engine. The grant focuses on developing the Hydrogen Hybrid Power for Aviation Sustainable Systems (Hy2PASS) engine, a hybrid engine that uses a fuel cell and a gas turbine to power an aircraft. Hybrid systems have been tried before, but Hy2PASS's secret sauce is its use of air handling. (2/26)

'Black lungs': The Silent Killer That Could Derail Elon Musk's Mission to Mars (Source: Business Today)
Toxic Martian dust storms could cause lung disease, vision loss, and deadly health risks for astronauts. Scientists warn that Mars dust is similar to coal dust, increasing the risk of deadly lung disease. (2/26)

If Mars Has Microbe Fossils, a Laser and Rock Quarry in Algeria Could Help Find Them (Source: Space.com)
Scientists searching for the fossilized remains of ancient microbes on Mars now have a better idea of what signs they should be looking for, thanks to a new study of Earthly microbial fossils embedded in the mineral gypsum that was produced when the Mediterranean Ocean dried up over 5 million years ago.

Between 5.96 and 5.33 million years ago, tectonic forces closed what is now the Strait of Gibraltar, temporarily cutting off the Mediterranean from the Atlantic Ocean, prompting the Mediterranean to almost completely dry up. This left behind plentiful salt and sulfate deposits, including gypsum, in an environment that was very similar to how Mars' dried-up lake- and river-beds are today. (2/25)

Janet Petro: Trailblazing a New Path at NASA (Source: Science Magazine)
In an unprecedented move, Janet Petro made history on January 20, 2023, by becoming NASA’s first female administrator. Appointed during President Donald Trump’s return to office, Petro’s leadership signals a remarkable shift for the agency, inspiring anticipation and curiosity about NASA’s future trajectory. Click here. (2/26)

Viasat Agrees To Corrective Actions For SDA Bid Protest (Source: Breaking Defense)
As a result of a lawsuit by Viasat, the Department of the Air Force has agreed to revoke a Space Development Agency award to Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems worth $254 million for 10 experimental fire-control satellites, and reopen bidding. SDA’s companion contract to York Space Systems — worth $170 million for 10 Tranche 2 Transport Layer (T2TL) Gamma variant prototype space vehicles — will not be affected. (2/24)

NASA's 'SPHEREx' Infrared Space Telescope is Launching This Week. Here's Why it's a Big Deal (Source: Space.com)
Earth will gain a new robotic companion this week. NASA's latest space telescope, SPHEREx — short for Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer — is set to lift off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Friday (Feb. 28) from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. (2/24)

Global Spaceport Alliance Meets in Orlando (Source: GSA)
The Global Spaceport Alliance (GSA) successfully concluded its 10th Annual GSA Spaceport Summit of 2025, breaking attendance records and reinforcing the expanding global interest in spaceport development. The summit welcomed representatives from the UK, Australia, Italy, Japan, Canada, Greece, Sweden, Portugal, France, Uruguay, and Nigeria, underscoring the growing international collaboration in spaceport development. “We are thrilled to see such a strong international presence shaping these discussions.", said James Causey. (2/27)

AST SpaceMobile Secures $43 Million Subcontract in Support of SDA (Source: AST SpaceMbile)
ASTannounced a new contract award in support of the United States Space Development Agency (SDA) through a prime contractor, with total expected revenue of $43 million. This contract follows successful testing on BlueWalker-3 in orbit under the previous contract announced in February 2024 and further demonstrates the unique capabilities of AST SpaceMobile's technology for specialized government applications. (2/26)

Lucy Spacecraft Takes its First Images of Asteroid Donaldjohanson (Source: Phys.org)
NASA's Lucy spacecraft has its next flyby target, the small main belt asteroid Donaldjohanson, in its sights. By blinking between images captured by Lucy on Feb. 20 and 22, this animation shows the perceived motion of Donaldjohanson relative to the background stars as the spacecraft rapidly approaches the asteroid. Lucy will pass within 596 miles (960 km) of the 2-mile-wide asteroid on April 20. (2/25)

Honeywell, ForwardEdge Partner on Space Microelectronics (Source: Aerospace Manufacturing and Design)
Honeywell has formed a strategic partnership with ForwardEdge ASIC to develop high-reliability microelectronics for space applications. Honeywell, a trusted foundry for radiation-insensitive semiconductors, will support ForwardEdge in creating solutions for satellites and other space missions. (2/26)

