March 28, 2025

China Strengthens Focus on Astrobiology (Source: Space News)
The Chinese government has outlined an ambitious roadmap of missions with a common theme of the search for life beyond Earth. Those missions include the Tianwen-3 Mars sample return mission scheduled for launch in late 2028 and the Tianwen-4 mission that would launch in 2029 to Jupiter and orbit the large moon Callisto. Other missions include a Venus atmosphere sample return mission in 2033, an uncrewed Mars "research station" in the late 2030s that would support environmental and biological research and a 2039 launch of a mission to Neptune and its icy moon Triton. Astrobiology is a common thread for those missions, although many face technical and fiscal challenges. (3/28)

Next ISS Crew Announced (Source: NASA)
NASA announced the crew for its next Crew Dragon mission to the ISS, including two astronauts who had previously been assigned to other flights. The Crew-11 mission will be commanded by NASA's Zena Cardman with Mike Fincke as pilot. Kimiya Yui of JAXA and Oleg Platonov of Roscosmos will be mission specialists. Cardman was originally slated to command the Crew-9 mission last year but taken off the flight when NASA opted to free up two seats on that vehicle to allow Starliner astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore to return. Fincke was previously assigned to Starliner-1, the first operational Starliner flight. Crew-11 is scheduled to launch as soon as July. (3/28)

Cygnus Cargo Craft Departs ISS (Source: NASA)
A Cygnus cargo spacecraft departed from the station this morning. The station's Canadarm2 robotic arm unberthed the Cygnus and released it at about 6:55 a.m. Eastern. The Cygnus, which had been at the ISS since last August, is carrying trash that will be burned up in the atmosphere when the spacecraft reenters on Sunday. (3/28)

GAO Rejects Kayhan Protest of Commerce Dept. Contract Award to Slingshot (Source: Space News)
The GAO rejected a protest filed about a contract for the Office of Space Commerce's space traffic coordination system. Kayhan Space filed the protest after the office selected Slingshot Aerospace for developing the "presentation layer," or web interface, for the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS).

The GAO concluded that there was no evidence for several claims in Kayhan's protest regarding evaluation of the proposals. The GAO published its decision the same day that several Democratic members of the House Science Committee released a letter they sent to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, expressing concerns about the effect of layoffs of probationary employees at the office on its work on TraCSS. (3/28)

Thales Alenia to Develop ESA Digital Twin for Agriculture (Source: Space News)
Thales Alenia Space will develop a digital twin of agricultural systems by combining satellite data and crop modeling for the European Space Agency. The company will start offering early digital engineering tools by the end of 2026 for the European Space Agency's SaveCrops4EU project, part of ESA's Digital Twin Earth program that aims to build interactive, high-precision digital replicas of Earth systems to support policy decisions and climate adaptation. These models combine satellite data, simulation tools and artificial intelligence to help users explore, visualize and test different scenarios and their real-world outcomes. (3/28)

Rocket Lab and Stoke Space Added to NSSL Launch Contract (Source: Space News)
The Space Force has added Rocket Lab and Stoke Space to the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) contract. The Space Force announced Thursday that it included the two companies in NSSL Phase 3's Lane 1, which is the entry-level tier for missions to low Earth orbit. Each company gets a $5 million initial task order for a capabilities assessment and to establish their tailored mission assurance process. They will then be eligible to compete for launch service orders through 2029, with at least 30 missions expected to be awarded. Rocket Lab's Neutron is scheduled for a first launch later this year, while Stoke Space's Nova medium-class rocket is in development. (3/28)

Booz Allen Megaconstellation Would Support Golden Dome (Source: Space News)
Booz Allen Hamilton unveiled a concept for a satellite megaconstellation that could support the Golden Dome missile defense system. The concept, dubbed "Brilliant Swarms," would consist of up to 2,000 small satellites operating as an interconnected network powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning technology, company executives said Thursday.

The satellites would serve dual purposes as both detection systems and kill vehicles that would de-orbit, target, and physically slam into threats without requiring missiles in space. The company says the system could be developed and fielded for approximately $25 billion, significantly less than the $65 billion spent on current missile-defense systems focused on threats from North Korea and Iran. (3/28)

NASA’s X-59 Completes ‘Cruise Control’ Engine Speed Hold Test (Source: NASA)
The team behind NASA’s X-59 completed another critical ground test in March, ensuring the quiet supersonic aircraft will be able to maintain a specific speed during operation. The test, known as engine speed hold, is the latest marker of progress as the X-59 nears first flight this year. (3/26)

Collins Aerospace Lays Off California Workers (Source: San Diego Union)
Collins Aerospace, which makes major components for Boeing, Airbus and military planes, is laying off 119 workers in Chula Vista. The workforce reduction takes effect May 12, according to the company’s WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) letter to the state. In most cases, companies are required to give advance notice to employees and government officials ahead of a large layoff. (3/27)

