April 3, 2025

The Pentagon’s Endangered Brain Trust (Source: Foreign Affairs)
The Office of Net Assessment is a small arm of the Department of Defense that has, through its independent analyses, for decades played a vital role in informing senior Pentagon leaders’ strategic planning and policy priorities. Although it comprises only a dozen or so staff and commands a research budget of roughly $20 million—“budget dust” in Pentagon-speak—ONA has again and again provided crucial and often contrarian analysis that has reshaped U.S. strategic thinking.

Yet on March 13, Pete Hegseth ordered the “disestablishment” of ONA and directed Pentagon managers to reassign the office’s employees elsewhere. He also canceled all existing ONA research contracts. In announcing the closure, Hegseth also requested that the deputy secretary of defense devise a plan for “rebuilding” the office in a different form, to be structured “consistent with” the secretary’s priorities. But the message seems clear: ONA will cease to exist as an autonomous center for strategic thinking. (4/2)

CASIS/ISSNL Creates Orbital Edge Accelerator for ISS-Supported Startups (Source: CASIS)
Are you a part of a bold startup interested in taking your research to new heights? The ISS National Laboratory is excited to unveil the Orbital Edge Accelerator program—a new initiative designed to help startups harness the unique power of the space station to drive innovation, spark growth, and transform business models for impact on Earth and beyond.

Six visionary startups will be selected to participate, gaining access to expert guidance and unparalleled research capabilities in space. Backed by investment from our global partners—CIRI, E2MC, and Stellar Ventures—each selected startup will receive $500,000 to bring their ideas to orbit. Click here. (4/2)

CesiumAstro Joins Taiwan's Initiative to Build LEO Satellite Network (Source: Space Daily)
CesiumAstro has secured a key contract with the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) to supply advanced communications payloads and ground systems for the nation's inaugural low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation. This agreement supports Taiwan's Beyond 5G (B5G) satellite initiative aimed at creating a sovereign space-based communications infrastructure.

As part of the contract, CesiumAstro will deliver both space and ground-based systems, including its Vireo Ka-band software-defined radio (SDR) payload and the Skylark ground terminal. These active phased array technologies will enhance Taiwan's ability to manage its own satellite network and reduce reliance on foreign communications systems. (4/2)

ESA's Mini Weather Mission Exceeds Expectations (Source: Space Daily)
Launched just seven months ago, ESA's Arctic Weather Satellite has quickly demonstrated how the fast-track New Space strategy can accelerate the delivery of missions that offer high-quality atmospheric data crucial for short-term weather forecasting. This compact prototype, developed on a tight schedule and modest budget, has impressed experts with its ability to generate temperature and humidity profiles rivaling those from more conventional, large-scale missions. (4/1)

China Highlights Major Strides in Moon Research and Exploration (Source: Space Daily)
China's lunar exploration initiative has seen consistent advancements across science, technology, engineering, and international partnerships, according to Wu Weiren, chief designer of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program. Wu emphasized that the country has developed an expansive body of lunar geological and environmental knowledge over the last 20 years. These achievements include the identification of new minerals and elements, offering fresh insights into the moon's composition and conditions.

Wu pointed out that the program has not only driven progress in critical aerospace technologies but has also resulted in a robust system for executing lunar missions. This includes the establishment of specialized infrastructure supporting long-term exploration objectives.

"Furthermore, the country has actively promoted international collaboration through data-sharing and joint research initiatives, significantly advancing global lunar exploration efforts," he said. (4/3)

Kuiper's First Operational Satellites to Launch on ULA Atlas on April 9 (Source: Space News)
The first operational satellites of Amazon's Project Kuiper constellation will launch next week. Amazon and United Launch Alliance announced Wednesday that the first Atlas 5 launch of 27 Kuiper satellites is scheduled for April 9 from Cape Canaveral. This will be the first batch of operational satellites after another Atlas 5 launched two prototypes in 2023.