Asteroid 2024 YR4 is No Longer a Threat to Earth (Source: AP)
Scientists have finally given the all-clear to Earth from a newly discovered asteroid. After two months of observations, scientists have almost fully ruled out any threat from the asteroid 2024 YR4, NASA and the European Space Agency said Tuesday. At one point, the odds of a strike in 2032 were as high as about 3% and topped the world’s asteroid-risk lists. ESA has since lowered the odds to 0.001%. NASA has it down to 0.0017%. (2/25)

Throttled Power Rocket Engine Demonstrator Completes Extended Hot-Fire Tests (Source: Space Daily)
A cutting-edge rocket engine demonstrator, developed by the Lukasiewicz Research Network - Institute of Aviation, has completed an extended hot-fire testing phase, demonstrating its ability to dynamically vary thrust levels. The Throttleable Liquid Propulsion Demonstrator (TLPD) is designed for use in upper-stage rockets, spacecraft, kick-stages, and planetary exploration missions, offering a flexible thrust range from 10% to 110% of its nominal performance. Its restart capability and use of non-toxic, storable propellants make it a strong candidate for future European space missions. (2/26)

Gilmour Space Sets March 15 Launch Window for Eris Orbital Rocket (Source: Space Daily)
Gold Coast and Bowen, Australia - February 24, 2025 - Gilmour Space Technologies has confirmed that its first orbital rocket, Eris, is set for launch no earlier than March 15. This milestone marks Australia's first domestically designed and built rocket attempting to reach orbit.

The announcement follows the final regulatory approvals from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and Airservices Australia, clearing the last procedural steps required for the mission. This achievement represents years of development by the Gold Coast-based aerospace company, which has engineered both the Eris launch vehicle and the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in North Queensland. (2/26)

MIT Engineers Prepare to Send Three Payloads to the Moon (Source: Space Daily)
Three MIT payloads will soon hitch a ride to the moon in a step toward establishing a permanent base on the lunar surface. In the coming days, weather permitting, MIT engineers and scientists will send three payloads into space, on a course set for the moon's south polar region. Scientists believe this area, with its permanently shadowed regions, could host hidden reservoirs of frozen water, which could serve to sustain future lunar settlements and fuel missions beyond the moon. (2/26)

Ancient Beaches Testify to Long-Ago Ocean on Mars (Source: Space News)
A Chinese rover that landed on Mars in 2021 detected evidence of underground beach deposits in an area thought to have once been the site of an ancient sea, providing further evidence that the planet long ago had a large ocean. The now-inactive rover, called Zhurong, operated for a year, between May 2021 and May 2022. It traveled 1.9 kilometers (1.2 miles) roughly perpendicular to escarpments thought to be an ancient shoreline from a time - 4 billion years ago - when Mars had a thicker atmosphere and a warmer climate.

Along its path, the rover used ground penetrating radar (GPR) to probe up to 80 meters (260 feet) beneath the surface. This radar is used to detect underground objects, such as pipes and utilities, but also irregular features, such as boundaries between rock layers or unmarked graves. The radar images showed thick layers of material along the entire path, all pointing upward toward the putative shoreline at about a 15-degree angle, nearly identical to the angle of beach deposits on Earth. (2/26)

New Evidence Suggests Gypsum Deposits on Mars May Hold Signs of Ancient Life (Source: Space Daily)
A research collaboration between the University of Bern and the University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene in Algeria has yielded significant progress in astrobiology. Their recent study demonstrates the successful detection of fossil microorganisms in Messinian gypsum deposits in Algeria using the Bernese Laser Ionization Mass Spectrometer (LIMS). The findings suggest that LIMS could play a crucial role in identifying potential biosignatures in similar Martian deposits during future space missions. (2/26)

Moon-Exposed Grass Seeds to Be Cultivated on Earth (Source: Space Daily)
Herders in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region may soon have access to a unique variety of forage, as researchers are set to cultivate grass seeds that have undergone a journey to the moon. These seeds, having endured deep-space exposure, are expected to undergo genetic mutations that could yield superior plant varieties.

