April 17, 2025

Space Force Releases Warfighting Report (Source: Space News)
The U.S. Space Force has released a new document on its plans to defend American satellites and target enemy space systems. The document, titled "Space Warfighting: A Framework for Planners" and released Thursday, outlines how U.S. forces might assert control of the orbital high ground through a range of offensive and defensive operations, reflecting an evolution in how the military thinks about warfare beyond Earth. U.S. defense planners now view space as an active battleground, one that underpins nearly every modern military function, from missile warning systems to precision navigation. A Space Force general said the release of the warfighting manual reflects the "normalization" of the service as a military branch that plans and conducts warfare alongside the other services. (4/17)

Converted ICBM Launches NRO Payloads to Orbit From California Spaceport (Source: Space News)
For the first time in more than a decade, a Minotaur 4 rocket launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Wednesday. The Northrop Grumman solid-fuel rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 8 at Vandenberg at 3:33 p.m. Eastern on the NROL-174 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office. The rocket placed multiple classified payloads into orbit, but the NRO did not disclose details on the mission. The launch was the first for the Minotaur 4, a rocket derived from the Peacekeeper ICBM, from Vandenberg since 2011, and the first for the rocket from any location since a July 2020 launch from Wallops Island, Virginia. (4/17)

Texas Space Commission Distributes $26 Million Among Five Companies (Source: Space News)
Five companies received $26 million in awards from the Texas Space Commission Wednesday. The commission provided grants ranging from less than $700,000 to $10 million to Aegis Aerospace, ICON Technology, Interlune, KULR Technology Group and Venus Aerospace Corporation. The awards will support projects in Texas ranging from work on lunar simulants to rocket engine test facilities and an in-space advanced manufacturing platform. The commission has allocated nearly two-thirds of the $150 million set aside by the Texas Legislature in 2023 for awards to support the state's space industry, and officials are hoping the legislature will allocate additional funds in its ongoing session. (4/17)

How China Salvaged Two Troubled Lunar Satellites (Source: Space News)
A Chinese team has provided new details on how it salvaged a pair of lunar satellites last year. The DRO-A and DRO-B spacecraft were stranded in the wrong orbit last March after an upper stage malfunction. The team involved with the mission had to first stabilize the spacecraft and correct problems with their solar arrays, then perform a series of maneuvers within days. Over four months, the two spacecraft were able to reach their planned distant retrograde orbit around the moon, where they established a three-satellite communications network with the DRO-L satellite in Earth orbit. (4/17)

Boeing Develops Twin for Quantum Satellite (Source: Space News)
Boeing has completed a ground model of a satellite intended to test quantum communications technologies. Boeing said Wednesday the ground twin of the Q4S satellite is now complete and undergoing environmental tests. Q4S, scheduled for launch next year, will test quantum entanglement technologies with applications such as ultra-secure communications. (4/17)

Japan's Hayabusa 2 Enter Safe Mode (Source: Space.com)
Japan's Hayabusa2 spacecraft is in safe mode after an onboard glitch. The spacecraft went into a safe mode last month because of an undisclosed issue but continues to communicate with ground controllers. It was unclear how long the spacecraft will remain in that protective state, or any impacts it might have on its extended mission. After delivering a sample canister from the asteroid Ryugu to Earth in 2020, the main Hayabusa2 spacecraft began an extended mission to go to the asteroid 1998 KY26, with arrival scheduled for 2031. (4/17)

Planet Found Orbiting Two Stars at a Perfect 90-Degree Angle (Source: SciTech Daily)
Astronomers using ESO’s Very Large Telescope have discovered a truly bizarre planet — one that orbits two stars at a perfect 90-degree angle. This “polar planet” circles a rare eclipsing pair of brown dwarfs, making it the first confirmed world with this kind of alignment. It was a surprising and accidental find, defying expectations and proving that planet formation in extreme orbital setups is not only possible — it’s real. (4/16)

Space Coast County and Municipal Governments Consider Changes to Spaceport-Adjacent Economic Development Zone (Source: Talk of Titusville)
The future of the North Brevard Economic Development Zone (NBEDZ) hangs in the balance after Brevard County commissioners initiated steps to withdraw funding. Amid this shift, Titusville’s mayor has signaled a strategic pivot toward new economic partnerships and streamlined initiatives, potentially including a localized approach to business development.

