February 7, 2025

Make the Moon Great Again, or Lose it to China (Source: Sky News)
Several of NASA's legacy contractors like Boeing and Northrop Grumman, which built the space shuttle and Apollo-era rockets, are big employers in certain congressional districts. Their representatives lobbied hard to ensure they retained contracts in the new program – and won. The result – especially in light of newer, cheaper space launch alternatives – is a bad deal for US taxpayers. In 2023, the US government's financial watchdog, the General Accounting Office, concluded SLS was "unaffordable".

The rocket NASA built to serve the program, the Space Launch System (SLS), is phenomenally expensive. Almost $13bn has been spent developing it so far and its first launch for Artemis is estimated to have cost $4bn. SLS might be the largest rocket NASA has ever built but it has a serious flaw. While it can put humans into orbit around the moon from a single launch, it can't carry them, their capsule and enough fuel to get them back to Earth again. Why, despite all the technological advances since Apollo 11 astronauts went to the moon on a single Saturn V rocket, do 21st-century astronauts have to essentially change trains in order to get back again?

As axe-wielder-in-chief, Elon Musk is widely expected to have an eye on SLS. But his direct involvement would be controversial as his SpaceX firm would be a leading contender to build an alternative rocket. "The bottom line is, these companies have faced little competition for decades and without that competitive pressure, they have become so bloated they can’t take on a fixed-price project without hemorrhaging cash," incoming NASA chief Jared Isaacman posted on X in October 2024. (2/7)

Greenland's Ice Sheet — the Second Biggest in the World — is Cracking Open at Alarming Speed (Source: LiveScience)
Huge cracks in the Greenland Ice Sheet have grown significantly wider and deeper in just five years, new 3D maps reveal. The finding suggests the landmass is unzipping faster than scientists previously thought. Most of these cracks, called crevasses, sit around the edges of the ice sheet, where they funnel ice and meltwater into the ocean. But the fissures also siphon meltwater and heat toward glaciers inland, which researchers say could trigger a "domino effect" that would lead to catastrophic melt and sea level rise. (2/6)

ESA to Launch In-Orbit Refueling Demonstration Mission (Source: European Spaceflight)
The European Space Agency has announced a new initiative to design, build, and test a prototype in-orbit refueling system for green, self-pressurizing propellants. Announced on 6 February, the In-Orbit Test of Prototype Refueling Technologies for Green Propellants initiative will be jointly managed by the agency’s Space Transportation and Connectivity and Secure Communications directorates. The initiative aims to extend a satellite’s in-orbit lifespan by more than 100%. (2/7)

Dunning and Kruger Go to Space (Source: SpaceQ)
There is a common cognitive bias where individuals with limited knowledge or competence in a particular area tend to consistently overestimate not only their abilities, but also their performance. This has become known as the “Dunning-Kruger Effect”. It’s a fascinating phenomenon because it highlights how a little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing. When people have just enough information to be dangerous, they often don’t realize how much they don’t know. This is known as a state of “Unconscious Incompetence”.

I would assert that we are currently experiencing a bit of an outbreak of the Dunning-Kruger effect in the space business these days. When talking to founders of new space businesses – and their investors – I think this outbreak expresses itself in two words: “vertical integration”. This is the feeling that new founders and new investors believe that the right way to “get their product to market” is to control all aspects of its development, deployment, and operation. (2/7)

For Astronaut Radiation Protection, Just Add Water (Source: ESA)
Space is not the safest place to be. During spaceflight, both devices and humans risk exposure to high levels of radiation. Without sufficient protection, instruments would malfunction, and astronauts might face serious health risks. A team of researchers from Ghent University in Belgium are testing the potential of 3D-printed hydrogels – materials that can soak up large amounts of water – to serve as highly-effective radiation shields. (2/6)

Geost Sues Sierra Space Over Breach of Contract in Military Satellite Program (Source: Space News)
Optical and infrared sensor supplier Geost has filed a $17.1 million breach of contract lawsuit against Sierra Space, alleging the company reneged on an agreement to use Geost’s sensor payloads for missile-tracking satellites under a U.S. Space Force program. Geost, a subsidiary of LightRidge Solutions based in Arizona, filed the complaint on Jan. 4 in the U.S. District Court in Denver. The lawsuit accuses Sierra Space of engaging in subcontracting negotiations and encouraging Geost to pre-purchase materials, only to later abandon the deal in favor of a competing supplier, Leidos, after securing a $740 million contract from the Space Force’s Space Development Agency (SDA). (2/6)

More Than 400 Lives Saved with NASA’s Search and Rescue Tech in 2024 (Source: NASA)
Did you know that the same search and rescue technologies developed by NASA for astronaut missions to space help locate and rescue people across the United States and around the world? NASA’s collaboration with the international satellite-aided search and rescue effort known as Cospas-Sarsat has enabled the development of multiple emergency location beacons for explorers on land, sea, and air.

