March 3, 2025

Eutelsat Soars as Investors Bet on OneWeb Satellites as European Option to Starlink (Source: Reuters)
Franco-British satellite operator Eutelsat (ETL.PA), opens new tab said on Monday it was committed to boosting Europe's autonomy in space-based connectivity and supplying internet access to war-torn Ukraine. The comments followed a nearly 50% jump in Eutelsat's shares on Monday, amid a wider rally of Europe's defence stocks, as investors bet on prospects of rising European demand for its OneWeb satellites.

"We have deployed and continue to operate hundreds of terminals across Ukraine and the Black Sea," a Eutelsat spokesperson told Reuters, adding the company had played a key role in the region since the start of the war. U.S. negotiators working on a critical minerals deal had hinted at a potential shutdown of Elon Musk's Starlink in Ukraine should a deal not be reached. (3/3)

The Future of Aerospace Investment: 4 Trends to Know in 2025 (Source: Space Florida)
The aerospace industry continues to evolve rapidly, and Space Florida is keeping a close eye on key trends that are shaping the market. As technology advances and costs decline, the investment landscape is shifting—creating exciting opportunities for those who understand where the industry is headed. Here’s what to watch in 2025. Click here. (3/3)

'No Paper Trail': FAA Reportedly Ordered Staff to Find Millions of Dollars for Sketchy Starlink Deal (Source: Engadget)
Starlink may not have officially taken over Verizon’s $2.4 billion contract with the FAA yet to upgrade the systems it uses to manage America’s airspace. However, on Friday, FAA officials ordered staff to begin finding tens of millions of dollars for a Starlink deal, according to a source with knowledge of the FAA and two people briefed on the situation.

The sources note that these internal directives have mostly, if not entirely, been delivered verbally — which they say is unusual for a matter like this. The source with knowledge of the FAA tells Rolling Stone that it appears as though “someone does not want a paper trail.” It is unclear at this moment if the Verizon contract is officially dead, or if a Starlink deal has been formally inked. (3/3)

Falcon 9 Booster Lost After Droneship Landing (Source: Space News)
A Falcon 9 booster was lost after making a droneship landing March 2, the latest incident involving the rocket that has raised reliability concerns. A Falcon 9 lifted off at 9:24 p.m. at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, carrying 21 Starlink satellites. The webcast of the launch showed the booster touching down on its droneship, Just Read the Instructions, about 8 minutes and 15 seconds after liftoff. The company later reported a successful deployment of the Starlink satellites.

However, in a statement early March 3, the company said the booster, designated B1086, was lost after landing. “Following the successful landing, an off-nominal fire in the aft end of the rocket damaged one of the booster’s landing legs which resulted in it tipping over,” the company stated. “While disappointing to lose a rocket after a successful mission, the team will use the data to make Falcon even more reliable on ascent and landing.” This was only the fifth flight of B1086, a modest number given that the current record for flights by a Falcon 9 booster is 26. (3/3)

Radiation as a Service: How the Private Sector Can Protect America’s Space Infrastructure (Source: Space News)
Currently, the U.S. government and commercial space firms conduct radiation testing shots from the Sandia, Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos National Laboratories, among other Department of Defense facilities. These government-owned, contractor-operated test sites are confronting skyrocketing demand for physical shots of radiation beyond computer simulations, diverting machine time from the labs’ foundational mission of research and development for our strategic nuclear deterrent.

It’s time for a public-private partnership for commercial nuclear effects testing – “radiation as a service.” To better safeguard critical satellite assets and meet skyrocketing demand for radiation testing, the U.S. nuclear security enterprise should first understand that there are growing private sector radiation testing services available outside the traditional government-owned and government-operated sites. Further, there are companies and investors willing to put forward their own money to build the sites and machines needed. (3/3)

Budget Shift Could Bolster Space Force Capabilities (Source: Air & Space Forces)
This commentary piece from Air & Space Force posits that the US Space Force "represents the greatest bargain" within the Defense Department, representing only a small percentage of the overall budget. The editors call for shifting resources to the Space Force as part of an 8% spending adjustment that is ongoing within the Pentagon. (3/2)

Hegseth Mandates Compliance with OPM Email Directive (Source: The Hill)
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has instructed Department of Defense civilian employees to respond to an Office of Personnel Management email requesting a weekly recap of accomplishments. Initially, the Pentagon advised against responding to the Feb. 22 email to review procedures, but Hegseth now emphasizes the importance of compliance, noting the sensitive nature of the department's work. (3/2)

Midland International Air & Spaceport is an Integral Part of Midland’s Diversified Economy (Source: Midland Development Corp)
The investment opportunities afforded by decades at the center of the West Texas energy sector helped Midland seize new opportunities at Midland International Air & Spaceport. The creation of a commercial space launch site, one of only 14 in the United States, further diversified the dynamic economy of Midland, Texas, by recruiting top aerospace and defense companies to the city.

