March 11, 2025

Branson Wants Space Flights to Blast Off From UK (Source: The Times)
Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson expressed an ambition on Tuesday to speak to the UK government about launching crewed space planes from a UK runway, noting that such talks had already begun with Italian officials. Virgin Galactic planes presently fly from New Mexico in the United States. A ticket costs about £356,000. (3/11)

Arianespace Sees Stronger Demand for Ariane 6 Amid Shifting Geopolitics (Source: Space News)
The successful second flight of Europe’s Ariane 6 has become an opportunity for European officials to highlight the need for “strategic autonomy” in space given its changing relationship with the United States. An Ariane 6 successfully launched the CSO-3 reconnaissance satellite for the French military March 6 on the second flight of the long-delayed rocket and the first mission operated by Arianespace. It was the first of five Ariane 6 launches Arianespace plans to conduct this year. (3/11)

New Recipe for Gravity Could Unite Einstein's General Relativity with Quantum Physics — and Probe the Dark Universe (Source: Space.com)
A new recipe for gravity could help solve some of the universe's greatest mysteries. It suggests that the concept of "quantum gravity" could arise from entropy, possibly solving puzzles put forth by the elusive dark universe — and, if true, this novel theory could also finally unite Albert Einstein's general relativity with the quantum realm. (3/10)

Rocket Lab Readies New Zealand Launch for iQPS (Source: NSF)
Rocket Lab is scheduled to launch its third mission of 2025 on Saturday, March 15, at 00:00 UTC from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1B (LC-1B) at the Māhia Peninsula in New Zealand. The mission, titled “The Lightning God Reigns,” will deploy iQPS’s synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites into LEO. These satellites are designed to capture high-resolution images of Earth. iQPS aims to have 24 of these satellites in orbit by 2027.

This will be the first of eight Electron launches to carry iQPS’s SAR satellites. This collaboration with Rocket Lab will help fill out the constellation to 36 satellites. This launch has been delayed several times, with Rocket Lab citing “customer requirements” for the delays, as well as vehicle checkouts. (3/10)

NSSA Calls for Doubling U.S. Space Force Budget to Maintain Space Superiority (Source: Space Daily)
The National Security Space Association (NSSA) has issued an official position paper titled "Double Down on the Space Force Budget," urging Congress to increase the U.S. Space Force budget to $60 billion over the FY 2026-2030 Future Years Defense Program (FYDP). This proposed budget expansion is deemed essential to counter emerging threats posed by China and Russia, both of which have advanced counterspace capabilities, cyber warfare tactics, and anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons that threaten U.S. national security and global stability. (3/11)

The Ozone Hole is Healing, Thanks to Global Reduction of CFCs (Source: Space Daily)
A new MIT-led study confirms that the Antarctic ozone layer is healing, as a direct result of global efforts to reduce ozone-depleting substances. Scientists including the MIT team have observed signs of ozone recovery in the past. But the new study is the first to show, with high statistical confidence, that this recovery is due primarily to the reduction of ozone-depleting substances, versus other influences such as natural weather variability or increased greenhouse gas emissions to the stratosphere. (3/11)

Goonhilly Provides Critical Communications for Lunar Mission, Advancing Moon Economy (Source: Space Daily)
England's Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd continues to play a pivotal role in lunar exploration and infrastructure expansion, reinforcing its importance in humanity's return to the Moon.

Goonhilly is delivering essential communications support for Intuitive Machines' IM-2 mission, which launched on February 27, 2025 (UK time). This marks one of several key lunar missions that Goonhilly will support in 2025, all of which contribute to the development of a sustainable lunar economy. These efforts are laying the foundation for future human and robotic operations on the Moon. (3/11)

Scottish Space Tech to Power Danish Financial Innovation (Source: Space Daily)
Scottish space technology is playing a key role in advancing Denmark's financial sector, leveraging satellite data to enhance ESG reporting, bolster cybersecurity, and refine investment decision-making. This collaboration aligns with Denmark's recently unveiled national space strategy, announced in December 2024, which prioritizes international partnerships to drive innovation.