These satellites feature significant upgrades over the prototypes, including improved phased array antennas, processors, solar arrays, propulsion and optical inter-satellite links. This first launch is roughly a year behind schedule, and Amazon has a July 2026 deadline set by the FCC to deploy half of the roughly 3,200 satellites in the constellation. An Amazon spokesperson said the company is already shipping satellites for a second launch, also on an Atlas 5. (4/3)

Isaacman Confirmation Starts April 9 (Source: Space News)
The long-awaited confirmation hearing of Jared Isaacman to be NASA administrator is on the calendar. The Senate Commerce Committee announced late Wednesday that it will hold a confirmation hearing for Isaacman, along with FCC commissioner nominee Olivia Trusty, on April 9. Isaacman's nomination has won broad support in the space industry, which has been anxiously awaiting the confirmation hearing. On Tuesday, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), a member of the Commerce Committee, said he met with Isaacman and wanted the committee "to quickly conduct a confirmation hearing" on the nomination. (4/3)

Russia and China Explore EW Disruption of Starlink (Source: Space News)
Russia and China have been taking aim at SpaceX's Starlink system through electronic warfare. In a report published Thursday, the Secure World Foundation said that both countries have been stepping up efforts to disrupt Starlink services, driven by the value that system has provided in Ukraine. Two Russian systems have been used to disrupt Starlink communications, including one called Kalinka that also appears able to detect terminals using Starshield, the military version of Starlink. China has also been working on counterspace capabilities to target commercial satellite constellations like Starlink in the event of armed conflict with the United States. (4/3)

Portal Space Systems Raises $17.5 Million for Maneuverable Spacecraft (Source: Space News)
Portal Space Systems has raised $17.5 million to work on a highly maneuverable spacecraft. Portal announced the seed round Thursday led by AlleyCorp, an early-stage investor, along with several other funds. Portal says the funds will allow it to complete development of Supernova, a spacecraft with a solar thermal propulsion system that enables it to rapidly move between orbits. Portal said it is seeing strong commercial and military interest in the technology. Portal plans to launch its first Supernova vehicle on a demonstration mission in mid-2026. (4/3)

Turion Gains Investor (Source: Space News)
Turion Space, a startup developing space situational awareness and satellite servicing systems, has a new investor. Washington Harbour Partners, which invests in technology companies focused on government and national security markets, said it made an investment of undisclosed size into Turion, joining other investors such as Y Combinator and Forward Deployed VC. The funding aims to expand Turion's capabilities in space domain awareness, missile warning and tracking, orbital debris management and collision avoidance. Turion launched its latest spacecraft, Droid.002, last month to provide space situational awareness and debris monitoring services. (4/3)

China Launches Radar Calibration Satellite on Long March 6 Rocket (Source: Xinhua)
China launched a radar calibration payload Wednesday night. A Long March 6 lifted off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center at 10:12 p.m. Eastern and placed into orbit Tianping-3A (02), which Chinese media described as supporting the calibration of ground-based radars. China launched three similar Tianping satellites last October. (4/3)

Vast to Test Modules at NASA Armstrong in Ohio (Source: Space News)
Commercial space station developer Vast has signed an agreement to perform tests at a NASA facility. Vast said Thursday it reached an agreement with NASA to use the Armstrong Flight Test Facility in Ohio for environmental tests of its Haven-1 spacecraft early next year. Haven-1 is a single-module station that will launch as soon as May 2026 to support up to four short-duration flights. Vast is also using Haven-1 to gain experience for the larger Haven-2 station it plans to offer to NASA for the agency's Commercial LEO Destinations program, which supports development of commercial space stations to succeed the ISS. (4/3)

Turkey Plans Spaceport, But Not in Turkey (Source: Turkey Today)
The government of Turkey is planning to create a spaceport outside the country. The Spaceport Türkiye project would create a launch facility in a country closer to the Equator, such as Somalia. The spaceport would host launches by future Turkish rockets carrying domestic satellites, reducing reliance on foreign platforms. The announcement did not provide a schedule for building the spaceport. (4/3)

JWST Observes 2024 YR4 Asteroid (Source: NASA)
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has observed an asteroid that, for a time, appeared to be on a collision course. The observations of 2024 YR4 have allowed scientists to better estimate the size of the asteroid, now thought to be about 60 meters across. For a time earlier this year, observations of the asteroid by ground-based telescopes showed it had a chance of a few percent of colliding with the Earth in December 2032, but subsequent observations have ruled out an Earth impact. However, 2024 YR4 still has a 3.8% chance of hitting the moon in December 2032. (4/3)

Gravitics Wins $60M Backing to Deploy On-Orbit Vehicle Platforms (Source: Space Daily)
Gravitics has secured a Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) award from SpaceWERX, a division of the U.S. Space Force, which could provide up to $60 million in combined government, Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), and private investment to advance and flight-test its Orbital Carrier system.