The mayor’s focus on “partnerships, innovation, and targeted investments” aligns with existing city programs like the Spaceport Commerce Park incentives and small business assistance. This raises the possibility of a new local board or task force to centralize efforts with space industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and groups like NASA’s Office of Small Business Programs. (4/16)

Musk's SpaceX is Frontrunner to Build Trump's Golden Dome Missile Shield (Source: Reuters)
Elon Musk's SpaceX and two partners have emerged as frontrunners to win a crucial part of President Donald Trump's "Golden Dome" missile defense shield, six people familiar with the matter said. Musk's rocket and satellite company is partnering with software maker Palantir (PLTR.O), opens new tab and drone builder Anduril on a bid to build key parts of Golden Dome, the sources said, which has drawn significant interest from the technology sector's burgeoning base of defense startups. (4/17)

Virgin Galactic Strengthens Team with Strategic Stock Compensation Package (Source: Stock Titan)
Virgin Galactic Holdings announced that its Compensation Committee has approved an inducement restricted stock unit award for a new non-executive employee. The grant consists of 9,175 shares of Virgin Galactic common stock, effective April 15, 2025. The award, granted under the company's 2023 Employment Inducement Incentive Award Plan, follows a four-year vesting schedule: 25% of shares vest after the first year, with the remaining 75% vesting over the subsequent 12 quarters, contingent on continued employment. (4/15)

Space Force Eases Entry for Commercial Firms with Layered Launch Standards (Source: Space News)
The Space Force is changing how it evaluates risk for launch missions, using tiered mission assurance standards that could expand opportunities for newer commercial providers. Under the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 procurement strategy, the Space Force has adopted a tiered approach to “mission assurance” — a classification system that calibrates the amount of oversight required for each launch based on its risk profile and the importance of its payload. This change could lower the barrier to entry for emerging commercial players.

“The tiered mission assurance system was created to open up the market to commercial launch players that don’t have certified vehicles but have demonstrated successful commercial launches,” Col. Doug Pentecost said. For example, Tier 0 missions could include launching small satellites for proliferated constellations. In these cases, failure risk is more tolerable because replacement satellites are already in the pipeline.

The next Lane 1 launch marks the first time a Tier 3 mission will be awarded under the new system. Unlike replaceable small sats, the WSF-M mission carries significant operational risk: it is the second and final satellite in a critical environmental monitoring program used to support military operations. To compete for this type of launch, commercial rockets will be subject to elevated scrutiny, including engineering reviews and independent testing—though still less rigorous than the exhaustive processes of Lane 2. (4/16)

Starlink vs. Hughesnet vs. Viasat: Which Satellite Internet Provider Is Best? (Source: PC Magazine)
What people want to know isn't merely "Does Starlink work?" The real question is whether it's better than whatever other ISP options they're considering, especially competing satellite ISPs like Hughesnet or Viasat. (If you're considering Starlink where you live, it's likely that the other satellite ISPs are your only other good alternatives.)

Based on each company's plans, stated speeds, and our own Starlink testing data, we can compare Starlink speeds with those of other major competitors. We have also gathered data from FCC broadband disclosure labels and coverage maps. We're specifically looking at the key indicators for internet performance: download speeds, upload speeds, and latency. Click here. (4/16) 

Bruno: We Have the Tools to Build and Deploy Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’ Right Now (Source: Washington Times)
President Trump has made an important, appropriate and realistic decision by calling on Congress to fund a state-of-the-art “Golden Dome” missile defense shield to protect our homeland. Also called an “Iron Dome,” a Golden Dome is a pretty awesome rebranding of the current Israeli missile defense system and a new initiative to protect the United States from intercontinental ballistic missile and hypersonic weapon attacks.

With China and Russia investing heavily in the capability to carry out such attacks, particularly on the hypersonic front, Mr. Trump is right: We absolutely need an advanced missile defense shield. The good news is that it is finally possible. A practical American Golden Dome could begin deployment right now. Even better news is that several existing agencies, such as the Missile Defense Agency, the Space Development Agency and the U.S. Space Force, could oversee this effort.

