October 3, 2025

Space Force Considers Ranges in Texas, Virginia, and More for Future Launches (Source: Air and Space Forces)
To ease the strain at Vandenberg and the Cape, the Space Force is exploring partnerships with spaceports in other states, said Lt. Gen. Phillip Garrant. The goal, he said, would be to prioritize flying heavy and super heavy rockets out of Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg and then look for other locations that have the capacity to support smaller vehicles.

Texas and Virginia are two options USSF is considering, Garrant said. Texas state leaders have been “very aggressive” in wanting to expand launch access beyond SpaceX’s Starbase site in Boca Chica, Garrant said. In Virginia, NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility supports a number of small launch companies and is growing to support larger vehicles like Rocket Lab’s Neutron. (10/2)

Shutdown Cancels FAA Public Meeting on Starship Expansion in Texas (Source: FAA)
The FAA is cancelling this virtual public meeting on the draft Tiered Environmental Assessment for Updates to Airspace Closures for Additional Launch Trajectories and Starship Boca Chica Landings of the SpaceX Starship-Super Heavy Vehicle at the SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Site in Cameron County, Texas (Draft Tiered EA) due to the lapse in government funding. Interested parties are encouraged to submit written comments on or before October 20. (10/3)

Agencies Go Overtly Political with Shutdown Messaging. Not NASA (Source: FNN)
NASA's website currently includes the following message: "NASA is currently closed due to a lapse in government funding. Employees can visit nasa.gov/shutdown for additional information." Other agencies' websites are posting overtly political messages during the shutdown, like this one from the Treasury Department: “The radical left has chosen to shut down the United States government in the name of reckless spending and obstructionism. As a result, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s websites will only be sporadically updated until this shutdown concludes.”

Also, at least one agency has amended their personnel's email auto-replies, like this one from the Dept. of Education: “Thank you for contacting me. On September 19, 2025, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5371, a clean continuing resolution. Unfortunately, Democrat Senators are blocking passage of H.R. 5371 in the Senate which has led to a lapse in appropriations. Due to the lapse in appropriations I am currently on furlough status.” ... “Those were not my words,” the employee said. (10/3)

Australia's HEO Plans GEO Belt Imaging (Source: Space News)
An Australian company that has become a leader in imaging spacecraft in low Earth orbit is setting its sights higher. HEO announced this week that it is aiming to move beyond its current work using remote sensing satellites to perform “non-Earth imaging” of other spacecraft in low Earth orbit. That includes plans to place cameras on spacecraft in the geostationary belt to observe objects there. The company said it will also pursue efforts to image asteroids as they pass close to Earth, using GEO spacecraft. (10/3)

Analyst Backs Up Trillion Dollar Golden Dome Estimate with Data (Source: Space News)
An analyst who projected trillion-dollar costs for the Golden Dome missile defense system has provided new details about his assessment. Todd Harrison, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said he is making available his “Defense Future Simulator,” a tool he developed to create cost estimates for Golden Dome.

He used the simulator to estimate in a recent report that Golden Dome could cost $3.6 trillion over two decades, far higher than government figures. Those higher costs, he said, come from space-based interceptors that Golden Dome will need to counter hypersonic missiles. As many as 250,000 are thought to be required to provide global coverage at any given moment. (10/3)

Starlab Space Displays Space Station Mockup at IAC (Source: Space News)
Starlab Space used IAC to show off a mockup of its proposed station. The model in its booth showed the full eight-meter diameter of the proposed station but only a fraction of its full height. Starlab, a joint venture of Voyager Space and several other companies, recently announced new partnerships and plans to manufacture the module in New Orleans. (10/3)

SERVIR Earth Observation Finds Alternative Support After NASA and USAID Funding Cut (Source: Space News)
A program to use Earth observation data to address global challenges continues despite the loss of support from NASA and others. As SERVIR marked its 20th anniversary earlier this year, the program officials learned that NASA was dropping its support. That move came after USAID, which had provided the bulk of SERVIR funding, pulled out. Regional institutions, universities, foundations and government agencies from around the world then came together to establish the SERVIR Global Collaborative, allowing the program to continue despite the lack of U.S. government funding. Financial support, much of which is undisclosed, is coming from public and private organizations. (10/3)

