Major defense contractors will play a key role in President Donald Trump's new missile defense initiative, "The Iron Dome for America." The initiative aims to develop a multilayered defense system against hypersonic, ballistic and cruise missiles with significant use of space-based sensors. (2/3)
Trump Pushes Mars Astronaut Mission Before His Term Ends (Source: Launchpad)
President Trump has set an audacious goal for the United States: land astronauts on Mars within the next four years, aligning with his potential second term. While the ambition is bold, given that humanity has yet to return to the moon under NASA’s Artemis program, the feasibility of such a rapid timeline raises significant questions. Is a 2029 Mars Landing Realistic? Even if Starship were fully operational by then, engineering challenges, logistical hurdles, and safety concerns make a 2029 Mars landing an exceptionally ambitious target.
Another major challenge is refueling for the return journey. SpaceX plans to use in situ resource utilization (ISRU) to generate fuel on Mars, producing liquid methane and oxygen from the planet’s water ice and carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere. However, no technology has yet demonstrated this capability on a large scale. To ensure astronauts aren’t stranded on Mars, SpaceX would need to either send multiple pre-supplied Starships or develop an automated ISRU system that can function without human intervention. (2/4)
Two Space Startups Have Merged to Create the Next Generation of Telescopes (Source: Tech Crunch)
Upfront Ventures partner Nick Kim just led a $9.5 million seed round for OurSky, a software platform for space observational data, and was eager to see what its telescope partner PlaneWave Instruments could do. But when they rolled out the telescopes that night at PlaneWave’s manufacturing facility, he was stuck waiting.
“It took them quite a long time to get the first image. I’m talking like, multiple hours. And these are the people who make the telescopes! They were using all this, like, off-the-shelf, open-source software that they kind of cobbled together,” Kim said. Kim wasn’t upset, though. He was excited. “This is why OurSky needed to exist, right? This is the problem,” he remembered thinking. “What a perfect match.” It was such a good match that, now, OurSky and PlaneWave are merging to create a new company called Observable Space. (2/4)
Space Coast County Asks Space Florida for $130 Million for Wastewater Processing Infrastructure (Source: Florida Today)
Brevard Commissioners last week agreed ask Space Florida to pay for $130 million in upgrades to a Merritt Island water treatment plant to help handle increased demand from the commercial space industry. Space Florida is pursuing a significant expansion of wastewater treatment capacity at the Merritt Island Sykes Creek treatment plant, requesting that the county increase the plant's capacity to handle an additional 300,000 gallons per day by 2027.
When county officials voiced concerns over how the improvements would be paid for last year, Space Florida wrote a letter implying that state funding for other projects in the county could be in jeopardy if a deal was not struck. This week, however, the two side were more conciliatory. On Tuesday the Board unanimously moved forward with a deal that would see Space Florida contribute $130 million to the upgrades, though that is still subject to negotiation with Space Florida. (2/3)
Scientists Measure Earth's Cosmic Detectability (Source: Space Daily)
A team of researchers led by Dr. Sofia Sheikh from the SETI Institute, in collaboration with the Characterizing Atmospheric Technosignatures project and the Penn State Extraterrestrial Intelligence Center, investigated whether an extraterrestrial society with technology akin to ours might detect Earth and the evidence of humanity. They sought to identify which signals would be visible and how far those signals could travel.
Using theoretical modeling, this study is the first to assess a range of technosignatures as one unified collection. Findings indicate that among Earth's signals, radio transmissions stand out, specifically the planetary radar beams once transmitted by the Arecibo Observatory, which could be discerned from up to 12,000 light-years away. (2/4)
Space Experiment Aims to Reveal Hidden Cosmic Mass (Source: Space Daily)
A space-based effort could soon uncover the nature of dark matter, one of the universe's most perplexing forces. Although invisible, this substance composes nearly 85 percent of cosmic mass, challenging scientists for decades. Now, a group at the University of Southampton has outlined a strategy to track dark matter by measuring faint disturbances in zero gravity. Researchers plan to fire lasers through graphite sheets suspended in weightless conditions. (2/4)
Astroscale Second Generation Docking Plate Gains Flight Heritage (Source: Space Daily)
Astroscale Limited has reached a critical threshold with the first in-space deployment of its second-generation (Gen 2) docking plate. This hardware, now traveling aboard SpaceX's Transporter-12 rideshare mission that launched on Jan 14, 2025, sets the stage for more robust satellite servicing capabilities.