Scottish Enterprise, in collaboration with Glasgow City Innovation District (GCID) and Copenhagen Fintech, is spearheading an initiative to showcase how Scottish space companies can support the Danish financial industry. As part of this effort, a key networking event will take place on 18 March at the British Embassy in Copenhagen, following engagements with major industry organizations. (3/11)

FARMing with Data OpenET Introduces FARMS Tool to Aid Water Management (Source: Space Daily)
A collaborative effort supported by NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is enhancing the ability of farmers and ranchers to manage their water resources effectively. The initiative, led by OpenET, has resulted in the launch of the Farm and Ranch Management Support (FARMS) tool, designed to deliver high-resolution, real-time water data to individual users and small farm operators. By increasing data accessibility, the tool aims to bolster agricultural planning, optimize water use, and improve conservation efforts, thereby strengthening local and regional agricultural communities. (3/11)

NASA Contracts with Facial Recognition AI Provider (Source: 404Media)
NASA paid for access to Clearview AI’s “Investigator Tool + Cloud Database,” according to a set of procurement documents obtained by 404 Media under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Clearview is a controversial facial recognition company which was the first to cross the rubicon of allowing third parties to search for someone’s face and then link that to their online activity, such as their social media profiles. Previously, NASA told 404 Media that that license was purchased on behalf of the agency’s Office of Inspector General (OIG). (3/10)

Tracking DOGE’s Impact on Space and the Federal Workforce (Source: Space News)
The White House and the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency have spent the first weeks of Donald Trump’s new administration looking to reduce the number of federal workers and shrink spending. The cuts have followed roughly the same formula from agency to agency. What does that mean for space? It’s challenging to track every corner of the federal workforce that works on space, making it difficult to determine exactly how many jobs have been lost. Click here. (3/9)

Virgin Galactic Plans Supersonic Private Jet (Source: Simple Flying)
Virgin Galactic, long known for its ambitious space tourism ventures, is making waves in the world of luxury air travel. With the unveiling of its ultra-high-speed private jet concept, comparisons to the legendary Concorde are inevitable. Promising to revolutionize private aviation in the same way Concorde redefined commercial supersonic travel, Virgin Galactic’s private jet aims to offer an unparalleled experience in speed, efficiency, and luxury. But does it truly live up to the legacy of Concorde? Let’s examine its technological advancements, market potential, and the broader implications for the future of high-speed travel. Click here. (3/10)

Texas: A Whole Other Spacefaring Country (Source: Space Review)
Two Texas-based companies landed on the Moon in less than a week, a sign of the growing space industry in the state. Jeff Foust reports on how the state government is working to support that industry with a new commission and hundreds of millions of dollars in funding. Click here. (3/11)
 
The European Space Tug 1970–1972 (Source: Space Review)
In the early 1970s, European companies studied space tug concepts that could be used in junction with NASA’s Space Shuttle to launch payloads to higher orbits. Hans Dolfing explores what is known about two such concepts. Click here. (3/11)
 
Bennu Asteroid Reveals its Contents to Scientists (Source: Space Review)
Earlier this year scientists announced the first results of studies of material from the asteroid Bennu returned by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission. Timothy McCoy and Sara Russell discuss how Bennu helped them link that asteroid with a class of meteorites and provide new insights into solar system development. Click here. (3/11)

What's Really Happening With Elon Musk and Those ‘Stranded’ Astronauts? (Source: Ars Technica)
Yes, SpaceX has been working with NASA to present options, including the possibility of a return last fall. However, those discussions were being held within the program levels and their leaders: Stich for Commercial Crew and Dana Weigel for the International Space Station.

"Dana and I worked to come up with a decision that worked for the Commercial Crew Program and Space Station," Stich said. "And then, Ken (Bowersox), we all, we had the Flight Readiness Review process with you, and the administrator of NASA listened in as well. So we had a recommendation to the agency and that was on the process that we typically use." Bowersox confirmed that the decision was made at the programmatic level.