Blue Origin’s Upcoming Launch Is by Far the Most Annoying Private Mission Yet (Source: Gizmodo)
Private spaceflight is entering its peak cringe era with the upcoming launch of Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket, sending a crew that includes a fallen-off pop star and Jeff Bezos’ partner to the edge of space. The mission will launch an all-female crew that includes singer Katy Perry, TV personality and Oprah’s bestie, Gayle King, and Bezos’s fiancée, Lauren Sánchez. Also on board will be former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn. (3/27)

NASA, Boeing Prepare for Starliner Testing (Source: NASA)
NASA and Boeing are making progress toward crew certification of the company’s CST-100 Starliner system following the Crew Flight Test to the International Space Station. Joint teams are working to resolve Starliner’s in-flight anomalies and preparing for propulsion system testing in the months ahead as NASA plans for Starliner’s next flight. (3/27)

JWST Reveals Exoplanet Composition with Unprecedented Clarity (Source: Chemistry World)
Exoplanets orbiting a star 133 light years away contain a far greater abundance of carbon than the star itself, according to the first direct spectral data of this kind captured by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The discovery has implications for how these planets formed, suggesting they share a similar evolutionary history to Jupiter and Saturn. (3/27)

Study Warns About Mars' Dust (Source: Newser)
Dust was a problem for astronauts during the Apollo missions, causing coughing and runny eyes while getting into the lunar landers. It could complicate any visits to Mars, as well, a study published in GeoHealth says while outlining the risks for crews and their equipment. Martian dust contains toxic substances including silica, gypsum, and metals. It's less abrasive than lunar dust, but so fine that it can get into a person's lungs and bloodstream. Studies at the time of the lunar landings also showed that prolonged exposure to the moon's dust could cause chronic health effects. (3/26)

Miles Space Flight Tests Water-Fueled Thruster (Source: Space News)
Miles Space has demonstrated a water-fueled electric thruster with unusually lower power demands. During testing conducted in September 2024 on a European satellite, Miles Space’s Poseidon M1.5 thruster, which fits in a one-unit cubesat, demonstrated its utility for applications like descent from low-Earth orbit where thrusters fire for a long time, said an engineer who does not work for Miles Space but reviewed raw telemetry data. (3/27)

Invisible Electric Field Discovered Surrounding Earth, NASA Says it's 'As Crucial As Gravity' (Source: Earth.com)
Observations from a NASA suborbital rocket have enabled an international group of experts to measure a global electric field that surrounds Earth for the first time ever. According to scientists, this ambipolar electric field is thought to be just as crucial to Earth as gravity and magnetism. The finding stems from data captured by NASA’s Endurance mission, which targeted a zone in the upper atmosphere associated with the escape of air into space. (3/26)

How Musk is Building His Own SpaceX-Geared Town in Texas (Source: Politico)
Elon Musk’s extraordinary role in reforming the federal government has led some to call him a shadow president. In May, he will also likely become the de-facto mayor of his own town in the coastal plains of South Texas.

The side drama is taking place in the village of Boca Chica, Texas — 1,800 miles from Washington, in the corner of one of the nation’s poorest counties wedged between the Rio Grande and the Gulf of Mexico. There on May 3, voters will be asked to weigh in on a ballot initiative asking whether Musk’s SpaceX base of operation should become its own municipality called Starbase. (3/27)

Is Elon Musk Remaking Government or Breaking It? (Source: The Economist)
Next to space travel, remaking the government sounds easy. Elon Musk conceives of himself as the savior of humanity, who will put people on Mars as a prelude to making humankind a multiplanetary species. But of all the things President Donald Trump has done at home since his inauguration in January, putting DOGE (the Department of Government Efficiency) under Mr Musk has turned out to be the most polarizing. The world’s richest man is exalted by some as an altruistic genius and hated by others as a self-dealing villain. Is he remaking the government, or breaking it? (3/27)

Astronauts Can Survive a Trip to Mars, But This Vital Organ Will Be Permanently Damaged (Source: Earth.com)
Researchers have been working to figure out what might happen to the human body during these extended voyages. Kidneys have been a big question mark. Recent work reveals that these important organs could face more trouble than previously assumed, including a higher risk of stones and lasting damage.

Several studies have hinted at health concerns for astronauts ever since humans first ventured outside Earth’s protective zone, but the new findings shed light on why such problems arise in the kidneys. Findings revealed that the structure and function of the kidneys are altered by spaceflight, with galactic radiation causing permanent damage that would jeopardize any long-distance mission. (3/27)

Air Force Weighs Plan to Cancel SDA’s Next Set of Data Relay Sats in Favor of SpaceX (Source: Breaking Defense)
The Department of the Air Force is considering a plan in which the Space Development Agency (SDA) would cancel upcoming competitions for its future Transport Layer satellites in favor of tapping SpaceX to provide the capability to rapidly transmit large amounts of data around the globe, two sources told Breaking Defense.