Carried aboard China's Chang'e 6 lunar probe, which embarked on its mission to the moon's far side in May last year, four packages of grass seed samples, totaling 200 grams, returned to Earth in late June. The trial cultivation of these seeds is scheduled to commence in early March, according to Xinjiang's Academy of Animal Science. (2/21)

Foreign Military Sales Conference Ushers in New Era for Space Systems Command (Source: Space Daily)
In anticipation of what some in the defense industry are calling a "tidal wave" of new foreign military sales cases, Space Systems Command hosted a first-ever Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Enterprise Kick-Off conference on Feb. 12, 2025. (2/26)

IM-2 Lunar Lander Launched at Florida Spaceport (Source: Space News)
A Falcon 9 launched a commercial lunar lander and three rideshare payloads Wednesday evening. The rocket lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center at 7:16 p.m. Eastern, deploying the IM-2 lunar lander nearly 45 minutes later. IM-2 is scheduled to land on the moon March 6 carrying NASA and commercial payloads. Also on the launch were three rideshare payloads: NASA's Lunar Trailblazer orbiter, an asteroid prospecting spacecraft for AstroForge and an orbital transfer vehicle developed by Epic Aerospace. (2/27)

GAO Flags Concerns About Missile Tracking Tech (Source: Space News)
A report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) raised red flags about a key technology in missile-tracking spacecraft for the Space Development Agency (SDA). The GAO report, published Wednesday, said that SDA is moving to acquire and launch new tranches of satellites before validating that the intersatellite links on those satellites function properly in space.

According to the GAO, SDA has yet to fully demonstrate the technology in orbit, preventing the agency from applying lessons learned from the initial set of Tranche 0 satellites to the much larger number of Tranche 1 and 2 satellites. The Department of the Air Force said it was implementing recommendations by the GAO to fully demonstrate a minimum viable product for laser intersatellite links before launching more spacecraft, but the GAO countered that it saw little evidence of that work. (2/27)

Witnesses Offer Congress Alternative Approaches for Artemis (Source: Space News)
Witnesses at a House hearing Wednesday offered different solutions for improving NASA's Artemis lunar exploration campaign. Scott Pace, former executive secretary of the National Space Council, told the House Science Committee's space subcommittee that NASA should find an "off-ramp" from the SLS to commercial heavy-lift vehicles that would be more cost-effective and sustainable.

Dan Dumbacher, a former NASA official, said he was doubtful that SpaceX's Starship lunar lander would be ready for crewed missions by 2030, when China expects to conduct its first human lunar landing. He called for development of a "small, new lander" that could be ready before 2030. Both agreed, though, that a return to the moon was an essential step for future missions to Mars, rather than attempting to go to Mars directly. (2/27)

'America First' Tariffs Likely to Increase Aerospace Costs (Source: Space News)
The space industry is scrambling for ways to mitigate the financial strain of the Trump administration's "America First" trade and tariff policies. During a webinar, industry officials said tariffs, particularly on raw materials and electronics, will drive up near-term costs for satellite systems and launch vehicles.

The tariffs may disproportionately affect small businesses, which may lack the financial flexibility to absorb higher costs possessed by larger, more established companies. While the tariffs may encourage American companies to seek more domestic suppliers, it could create opportunities for companies in other countries as they reassess trade alliances. (2/27)

Space Force Association Pushes Back Against Mitchell Institute Report (Source: Space News)
The Space Force Association is pushing back against a report that called on the Space Force to reassess how it should prepare for conflicts in space. A report last week by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies criticized the "competitive endurance" framework adopted by the Space Force and called for a more aggressive posture to counter threats from adversaries.

Earlier this week, the Space Force Association, an independent nonprofit group that advocates for the Space Force, issued a strong rebuttal. It argued the Space Force has "emphasized creating warfighting capability and ethos" and pointed to efforts by the service to increase participation in warfighting exercises, wargaming simulations and high-intensity operational readiness drills. The Space Force hasn't publicly commented on the Mitchell Institute report but has reportedly barred personnel from participating in the institute's events. (2/27)

China Launches Imaging Satellites (Source: Space News)
China launched a pair of commercial high-resolution imaging satellites early Thursday. A Long March 2C rocket lifted off at 2:08 a.m. Eastern from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and placed into orbit the SuperView Neo-1 03 and 04 satellites. The two satellites are part of a constellation of nine optical and radar satellites, eventually growing to 28, to provide high-resolution imagery. (2/27)

SpaceX Launches Starlink Mission From Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: Space.com)
SpaceX launched another set of Starlink satellites, this time on a new booster. The Falcon 9 lifted off at 10:34 p.m. Eastern from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and put 21 Starlink satellites into orbit. The launch was a rare flight of a new Falcon 9 booster, designated B1092. The company had postponed launch attempts Monday and Tuesday. (2/27)