In the Midland Space Business Park adjacent to Midland International Air & Spaceport, aerospace and adjacent businesses develop and deliver components and equipment necessary for the commercial space industry. Simultaneously, these companies fuel further economic growth in Midland and create new opportunities for talent across sectors, evidenced by the Midland Metropolitan Statistical Area’s addition of over 17,000 jobs in 2017. (1/25)

Falcon 9 Launches Starlink Mission at Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: Florida Today)
A Falcon 9 launched Starlink satellites Sunday night. The rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 9:24 p.m. Eastern and placed 21 Starlink satellites into orbit. The next Starlink launch is scheduled for as soon as early Wednesday from the same pad. (3/3)

Europa Clipper Makes Mars Flyby (Source: NASA)
NASA's Europa Clipper made a flyby of Mars Saturday on its way to Jupiter. The spacecraft passed 884 kilometers above the surface of Mars at 12:57 p.m. Eastern. The gravity assist tweaked the spacecraft's trajectory, setting up a flyby of Earth in December 2026 that will provide the final push needed to get the spacecraft to Jupiter in 2030. Europa Clipper will orbit Jupiter and make dozens of close approaches to its icy moon Europa to see if that moon is potentially habitable. (3/3)

ESA Gamma Ray Observatory Ends Mission (Source: ESA)
An ESA astronomy mission has come to an end. ESA formally ended science operations of the Integral gamma-ray observatory on Friday. The spacecraft launched in 2002 and studied gamma-ray bursts and other energetic phenomena. Integral will remain in orbit until a projected reentry in early 2029. (3/3)

Russia Launches Glonass Mission From Plesetsk Spaceport (Source: Russian Space Web)
Russia launched a Glonass navigation satellite Sunday. A Soyuz-2.1b rocket lifted off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome at 5:22 p.m. Eastern carrying a Glonass-K2 navigation satellite. Russian officials called the launch a success but provided no other details about the mission. (3/3)

Skylo Raises $30 Million for GEO Direct-to-Smartphone Tech (Source: Space News)
Skylo has raised $30 million to expand its efforts to provide direct-to-smartphone communications through GEO satellites. The funds will help Skylo deploy the network hardware geostationary operators need in their gateways to connect compatible smartphones using the latest cellular standards, such as the Google Pixel 9 series. Skylo currently provides commercial services in 35 countries across five continents and the funds will allow the company to "double down" on expansion into more markets. (3/3)

FCC Considers Opening More C-Band Spectrum (Source: Space News)
The FCC is beginning efforts to explore new uses of upper C-band satellite spectrum. The commission approved last week a public consultation to identify ways to spur investments and incentivize new communications services in the 3.98-4.2 gigahertz band, primarily used by satellite operators for TV distribution services. The consultation could lead to an auction like the one for lower C-band spectrum that raised more than $80 billion, $13.4 billion of which went to satellite operators to cover costs of new satellites and equipment. A similar auction could take place for upper C-band, although the FCC's authority to conduct auctions lapsed in 2023 and would have to be renewed by Congress. (3/3)

Varda Capsule Lands in Australia with AFRL Sensor Payload (Source: Space News)
A Varda Space Industries capsule landed in Australia. The capsule from Varda's W-2 mission landed in the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia on Friday, about six weeks after its launch. The capsule carried a specialized sensor payload from the Air Force Research Laboratory to monitor the plasma environment on reentry, collecting data that offers insights into how materials and systems perform under extreme hypersonic conditions. The capsule was the first commercial spacecraft to land in Australia. (3/3)

Air Force to Develop Pacific Island Landing Pad for Rocket Cargo Program (Source: Space News)
The Air Force plans to build landing pads on a remote Pacific island as part of a "rocket cargo" program. In a notice published in the Federal Register, the Air Force said it was starting the environmental review process to build two landing pads on Johnston Atoll, about 1,300 kilometers southwest of Hawaii, that would be used for the Rocket Cargo program. The pads would be used for up to 10 landings annually over four years. It is part of a program to test the ability to use space systems for the rapid delivery of cargo to remote locations. (3/3)