April 26, 2025

GPS Disruption and Satellite Maneuvers Now Hallmarks of Modern Warfare (Source: Space News)
Interference with Global Positioning System satellite signals has become a routine feature of military conflict across the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and parts of Asia, according to a new report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The findings signal rising risks for both commercial and military actors in orbit.

CSIS on April 25 released its latest Space Threat Assessment report, outlining trends in so-called “counterspace” activity — efforts by nations to disrupt, degrade or destroy satellites. It identifies Russia and Israel as primary actors in widespread GPS spoofing campaigns tied to ongoing military operations in Ukraine and Gaza. (4/25)

Axiom Space Names New CEO (Source: Space News)
Commercial space infrastructure developer Axiom Space has named its chief revenue officer, Tejpaul Bhatia, as its new chief executive. Axiom announced April 25 that it promoted Bhatia, who had been chief revenue officer of the company since 2021, to the CEO post. He succeeds Kam Ghaffarian, co-founder and executive chairman of the company. (4/25)

L3Harris Gains Edge in Race to Build Golden Dome Missile Sensors (Source: Space News)
A missile-tracking satellite developed by L3Harris Technologies demonstrated its ability to track hypersonic missiles from space, giving the defense contractor a potential key advantage in the Golden Dome program directed by the Trump administration to bolster U.S. defenses against advanced aerial threats.

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) confirmed April 25 that L3Harris’ Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) satellite prototype met performance targets in tests. The agency launched two competing HBTSS demonstration satellites in February 2024 — one built by L3Harris and another by Northrop Grumman — but only the L3Harris satellite has satisfied program requirements, according to an MDA spokesperson. (4/25)

Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Moon Lander Mission was Full of Surprises (Source: Space.com)
Lessons learned and on-the-spot surprises from the first fully successful commercial lunar lander mission bolsters the chances of long-term robotic and human operations on the moon. The Firefly Aerospace Blue Ghost Mission 1 safely touched down on March 2 within the targeted Mare Crisium landing zone.

Plopping down on its four landing legs, the spacecraft delivered ten science instruments and technology demonstration gear through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. Blue Ghost completed more than 14 days of surface operations during 346 hours of daylight, stretching its lifetime for a little over 5 hours into the super-chilly lunar night. Click here. (4/26)

Tariffs Alarm the Amateur Astronomy Industry (Source: Sky & Telescope)
The historic tariffs levied against China by the Trump administration are already affecting companies and consumers throughout the United States. They also threaten the small, passionate industry of amateur astronomy gear.

At the 35th Northeast Astronomy Forum (NEAF) earlier this month, tariff conversations permeated the world’s largest astronomy exposition. That’s because astronomy products are particularly vulnerable to tariffs, due a reliance on Chinese manufacturing for glass, electronics, and numerous other telescope parts. From boutique manufacturers to large telescope distributors, companies are weighing how to respond to Trump’s tariff policy — and how the astronomy industry might fare as a result. (4/25)

Semiconductors: The Unsung Heroes in Space Exploration (Source: Electronic Design)
Semiconductor components help ensure reliability and performance in space's extreme environment. Over the past 60 years, microchips have played a pivotal role in more than 100 space missions, driving the success of some of the most historic milestones in space exploration. From the first successful U.S. space mission in 1958 to the ongoing Artemis missions, these components have consistently proven their value. Click here. (4/23)

AST SpaceMobile Continues to Invest at Midland TX Spaceport (Source: LinkedIn)
Since opening its doors in 2018, they’ve created over 200 quality jobs and invested nearly $22 million — surpassing their original commitment of 160 jobs and $14.25 million. Now, with support from the Midland Development Corporation (MDC), they’re expanding again, bringing 50 more jobs and $3 million in new investment to the area. (4/24)

Former ISRO Chief Passes Away at 84 (Source: Indian Express)
Kasturirangan, who served in ISRO for more than three and a half decades, headed the organization between 1994 and 2003, a little turbulent time for the space agency a number of international restrictions, including access to cryogenic technology. The restrictions became even tighter after India’s nuclear test in 1998. (4/25)