Integrated on an Astro Digital Corvus-XL bus, the Gen 2 docking plate showcases forward-thinking satellite design and underscores an industry-wide move toward stricter end-of-life and on-orbit servicing protocols. By adhering to internationally recommended practices, the docking plate paves the way for smoother future decommissioning and servicing operations. (2/4)
UK Gains Advanced Space Simulation Facility from Amentum (Source: Space Daily)
Amentum has been chosen to equip the United Kingdom with specialized technology that replicates space-like conditions to optimize microgravity procedures and strengthen mission safety. Its robotics team will craft an in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing gravity offload platform intended for those who build and operate satellites and spacecraft.
Following a competitive selection process, The Satellite Applications Catapult (SAC) has granted Amentum the contract, with the system scheduled for completion by March 2025. Amentum's gravity offload setup employs a gantry mechanism that significantly lowers gravitational influence on suspended payloads, mirroring in-orbit conditions. (2/4)
Giant Catapult Launches Satellites Into Space Without Rocket Fuel (Source: Daily Galaxy)
Developed by California-based company SpinLaunch, this innovative system uses a massive rotating arm to catapult satellites into orbit—without relying on rocket fuel. By harnessing kinetic energy, the method could significantly reduce launch costs, minimize environmental damage, and revolutionize satellite deployment.
SpinLaunch has already conducted multiple successful test launches at its facility in New Mexico. The company has demonstrated that its system can repeatedly function as expected, completing ten launches within just 11 months—an impressive achievement for any space technology. CEO Jonathan Yaney emphasized the reliability of the system, stating that it has consistently delivered successful tests. With this momentum, SpinLaunch aims to deploy satellite constellations into low Earth orbit (LEO), targeting altitudes of less than 600 miles by 2026. (2/3)
Elon Musk’s Glaring Conflicts of Interest Deserve More Attention (Source: The Hill)
In recent weeks, much attention has been given to Elon Musk advising President Trump to block a spending bill that would have restricted American investments in China. Less, however, has been said about the Trump administration’s defense industry confirmations, which have significant connections to Musk’s company, SpaceX.
The ties raise critical concerns about U.S. national security, as having so many defense officials linked to SpaceX could undermine the nation’s defense interests by driving more contracts to the company — despite its potential vulnerabilities to Chinese influence. This dynamic could inadvertently aid China’s quest to outmaneuver the U.S. in space. If the Senate confirms Trump nominees Jared Isaacman and Emil Michael, Musk would benefit from substantial representation within the U.S. defense establishment. (2/3)
Falklands Unhappy Over OneWeb (Source: Advanced Television)
Eutelsat’s share price meltdown continues and is not helped by a group of unhappy residents of the UK’s Falkland Islands. Local reports say that the Falkland Islands government “wants its money back” from an agreement which it entered into with local telco SURE. The problem is seemingly OneWeb. Mark Pollard, a member of the Falkland’s Legislative Assembly, speaking on January 30th, said that the telco had failed to introduce a promised service from OneWeb, which itself was supplied with capacity from Eutelsat and prime contractor Intelsat. (2/3)
Of Firebirds and Lunar Rovers (Source: Space Review)
In the 1960s, a unit of General Motors was working on new vehicles—for the Moon. Dwayne Day explores the efforts by GM to develop rovers that could have flown on Surveyor missions that led to work by the company on the Apollo lunar rover. Click here. (2/3)
The Lifecycle of Space Telescopes (Source: Space Review)
NASA has four large optical or infrared space telescopes in various stages of development or operations, from the venerable Hubble to the future Habitable Worlds Observatory. Jeff Foust reports on the progress and challenges those observatories are facing. Click here. (2/3)
AIA: Tariff War Could Dent Aerospace Growth (Source: Runway Girl)
In response to President Trump signing an Executive Order to tariff Mexico, Canada, and China, the Aerospace Industries Association pointed to the aerospace and defense industry’s positive trade balance: "Decades-long trade agreements enabled robust civil aviation and defense trade that resulted in a sky-rocketing positive trade balance over the last 40 years, making aerospace and defense the largest American exporting industry.” AIA highlighted concerns that imposing these tariffs could shrink the positive trade balance. "Tariffs on Mexico and Canada could change that positive trajectory." (2/2)
SpaceX Contractors Say They're Owed More Than $5.5 Million, More Than Twice the Unpaid Total in May (Source: San Antonio Express-News)
As the pace of SpaceX’s growth in South Texas increases, so does the total of unpaid bills the companies doing the work say they’re owed. In less than nine months, the value of liens filed against the commercial space company’s property at its Starbase facility has more than doubled to $5.5 million — including nearly $2 million to a San Antonio builder. A San Antonio Express-News review of Texas property records found at least 29 contractors — and six in San Antonio — have filed 77 liens against SpaceX since March 2022. Their total value is up from $2.5 million in May. Since then, SpaceX has settled at least six liens but gained another 44. (2/3)
Trump’s Mars Declaration Raises Questions About NASA’s Moon Mission (Source: The Hill)
President Donald Trump’s second inaugural address was filled with equal parts soaring rhetoric about the future and snarky condemnation of his predecessor. An example of the former concerned the president’s space policy. “And we will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars.”