The potential shift, part of the 8 percent budget drill ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, was recommended by the Space Force in order to protect the service’s other high-priority efforts, according to one industry and one government source. (3/27)

UK Government Backs Spaceports but Issues Warning (Source: We Love Stornoway)
New UK government thinking just published sheds light on the future of the Scottish space sector including the North Uist spaceport. Although the briefing document does not explicitly mention the Scolpaig, it draws several broad conclusions and makes recommendations regarding Scotland’s space sector and launch capabilities that will likely have implications for all spaceports in Scotland, including North Uist.

While the UK Government Response to the Scottish Affairs Committee Inquiry into Scotland’s space sector, which was worth £298 million in 2021/22, contains positives, it also contains a stark warning. The government stresses that space launches involve inherent risk, citing the high failure rates of new operators’ initial launches.

To minimize the risks involved, the UK Space Agency plans to work closely with launch operators and Scottish spaceports to highlight these risks ahead of future launches. Worryingly, for those on the ground near spaceports, the briefing document emphasizes that “failures are learning opportunities” and are to be expected on the journey towards success. It notes, too, that the UK Space Agency will work to develop public understanding of this, particularly as Scotland approaches launch capability. (3/27)

Rocket Lab Really (Really) Wants NASA to Pay It $4 Billion (Source: Motley Fool)
NASA wants to commission a Mars Sample Return mission to retrieve soil and air samples collected by the Perseverance Rover on Mars. Multiple space companies are bidding on the work. Rocket Lab has the best price published so far, and a huge motivation to want to win this contract. Winning MSR would double Rocket Lab's annual revenue in an instant. (3/26)

A Lawyer Who Represented SpaceX Looks to Downsize Federal Contracting Watchdog (Source: NPR)
On Monday, March 24, Catherine Eschbach, the new head of a civil rights agency within the Labor Department, sent an email to her staff introducing herself and announcing her plans to downsize the agency and investigate whether the work it's been engaged in for decades is constitutional. "We will restore the agency to full compliance with its constitutional and statutory authority," concluded Eschbach.

Eschbach comes to OFCCP after most recently working at private law firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, where she represented SpaceX in an ongoing legal battle between SpaceX and the National Labor Relations Board, an independent agency that investigates and adjudicates unfair labor practice charges.

The NLRB was examining the firings of eight SpaceX employees when the company, represented by lawyers including Eschbach, filed suit last year against the agency arguing that its structure was unconstitutional. The board dropped its opposition to SpaceX's arguments on constitutionality in court after Trump fired one of its members, but it's unclear how or when that case will be resolved. Now, Eschbach appears to be considering dismantling OFCCP, the agency she leads. (3/27)

Florida Leaders Push to Move NASA Headquarters to the Space Coast (Source: MyNews13)
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other leaders said it makes sense to move NASA’s headquarters out of Washington D.C. and on to the Space Coast. DeSantis commented that instead of the U.S. space agency building a new building for its headquarters in Washington, D.C., it could be looking at the Sunshine State. And he said NASA would not need to spend what he claimed was an estimated $500 million for a new building.

“And when they tell you it's going to be a half-a-billion, you know, it will probably end up being $1 billion," DeSantis said. "They're already making expansions, at Kennedy (Space Center). And you could basically use that existing footprint to move the NASA headquarters there. And you'd save the taxpayers half-a-billion, maybe even $1 billion.” (3/26)

Moog Ships First Meteor Satellite Buses for National Security Space Mission (Source: Space News)
Moog Inc. announced the shipment of its first Meteor spacecraft buses for national security space missions. Meteor is a mission-configurable propulsive ESPA Grande-class bus, designed with seven decades of Moog experience in flight-proven spacecraft components, subsystems, and systems. Its modular and flexible design make it ideal for a wide variety of payloads and flight profiles for dynamic space operations. (3/26)

Critical Software Announces Strategic Investment in Turion Space (Source: Space News)
Critical Software announced a strategic investment in Turion Space. The strategic partnership will see Critical Software support Turion’s expansion into the European market, while Turion’s leadership will play a key advisory role in Critical Software’s growth in the U.S. Together, the companies aim to set a new standard for innovation in space technology. (3/26)

UAE Pushes the Boundaries of Middle East Space Exploration (Source: Gulf News)
The Middle East, particularly the UAE, has embraced the challenge of space technology with significant milestones such as the Emirates Mars Mission. The successful deployment of the Hope probe into Martian orbit required advanced navigation systems, sophisticated propulsion, and innovative data transmission technologies. This achievement highlights the UAE's growing role as a technological hub for space exploration and a leader in planetary science.