The Orbital Carrier is a novel in-space logistics platform that enables the pre-positioning of maneuverable space vehicles for immediate tactical deployment. Designed to enhance national security in orbit, the system allows rapid response to emerging threats by acting as a forward-deployed base for a variety of spacecraft. (4/1)

Four Small Worlds Discovered Orbiting Nearby Star (Source: Space Daily)
A quartet of diminutive planets has been confirmed in orbit around Barnard's Star, a nearby red dwarf long known for stirring debate over questionable planet sightings. Thanks to cutting-edge observational tools, scientists now say the new detection is solid. The discovery marks a milestone in tracking down small exoplanets across vast interstellar distances.

Barnard's Star, just six light-years away, has been a challenging target due to its jittery nature and the difficulty of distinguishing genuine planetary signatures from stellar noise. Using the radial velocity method, researchers measure the tiny shifts in starlight caused by gravitational tugs from orbiting planets. However, when the planets are as lightweight as these, each only about 20 to 33 percent the mass of Earth, the gravitational effect becomes vanishingly faint. (4/2)

Aventura Launches First Fund with $9.5M SpaceX Investment Vehicle (Source: Space Daily)
Aventura Private Wealth has completed its first fundraise, securing $9.5 million in just over a week for a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) exclusively dedicated to SpaceX. The rapid close of Aventura Space Fund 1, LLC highlights the growing investor appetite for access to high-growth private tech firms. The fund offers accredited investors a rare entry point into SpaceX's trajectory as it advances commercial space transport, next-gen satellite networks, and interplanetary mission capabilities. (4/2)

Bacterial Bio-Repair Method Strengthens Lunar Construction Bricks (Source: Space Daily)
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have devised an innovative method to repair bricks made from lunar soil using bacteria, a technique that could prove essential for maintaining structures built in the moon's extreme environment.
As lunar exploration shifts toward permanent settlement, exemplified by NASA's Artemis initiative, reducing dependence on Earth-supplied building materials is crucial. Lunar regolith, a powdery mix of shattered minerals and rocks, offers a viable on-site alternative.

Previously, IISc engineers developed a method to produce bricks from regolith simulants using the bacterium Sporosarcina pasteurii. This microbe facilitates the formation of calcium carbonate by metabolizing urea and calcium in the presence of guar gum, effectively binding the soil into hardened structures. The resulting bio-bricks provide a cost-effective, sustainable substitute for cement. The team also employed sintering, a traditional brick-making process involving high-temperature heating of compacted regolith mixed with polyvinyl alcohol. (4/2)

Lunar Soundwave Tech Offers New Hope for Extracting Moon Ice (Source: Space Daily)
The UK Space Agency has announced the winner of its Aqualunar Challenge, a Pounds 150,000 award recognizing pioneering technology to purify water extracted from frozen lunar soil. Gloucestershire-based Naicker Scientific claimed the top prize with its SonoChem System, an innovative device that uses high-frequency sound waves to clean water derived from lunar ice.

The prize, part of a larger Pounds 1.2 million initiative supported by the UK Space Agency's International Bilateral Fund and organized by Nesta's Challenge Works, seeks to advance life-supporting technology for future Moon missions. The announcement took place at Canada House in London, where UK Space Agency astronaut reserve member Meganne Christian unveiled the results. (4/1)

Donalds Unveils Legislation to Move NASA Headquarters to Florida’s Space Coast (Source: The Hill)
Florida gubernatorial candidate and Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) is set to introduce legislation in the House proposing that NASA headquarters be moved from Washington, D.C., to Florida.

The legislation’s co-sponsors include a bipartisan group of Florida lawmakers, including Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Scott Franklin (R-FL), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Daniel Webster (R-FL), Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), Brian Mast (R-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), John Rutherford (R-FL), Cory Mills (R-FL), and Vern Buchanan (R-FL). (4/2)

Musk's Mars Colonization Plans Foiled by Pesky Foe (Source: Futurism)
For many years, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has been hellbent on sending humans to the surface of Mars. But as detailed in a recent study last month, scientists found that substances found in Martian dust could be life-threatening to human space travelers, greatly imperiling their health. While astronauts aren't expected to directly breathe in the extremely thin atmosphere any time soon in the absence of major geoengineering efforts, even filtering out the dust could prove extremely difficult. (3/30)

NASA's Rovers Found Similar Gnarly Rocks on Opposite Sides of Mars (Source: Mashable)
"Oh my glob," the anthropomorphic Curiosity account posted on X. "What are these lumpy rocks?" But Curiosity wasn't the only one with a geological mystery. At the same time, roughly 2,300 miles away on the other side of the planet, Perseverance found bumpy rocks of a different kind, calling to mind the famous "Martian blueberries" discovered by the Opportunity rover in 2004. (3/29)

NASA cut $420 Million for Climate Science, Moon Modelling and More (Source: New Scientist)
NASA has cancelled contracts and grants worth up to $420 million, following guidance from the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The cuts will impact research projects and educational programs across the US, but NASA is being tight-lipped about confirming exactly which organizations are affected.

