August 7, 2025

SES Secures 5 Year Army Contract for Global Tactical Satellite Communications (Source: Space Daily)
SES Space and Defense has been awarded a five-year, $89.6 million Sustainment Tactical Network (STN) contract to deliver commercial satellite communications (COMSATCOM) services to the U.S. Army. The contract will enable long-haul network transport and communications infrastructure for Combat Service Support units, Department of Defense programs, and other federal agencies. SES will provide commercial Ku-band geostationary satellite services, backed by the Commercial Satellite Communications Office (CSCO), to ensure consistent global connectivity. (8/6)

Embry-Riddle Researchers Launch Rockets for a Deeper Look at Ionized Clouds That Disrupt Communications (Source: Space Daily)
Embry-Riddle researchers recently shot two 46-foot-tall rockets into clouds high in the Earth's atmosphere to learn more about the complex dynamics that affect critical communications and radar operations. The NASA-sponsored mission, led by Dr. Aroh Barjatya, professor of Engineering Physics, lifted off in late June from the remote Kwajalein Atoll, part of the Republic of Marshall Islands in the Pacific. (8/6)

Sidus Space Commissions Autonomous SpacePilot System and Activates LizzieSat-3 ADCS (Source: Space Daily)
Sidus Space successfully activated its proprietary SpacePilot software on the LizzieSat-3 satellite, enabling advanced autonomous guidance, navigation, and control capabilities. The company also confirmed the commissioning of the satellite's Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS), a critical component in satellite orientation and stability. The integrated SpacePilot and ADCS systems allow LizzieSat-3 to operate with minimal ground intervention while optimizing mission performance. (8/7)

Training Robots for Planetary Missions From Earth Orbit (Source: Space Daily)
This summer, astronauts aboard the International Space Station directed a team of advanced robots through a simulated martian terrain in Germany, concluding the fourth and final session of ESA and DLR's Surface Avatar experiment. The collaborative initiative between the European Space Agency and the German Aerospace Center aims to develop robotic control techniques for future lunar and Martian exploration.

The latest session featured unprecedented levels of complexity and robot autonomy. NASA astronaut Jonny Kim simultaneously operated two robots: ESA's quadruped Spot and DLR's humanoid Rollin' Justin. Spot traversed the rocky test environment autonomously, while Justin was maneuvered using a blend of direct teleoperation and pre-programmed commands. This setup enabled Jonny to prioritize strategic decision-making while allowing the robots to handle lower-level tasks independently.

A second mission scenario showcased ESA's Interact rover transporting DLR's robot dog Bert to a cave simulation. After clearing an entry path, Jonny deployed Bert, which then feigned a leg malfunction. In response, he retrained the robot's walking algorithm in real time, allowing it to resume its exploration and identify indications of frozen water. The trial evaluated real-time problem-solving and adaptive robotic behavior during unexpected mission challenges. (8/6)

Parsons and Globalstar Advance Satellite Communications with Successful European Test (Source: Space Daily)
Parsons Corporation and Globalstar have reached a key milestone in the development of a joint commercial satellite solution, announcing the successful completion of a proof of concept across three European ground stations. The demonstration integrated Globalstar's Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network with Parsons' software-defined communication technology and confirmed operational readiness for real-world deployment.

The trial marks a significant progression in the partnership, transitioning the integrated solution into the commercial phase. The companies highlighted the platform's ability to deliver fast, reliable communications - particularly critical in regions with degraded or non-existent infrastructure. (8/6)

China Finds Graphene in Lunar Samples (Source: Earth.com)
Chinese researchers found something surprising in the dust brought back by the Chang’e-5 mission: thin layers of carbon called graphene. The spectral fingerprint matched multilayer graphene, a carbon lattice stacked two to ten atoms thick. The lead researcher says the find could reshape ideas about lunar birth and guide resource plans for future crews. The study marks the first confirmation of natural few-layer graphene in lunar material, opening new questions about how carbon behaves on airless planetary surfaces. (8/6)

Golden Dome Triggers Massive Shifts in DoD Policy and Spending (Source: Space News)
The Golden Dome missile defense program marks a turning point for U.S. space policy and spending priorities, a new report argues. The study by the Aerospace Corporation’s Center for Space Policy and Strategy concluded that Golden Dome is the most important development in military space spending since the creation of the Space Force. Golden Dome received $24.4 billion in the budget reconciliation bill passed last month, and the program represents a significant expansion of resources and responsibilities for the Space Force. Golden Dome could also allow the Space Force to secure funding for other priorities, such as missile warning satellites that were already in development before the program was announced. (8/7)

