April 10, 2025

Sculpture of Elon Musk Defaced Near SpaceX Launch Site (Source: My San Antonio)
A 9-foot-tall statue depicting a bust of tech billionaire Elon Musk has been vandalized in South Texas. The statue of the SpaceX CEO was vandalized not far from where the company’s Starbase facility sits near Boca Chica Beach. The vandalism of the Musk sculpture joins a pattern of vandalization of property and vehicles associated with Musk, whose appointment as a top Trump adviser and head of the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has drawn ire nationwide.

In February, a mural of Musk located in downtown Brownsville was defaced by graffiti that read “Deny Defend Depose,” along with an anarchy symbol that was scrawled in black spray paint over one of Musk’s cheeks. Two years earlier, in February 2022, a local environmentalist was charged with defacing a different mural in downtown Brownsville. (4/9)

Jared Isaacman's Net Worth Is Bigger Than His NASA Aspirations (Source: Men's Journal)
President Trump's pick to run NASA, Jared Isaacman, has more than his experience with aviation and the space industry. On September 12, 2024, Isaacman became the first private citizen to walk in space, and now, he is poised to take over the most pivotal government organization in the field of space exploration and spaceflight. But, if Issacman gets the job, it will almost certainly be a pay cut.

Prior to being tapped by Trump to take over NASA, Isaacman founded and ran two very successful companies. As of April 2025, Jared Isaacman's net worth is estimated at $1.3 billion. According to Forbes, this makes him the 2,416th richest billionaire in the world in 2025. (4/9)

NASA Offers $3M in Competition to Recycle Human Poop in Space (Source: UPI)
NASA is offering $3 million to anyone who proposes technology to solve an unusual problem: recycling feces and other human waste in space. The space agency's LunaRecycle Challenge calls on members of the public to propose a technological means of recycling astronauts' feces, urine and vomit on the moon and during long-haul space flights. (4/9)

Haridopolos Says We Are in a 'Space Race' With China (Source: Floridian Press)
"We are in a space race right now with the communist dictatorship of China, and we need to win this space race," Rep. Haridopolos said. He remained optimistic that "we are going to win that again," for despite China's military buildup and aggression in recent years, "the stronger national defenses and network like the Golden Dome, the less likely we will turn into a hot war. They are literally afraid to take us on." (4/9)

Earth’s Space Junk Problem Is Getting Out of Control (Source: Vice)
Space is vast, almost incalculably huge. And yet we’ve still found ways to pollute the area immediately surrounding our home planet, proving once again that you’ll know exactly where the human race is been by the garbage we leave behind. That’s what we’re doing to the Earth’s orbit, according to the European Space Agency. They say that there’s way too much space junk floating around out there and it’s already making space travel a lot more dangerous. (4/9)

China-Led Telescope Project Secures Global Partners for Cutting-Edge Cosmic Research (Source: Xinhua)
A revolutionary, China-led telescope project has secured two further international partnerships, accelerating humanity's quest to witness and understand the universe's most cataclysmic events. Brazil and South Africa became the latest members of the Global Open Transient Telescope Array (GOTTA) project -- a UNESCO-endorsed global initiative spearheaded by China's National Astronomical Observatories (NAOC). GOTTA will deploy a network of over 100 wide-angle optical telescopes around the world to capture fleeting cosmic phenomena like supernovae and gamma-ray bursts in a critical early stage. (4/9)

Contradicting Musk, Isaacman Opts for the Moon First Over Mars (Source: Politico)
NASA administrator nominee Jared Isaacman vowed to prioritize a lunar landing on Wednesday, siding with lawmakers who want to focus efforts on returning to the moon over the desires of Elon Musk to head straight to Mars. Isaacman allayed concerns during his confirmation hearing that he would pull resources out of a long-planned mission to the moon in favor of a more perilous — and nearly impossible — trip to the red planet.

Musk, a close adviser to President Donald Trump, has called the agency’s moon focus a “distraction” and promoted a crewed Mars mission. Trump, whose first administration set the goal of a moon landing for NASA, promised the U.S. would head to Mars during his inaugural address. Isaacman said that he would not be influenced by Musk when making NASA policy. (4/9)

Korean Space Agency Meets NASA to Team Up on Space Exploration (Source: Korea JoongAng Daily)
The head of the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) recently met his counterparts from the United States and Germany and discussed collaboration on space exploration and research, the administration said Wednesday. KASA Administrator Yoon Young-bin met with Janet Petro, acting administrator of the NASA, at the 2025 Space Symposium in Colorado on Monday, according to KASA. (4/9)

Amazon Wants to Build 'Tens of Millions' of Kuiper Dishes to Compete With Starlink (Source: PC Magazine)
"The design is done; we’re now in the factory manufacturing it,” says Nima Mahanfar, director of antenna development for Project Kuiper. “We’re going to build tens of millions of these antennas, and we are well on our way." Amazon says it developed Project Kuiper’s technology “in-house,” including the satellites and the dishes. (4/8)