Of the 407 lives saved in 2024 through search and rescue efforts in the United States, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) reports that 52 rescues were the result of activated personal locator beacons, 314 from emergency position-indicating radio beacons, and 41 from emergency locator transmitters. Since 1982, more than 50,000 lives have been saved across the world. (2/6)

DOGE Buyout Pushed to Critical Space Workers (Source: Space News)
A government employee buyout proposal spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has reached the space intelligence community. The so-called "Fork in the Road" memo offered federal employees the option to resign while retaining full pay and benefits through the end of September. The memo went to most of the federal workforce but initially excluded positions related to national security and public safety. However, the buyout program was nonetheless extended to civilian employees in agencies with critical space-related missions, officials with such agencies, including the NRO and NGA, confirmed. The deadline for the buyout was Thursday but a federal judge paused the effort in response to legal challenges from federal workforce unions. (2/7)

DIU Looking at Starship for In-Space Refueling (Source: Space News)
A Defense Department unit is examining how SpaceX's Starship vehicle could be used to support a broader architecture of in-space refueling. Gary Henry, a senior adviser at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and a former SpaceX executive, said DIU and SpaceX were looking at how Starship could advance a broader infrastructure for in-space refueling, leveraging the propellant transfer capabilities that Starship requires for missions beyond low Earth orbit. DIU is also examining how Starship could support "novel responsive space delivery" by bringing cargo from orbit back to the Earth. (2/7)

China's Spacesail Seeks to Expand Megaconstellation Services in Asia (Source: Space News)
Chinese low Earth orbit megaconstellation operator Spacesail has signed an agreement with Measat to expand its presence into Southeast Asia. The companies announced the agreement Thursday that will involve access to Spacesail's Thousand Sails, or Qianfan, megaconstellation for broadband, direct-to-device and Internet-of-Things services. Measat plans to combine Spacesail with its own geostationary communications satellites to create multi-orbit satellite networks to expand digital connectivity, especially in remote areas. (2/7)

Fear That Eutelsat and SES May Default on Debt (Source: Financial Times)
Investors are worried that satellite operators Eutelsat and SES may default on their debt. The cost of credit default swaps, a financial derivative that serves as a kind of insurance if companies default on debt, has grown significantly in the last year for the two operators. Those costs translate into a 65% chance Eutelsat will default on its nearly two billion euros in debt and 22% for SES's five billion euros in debt. Rating firms have cited problems the companies are facing responding to competition from SpaceX's Starlink as reasons for the growing risks of default. (2/7)

Urban Sky Developing Stratospheric Balloons to Compete with Satellites (Source: Space News)
Urban Sky, a startup developing stratospheric balloons for applications that compete with satellites, has raised $30 million. The company announced the Series B round Thursday led by Altos Ventures with several returning investors also participating. The company will use the funds to scale up its business flying small balloons into the stratosphere with imaging, communications and other payloads. They can provide imagery at lower costs and higher resolution than satellites, and can provide persistence by hovering over an area for hours or days. The company says the Defense Department has been particularly interested in the capability, calling the balloons "personally deployable satellites." (2/7)

Taking Space Safety Cues From Air and Sea (Source: Space News)
The space industry could take lessons from its aviation and maritime counterparts to improve orbital safety. A panel at the Smallsat Symposium Thursday advocated for space rules of the road like those that existing in sea and air travel. They also recommended the use of beacons on satellites to provide precision positions, citing the use of similar transponders on planes and ships. Automation may also be required to address the growing number of satellites and other objects in orbit. (2/7)

Dragon Swap at ISS Considered (Source: Ars Technica)
NASA and SpaceX will likely swap Dragon spacecraft to avoid further delays in the launch of a new crew to the ISS. That plan, yet to be formally announced by NASA, would use the Dragon spacecraft that had been assigned for the Ax-4 private astronaut mission by Axiom Space this spring for NASA's Crew-10 mission. Crew-10 was initially assigned to use a new Crew Dragon capsule, but delays in its assembly and testing had already pushed back the launch from February to late March, with the risk of additional slips. The swap would allow Crew-10 to launch in mid-March but would delay Ax-4 to later in the spring.