Editor's Note: This excerpt from a different report suggests the Golden Dome is less than feasible: "The notion of shooting down large-scale attacks is widely viewed as utter fantasy. First, the process of detecting, tracking, and intercepting dozens of missiles or warheads—as they’re ascending from launchpads, arcing through outer space, or plunging down to their targets—is beyond even our most advanced technology. Even if we did somehow manage a system that could do all that, enemies could overwhelm it in multiple ways. (4/14)

Poland Green Lights €52M Earth Observation Constellation (Source: European Spaceflight)
The European Space Agency, on behalf of the Polish Government, has awarded a €52 million contract to Creotech Instruments for the development and launch of a three-satellite Earth observation constellation. In October 2023, Poland’s Ministry of Development and Technology signed an agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA) to oversee the development of the country’s CAMILA (Country Awareness Mission in Land Analysis) satellite constellation. (4/16)

Boeing Hits Key Milestone On Path To Quantum First in Orbit (Source: Payload)
HRL Labs has built a space-hardened quantum payload and demonstrated it on the ground—a key milestone in Boeing’s push to demonstrate the first quantum entanglement swap in space. The device, which is going through final environmental testing, will serve as a “ground twin” for the final payload, which is expected to reach orbit on the Q4S spacecraft next year. Jay Lowell, Boeing’s chief scientist for disruptive computing, called the device “an optical lab’s worth of capability in a compact, 15 kg integrated space-capable assembly.” (4/16)

Latitude Secures France 2030 Funding to Build Reims Rocket Factory (Source: European Spaceflight)
The French government has awarded Latitude funding to support the construction of its new rocket factory in Reims, which is expected to open in 2026. Founded in 2019, Latitude is developing a two-stage rocket called Zephyr, designed to deliver payloads of up to 200 kilograms to low Earth orbit. At its current facility in Reims, the company expects to produce between five and ten Zephyr rockets per year.

Latitude first announced plans to develop a larger rocket factory in late 2023, when it expanded its original site from 1,500 to 3,000 square meters. The new facility is expected to span approximately 25,000 square meters and will support a production capacity of up to 50 Zephyr rockets per year. (4/15)

Italy's D-Orbit Sets Course to Expand Beyond Space Transportation Services (Source: NSF)
Italian company D-Orbit has been launching customer payloads aboard its Orbital Transfer Vehicles (OTVs) for the past five years. In that time, the company has positioned itself as a reliable space transportation provider and hosting platform.

The company now plans to extend into on-orbit servicing and refueling missions, end-of-mission disposal, and cross-orbit transportation, including to lunar orbits. NSF spoke with the company’s VP of Business Development, Stefano Antonetti, about D-Orbit’s plans to expand from movers to maintainers as it continues to build Europe’s future in space. (4/15)

Italy Moves Ahead With Study for National IRIS2 Alternative (Source: European Spaceflight)
The Italian government has approved Phase 2 of a feasibility study exploring the possibility of the country developing an alternative to the IRIS2 secure communications constellation.

In late 2024, the Interministerial Committee for Space and Aerospace Policies (Comint) tasked the Italian Space Agency (ASI) with conducting a feasibility study on the development of a sovereign secure communications satellite constellation. In March 2025, ASI delivered the initial study to the government. On 28 March, the Ministry of Business and Made in Italy announced that it would move ahead with Phase 2, signaling a seemingly favorable response to the agency’s findings. (4/14)

Trump Team Plans To Push TraCSS Out of Government (Source: Payload)
The White House wants the long-awaited Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) to be handed over to a non-profit or private company, backtracking on a mandate in the first Trump administration to move it into the Office of Space Commerce.

Since 2018, NOAA’s OSC has been working to take over the civil SSA mission from the US military, which shares a satellite catalog with the public. Now, with TraCSS less than twelve months from coming online, OMB instructed the Department of Commerce to push the system out of government and into the private sector. (4/15)

Rep. Chu Sounds Alarm on White House’s Proposed Budget Cuts to Mars Sample Return (Source: Rep. Chu)
President Trump’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) reportedly sent a preliminary budget plan to NASA that proposes a 50% cut to NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) and to eliminate funding for the Mars Sample Return (MRS) mission led by Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which is owned by NASA and administered by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). (4/14)

Pentagon’s ‘SWAT Team of Nerds’ Resigns En Masse (Source: Politico)
Under pressure from the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, nearly all the staff of the Defense Digital Service — the Pentagon’s fast-track tech development arm — are resigning over the coming month, according to the director and three other current members of the office. The resignations will effectively shut down the decade-old program after the end of April. “The best way to put it, I think, is either we die quickly or we die slowly,” Elizabeth Hay said.