Texas a Mecca for Stargazing and Dark Skies (Source: Texas Highways)
From museum exhibits to stargazing opportunities—and a few festivals celebrating the more extraterrestrial sides of space travel—Texas has plenty of ways to get you as close to the stars as you can get without strapping into a rocket. I think the whole pause on most tariffs was a huge pump-and-dump scheme by Trump. I would not be surprised to learn that he gave his billionaire friends a heads-up that the pause was coming so they could cash in on the temporary bounce. Click here. (4/9) https://texashighways.com/travel/guide-exploring-space-cosmos-in-texas/

RTX’s Blue Canyon Technologies Introduces New Reaction Wheel (Source: Space News)
RTX’s small satellite manufacturer and mission services provider, Blue Canyon Technologies, introduces its largest reaction wheel to date, the RW16 reaction wheel. A reaction wheel is a motor-driven flywheel that enables attitude control by applying torque to a spacecraft without the need for external propulsion. (4/8)

NASA Astronaut and Starlab Space CEO Tim Kopra Appointed as Solar Foods’ Advisor for Space Applications (Source: Solar Foods)
Solar Foods has appointed Starlab Space CEO and former NASA astronaut Tim Kopra as an advisor for Solar Foods’ space applications to support the development and commercialization of its solution, with the aim to take Solein to Moon and Mars. Solar Foods aims for its technology to become integral to human space habitats. Solar Foods was selected as the international category winner of NASA’s and CSA’s (Canadian Space Agency) Deep Space Food Challenge

Solar Foods’ technology allows the production of protein in space: Solein is produced through gas fermentation, using carbon dioxide and hydrogen as its main feedstock. The technology can also help close critical water loops in space. Solein production technology offers an attractive value add to commercial space habitat operators through substantial reduction in resupply needs of food and especially water. (4/9)

Scientists Discover Drier Mantle on Moon's Farside (Source: Phys.org)
Chinese scientists have discovered that the moon's mantle contains less water on the lunar farside than on the nearside, based on analysis of basalts collected by the Chang'e-6 (CE6) lunar mission. This disparity points to a potential hemispheric dichotomy in the moon's internal water distribution, mirroring many of the asymmetrical features observed on the lunar surface. (4/9)

International Collaboration Remains an Imperative Among Nations in Space (Source: Space News)
International space agencies stressed the importance of partnerships with the United States and each other despite geopolitical strains. Representatives of several agencies around the world emphasized that strong, cooperative relationships are essential for achieving ambitious missions and ensuring space remains a peaceful domain for exploration and commerce. Those comments came despite uncertainty over future collaborations and investments caused by trade wars and other geopolitical challenges. (4/10)

Space Militarization, Geopolitical Rifts Haven't Yet Affected Space Alliances (Source: Space News)
Military space alliances are also largely unaffected by geopolitics. Air Marshal Paul Godfrey, former commander of the U.K. Space Command who currently serves at the Pentagon on the U.S. Space Force staff, said at Space Symposium it was "business as usual" in military space cooperation, suggesting that rifts that hinder other aspects of transatlantic cooperation don't impact space issues as much. Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations of the U.S. Space Force, used a keynote address at the conference to emphasize the Space Force's push to deepen international partnerships, a move he said is essential to staying ahead of threats and maintaining technological interoperability. (4/10)

Space Force Aims to Expand International Collaboration (Source: Space News)
The Space Force is preparing a strategy aimed at expanding international collaboration. Gen. Saltzman said he will soon release an "International Partnership Strategy," describing it as a framework to enhance collaboration with allies, improve interoperability, maximize information sharing and secure collective interests in space. The strategy is currently in its final coordination steps, he said, and will be released in the coming weeks. One key element of the policy involves leveraging the comparative advantages of different partners, from launch capacity to geographic locations of ground stations. (4/10)

Space Force Considers Commercial Alternatives (Source: Defense One)
Space Systems Command is reviewing major programs to determine if they can be replaced by commercial alternatives. Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant says everything is being considered, although some missions will remain government-run. The Space Force also has introduced Orbital Watch to share threat information with commercial companies. (4/9)

Space Force Supply Chain at Risk as Tariffs Rise (Source: Via Satellite)
The US Space Force is assessing supply chain risks more comprehensively to prepare for potential impacts from new US tariffs. Lt. Gen. Phil Garrant, commander of Space Systems Command, says the biggest vulnerabilities are in microelectronics, ground entry points, software and propulsion tanks. The Space Force is working with industrial partners to mitigate these risks, including onshoring production of propulsion tanks and semiconductors. (4/10)