Telesat Wants Golden Dome Role (Source: Space News)
Telesat is among the companies eyeing opportunities to participate in Golden Dome. The Canadian satellite operator said Wednesday that while Pentagon officials are still defining Golden Dome, the company is looking at how its Lightspeed broadband constellation could make “valuable contributions” to the program. Telesat is emphasizing Lightspeed as demand for its existing GEO satellites declines. The company said it has a backlog of $1 billion Canadian for Lightspeed, $100 million more than for its GEO satellites. Telesat reported a 30% year-over-year revenue drop to $106 million Canadian in the quarter ending June 30 because of declining satellite TV business. (8/7)

Voyager Wants Golden Dome Role (Source: Space News)
Voyager Technologies is looking at near-term opportunities in missile defense as it works on long-term plans for a commercial space station. The company, which went public in June, held its first earnings call this week, reporting $46 million in revenue and an adjusted EBITDA loss of $9.1 million. Most of the revenue came from its defense and national security business unit, which reported strong demand for propulsion technologies for use on the Next Generation Interceptor and potentially other missile defense programs. Voyager is also leading work on the Starlab commercial space station, which the company believes will be a major revenue source for the long term. (8/7)

DoD Officials: Don't Ask Us About Golden Dome (Source: Space News)
Defense Department officials don’t want to talk about the Golden Dome missile defense system — at a missile defense conference. Government officials were instructed not to mention the program by name during the Space & Missile Defense Symposium this week, instead referring to concepts like “advanced capabilities.” The carefully choreographed language reflects sensitivity around the program. The Defense Department said in a statement that it would be “imprudent” to discuss details about it while in its earliest stages of development. (8/7)

Beware the Golden Dome Boondoggle (Source: SPACErePORT)
Officials caution that integrating existing technologies into a cohesive, layered system—especially with space-based interceptors—is exceptionally complex. Critical elements, like boost-phase interception, require new, unproven technologies, with no evidence yet of a scalable, cost-effective capability.

The challenge of orchestrating a system of systems—overlaying ground, sea, air, and space assets with seamless data fusion and command—will require organizational and cultural complexity that may be as daunting as the technical hurdles. Then there's the cost. While the initial projected cost is $175 billion, authoritative estimates suggest actual costs might range from $500 billion to over $800 billion over the next two decades.

Contractors are salivating for a piece of this spending, claiming capabilities that lend an aura of achievability to the Golden Dome endeavor. But bankrupting the DoD to (questionably) counter a threat that can easily shift to a different method of delivery is not wise for the nation or its defense industrial complex. (8/7)

Army Recruiting for Dedicated Space Specialty (Source: Space News)
The U.S. Army will begin recruiting soldiers for its first dedicated enlisted specialty in space operations. The Army said this week the 40 Delta (40D) Space Operations Specialist military occupational specialty is moving from planning to implementation, with full operations by next October. Lt. Gen. Sean Gainey, head of the Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command, said the specialty will create long-term institutional knowledge about space operations in the service. The Army is also developing what it calls a “space branch,” a professional category similar to existing branches such as Infantry, Armor and Artillery with about 1,000 enlisted soldiers and officers. It would allow space professionals to advocate for programs and resources. (8/7)

Hubble Network to Rely on Muon Space for Direct-to-Device Satellites (Source: Space News)
Hubble Network is the anchor customer for a new large satellite platform developed by Muon Space. Seattle-based Hubble ordered two MuSat XL satellites that are slated to launch in 2027 as part of an initial contract with the California manufacturer, the companies announced Thursday. The satellites, weighing 500 kilograms, will enable Hubble to expand its network providing direct-to-device Bluetooth connections. Muon has previously developed 200-kilogram satellites for customers such as FireSat, Hydrosat and Sierra Nevada Corporation, and the company said the larger platform will accommodate more powerful payloads. (8/7)

NASA’s Proposed Budget Eyes Human Exploration of Mars (Source: Space News)
NASA’s budget proposal includes new investments in Mars exploration, but with few details. The Trump FY-2026 budget request specifies $1.13 billion to be used on various programs supporting human missions to Mars, mostly in exploration but also including commercial Mars payload deliveries and space technology development [probably a remnant of Elon Musk's influence on space policy, leaving lunar dominance for other nations].