Engineers ran into battery problems plaguing the fifth-and-final generation Crew Dragon spacecraft, dubbed C213, which was supposed to carry a crew of new astronauts to the ISS sometime next month, finally allowing Wilmore and Williams to return. Instead, it now sounds like SpaceX's current-generation "Endurance" spacecraft, which returned from the ISS in March, will be used for that journey. If the trip is successful, Wilmore and Williams will come home as early as March 19 — roughly two weeks earlier than expected, so it's not making a particularly immense difference at this point. (2/7)

SDA Gets New Acting Director Amid Investigation of Derek Tournear (Source: Defense Scoop)
William Blauser has been named as the new acting director of the Space Development Agency as the Department of the Air Force continues its investigation into the organization’s previous leader, according to a DAF spokesperson. SDA is charged with development of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA), a planned mega-constellation comprising hundreds of data relay, missile warning and missile tracking satellites stationed in low-Earth orbit. (2/5)

Bahamas Prepares for Historic SpaceX Falcon 9 Booster Landing (Source: Eyewitness News)
A high-level delegation is currently in discussions with SpaceX officials as The Islands of The Bahamas prepare for the historic landing of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket booster on Feb. 17.  This landmark event will make The Bahamas the first international destination to host Falcon 9 rocket booster landings.

Taking place off the coast of The Exumas, the event marks a significant milestone for The Bahamas. A total of 20 scheduled landings are set to occur in Bahamian waters on autonomous drone ships, with The Bahamas serving as the exclusive location to witness these extraordinary events. This development presents unique economic prospects and opportunities for technological advancement. (2/7)

Former SpaceX Engineer Resigns From DOGE After Racist Background Emerges. Musk May Bring Him Back (Source: Fortune)
Marko Elez, a 25-year-old DOGE employee, has resigned after reports linked him to a social media account that shared racist content. Elez was part of a team of young, tech-savvy DOGE workers who have been tearing through government agencies. Among the alleged Elez social media posts: “Just for the record, I was racist before it was cool”, “You could not pay me to marry outside of my ethnicity”, and suggesting Gaza and Israel be “wiped off the face of the Earth.”.

According to a Wired report, the 25-year-old had admin privileges over the code that controls sensitive information, including Social Security payments and tax returns. After Elez's resignation, Elon Musk set up a poll on his X account that asked users to vote on the question: “Bring back @DOGE staffer who made inappropriate statements via a now deleted pseudonym?” At the time of writing, the poll was at 78% yes and 22% no. (2/7)

All The Ways Musk is Breaking the Law (Source: Vox)
David Super, an administrative law professor at Georgetown Law School, recently told the Washington Post that so many of Musk’s moves were “so wildly illegal” that he seemed to be “playing a quantity game, and assuming the system can’t react to all this illegality at once.” DOGE is making extremely aggressive use of paid administrative leave. Career officials who’ve resisted DOGE’s demands have been quickly put on administrative leave. So were government officials working on DEI. Federal law limits administrative leave to 10 workdays per year. So they will be exhausting the cap very quickly for many of these people.

The administration also sent the “fork in the road” email, saying that if civil servants agreed to resign, they’ll go on administrative leave and be paid their full salaries until September 30. They’re making a promise that is contrary to federal law — and that has very serious consequences. The appropriations clause of the Constitution says that federal money can only be spent pursuant to an appropriation by Congress. Congress has limited the appropriation, for salaries, to generally only 10 days of administrative leave per calendar year.

 There’s also been talk of Musk’s team trying to block specific grants from being paid out. But the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that when Congress directs that money be spent, the president is obliged to do it. And the administration has said Musk is a special government employee, though they are not saying exactly when he officially got that status. They’re saying that it’s up to him whether to declare a conflict of interest with anything he’s working on. We really don’t know if he has any status at all or they’re waiting to see what happens and they try to provide it to him retrospectively. (2/6)

Is Musk's Access to Government Networks and Federal Payment Systems Legal? (Source: Vox)
There are very elaborate requirements in federal law about who can control federal funds — who can issue payments on the behalf of the federal government. In all likelihood, the DOGE people involved do not qualify under those terms. It also means that they’re getting access to extraordinarily sensitive private information that is covered by the Privacy Act and a number of other statutes and regulations designed to protect the American people from identity theft.

