April 15, 2025

Engineer Targets Next Frontier in Lunar Welding Technology (Source: Space Daily)
As plans to establish long-term human presence on the Moon and Mars accelerate, researchers are developing new techniques to enable construction in hostile, low-gravity environments. One such breakthrough effort is underway at The University of Texas at Dallas, where Dr. Wei Li is creating a virtual lunar welding platform to support the assembly of large-scale structures in space. (4/15)

France's Safran Opens Colorado Satellite Propulsion Facility with State Incentive Funding (Source: Denver Gazette)
Safran Defense & Space has opened a 28,000-square-foot production facility in Parker, Colorado to manufacture electric propulsion thrusters for small satellites, marking the company's presence in 25 states. The state awarded Safran $371,000 in job growth tax incentives back in July when the company was considering between the metro Denver area and Irvine, California. The facility will start with about 20 employees and is expected to deliver its first thrusters by the end of 2026. (4/14)

Crew Examines Spaceflight-Related Eye Changes as Three Astronauts Prepare to Return Home (Source: Space Daily)
Expedition 72 astronauts kicked off the week investigating how extended spaceflight alters human vision, while simultaneously conducting other scientific studies, maintaining vital systems, and preparing for an upcoming crew return.

Prolonged exposure to microgravity can impair vision, posing a potential risk to astronauts on long-duration missions to the Moon or Mars. NASA's CIPHER study, a comprehensive effort composed of 14 integrated human research experiments, is focused on understanding and mitigating the physical and psychological challenges of deep space travel. One aspect of CIPHER centers on how brain and eye structures shift during long stays aboard the ISS. (4/15)

Blue Skies Space to Design CubeSat Constellation for Lunar-Based Cosmology Research (Source: Space Daily)
Blue Skies Space has secured funding from the Italian Space Agency (ASI) to explore the design of a CubeSat-based satellite constellation capable of orbiting the Moon and conducting observations of the early universe.

The initiative, known as RadioLuna, will assess whether a network of compact satellites placed in lunar orbit could detect the elusive radio emissions from the universe's formative period. These signals, which lie in the FM radio band, originate from a time before star formation, when hydrogen gas dominated the cosmos. Earth's own radio interference makes such detection nearly impossible from the surface, but lunar orbit, particularly above the far side, offers a radio-quiet vantage point. (4/15)

Beyond Gravity and Rocket Lab Join Forces to Streamline Satellite Constellation Deployment (Source: Space Daily)
Beyond Gravity and Rocket Lab have announced a strategic partnership to deliver an integrated avionics and software solution designed to accelerate satellite constellation missions. The collaboration merges Beyond Gravity's high-volume constellation On Board Computer (cOBC) with Rocket Lab's advanced MAX Constellation flight software and InterMission ground operations suite, offering a ready-to-use package tailored for modern satellite architectures. (4/15)

All of the Above, or None? (Source: Space Review)
NASA administrator nominee Jared Isaacman finally had his confirmation hearing last week, where he was grilled by senators about his plans for the space agency. Jeff Foust reports that his belief that NASA can taken on many large programs, like human Moon and Mars efforts, simultaneously clashed with a budget that proposes steep cuts to NASA. Click here. (4/15)
 
Lessons Learned From Critical Reviews of Gen. Saltzman’s “Competitive Endurance” (Source: Space Review)
The top general of the US Space Force, Gen. Chance Saltzman, outlined an key theory of the service’s success two years ago, called “Competitive Endurance.” Brian Chow explores the critiques of that theory that have emerged since then. Click here. (4/15)
 
A History of the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) (Source: Space Review)
In the second part of his history of the development of the ESPA payload adapter, Darren Raspa examines the early development of the EELV program that created an opportunity for secondary payloads and adapters for them. Click here. (4/15)
 
Space Commerce: Face the Risk, Seize the Opportunities (Source: Space Review)
Advances in space transportation provide opportunities for space commerce, but also create various risks. Norm Mitchell discusses some of those emerging opportunities and how they outweigh the risks. Click here. (4/15)

Tournear Returns to Lead SDA (Source: Space News)
Derek Tournear will return to lead the Space Force's Space Development Agency after a three-month administrative leave. The Department of the Air Force said Monday that Tournear will return to his position on Thursday, three months after he was removed from the post for an investigation into alleged procedural irregularities in procurements of Tranche 2 Transport Layer – Gamma satellites. The investigation stemmed from a bid protest filed by satellite communications company Viasat, which raised concerns about the fairness and transparency of the contract awards. The Air Force has not disclosed specific reasons for Tournear's reinstatement, but Tournear has maintained strong backing on Capitol Hill throughout the investigation. (4/15)