The request, though, gives few details about how those funds would be spent. NASA officials, in limited comments since the budget’s release, have said the focus is on how to accelerate timelines for human missions to Mars. It’s also unclear if the budget will address some “long poles” in Mars exploration, such as propulsion and human factors. (8/7)

Virgin Galactic Pushes Delta-Class Flights to Fall of Next Year (Source: Space News)
Virgin Galactic is pushing back slightly its schedule for commercial suborbital spaceflights using its new Delta-class spaceplane. The company said Wednesday that flights with research payloads, previously set to begin next summer, will start in the fall, with private astronaut missions starting later in the year. Virgin said the change was because of problems producing part of the spaceplane’s fuselage. Virgin also said it is continuing design work on a new aircraft called LV-X that will carry the spaceship. The plane will be similar in design to its existing VMS Eve plane but the company is working on a study with Lawrence Livermore National Lab to examine potential other uses of the aircraft. (8/7)

Impulse Space Upgrades Mira OTV (Source: Space News)
Impulse Space has completed an upgraded version of its Mira orbital transfer vehicle designed to allow it to operate in higher orbits. The upgrades to Mira include increased power and propulsion as well as components designed to operate in the higher radiation environments of medium Earth orbit and GEO. The first upgraded Mira is complete and will launch later this year on the LEO Express 3 mission, and will also be used on upcoming Space Force Tactically Responsive Space missions. (8/7)

Voyager Signs with Switzerland and Liechtenstein for In-Space Science (Source: CSA)
We’re proud to announce that Center for Space and Aviation Switzerland and Liechtenstein (CSA) and the Switzerland Innovation Park Zurich (IPZ) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Voyager Technologies Institute for Space, Technology and Advancement (VISTA) to deepen cooperation between the U.S. and Switzerland and Liechtenstein in the space economy. This MoU marks another key step in connecting Switzerland and Liechtenstein to a growing global network of in-space science parks. (8/7)

AST SpaceMobile to Acquire Global S-Band Spectrum Priority Rights (Source: AST)
AST SpaceMobile announced an agreement to acquire global S-Band spectrum priority rights held under the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). “Alongside our existing global 3GPP spectrum strategy and planned L-Band spectrum strategy in the U.S. and Canada, we would be capable of expanding subscriber capacity by offering the vast majority of countries around the world the full AST SpaceMobile network capabilities." (8/6)

Rogue Planets Can Spawn Their Own Planetary Systems (Source: Universe Today)
A team of astronomers examined eight rogue planets with masses between five and ten Jupiter masses. Six of the eight planets are surrounded by dusty disks. This could be a sign that other worlds can form around these drifting planets, compromising a small-scale planetary system. (8/5)

NASA Astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore Retires (Source: NASA)
After 25 years at NASA, flying in four different spacecraft, accumulating 464 days in space, astronaut and test pilot Butch Wilmore has retired from NASA. During his time at NASA, Wilmore completed three missions launching aboard the space shuttle Atlantis, Roscosmos Soyuz, and Boeing Starliner to the ISS. Wilmore also returned to Earth aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Additionally, he conducted five spacewalks, totaling 32 hours outside the orbital laboratory. (8/6)

How Russian Money Slipped into SpaceX’s Orbit (Source: MuskWatch)
For years, Russian investors have acquired stakes in Elon Musk’s SpaceX, often through opaque investment vehicles, according to an analysis of marketing materials, interviews, and documents shared by Russian firms. One Russian firm, which currently offers SpaceX stakes on the open market, has been invested in the company since 2015, when SpaceX was valued at $12 billion. Today, SpaceX is valued at $350 billion.

Another firm promises to provide wealthy Russian investors a chance to invest in SpaceX. The offering, which requires a minimum investment of $10,000, currently has a waiting list. A third U.S.-based firm that manages Russian investments in SpaceX is 90% owned by foreign nationals. The chief financial officer of SpaceX testified in Delaware last year that the company has an unofficial policy of avoiding "Russian, Chinese, Iranian, [and] North Korean" investors because they would complicate its ability to win U.S. government contracts.