Russians Jam UK Satcomms (Source: BBC)
Russians are attempting to jam British military satellite communications on a regular basis. Maj. Gen. Paul Tedman, head of U.K. Space Command, said in an interview that Russian satellites are flying close to British satellites in an attempt to capture transmissions being sent to them. He added that Russia is also trying to jam those communications on a weekly basis. (10/3)

NASA Smallsat to Ride on Vulcan Launch (Source: NASA)
A NASA smallsat space science mission will hitch a ride on a Vulcan Centaur rocket. NASA said this week that the SunRISE mission, featuring six cubesats to study radio bursts from the sun, will fly as a secondary payload on a Vulcan launch for the Space Force in 2026. NASA did not disclose the cost of the launch services. (10/3)

Mars Orbiters to Observe Interstellar Comet (Source: Sky & Telescope)
Spacecraft orbiting Mars will turn their attention to a passing interstellar object. The comet, called 3I/ATLAS, arrived from interstellar space and, as it passes through our solar system, will come within about 29 million kilometers of Mars on Friday. Both NASA and ESA spacecraft orbiting Mars will make observations of the comet during that close approach. Scientists hope to get better images of the comet and other data about its composition. (10/3)

China Launches New Fengyun Meteorological Satellite (Source: GCTN)
China launched a new Fengyun meteorological satellite, which will also contribute to a global green mission, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Saturday. A Long March-4C rocket, carrying the Fengyun-3 08 satellite into the preset orbit. (9/27)

What’s Open at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center? (Source: AL.com)
Huntsville’s Marshall Space Flight Center – one of the agency’s largest field centers – manages parts of the programs that will remain in operation. The center employs about 6,000 people and also oversees an annual budget of about $5 billion worth of human spaceflight, science and technology development efforts for NASA.

Although satellite operations will continue, the shutdown could cause delays or cancellations of future launches. Activities that will cease during the shutdown include public access to NASA centers and facilities. Tours and public education visits to NASA Centers will be canceled. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center serves as the visitor’s center for Marshall. Tours from the Space & Rocket Center to Marshall have been canceled but other Space & Rocket Center activities, including a camp this week for visually impaired students, are not affected, since it is a state agency. (10/2)

Orbital Traffic Surges: 13,026 Active Satellites as of October 1, 2025 (Source: Look Up)
The past year set yet another record with 3,664 satellites launched. As of October 1, 2025, there are 15,965 satellites catalogued around Earth, including 13,026 active satellites, a 23% year-on-year increase (+2,477 net new satellites, i.e., launches minus deorbiting). This surge illustrates the accelerating deployment of commercial constellations delivering telecommunications and Earth-observation services. It continues a long-term trend: just six years ago, fewer than 2,000 satellites were operational. (10/2)

Six Billion Tons a Second: Rogue Planet Found Growing at Record Rate (Source: Phys.org)
Astronomers have identified an enormous "growth spurt" in a so-called rogue planet. Unlike the planets in our solar system, these objects do not orbit stars, free-floating on their own instead. The new observations, made with the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (ESO's VLT), reveal that this free-floating planet is eating up gas and dust from its surroundings at a rate of six billion tons a second. This is the strongest growth rate ever recorded for a rogue planet, or a planet of any kind, providing valuable insights into how they form and grow. (10/2)

Unknown Bacteria Has Developed in the Chinese Space Station (Source: Evidence Network)
An unknown bacterium, never before seen on our planet, has been discovered in the Chinese space station Tiangong. This discovery, worthy of science-fiction scenarios, raises new questions about life in orbit and microbiological risks. Named Niallia tiangongensis, after the station where it was born, this species intrigues scientists because of its unique characteristics and its adaptation to the space environment.

According to the study carried out as part of the China Space Station Habitation Area Microbiome Program (CHAMP), the microbiome of the Tiangong station differs markedly from that of the International Space Station (ISS). The researchers found a dominance of microbes associated with humans, but also marked functional and genetic diversity, with mutations probably linked to adaptation to the extreme conditions of space: microgravity, increased radiation, confinement and strict cleaning cycles. (9/30)

Patrick Space Force Base Library Celebrates 75 Years of Service to the Community (Source: Space Coast Daily)
The Patrick Space Force Base Library marked its 75th anniversary last month, celebrating decades of learning, innovation, and community connection with an event that brought together Airmen, Guardians, families, and retirees to honor the library’s legacy. On September 4, more than 80 people attended the 75th anniversary celebration, transforming the library into a historic gallery with decades of photographs and scrapbooks on display. Guests enjoyed food, drinks, and entertainment, including face painting for children. (10/2)