Rocket Lab Finds Niche to Counter Rideshare Competition (Source: Space News)
Rocket Lab believes it has found a niche for its Electron rocket that does not compete head-to-head with SpaceX rideshare launches. Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck said the company is seeing strong demand for Electron from customers deploying smallsat systems that need more control over schedule and orbit, an advantage offsetting the lower cost of rideshare launches. The company is targeting at least 20 Electron launches this year. Other companies have failed to tap that market, Beck argued, because of technical or financial problems, or choosing to develop vehicles in the one-ton class that he believes fall in a "no man's land" between Electron and large rideshare missions. (4/10)

Artemis 2 Planners Consider Space Weather Challenges (Source: Space News)
An exercise in the coming weeks will test how the Artemis 2 mission will deal with space weather events. The tabletop exercise at the end of April and early May will simulate the effects of solar storms taking place during Artemis 2, the first crewed mission to leave Earth orbit and the protection of its magnetosphere since Apollo 17. That will include understanding how to best monitor and predict solar activity and relay warnings to the crew. If there was a major solar storm during Artemis 2, the crew does have the ability to huddle in a makeshift "pillow fort" storm shelter inside Orion. (4/10)

Space Industry Slow to Adopt AI (Source: Space News)
Space and AI experts say the space industry should be doing more with AI technologies. At a recent symposium, speakers said the space industry has been slower than others to adopt AI in both spacecraft and ground systems, which some attributed to a more conservative mindset among traditional space companies. "If you say that you're not doing AI, people think you're very strange," said one NASA official at the meeting. (4/10)

Swissto12 Anticipates Surge in GEO Satellite Orders (Source: Space News)
One satellite manufacturer predicts a surge of orders for GEO communications satellites, although ones far smaller than traditional models. Emile de Rijk, CEO of Swissto12, said in an interview that he believed one-ton GEO satellites like what his company is producing can unlock new markets for such satellites, from secure national connectivity to targeted broadband services. Orders for commercial GEO satellites, which once averaged around 20 per year, fell to just six in 2024, but de Rijk said demand for small GEO satellites could push those orders above historic levels in just a few years. (4/10)

Rogers Expects Decision on Space Command HQ Soon (Source: Huntsville Times)
The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee is expecting a decision soon on moving the headquarters of Space Command. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) said in a podcast interview this week that he expected President Trump to announce later this month that Space Command headquarters would be moved to Huntsville, Alabama. That announcement, he suggested, could be linked to the Senate confirmation of Troy Meink as Air Force secretary. (4/10)

Juno Enters Safe Mode During Jupiter Observation (Source: NASA)
NASA's Juno spacecraft went into safe mode during its latest close approach to Jupiter. The spacecraft went into safe mode twice last week, shortly before and again after the closest point in its elliptical orbit around Jupiter. Controllers have since put the spacecraft back into normal operations as they investigate what happened. Juno went into safe mode on two previous occasions since entering orbit around Jupiter in 2016, and in those cases fully recovered. (4/10)

Rocket Lab Launches Tailored Solar Arrays for Next Gen Satellite Missions (Source: Space Daily)
Rocket Lab has unveiled a new suite of customizable solar arrays, branded as STARRAY, aimed at addressing the broad spectrum of satellite power demands across all orbital environments. STARRAY systems are engineered for adaptability, delivering power outputs ranging from around 100 watts to over 2,000 watts. This is achieved through modular configurations of up to four panels per wing and Rocket Lab's highest-performing radiation-hardened quadruple junction solar cells. (4/10)

Solar Panels From Moon Dust May Revolutionize Lunar Energy Supply (Source: Space Daily)
In a significant advance for lunar sustainability, scientists have fabricated solar cells using simulated Moon dust, offering a lightweight, radiation-resistant energy source for future Moon missions. The research, published April 3 in Device, a journal from Cell Press, outlines a new approach that could drastically reduce the need to ship bulky materials from Earth. (4/10)

Microbial Profile Mapped Aboard China Space Station (Source: Space Daily)
Efforts to understand how microgravity shapes microbial life have long been hampered by limited data from the International Space Station (ISS), primarily due to the technical challenges of sustained experimentation in orbit. Now, China's new space station offers an expansive opportunity to deepen our grasp of microbial dynamics in space habitats.

Launched under the China Space Station Habitation Area Microbiome Program (CHAMP), researchers implemented a systematic approach to examine the microbial environment of the Chinese orbital outpost. CHAMP employed a multi-phase, full-cabin sampling strategy combined with advanced tools including metagenomics, comparative genomics, and microbial culturing to investigate how microbial communities evolve and adapt in microgravity. (4/10)

IDTechEx Explores Whether Heat Shields Are the Key to Unlocking the Space Economy (Source: IDTechEx)
Surviving atmospheric re-entry is one of the most demanding challenges a spacecraft has to endure. For a low-Earth orbit re-entry, the temperatures on the spacecraft can peak at 1,600°C, while the Galileo probe that entered Jupiter's atmosphere experienced over 16,000°C. The heat shield must protect the spacecraft, equipment, and potentially astronauts from these extreme conditions. To compound the challenge, the heat shield must also be as light as possible to maximize the useful payload of the vehicle. (4/10)