The sentence was conspicuous for its lack of mention of the moon. The Artemis program, which Trump initiated during his first term, was quite clear that humans would be returning to the moon first, before going to Mars. So, is NASA still going to the moon, or is the Trump administration preparing to abandon the moon and send astronauts straight to Mars?
It’s not just about jobs in congressional districts. We’ve noted before the folly of a sudden lurch toward Mars, bypassing the moon. Such a direction-change would forego the immediate scientific and economic benefits a return to the moon would yield. It would also risk national humiliation, should the Chinese achieve their promised crewed moon landing by 2030. (2/2)
Korea, Italy Deepen Defense Partnerships in Space Exploration and Satellite Projects (Source: Chosun)
Roberto Angelini, the engineering director of Thales Alenia Space, met at the Italian Embassy in Yongsan, Seoul, and revealed plans to expand space alliances with Korea, including the production of Korea’s communication satellite Mugunghwa 6 in 2010 and is also involved in the 425 project. He expressed hope that participation in the 425 project would serve as a catalyst to expand cooperation in the space sector with Korea. He stated, “I expect that the development of military satellites will pave the way for new collaboration with Korea,” he said.
He cited the example of a private space station that would replace the ISS. Thales Alenia Space is currently manufacturing two modules for Axiom Space's space station. Director Angelini stated, “We are responsible for the development of 3 out of 4 modules for the lunar gateway under the Artemis program. Director Angelini explained that there are possibilities for future cooperation with Korea in the fields of space exploration and space science. (2/3)
Disgraced CEO Advising Malta Government on Outer Space (Source: The Shift)
A new private consultancy firm owned by disgraced former MFSA CEO Joseph Cuschieri was awarded a lucrative consultancy contract to provide advice on space policy. The Shift has learned that Parliamentary Secretary Keith Azzopardi Tanti issued this €80,000 contract without a public call through the government’s agency Xjenza Malta. (2/1)
A Year in Isolation: 366-Day Mock Moon Mission Wraps Up in Russia (Source: Space.com)
On Nov. 14, 2024, the Institute of Biomedical Problems (IBMP) of the Russian Academy of Sciences marked the successful completion of SIRIUS-23, a year-long biomedical isolation experiment simulating the conditions of deep-space travel and lunar surface operations. For 366 days, a crew of six analog astronauts lived and worked in a sealed environment, a meticulously controlled Earth-based stand-in for interplanetary missions of the future. (2/2)
Space Coast Logistics Center with Blue Origin, Boeing Among its Tenants Sells for $42M (Source: Orlando Business Journal)
Notable aerospace firms lease space at Titusville Logistics Center, which sold to an out-of-state firm with plans for more Space Coast investment. Reich Brothers, a national industrial real estate firm focused on value-add warehousing and manufacturing properties, sold the 247,069-square-foot Titusville Logistics Center to Hines U.S. Property Partners for $42.2 million. The Canaveral Port Authority unloaded the Class A property on US Highway 1 to Reich Brothers for $17.5 million in 2021. The fully leased building is currently occupied by Beyond Gravity, Blue Origin, Boeing, Leonardo DRS and Sierra Space. (2/3)
Airbus Hires Goldman for European Space Tie-Up to Rival Musk (Source: Bloomberg)
Airbus SE has hired Goldman Sachs Group Inc. for advice on an effort to forge a new European space and satellite company that can better compete with Elon Musk’s dominant SpaceX, according to people familiar with the matter. The talks to create a space and satellite business with French aerospace company Thales and Italy’s Leonardo SpA are at an exploratory stage and its full portfolio of services hasn’t been set, the people said, asking not to be identified because discussions are confidential. Rome-based Leonardo has hired Bank of America Inc. for the plan, which has been dubbed Project Bromo. (2/3)
Starlink Profit Growing Rapidly as it Faces a Moment of Promise and Peril (Source: Ars Technica)
Two new independent estimates of revenue from SpaceX's Starlink Internet service suggest it is rapidly growing, having nearly tripled in just two years. An updated projection from the analysts at Quilty Space estimates that the service produced $7.8 billion in revenue in 2024, with about 60 percent of that coming from consumers who subscribe to the service. Similarly, the media publication Payload estimated that Starlink generated $8.2 billion in revenue last year.