Mr. Musk has been saying that he’s identifying false payments, or illegal payments, and saving the federal government $4 billion a day or some enormous figure of that kind. There’s no reason to believe that the data in this system would allow one to tell what’s legal and what’s not, leaving aside the fact that Mr. Musk is not authorized to make those sorts of decisions.

Musk said that he has the authority to abrogate federal rules without going through the procedures required by the Administrative Procedure Act. That would fundamentally upend the regulatory system in this country. I think that President Trump is following through on the statements he’s made a number of times that his appointments to the Supreme Court owe him and should show him loyalty, and he believes that between his three appointees and Justices Thomas and Alito, that he can have a majority willing to allow him to violate any federal law he wants to. (2/6)

Preventing China’s DeepSeek in Space (Source: Defense News)
China and Russia (often partnering together in space) continue aggressively targeting America’s space technology. For example, in August 2023, the Air Force, FBI, and National Counterintelligence and Security Center noted that Chinese and Russian space agencies are attempting to steal technology from SpaceX and Blue Origin, on whom NASA and DOD increasingly rely.

The solutions will be challenging, but they already exist for many defense companies who provide weapons systems to the Pentagon. NASA and DOD should impose stricter federal vetting standards and divestiture requirements as a condition for receiving government work. It should mandate that companies remove any potential connections to China and Russia that it deems to be of concern. (2/6)

SpaceX Formally Withdraws From South Africa Satellite Hearings (Source: TechCentral)
Starlink parent SpaceX has withdrawn its planned participation this week in public hearings into the proposed new licensing framework for satellite services in South Africa, TechCentral has learnt. The oral hearings, which have been called by communications regulator Icasa, kicked off in Pretoria on Wednesday, with SpaceX scheduled to make a presentation in the morning. But representatives of the Elon Musk-controlled SpaceX did not pitch up to present at its allocated timeslot. (2/6)

Budapest Hosts Space Industry Day on Sustainability and Space Policy (Source: Hungarian Conservative)
On Wednesday Budapest hosted a space industry event focusing on sustainability and space debris, organized by the Ministry for National Economy (NGM) and the European Space Agency (ESA). The event provided a platform for Hungarian companies and researchers to present their business and scientific solutions while marking a new milestone in the country’s space policy. During the gathering the Ministry for National Economy, Óbuda University, and the HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network signed a joint declaration affirming their commitment to responsible space policy. (2/6)

Fleet Space Wins Moon to Mars Grant to Develop Off-World Gravity Sensing Tech (Source: Mining.com)
Australian space exploration company Fleet Space Technologies announced it has been awarded a Moon to Mars supply chain grant from the Australian Government to develop advanced gravity sensing capabilities to accelerate in-situ resource exploration on the Moon and Mars. With the grant, Fleet Space will develop off-world MEMS gravity sensors to enable scalable gravity field mapping of planetary surfaces – a vital capability to assess the density of underlying geological formations and subsurface composition. (2/5)

Shetland Spaceport is Aiming High to Rival Cape Canaveral (Source: The Times)
A spaceport on Shetland is aiming to become the Cape Canaveral of Europe and has “two to three” rocket launches on course for this year. Scott Hammond, the deputy chief executive of the SaxaVord spaceport, is confident that the former RAF base will be ready for test flights in the second half of the year. Cape Canaveral in Florida is the main US launch center, with hundreds of other businesses located around it. Its visitor center has become a tourist attraction.

“We see ourselves as the Cape Canaveral of Scotland, the UK, and Europe. We have a license for up to 30 launches a year. Now we are not going to get to that straight away. We need to build to that and learn how to do everything efficiently and safely. We would hopefully see two to three launch attempts this year." (2/6)

Starlink Satellites Re-entering at 4-5 Per Day (Sources: Kelsey Johnson, Spaceweather.com)
"The sustained rate of daily reentries is unprecedented," says Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard Center for Astrophysics who tracks satellites. "They are retiring and incinerating about 4 or 5 Starlinks every day." When Starlinks reenter, they disintegrate before hitting the ground, adding metallic vapors to the atmosphere.

"The demise of just one Gen1 Starlink satellite produces about 30 kilograms (66 pounds) of aluminum oxide, a compound that eats away at the ozone layer. A new study finds these oxides have increased 8-fold between 2016 and 2022, and the recent surge is increasing the pollution even more.” (2/6)