April 30, 2025

Space Force Moves Toward Replacing Military GEO Satellites with Commercial Ones (Source: Space News)
The U.S. Space Force is moving to replace its specialized military satellites used for geostationary surveillance with systems built and operated by commercial vendors. The Space Force signed off on a plan Tuesday that will replace the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP) constellation, currently a bespoke set of satellites built solely for military use, with commercially developed alternatives. Under the new framework, the Space Force will allow multiple commercial vendors to build, launch and operate surveillance satellites for the military. The new program will be unclassified and available for sale to allies. (4/30)

FCC Starts Satellite Spectrum Sharing Review (Source: Space News)
The FCC is starting a review of its satellite spectrum-sharing rules that could pit GEO satellite operators against LEO constellation companies. FCC commissioners voted unanimously this week to adopt a notice of proposed rulemaking to update Equivalent Power Flux Density (EPFD) limits, set up more than 30 years ago to regulate how strong signals from satellites in non-geostationary orbits can be to avoid disrupting GEO satellites flying overhead.

The FCC argues that technology advances can enable spectrum sharing between systems and allow LEO constellations to operate at higher power levels to provide better service. Some GEO satellite operators are skeptical, though, fearing changes could compromise critical services while stifling innovation and future investments in their part of the industry. (4/30)

Amazon Enlists L3Harris for Kuiper Militarization (Source: Space News)
Amazon's Project Kuiper is working with L3Harris to provide military communications services. Kuiper Government Solutions, a subsidiary of Project Kuiper, has partnered with L3Harris to shape satellite payloads that meet the standards of military and public safety users. That would include incorporating those services with Amazon Web Services, providing not just communications but also enabling advanced data processing and analysis capabilities. (4/30)

Slingshot Offers Sovereign Space Monitoring (Source: Space News)
Space tracking company Slingshot Aerospace is providing a new service that allows countries to build independent space monitoring capabilities. The new Sovereign Space Object Tracking service is intended to give countries more control over their space domain awareness capabilities, going beyond using Slingshot's service to include establishing their own sensor networks. Countries can also tap into Slingshot's existing global sensor network, which currently spans 22 locations, for a broader view of orbital activity. (4/30)

France's Dark Plans Space Weapon (Source: Space News)
A French startup is developing a system to intercept satellites and debris. Dark, established in 2022 by veterans of European defense contractors MBDA and Thales, aims to demonstrate a space weapon that would launch from a modified commercial aircraft, navigate to a target in orbit, grab it and safely deposit it in the South Pacific Ocean. The company, with 40 employees and $11 million in funding, is working toward a first test flight scheduled for 2027 that will aim only to rendezvous and shadow a target to prove navigation capabilities. Later missions would demonstrate capture and deorbit. (4/30)

Chinese Astronauts Return to Earth From TSS (Source: Space News)
Three Chinese astronauts returned to Earth Wednesday after six months in orbit. The Shenzhou-19 spacecraft landed within the Dongfeng landing area in Inner Mongolia at 1:08 a.m. Eastern. On board were Cai Xuzhe, Song Lingdong and Wang Haoze, who spent 183 days in space in the Tiangong space station. The three were all in good health after landing. (4/30)

China Advances Propellant Tank Development for Heavy-Lift Rockets (Source: Space News)
China is making progress on developing large stainless steel propellant tanks for future heavy-lift rockets. The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) has announced the development of prototype stainless steel propellant tanks 5 and 10.6 meters in diameter over the past month. CALT declared the larger tank a "major breakthrough" in development of future heavy-lift rockets like the Long March 9, whose design has evolved in part based on the development of SpaceX's Starship. (4/30)

New Zealand Sets Up Military Space Unit (Source: Reuters)
New Zealand is the latest country whose military has set up a space unit. The New Zealand Air Force announced Wednesday the creation of a space unit, called Squadron Number 62. It will start operations in July with 15 air force personnel, with the potential to add more from New Zealand's army and navy. New Zealand also recently joined Operation Olympic Defender, a U.S.-led multinational space defense initiative. (4/30)

NASA's Smylie Passes (Source: CollectSpace)
The NASA engineer who led the development of a system to keep the Apollo 13 astronauts alive has died. Ed Smylie was responsible for the creation of a jury-rigged adapter that allowed carbon dioxide scrubbers created to work in the Apollo spacecraft's command module to be used in the lunar module. That system, whose creation was dramatized in the movie Apollo 13, involved items on the spacecraft ranging from a sock to cue cards. Smylie, who later held positions at NASA Headquarters and the Goddard Space Flight Center, died earlier this month at the age of 95. (4/30)

Florida Legislature Moves Toward Creating International Aerospace Investment Fund with Space Florida (Source: SPACErePORT)
Florida's proposed International Aerospace Innovation Fund (IAIF) is a state-backed initiative designed to strengthen Florida's position as a global leader in aerospace innovation. If passed by the Legislature and signed into law, Space Florida would develop eligibility criteria for projects to be funded by the IAIF.

Projects must: involve at least one aerospace company or organization that is based in the state; be a partnership involving an international aerospace company, a university, a space agency, or a research institute; and be intended, and have demonstrated potential, for commercialization. Click here. (4/29)

Vaya Space Acquires Machining Division of KAM Technologies (Source: Vaya Space)
Vaya Space announces the acquisition of the machining operations of KAM Technologies, a respected engineering and manufacturing firm located in Cocoa, Florida. This strategic move enhances Vaya’s vertically integrated production capabilities and marks the launch of its dedicated manufacturing division: Vaya Advanced Machining. It also expands Vaya Space’s in-house precision manufacturing capacity while allowing KAM Technologies to focus exclusively on engineering, product development, and new advancements in innovation. (4/29)