Hay’s 14 person team was reportedly blindsided at being sidelined by DOGE, having expected the DDS, with its tech talent, to be brought into Musk’s drive to automate operations at the Pentagon and integrate AI. Editor's Note: I have been assigned to a DDS project for the past year. We're transitioning next month to a new DoD sponsor. (4/15)

JWST Finds a Hint of Life on Another World (Source: NPR)
An ocean world that's teeming with microbes — and who knows what other kinds of life — is currently the best explanation for some chemical signatures that the James Webb Space Telescope has spotted in the atmosphere of a distant planet. That's according to Nikku Madhusudhan of the University of Cambridge's Institute of Astronomy, who called his team's new findings "astounding."

"These are the first hints we are seeing of an alien world that is possibly inhabited," he told reporters in a press briefing. "This is a revolutionary moment." It's also a harbinger of future claims about possible signs of life beyond our solar system that should become increasingly common, as scientists take advantage of the James Webb Space Telescope's unprecedented ability to probe the atmosphere of small planets that orbit far away stars. (4/16)

South Korea and Australia Developing Strategic Space Partnership (Source: ASPI)
Space cooperation between Australian and South Korea remains stuck in its infancy and, to some extent, is treated as an end in itself. This report argues that the time is ripe for both Australia and South Korea to embark on joint projects and initiatives that would deliver tangible and practical outcomes for both countries.

For South Korea and Australia, space cooperation and space development serve as key pillars of the bilateral relationship. The two nations elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in December 2021, incorporating space development into core areas of cooperation in the fields of economics, innovation and technology. As a part of that elevation, the leaders of both countries agreed to strengthen joint research and cooperation between space research institutes and industries. Following that, in 2022, South Korea and Australia established a Space Policy Dialogue. (4/15)

ULA Offers an Inside Look at Rocket Production in Alabama (Source: WAAY)
United Launch Alliance opened its doors for a rare behind-the-scenes look at its sprawling rocket manufacturing facility in Decatur, where production of the Vulcan rocket continues to ramp up.

ULA President and CEO Tory Bruno led a tour of the company's 1.6 million-square-foot plant Tuesday, showcasing its progress toward automation and its ongoing commitment to the local workforce. Over the past few years, ULA has invested roughly $500 million into automating the Vulcan rocket manufacturing process. The move comes as the company transitions from its previous Atlas and Delta rocket lines. Click here. (4/16)

Space Systems Command and U.K. Space Command Collaboration Features Civilian Exchange (Source: SSC)
Space Systems Command civilian Guardian arrives in the U.K. as part of a first-ever civilian exchange program to support Space Enterprise Architecture integration efforts between the U.S. and the U.K.  This exchange marks another step towards closer integration and collaboration between the two countries in the space domain, strengthening the partnership and mutually developing the U.S. and U.K. space workforce. (4/15)

NASA's Perseverance Rover Hits the Mars Rock Gold Mine (Source: Space.com)
NASA's Perseverance rover is reveling in a scientific bonanza on Mars after finding a diverse array of rocks that are providing eager scientists a glimpse into the planet's ancient history. The Perseverance rover is currently exploring Mars hills, boulders and rocky outcrops along the rim of Jezero Crater, a dry, bowl-shaped depression north of the Martian equator that likely held a lake billions of years ago.

Since reaching the crater's western rim in December of last year, the rover has focused its attention on the layered terrain of a tall slope called Witch Hazel Hill, which could hold clues to a period when Mars had a vastly different climate. Of key interest to astronomers is Perseverance's first crater rim sample, named Silver Mountain, which is a "one-of-a-kind treasure" likely dating back at least 3.9 billion years to the Noachian age — an early Martian period of heavy bombardment that shaped the planet's cratered landscape we see today, NASA recently said.

"My 26th sample, known as 'Silver Mountain,' has textures unlike anything we've seen before," the rover's official X account posted in February. Not far away, the rover also found a rock rich in serpentine minerals, which typically form when water interacts with certain volcanic rocks. Scientists say this process can sometimes create hydrogen, a potential energy source for life as we know it here on Earth. (4/16)