So was this change to accelerate the return of Wilmore and Williams politically driven? The decision to swap to Endurance was made in late January, Stich said, and this allowed the launch date to be moved forward. Asked if political pressure was a reason, Stich said it was not. "It really was driven by a lot of other factors, and we were looking at this before some of those statements were made by the President and Mr. Musk," he said. (3/7)

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt is the New Leader of Relativity Space (Source: Ars Technica)
Another Silicon Valley investor is getting into the rocket business. Former Google chief executive Eric Schmidt has taken a controlling interest in the Long Beach, California-based Relativity Space. Schmidt's involvement with Relativity has been quietly discussed among space industry insiders for a few months. Multiple sources say he has largely been bankrolling the company since the end of October, when the company's previous fundraising dried up.

It is not immediately clear why Schmidt is taking a hands-on approach at Relativity. However, it is one of the few US-based companies with a credible path toward developing a medium-lift rocket that could potentially challenge the dominance of SpaceX and its Falcon 9 rocket. If the Terran R booster becomes commercially successful, it could play a big role in launching megaconstellations.

Schmidt's ascension also means that Tim Ellis, the company's co-founder, chief executive, and almost sole public persona for nearly a decade, is now out of a leadership position. He will remain as a board member. The company will build the first "flight" version of the Terran R rocket this year, according to the video. It will eventually launch from a pad at Cape Canaveral, possibly sometime in 2026. The company aims to soft land the first stage of the first launch in the Atlantic Ocean. Full reuse of the first stage will be delayed to future upgrades. Eventually, the Relativity officials said, they intend to reach a flight rate of 50 to 100 rockets a year with the Terran R. (3/10)

Emirati Consortium to Launch First Satellite of Sirb Constellation by Late 2026, Early 2027 (Source: Breaking Defense)
An industry team tasked with launching a small satellite constellation for the United Arab Emirates wants to get its first bird into low Earth orbit (LEO) as early as the end of next year or early 2027, according to a key industry executive. The industry consortium is in the “last stages” of selecting a launch partner from the three finalists out of an original 10 international entities that had been under consideration, Waleid Al Mesmari, president of the space and cyber tech division of the sprawling Emirati defense conglomerate EDGE Group, told Breaking Defense last month. (3/10)

Testing of Key Callisto Reusable Rocket Demonstrator Component Underway (Source: European Spaceflight)
DLR has announced that, in conjunction with the French space agency CNES, it has begun acoustic testing on the Vehicle Equipment Bay of the Callisto reusable rocket demonstrator. The Callisto project was initiated in 2015 to mature key technologies for the eventual development of a reusable launch system. (3/10)

Rising CO2 Likely to Speed Decrease in ‘Space Sustainability’ (Source: University of Birmingham)
The total number of satellites that can orbit in space is likely to decrease as greenhouse gases cause Earth’s upper atmosphere to contract, new research shows. Currently more than 8,000 satellites are orbiting at altitudes of between 300 and 1000 km in the Earth’s upper atmosphere – also called the thermosphere.

While changes in space weather, such as coronal mass ejections and solar flares, can cause temporary changes in the density of this region, scientists at the University of Birmingham suggest the effects caused by global warming are likely to be much longer term. (3/7)

China Unveils New High-Thrust Engine for Future Space Travel (Source: Xinhua)
A Chinese research team announced Monday that a space thruster has achieved full-power operation. The 100 kW high-thrust magnetoplasmadynamic thruster they tested is poised to pave the way for future space travel, with applications in interstellar journeys, interplanetary cargo transport and deep-space exploration.

The engine is a plasma propulsion system, working by ionizing the propellant to create plasma, which is then accelerated by an electromagnetic field to form a high-speed particle stream, thus generating thrust, according to its designer Xi'an Aerospace Propulsion Institute. (3/10)

‘Alien’ Signal Was Actually Just a Truck (Source: Cosmos)
New research throws doubt on claims that meteorite material recovered from the Pacific Ocean in 2023 is of interstellar origin. At the time, seismic signals linked to the meteor helped Harvard scientists to locate its fragments on the sea floor. However, these new findings suggest the signals were actually just from a passing truck rumbling along the road.