Editor's Note: This table shows five Florida-based contracts that were canceled, three for management support at NASA KSC, one for the Orlando Science Center, and one for a research project at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The potential total value of those contracts was $1.34 million. (4/1)

France Calls for Speeding Up Satellite Constellation (Source: Defense News)
France is calling for a new European plan to ramp up military production [reducing the need for US arms procurements]. Sébastien Lecornu will also ask the European Commission to speed up deployment and increase the budget for the IRIS² sovereign satellite constellation, the French minister said in a press briefing with his Danish counterpart, Troels Lund Poulsen, in Paris. (4/2)

US Officials Object to European Push Toward Defense Autonomy (Source: Reuters)
U.S. officials have told European allies they want them to keep buying American-made arms, amid recent moves by the European Union to limit U.S. manufacturers' participation in weapons tenders, five sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The messages delivered by Washington in recent weeks come as the EU takes steps to boost Europe's weapons industry, while potentially limiting purchases of certain types of U.S. arms. (4/2)

The Flaws in Musk’s Mars Mission (Source: UnHerd)
The US Mars mission could easily be derailed. Trump and Musk have both defined themselves in hyper-partisan terms. But if the Mars program is seen as a Trump-Musk hobby-horse, it will be cancelled as soon as the fortunes of political war shift, as they are certain to do long before the mission is realized. Therefore the proposals advanced by some in the Trump camp to give the program to SpaceX to pursue outside of NASA are not merely unethical (as they would involve the sole-source distribution of tens of billions of taxpayer dollars to Musk), but suicidally impractical. If the program is to succeed, it must be in the name of America, not Elon Musk. (4/2)

Space Miso is Nuttier Than Earth Miso — But it's Still Miso (Source: Space.com)
Scientists announced on Wednesday (April 2) that they successfully fermented miso aboard the ISS, marking the first deliberate food fermentation in space that may open up new culinary possibilities for astronauts on long-term missions. The traditional Japanese condiment is a fermented soybean paste made by combining cooked soybeans, salt and koji, which is a mold culture typically grown on rice or barley. (4/2)

SpaceX Fram2 Astronauts See 'Pure White' Antarctica From Polar Orbit (Source: Space.com)
For the first time in history, a crew of four people are getting to see Earth's North and South poles with their own eyes. All of the human spaceflights that preceded the Fram2 mission have orbited the Earth from west to east. This flight, aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, is the first to follow a 90-degree inclination. (4/2)

Scientists Used JWST Instruments 'Wrong' On Purpose to Capture Direct Images of Exoplanets (Source: Space.com)
Astronomers unveiled exciting new images of planets in the HR 8799 and 51 Eridani star systems — and it was all thanks to a creative use of the James Webb Space Telescope. William Balmer and colleagues did so by using the JWST's coronagraphs in an unconventional way. "What we really did was use a very thin part of the coronagraph mask, which allowed more starlight to diffract or leak around the edges of the coronagraph," Balmer explained. (4/1)

Deloitte Tops List of Losers in DOGE Consulting Crackdown (Source: Business Insider)
Ten major government consulting  firms are under the spotlight as the Trump administration continues its consulting crackdown — but one is taking the most heat. In March, the GSA asked the firms to submit a scorecard containing a detailed breakdown of their pricing and suggestions for where they could reduce costs. It told the firms to identify which contracts were "mission critical" and to use simple terms to do it: "A 15-year-old should be able to understand what service you provide and why it is important." Responses were due by Monday.

Deloitte is one of the federal government's 10 highest-paid consultancies. At least 127 of Deloitte's government contracts have been cut or modified since January, about double the total for the second-hardest-hit consultancy. Deloitte US contracts with federal agencies were worth $3.3 billion a year, or almost 10% of its most recent annual revenues, the firm said in a recent earnings report. Editor's Note: Deloitte serves (or used to serve) NASA in areas including data analysis and technical support, acquisition support, and change management support. (4/2)

NOAA Operations Impaired by Commerce Chief's Approval Mandate (Source: Axios)
A Commerce Department requirement to have Secretary Howard Lutnick approve many NOAA contracts or extensions is slowing the agency's operations to a crawl, say current and former NOAA staff. The requirement of Lutnick's approval on contracts and extensions over $100,000 also is having ripple effects for contractors around the country as some contracts expire or are canceled because the time to review them has elapsed. (4/1)