These estimates indicate that Starlink produced a few hundred million dollars in free cash flow for SpaceX in 2024. However, with revenues expected to leap in 2025 to above $12 billion, Quilty Space estimates that free cash flow will grow to about $2 billion. SpaceX is privately held, so its financial numbers are not public. SpaceX has other significant lines of business, including government customers, particularly the US Department of Defense, as well as maritime (75,000 vessels equipped with Starlink as well as 300 cruise ships) and aviation segments. (2/3)
NASA Pauses Activities of Community-Based Science Groups to Comply with Trump Orders (Source: Space Policy Online)
NASA is pausing the activities and meetings of community-based groups that provide input to NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. The plan is to lift the suspensions after NASA ensures the groups’ activities comply with directives being issued by the White House, including those that terminate government diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. Word broke late on Friday that NASA’s planetary science analysis and assessment groups — AGs — have been requested to pause all meetings and activities while the agency “continues to review and ensure compliance with presidential actions.” (2/3)
Concern About SpaceX Influence at NASA Grows with New Appointee (Source: Ars Technica)
Like a lot of the rest of the federal government right now, NASA is reeling during the first turbulent days of the Trump administration. Concern was heightened late Friday when Petro announced that a longtime SpaceX employee named Michael Altenhofen had joined the agency "as a senior advisor to the NASA Administrator." Altenhofen is an accomplished engineer who interned at NASA in 2005 but has spent the last 15 years at SpaceX, most recently as a leader of human spaceflight programs.
I spent this weekend talking and texting with NASA sources at various centers around the country, and the overriding message is that morale at the agency is "absurdly low." Meetings between civil servants and their leadership, such as an all-hands gathering at NASA's Langley Research Center in Virginia recently, have been fraught with tension. No one knows what will happen next. Beyond the rumors and the uncertainty and unease this engenders, there are very real policy issues that require some sort of resolution in the coming months. Click here. (2/3)
NASA Onboard with Blue Abyss Plans for World's Deepest Pool in UK (Source: BBC)
NASA's Glenn Research Center has signed an agreement with a company that plans to build the world's deepest pool in Cornwall for sea and space research. Blue Abyss has applied for planning permission to build the pool on a 10-acre (four-hectare) site at Cornwall Airport, Newquay. "NASA and Blue Abyss will collaborate to explore innovative solutions for training and conducting research that addresses challenges in low Earth orbit, cis-lunar, lunar and Martian environments." (2/3)
Boeing’s Starliner Losses Reach $2 Billion (Source: Space Policy Online)
In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission today, Boeing said it experienced a total of $523 million in losses in the Starliner Commercial Crew Program in 2024. That brings to $2 billion the amount Boeing has had to pay for overruns on the fixed-price contract with NASA to build a space transportation system to ferry crews to and from the International Space Station. Boeing is still trying to figure out exactly what went wrong with the propulsion system on the Crew Flight Test mission last year and how to get Starliner ready for operational flights. (2/4)
Russia Risks Being Left Out in the Cold as International Space Station Exit Looms (Source: The National)
Russia is preparing to leave the International Space Station (ISS) at the end of this decade but faces major hurdles in building its own replacement, the Russian Orbital Service Station (ROSS). With sanctions restricting access to key space technologies, a shrinking space budget and growing delays in rocket and satellite development, experts say Russia’s ambitions for an independent space station may not materialize as planned. Sanctions imposed by the US, UK, Canada and other allied nations after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 have crippled its ability to source advanced space technologies, particularly in satellite manufacturing. (2/3)
Fidelity Fund is Now Valuing its Stake in SpaceX at More Than $2.7 Billion (Source: Business Insider)