Avi Loeb, a physicist from Harvard University searched NASA’s Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) database to find other objects with unusual orbital characteristics. One that jumped out was the speedy 2014 meteor, officially designated CNEOS 20140108. Loeb’s team then modelled the path of the fireball, drawing on the seismic data from a station on Manus Island, which showed a spike in ground vibrations at the time that the meteor entered the atmosphere.

Analysis of 57 of these spherules showed they were extremely rich in beryllium, lanthanum and uranium, with much higher concentrations than they are naturally found on Earth. This unusual elemental composition led Loeb to claim that the meteor had been of interstellar origin. Benjamin Fernando believes that Loeb’s team misinterpreted the seismic data, linking it to the meteor when in fact they may not have been related at all. (3/11)

America Needs a Strong NASA (Source: Space News)
NASA has long been voted the best place to work in the federal government and it is regularly ranked by Americans as one of the most trustworthy of federal agencies. Globally, NASA is one of the most recognized and beloved brands. It is, in short, a special part of the American identity. We are at a time, however, where NASA’s role in that identity is being challenged. The organization is undergoing significant transformation through its evolving partnership with the private sector.

We now need to ask, what is NASA’s role going forward? NASA needs to lead, not just fund, the future of space exploration and development. Without NASA leading the way and designing, developing and operating core elements of our presence in space, the nation and the public lose leverage in the future. While services from privately-owned capabilities are a great enabler, the enduring aspect of our effort requires it be done by America, not just by Americans. (3/10)

Rivada Eyes U.S. Government Contracts as it Prepares to Deploy 600-Satellite Network (Source: Space News)
Rivada Space Networks plans to start deploying test satellites for its projected low-Earth constellation in 2026, the company announced March 10. The initial deployment of test satellites will be followed by launches of operational satellites beginning in 2027 for Rivada’s Outernet project that aims to create a secure, laser-linked mesh network in space that does not rely on terrestrial gateways. (3/11)

Thales Alenia Space Wins SKY Perfect JSAT Order in Tight GEO Market (Source: Space News)
Japan’s SKY Perfect JSAT has ordered a satellite from Thales Alenia Space to sustain its geostationary services, marking the European manufacturer’s second commercial contract this year in an increasingly competitive market. The JSAT-32 satellite is slated to launch in 2027 to provide Ku and Ka-band broadband and broadcast services over Japan and surrounding areas, replacing aging spacecraft in the region. (3/10)

SpaceWERX Selects Eight Companies for $440 Million in Public-Private Partnerships (Source: Space News)
SpaceWERX, the commercial outreach arm of the U.S. Space Force, selected eight companies for Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) agreements for 2025 worth a combined $440 million in government and private funding. Each STRATFI agreement is worth up to $60 million, with SpaceWERX and several defense agencies contributing up to $30 million per project. Private investors provide matching funds to scale innovations that have already demonstrated viability through prototype development.

The winners — Albedo, Beast Code, CesiumAstro, Gravitics, LeoLabs, Rise8, Umbra and Xona — were announced Saturday at an event at the Capital Factory in Austin, Texas. SpaceWERX argues that the STRATFI agreements help bridge the notorious "valley of death" that can prevent promising technologies from reaching operational deployment. (3/10)

LeoLabs to Build Space Tracking Radar with SpaceWERX Support (Source: Space News)
One of the companies winning a STRATFI agreement, LeoLabs, will use it to build another tracking radar. The company said Monday it plans to deploy a new Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radar installation by late 2026 somewhere in the Indo-Pacific region. The Indo-Pacific radar will track space activities but also focus on the detection of Chinese space launches and on tracking Chinese satellite maneuvers, LeoLabs said. (3/11)

SES and Intelsat Pursue Separate Deals with Lynk Global (Source: Space News)
Satellite operators SES and Intelsat have made separate deals with direct-to-device satellite startup Lynk Global. SES announced at the Satellite 2025 conference Monday that it is making a "small, low-risk" investment in Lynk, contributing ground infrastructure and its geostationary and medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellites. SES will also collaborate with Lynk to bring its satellite manufacturing capability to Europe, mirroring direct-to-device rival AST SpaceMobile's recent expansion.