The UAE’s astronaut program, exemplified by Hazza Al Mansouri and Sultan Al Neyadi’s missions aboard the International Space Station, further demonstrates how technological advancements in training, spacecraft operation, and life-support systems are critical for extended human presence in space. These missions have also significantly increased regional interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, reflecting the broader impact of space exploration on technological growth.

Additionally, the UAE’s pursuit of lunar exploration with projects such as the Rashid rover emphasizes a regional commitment to developing robotic technology, autonomous navigation systems, and resilient communication capabilities. Saudi Arabia is similarly prioritizing space-related technology through the Saudi Space Commission, focusing on satellites, communications infrastructure, and scientific research. (3/27)

Canadian Space Agency Signs Launch Services Agreement with Exolaunch (Source: SpaceQ)
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has signed a launch services agreement with Exolaunch for its CUBICS Initiative, a follow-on program to the successful Canadian CubeSat Project. The CubeSats Initiative in Canada for STEM, known as CUBICS, was introduced in 2022 and selected an initial nine university projects which received $3.15M in June of 2023. Then last August the CSA issued a request for proposals for the launch. (3/26)

NASA Just Shot Rockets At The Northern Lights. This Is What Happened (Source: Forbes)
Two NASA rockets launched from Alaska on March 25, 2025, lit up the night sky with strange blue lights and white vapor trails to the backdrop of the Northern Lights. The spectacular display was visible across central and northern Alaska. Two of three planned sounding rockets launched from the Poker Flat Research Range north of Fairbanks, Alaska, in the pre-dawn hours to study a sudden auroral substorm. It came days after NASA announced that scientists were on standby.

The first to launch was a 42-foot Terrier-Improved Malemute rocket launching late in the daily window, which released a payload about 50 and 110 miles up and measured magnetic perturbations caused by the aurora. It also measured pressure fluctuations, as reported by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute.

Shortly after, a 70-foot, four-stage Black Brant XII rocket launched to release a payload of pink, blue and white vapor tracers at four different heights over central Alaska. UAF student and staff researchers were at ground stations in Utqiagvik, Kaktovik, Toolik Lake, Eagle, Venetie, and Poker Flat in Alaska. (3/26)

Mice Flown on ISS Experience Bone Loss Mostly in Weight-Bearing Bones (Source: PLOS)
Exposure to weightlessness in microgravity and elevated space radiation are associated with rapid bone loss in mammals, but questions remain about their mechanisms of action and relative importance. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that bone loss during spaceflight in Low Earth Orbit is primarily associated with site-specific microgravity unloading of weight-bearing sites in the skeleton. Microcomputed tomography and histological analyses of bones from mice space flown on ISS for 37 days in the NASA Rodent Research-1 experiment show significant site-specific cancellous and cortical bone loss occurring in the femur, but not in L2 vertebrae. (3/26)

Mysterious Blue Spiral Baffles Onlookers Across The UK, Causing Experts To Reveal Its True Cause (Source: Bored Panda)
A puzzling event left many in awe in Great Britain as a large, spiraling blue-white light was seen twirling through the skies last Monday night (March 24). As the hours went by, the UK’s Met Office was forced to issue an explanation after receiving numerous reports about the mysterious light, later confirming that the unusual spiral was the result of frozen fuel from a SpaceX rocket launch. “This stunning spiral was caused by excess fuel venting from the Falcon 9 rocket,” the post read. (3/26)

How NASA’s Perseverance Is Helping Prepare Astronauts for Mars (Source: NASA)
A key objective is to pave the way for human exploration of Mars, and as part of that effort, the rover carries a set of five spacesuit material samples. Now, after those samples have endured four years of exposure on Mars’ dusty, radiation-soaked surface, scientists are beginning the next phase of studying them. The end goal is to predict accurately the usable lifetime of a Mars spacesuit. What the agency learns about how the materials perform on Mars will inform the design of future spacesuits for the first astronauts on the Red Planet. (3/27)

This Telescope Is So Badass It Could Answer Questions We Don't Know To Ask (Source: AutoEvolution)
The Large UV/Optical/IR Surveyor, or LUVOIR, is a multi-wavelength space observatory, first proposed back in 2016 alongside three other telescopes as part of the Large Strategic Science Missions program. The main reason for LUVOIR is to search for "habitable conditions and signs of life on dozens of potentially habitable worlds beyond our Solar System." The way it's supposed to be made, though, would allow it to expand the scope of its science well beyond that.

The telescope would have such unprecedented resolution that it would be capable of resolving stellar populations in star-forming regions of galaxies at distances up to 10-25 mega-parsecs. It would be able to map the distribution of dark matter, and detect gravitational wave sources in electromagnetic radiation. Because it would be capable of seeing the Universe in ultraviolet, it could also spot the process of gas flows between the galaxies being transformed into new stars, but also the materials available for formation of planets and their atmospheres. (3/26)