UCF Scientists Use James Webb Space Telescope to Better Understand Solar System’s Origins (Source: UCF)
UCF scientists and their collaborators discovered new insights into the formation of distant icy objects in space beyond Neptune, offering a deeper understanding of our solar system’s formation and growth. Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), scientists analyzed far-away bodies — known as Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs) — and found varying traces of methanol. The discoveries are helping them better classify different TNOs and understand the complex chemical reactions in space that may relate to the formation of our solar system and the origin of life. (4/24)

Reusable Rockets are Here, So Why is NASA Paying More to Launch Stuff (Source: Ars Technica)
Every few days, SpaceX is sending another batch of Starlink Internet satellites to orbit, and other kinds of missions fill up the rest of SpaceX's launch schedule. SpaceX, alone, has ample capacity to launch the handful of science missions NASA puts into space each year. If supply outpaces demand, shouldn't prices go down?

It's not so simple. NASA is one of many customers jockeying for a slot on SpaceX's launch manifest. The US military is launching more missions than ever before, and SpaceX is about to become the Pentagon's top launch provider. SpaceX already launches more missions for NASA than any other rocket company.

Commercial satellites and SpaceX's own Starlink missions also fill up the launch schedule. So far this year, more than 70 percent of SpaceX's launches have deployed Starlink satellites or Starshield spacecraft, a military version of the Starlink platform for the US government. So, there's a lot of demand, even if NASA's missions make up only a fraction of SpaceX's launch business. (4/24)

Trump Praises Hubble, Promises America Will Lead the Way in Space Exploration (Source: Space Policy Online)
On the 35th anniversary of the launch of the Hubble Space Telescope, President Trump issued a statement tonight promising America will lead the way in space discovery and exploration. His statement comes amid deep concern in the space community about the future of space science at NASA following a proposal from Trump’s Office of Management and Budget to cut space science by about 50 percent in FY2026. (4/24)

Secretive ‘Dark Eagle’ Hypersonic Missile Launches From Space Florida Pad at Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
After a successful test from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station last December, the Army on Thursday officially named its long-range hypersonic weapon “Dark Eagle.” The system designed to “disintegrate adversary capabilities” was at it again Friday morning. Images posted to social media showed the missile launch from Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 46 while the Eastern Range had posted maritime and airspace keep-out notices, although no details about the mission had been announced.

LC-46 had most recently hosted a pair of Astra Space rocket launches in 2022 before its use of late for DoD testing. According to one observer: "Shortly after liftoff, the vehicle split into two distinct sections, with one appearing to tumble away, and the other continuing to propel itself forward until it disappeared into the sky". (4/25)

Dassault Readies MRO Facility at Space Coast Airport (Source: EDC of FSC)
Dassault Falcon Jet is nearing completion of a $115 Million Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility on Florida’s Space Coast. Scheduled to welcome its first Falcon aircraft in July 2025, the new 235,000-square-foot complex at Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB) will house up to 16 jets simultaneously.

This project is expected to create 350 high-wage jobs, with average annual salaries of $86,120—delivering a significant boost to the local workforce and economy. In addition, the arrival of ultra-high-net-worth clients, pilots, and crew will also spark new opportunities across the region’s hospitality, dining, retail, and service sectors.

Editor's Note: The Dassault facility joins Embraer's business jet assembly operations at MLB. With Northrop Grumman as another major MLB-adjacent company (and several others, including L3Harris nearby), the airport has become an engine for defense and aviation enterprise. (4/25)

Rocket Lab Introduces Customizable Solar Arrays (Source: Space.com)
Rocket Lab has unveiled the Standardized Array line of customizable solar arrays for satellites, offering sizes that range from 100 watts to more than 2,000 watts. The arrays are manufactured using capabilities that Rocket Lab acquired through the purchase of SolAero Technologies in 2022. (4/23)

China Report: Debris Risks, Startup Funding and Previewing Space Day (Source: Space News)
Commercial actors began emerging in late 2014, though largely limited to small solid rockets and small satellites. Recent developments now see development of large, reusable rockets, ground stations, orbital crewed tourism plans, and novel constellation projects, as well as participants up and down the supply chain. One official from a state-owned enterprise estimated during a recent conference that there are now 35-plus startups in the launch sector alone. Click here. (4/24)