Intelsat, which is in the process of merging with SES, separately announced Monday it made its own investment in Lynk. Intelsat said it sees an opportunity to help bring Lynk Global's technology to government and mobility customers worldwide and is also looking to collaborate on new small satellites. SES and Intelsat were unaware of each others' investments in Lynk. (3/11)

NASA Closes Offices, Lays Off Staff as it Prepares for Larger Workforce Reductions (Source: Space News)
NASA is closing three offices and laying off about two dozen people as a precursor to larger job cuts. NASA announced Monday it was closing its Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy; the Office of the Chief Scientist; and the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Branch of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The 23 employees of those offices are being laid off. NASA Acting Administrator Janet Petro said these cuts were in advance of a larger "reduction in force" of agency personnel, mandated by a White House executive order. (3/11)

Voyager, Palantir Deepen Alliance to Develop Military Space Tech (Source: Space News)
Voyager Technologies is expanding its partnership with data analytics firm Palantir Technologies on defense. Voyager said Monday that the partnership aims to produce specialized payloads for space domain awareness that can be deployed on either military or commercial satellites to monitor the space environment, taking advantage of Palantir's artificial intelligence capabilities. The companies previously announced a strategic partnership focused on commercial and civil space applications, including work on the Starlab commercial space station. (3/11)

NGA Focused on Mission Despite Job Cuts (Source: Space News)
The head of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) said the organization is focused on its mission despite job cuts. NGA Director Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth said at Satellite 2025 Monday he was proud of how NGA's workforce is handling mandated reductions, though he declined to specify exact numbers of employees who have departed either through voluntary buyouts or layoffs. "That said, they're humans, they have stresses," he added. As the agency manages workforce realignment, it is simultaneously accelerating efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into analysts' workflows, naming three officials to new AI-related positions recently. (3/11)

Emerging Launch Companies See Strong Demand but Look for Government Support (Source: Space News)
Emerging launch companies believe there is room in the market for their new vehicles but are looking for support from the government. During a session at the Satellite 2025 conference, executives from several companies said there is strong commercial and government demand for their vehicles in a market currently dominated by SpaceX.

They said the government in particular will be interested in new providers to offer assured access to space. They called on the Space Force, though, to rapidly on-ramp new companies to Lane 1 of the National Security Space Launch Phase 3 contract, suggesting Congress should step in if the service fails to do so. They also want more funding for the Space Force's space mobility and logistics efforts, which extend beyond launch to satellite servicing and reentry services. (3/11)

Evolving Threats From Cyber to Lasers and Jammers (Source: Space News)
Satellite operators have to deal with a growing number of threats. Government officials said many industry executives do not have a good grasp of the threat posed by state-sponsored organizations in China and Russia. This includes cybersecurity potential attacks to their networks. Russia has increased laser and radio-frequency jamming attacks on satellites as well since its invasion of Ukraine three years ago. (3/11)

Expect More Mergers and Acquisitions in 2025 (Source: Space News)
This could be the busiest year for space mergers and acquisitions for some time. Industry executives see pent-up deal activity from last year that failed to close along with new interest in acquisitions across the sector. That interest is driven by an expectation of higher U.S. government spending on early-stage defense technology and national security satellites as well as a growing level of interest from well-financed commercial space companies looking to grow through acquisitions. There many also be consolidation among companies. (3/11)

Space Symposium to Break Records with Exhibitors, International Participation (Source: Space News)
Next month's Space Symposium is set to be the biggest yet. A record number of exhibitors are confirmed for the 40th Space Symposium taking place in Colorado Springs, along with potentially a record for international participation in the event. However, budgetary constraints are likely to prevent some U.S. Air Force and Space Force personnel from coming. (3/11)