In May, a number of top House Democrats sent a letter to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanding answers about SpaceX's foreign investors. "Because SpaceX performs significant work for the federal government across the national security and civil space architectures, even the perception of a conflict of interest is very troubling," the lawmakers wrote. However, a major SpaceX investor testified that the company deems it "acceptable" for Chinese investors to indirectly buy shares as long as they use opaque investment vehicles. Investment funds with Russian clients have used similar schemes to sell stakes in SpaceX. (8/6)

Loss of ISS Harms US Leadership in Space (Source: CASIS)
After more than 50 years in the space industry, I’ve learned this: America’s leadership in space doesn’t come guaranteed—it’s earned. Never in my lifetime did I consider that we, as a nation, would cede our preeminence in space to a foreign adversary. Yet today, I feel that is a very real possibility. Since the start of this fiscal year, I’ve grown increasingly uneasy about our position as the world’s leader in the peaceful exploration of space. As someone who grew up watching our nation’s most celebrated space achievements, I’ve always believed our dominance in space is essential to our national security, both economic and physical. But now, I fear we’re on the verge of surrendering that dominance.

A significant threat looms: retiring the ISS in 2030 without an agreed-upon replacement. NASA has spent years planning for one or more commercial ISS successors, but a change in administration and its proposed deep budget cuts for NASA have stalled progress. This threatens not only our microgravity research capabilities but also our 25 years of continuous human presence in space, just as we begin to unlock the economic potential of space-based R&D. (8/6)

Argo and ThinkOrbital to Launch First Orbital Mission Using Long-Range X-Ray Imaging (Source: Space Daily)
Argo Space Corp. and ThinkOrbital have announced a strategic partnership to launch the first-ever space mission featuring long-range, high-voltage X-ray imaging for space domain awareness (SDA). The mission, scheduled for 2026, will deploy ThinkOrbital's proprietary ThinkX imaging system aboard Argo's agile spacecraft platform.

The initiative combines Argo's maneuverable, refuellable spacecraft with ThinkOrbital's novel X-ray phenomenology, aiming to revolutionize SDA capabilities by enabling the detection and material characterization of distant space objects. According to Argo CEO Robert Carlisle, the mission exemplifies how pairing advanced sensors with dynamic spacecraft opens new possibilities in both commercial and defense space operations. (8/5)

Intuitive Machines Wins Funding to Advance Orbital Logistics Vehicle (Source: Space Daily)
Intuitive Machines has secured a $9.8 million government contract to progress its Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) through Critical Design Review, the final engineering phase before manufacturing begins. This Phase Two award expands the company's government work beyond lunar surface delivery and strengthens its role in the growing market for orbital mobility solutions.

The award is not affiliated with NASA, marking a strategic step by Intuitive Machines to broaden its customer base across commercial, civil, and national security space sectors. The OTV is based on the company's flight-proven Nova-C lunar lander, which demonstrated key capabilities such as main engine firings and lunar orbit maneuvers during two previous missions. (8/5)

Rocket Lab Expands iQPS Satellite Network with Successful Electron Launch (Source: Space Daily)
Rocket Lab completed its 69th Electron mission, successfully deploying another satellite for the Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS). The launch marks the fifth dedicated mission for iQPS under a multi-launch agreement supporting the expansion of their synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation in low Earth orbit. (8/6)

World's First Open RAN D2D LEO Network to Be Built by MDA Space for EchoStar (Source: Space Daily)
EchoStar has chosen MDA Space as the prime contractor to develop the world's first 3GPP 5G-compliant low Earth orbit (LEO) direct-to-device (D2D) satellite constellation built on Open RAN architecture. The contract launches MDA Space into full-scale production of its software-defined MDA AURORA D2D satellites for a non-terrestrial network (NTN) expected to redefine global mobile connectivity.

The initial deal, worth approximately $1.3 billion, covers the design, manufacture, and testing of more than 100 LEO satellites. With contract options potentially expanding the constellation to over 200 spacecraft, total value could reach $2.5 billion. EchoStar anticipates eventually scaling the network into the thousands to support seamless talk, text, and broadband services directly to unmodified 5G devices worldwide. (8/5)

China Allocates Fresh Batch of Lunar Samples to Domestic Research Institutions (Source: Space Daily)
China has approved the ninth round of lunar sample lending applications, distributing over 30 grams of moon material to 32 research teams across 25 institutions. These samples, retrieved by the Chang'e 5 and Chang'e 6 missions, will support a broad spectrum of scientific studies.

30,881.8 milligrams of lunar samples will be shared with selected researchers. Among the recipients are Macao University of Science and Technology, Chengdu University of Technology, Donghua University, Harbin Institute of Technology, the University of Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Several Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences affiliates are also on the approval list. (8/5)