Virgin Galactic Begins Delta Spaceship Assembly (Source: Space News)
Virgin Galactic plans to start assembly of the first of a new line of suborbital spaceplanes next month. The company said on an earnings call Wednesday that assembly of the first Delta SpaceShip will start in March at a new facility near Phoenix as subassemblies and other components of the vehicle arrive from suppliers. Virgin expects to begin flight tests of the spaceplane next spring, quickly moving into operational flights carrying research payloads in mid-2026 and then private astronauts in the fall of 2026. The Delta SpaceShip is key to Virgin's plans to fly much more frequently and at lower cost in order to become profitable. (2/27)

Ariane Launch Rescheduled (Source: Arianespace)
An Ariane 6 that had been scheduled for this week has been rescheduled for next Monday. Arianespace said this week it had completed work on ground equipment that delayed the launch, the second of the Ariane 6, carrying a French reconnaissance satellite. (2/27)

Lumen Orbit is Now Starcloud (Source: GeekWire)
A startup that envisions placing data centers in orbit has new funding and a new name. Starcloud, previously known as Lumen Orbit, announced Wednesday it added $10 million to an $11 million seed round it raised in December. The company wants to develop data centers in orbit powered by giant solar panels generating megawatts of power. The company expects to launch a smallsat this summer to test technologies, including the use of Nvidia GPUs in space. (2/27)

Musk Pushes Aside Verizon to Give FAA Contract to SpaceX? (Source: Reuters)
The Federal Aviation Administration is close to canceling a $2.4 billion contract to overhaul a communications system that serves as the backbone of the nation’s air traffic control system and awarding the work to Elon Musk’s Starlink, according to two people briefed on the plans.

The move to cancel a major contract in favor of a venture led by Musk — who is leading DOGE’s disruptive overhaul of the federal government — would represent a significant test of protections against conflicts of interest in government projects. It would be an especially extraordinary step for the typically cautious FAA, whose systems are vital to the safety of millions of air travelers every day.

Editor's Note: Even if Verizon's tech is found to be insufficient, why wouldn't the FAA go through a normal procurement process to replace it, instead of handing SpaceX a rapid sole-source contract? (2/26)

France's Daher Investing $30 Million to Build Aircraft in Stuart FL (Source: TC Palm)
Daher Aerospace Inc., a French aerospace manufacturing company, has committed $30 million in investments to manufacture and assemble multi-million-dollar planes which, by 2027, will fly out of Witham Field. TCPalm was granted exclusive access to Daher's existing aerostructure assembly facility here, a large industrial hanger among several within Witham Field, that manufactures integral components for Boeing and Gulfstream jets. (2/26)

Blue Origin is Flying Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez, and 4 Other Women Into Space (Source: Quartz)
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin announced its first all-female crew for its upcoming NS-31 mission, and pop-star Katy Perry is on the list.  The six-person crew, which will launch into space this spring, also includes Bezos’ fiancee and former correspondent Lauren Sanchez, who reportedly “brought the mission together” and will “lead the team of explorers,” according to a statement from Blue Origin. Sanchez is also the Vice Chair of the Bezos Earth Fund and a licensed helicopter pilot. (2/27)

ClearSpace Initiates GEO Mission for Satellite Renewal (Source: Space Daily)
ClearSpace has commenced the consolidation phase of its GEO Life Extension Mission. Backed by the Government of Luxembourg and supported by an ESA contract under the Luxembourg National Space Program LuxIMPULSE, which is implemented by the Luxembourg Space Agency, this initiative represents a major operational milestone. (2/24)

Breakthrough Enables Measurement of Local Dark Matter Density Using Direct Acceleration Measurements (Source: Phys.org)
Researchers have pioneered the use of gravitational acceleration measurements of binary pulsars to help illuminate just how much dark matter there is in the Milky Way galaxy and where it resides. Their previous study promised that as the number of data points grows with the addition of many more binary pulsars, the galaxy's gravitational field could be mapped with great precision, including clumps of galactic dark matter. They now detail a way to advance this field by using solitary pulsars instead. (2/25)

RIF at NASA Could Cut Too Deep (Source: SPACErePORT)
The White House is directing agencies to start the process of making even deeper cuts to the federal workforce by conducting large-scale reductions in force (RIFs). In a memo published Wednesday morning, Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought told executive branch agencies [including NASA] to begin developing “agency RIF and reorganization plans.”

The White House's guidance includes RIF prioritization of "employees performing functions not mandated by statute or other law who are not typically designated as essential during a lapse in appropriations [shutdown]." That could mean any employee whose job is not linked to a specific NASA budget line item. Florida had over 88,600 civil service employees in 2023. (2/27)