Maryland Delegation Aims to Block Goddard Science Cuts (Source: Space News)
Members of Maryland's congressional delegation say they believe they will be able to overturn proposed major cuts in NASA's science programs. Speaking outside the entrance to the Goddard Space Flight Center on Monday, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D) and Reps. Steny Hoyer (D) and Glenn Ivey (D) again criticized proposed cuts of nearly 50% in NASA's science budget in a draft fiscal year 2026 budget. They called the cut "harmful to the national security and other interests of the United States" and said they expected Republicans, who are in the majority in the House and Senate, to back efforts to block those cuts. (4/15)

Blue Origin Lands All-Woman Suborbital Flight (Source: Space News)
Blue Origin successfully completed an all-woman New Shepard suborbital flight Monday. The New Shepard vehicle lifted off from the company's West Texas site, reaching a peak altitude of 106 kilometers before landing nearly 10 and a half minutes later. The NS-31 carried six women, including pop star Katy Perry, TV show host Gayle King and Lauren Sánchez, fiancée of Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos. This was the first spaceflight with only women on board since Valentina Tereshkova's solo flight in 1963. The flight attracted significant attention but also some criticism, including from other celebrities, who considered the flight wasteful. (4/15)

NASA Adds Critical Stage Adapter to Artemis II Moon Rocket (Source: NASA)
NASA has taken another step in the assembly of the Space Launch System rocket for the Artemis 2 mission. The launch vehicle stage adapter was installed over the weekend on top of the core stage of the rocket. The adapter will connect the core stage with the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage, which serves as the upper stage for the SLS. Artemis 2 is currently scheduled to launch no later than April 2026. (4/15)

USGS Astrogeology Cuts Threaten Mars Plans (Source: New York Times)
Cuts at a small U.S. Geological Survey office could affect plans by NASA and others to land on Mars. The Astrogeology Science Center has lost 8 of its 53 employees to buyout offers and is under pressure to further reduce its staff by 20%. The center, based in Flagstaff, Arizona, has long worked with NASA to develop detailed maps of the moon, Mars and other solar system bodies needed to support future missions. The center has also provided assistance to SpaceX as it plans its own Mars missions. (4/15)

South Korea and US Continue Talks on Space Cooperation (Source: Yonhap)
American and South Korean officials discussed ideas for expanded space cooperation between the two countries Monday. At the fourth Civil Space Dialogue between the United States and South Korea, held in Washington, officials discussed potential roles for South Korea in Artemis as well as interoperability between GPS and a planned South Korean regional navigation system. Other topics of discussion included safe space operations and maritime domain awareness. (4/15)

Saudi Arabia Projects Space Industry Growth (Source: Gulf Business)
Saudi Arabia is projecting significant growth in its national space economy. A new report by the country's Communications, Space, and Technology Commission estimated that the Saudi space market was $1.9 billion in 2024 but could grow to $5.6 billion in 2035. The overall "space economy" in the country, which includes value-added activities and adjacent industries, is expected to grow from $8.7 billion in 2024 to $31.6 billion in 2035. (4/15)

How Next-Gen Wearables Support Astronaut Health Monitoring (Source: Space Daily)
As human space missions extend in duration and complexity, maintaining astronaut health has become a top priority. A recent review in Wearable Electronics explores how flexible wearable technologies are emerging as vital tools in aerospace medicine, offering continuous, real-time health monitoring in the demanding environment of space.

These adaptable devices are built with integrated sensor systems capable of tracking a wide array of physiological and psychological indicators. From biosignal electrodes that monitor cardiac activity to inertial measurement units assessing balance and muscle function, flexible wearables provide essential early warnings for issues related to the heart, muscles, or sleep-wake cycles. Environmental sensors embedded in the wearables further enhance safety by detecting changes in surrounding space conditions. (4/15)

Should We Settle Mars, or is it a Dumb Idea for Humans to Live Off World? (Source: Ars Technica)
Some say the colonization of Mars is still science fiction, while others say we should prioritize efforts in that direction, given the geopolitical considerations and the fact that NASA, SpaceX, and other private companies could all play a role.

Should the U.S. prioritize the exploration of colonizing Mars? Those arguing “yes” say Mars is the clear target for ensuring humanity’s survival, and the U.S. should do it first before China or other nations. Advancing Mars exploration would also lead to further developments in technology, science, and our understanding of Mars. But those arguing “no” say it’s not in our best interests to start colonizing the Red Planet.