SpaceX's valuation is soaring — at least according to one investment giant. Fidelity, which invests in startups and large companies alike via dozens of mutual funds, is valuing its stakes in Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies at $2.7 billion. Fidelity's SpaceX stakes — which include Class A and C shares in Fidelity's Contrafund, as well as Series G, H, and N shares — were revealed in a December. (2/3)
Viasat Awarded Task Order For Space Force Satcom Services (Source: Aviation Week)
Viasat subsidiary Inmarsat Government won its first task order to provide satellite communications (satcom) services to the U.S. Space Force under a 10-year contract awarded to multiple vendors. Sixteen companies were selected in 2023 to compete for task orders under the Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (PLEO) Satellite-Based Services (SBS) Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. (2/3)
SpaceX Launches Starlink Mission at Florida Spaceport (Source: Spaceflight Now)
SpaceX launched a set of Starlink satellites early this morning after a one-day delay. A Falcon 9 lifted off from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport and placed 21 Starlink satellites into orbit, 13 with direct-to-cell payloads. The launch was scheduled for Monday morning but postponed for undisclosed reasons. SpaceX also delayed until Tuesday another Falcon 9 launch of two Maxar WorldView Legion satellites, which had been planned for Monday evening. (2/4)
Big Defense Contractors Posture for Iron Dome Work (Source: Space News)
The nation's top defense contractors are positioning themselves to capitalize on a new missile defense initiative that includes space-based components. Executives from Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and L3Harris told Wall Street analysts last week that they are well-equipped to support the "Iron Dome for America" initiative the Trump administration announced, one that will include heavy reliance on space-based sensors and, potentially, controversial space-based interceptors. Those companies are currently prime contractors in key missile defense programs that could expand under the initiative. The concept of space-based interceptors, however, could face scrutiny from arms control organizations and Congress. (2/4)
NASA Moves Forward with VIPER Lunar Rover Partnership Plans (Source: Space News)
NASA is moving ahead with plans to enter into an industry partnership to fly a lunar rover. NASA released Monday an Announcement for Partnership Proposal, seeking proposals from U.S. companies interested in working with the agency to take the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) spacecraft to the moon. NASA canceled its original plans to fly VIPER last summer, citing cost growth and delays, but sought input from companies and countries interested in working with NASA to fly the completed rover. The selected company would be responsible for the costs of landing VIPER on the moon and operating the rover, which is designed to look for water ice in shadowed craters at the lunar south pole. NASA expects to select a company to partner with on VIPER this summer. (2/4)
Canada's Wyvern Starts Hyperspectral Data Sharing (Source: Space News)
Canadian hyperspectral startup Wyvern has started sharing hyperspectral data from its satellites. The company announced Monday an "Open Data Program" where it will make hyperspectral images available to users to allow them to develop algorithms to analyze them. The free images, Wyvern argues, will help users get familiar with how to use hyperspectral data and apply it to applications like humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Wyvern currently operates three satellites with a fourth to be launched later this year, and will also gather data on satellites operated by Loft Orbital. (2/4)
Budget Increase Proposed for Indian Space Agency (Source: The Tribune)
The Indian government is proposing an increase in the budget of its space agency, ISRO. Budget documents released over the weekend included 134 billion rupees ($1.54 billion) for the Department of Space, which is primarily ISRO, in its 2025-26 budget. That is about a 14% increase from revised estimates for 2024-25. The increase, if confirmed, would support work on initiatives such as the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program and Chandrayaan-4 lunar sample return mission. (2/4)
Trump Removes Apollo Moonrock From Oval Office (Source: CollectSpace)
An Apollo moonrock is no longer in the Oval Office. Images of President Trump's redecorated Oval Office show that an Apollo 17 rock, provided by NASA to the White House at the request of the Biden administration, is no longer on display. NASA confirmed that the White House is returning the rock, but the White House did not state why it no longer wants to display it. (2/4)
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