The reason we shouldn't settle on Mars is that the standard of living for any group living on Mars will be far lower than any place on Earth. Will they produce medicine on Mars? or import it from Earth? Will we grow food on Mars? How much would it cost? Do we want to pay $50,000 for a pound of carrots? People on earth spend a lot of time producing goods and not that much on making sure that their house won't spring a small leak that will kill us. Click here. (4/14) 

Why Our Skies Aren’t Ready for the Space Boom (Source: Space News)
On a clear evening this January, flights out of Miami, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale suddenly ground to a halt. The culprit wasn’t weather or a software glitch — it was a rocket launch. SpaceX’s Starship, the largest spacecraft ever built, had lifted off from Texas and exploded mid-flight, raining 100 tons of debris at over 13,250 miles per hour over the Caribbean. The FAA swiftly issued an unprecedented order: a temporary freeze on air traffic at four major Florida airports. Then another Starship exploded on its next test launch in March.

According to FAA data reported by Reuters, the disruption affected about 240 flights with delays averaging 28 minutes, forcing 28 of those aircraft to divert, and left 40 airborne flights in holding patterns. Passengers as far away as Philadelphia felt the shockwave in scheduling. It was a dramatic wake-up call that our airspace is no longer the exclusive domain of airplanes. Rockets have arrived, and the system isn’t ready. These incidents aren’t a fluke — they’re a glimpse into what happens when rockets and airplanes share the same sky.

There will be technical and regulatory hurdles: rocket telemetry would need standardization; international agreements would be needed so that, say, a launch from French Guiana or a reentry over the Pacific triggers the same kind of coordinated response. But the alternative is to continue with ever-growing flight disruptions or, worse, a potential accident. Safety analyses have shown that even a one-pound piece of falling metal from a rocket could puncture an aircraft’s fuselage– a nightmare scenario the current rules are designed to avoid at all costs. (4/14)

Sleeping Black Hole Erupts in Real Time – Blasting Out Record-Breaking X-Rays (Source: Sci-Tech Daily)
The European Space Agency’s XMM-Newton telescope is helping scientists study the longest and most powerful bursts of X-rays ever seen from a black hole that has recently come back to life. Observing this rare event as it happens gives researchers a unique chance to better understand how black holes behave and what drives these extreme outbursts.

Supermassive black holes, millions of times more massive than our Sun, are believed to sit at the center of most galaxies. But despite their size, they’re often hard to detect. Contrary to the common image of black holes constantly pulling in matter, many of them remain quiet and inactive for long stretches of time. (4/14)

Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve to Include Launchers (Source: Defense News)
The Space Force is exploring options to use its new Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve to facilitate on-demand launches for getting much needed capabilities on orbit quickly. Col. Richard Kniseley, who leads the service’s Commercial Space Office, said his team will work with the Space Force’s launch enterprise and its Space Safari office to that end. That office has been coordinating a series of Tactically Responsive Space exercises aimed at sharpening the service’s ability to react to real-time, on-orbit needs.

The pilot effort will focus on establishing a framework for using the Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve, or CASR, for responsive launches. Kniseley said Space Safari is particularly interested in CASR’s approach to managing supply chain risk and security issues and creating an on-call vendor pool. (4/14)

Multi-Orbit Success or a Single-Point Failure? (Source: Space News)
The march toward single broadband terminals that can tap into multiple orbits promises greater resiliency and flexibility. It also centralizes risk in one device. “Single point failures are not ideal,” pointed out Viasat executive Steve Gizinski. To reduce the space and maintenance challenges posed by using separate terminals for geostationary, medium and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, antenna makers are racing to shrink size, cut costs and integrate advanced capabilities into a single device.

However, sometimes “the place to go is not one antenna that can do it all,” said Ulf Sandberg, managing director of British terminal maker Paradigm. Sandberg noted that just three years ago, when Russia invaded Ukraine, a LEO terminal in a contested area typically faced some form of countermeasure within an hour and a half of coming online, such as jamming or a grenade.

Multi-orbit antenna makers have tricks up their sleeves to avoid becoming juicy targets. Traditional terminals require high-power transmissions to reach geostationary satellites some 36,000 kilometers away, producing more heat that can expose them to adversaries. According to multi-orbit flat-panel antenna specialist Kymeta, its metamaterials technology reduces power consumption to help mitigate this risk. (4/14)