Senators Cruz and Cornyn Want To Chop Up Space Shuttle Discovery (Source: NASA Watch)
OMB wants NASA and the Smithsonian to figure out how to cut Space Shuttle Discovery apart into pieces to move it. As you will recall that option was ruled out when Space Shuttle Endeavour was moved to Los Angeles on the now-defunct 747 carrier and then moved through the streets where utilities were moved and trees were cut down. Every effort was taken to preserve the integrity of this historic space ship. Now Texas Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn are only interested in snagging a tourist attraction – not a precious historic relic that deserves to be preserved – and certainly not chopped up like a leftover exhibit from a state fair and tossed on a flatbed. (10/1)

From Inner to Outer Space (Source: ESA)
For four days, an international crew of astronauts descended underground to live and work together, cut off from the outside world. Marco Sieber shared the expedition with NASA’s Jasmin “Jaws” Moghbeli, Makoto Suwa from Japan’s space agency JAXA and Mohammad Al Mulla from MBRSC, the Emirati space agency.

Marco’s role for the first two days and nights was to scout the 3.5 km long cave in the Italian Apennines, staying focused for hours on end under real exploration conditions. He was the first one into the unknown. The use of artificial light in constant darkness alters the perception of time and of color. (10/1)

An Asteroid Might Be Heading for the Moon. Should We Nuke It? (Source: NBC)
If an asteroid is on a collision course with the moon, what should humanity do? Try to nudge the space rock out of the way before it strikes? Obliterate it with a nuclear explosion? Those are the questions explored in a recent paper from more than a dozen researchers, including several NASA scientists. And they're not purely hypothetical: An asteroid known as 2024 YR4 is estimated to have a 4% chance of hitting the moon in 2032.

Various key characteristics about asteroid 2024 YR4 aren’t known, including its mass, which would be critical in figuring out how to properly “disrupt” it without creating more problems. “If the explosion is not enough, you’re just going to create a debris field anyway,” said Julie Brisset, interim director of the Florida Space Institute, who wasn’t involved with the paper. (10/1)

Portal Space Systems Brings Solar Thermal Propulsion System Up to Full Power During Test (Source: Geekwire)
Portal Space Systems says it has successfully tested its solar thermal propulsion system at operational temperatures inside a vacuum chamber, marking a first for the commercial space industry. The test marks a key step in the development of Portal’s 3D-printed heat exchanger thruster, known as Flare. The thruster is part of a propulsion system that converts concentrated sunlight into heat. That heat would, in turn, warm up an ammonia-based propellant to produce thrust and send Portal’s Supernova satellite platform where it needs to go. (9/30)

Our Solar System's Asteroid Belt is Slowly Disappearing (Source: Live Science)
The asteroid belt is slowly disappearing because asteroids are being ground into dust by mutual collisions and ejected from the belt by gravitational resonances with Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars. A new analysis published on October 2 estimates the belt is losing mass by about 0.0088% each year, a rate that was significantly higher in the past when the belt was much more massive. This ongoing loss has reduced the overall bombardment of Earth and the Moon over billions of years, a process supported by geological evidence. (10/2)

China Works to Improve Orbital Coordination with US (Source: Space News)
China is improving communications with the United States on space safety. Alvin Drew, NASA’s director of space sustainability, said the agency heard from its Chinese counterpart, the China National Space Administration (CNSA), recently about a potential close approach of their spacecraft. CNSA informed NASA it would maneuver to avoid a close approach. That is a change from past interactions, he said, which primarily involved one-way communications from NASA to CNSA with little or no acknowledgement from China. Others at the conference said that Chinese constellation operators have contacted OneWeb and SpaceX about conjunctions, suggesting a change in policy in China about such interactions. (10/2)

DoD Wants Closer Coordination with Space Startups (Source: Space News)
The U.S. military is taking steps to better understand how startups can fit into its plans. In recent weeks, Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, who leads procurement for the Space Force, paid visits to Northwood Space, a startup building next-generation antennas, as well as commercial space station developer Vast. These visits by Purdy and other military officials are meant to size up the commercial space sector’s progress firsthand, and how their work might fit national security needs as the Pentagon works to improve procurement. A mix of executive orders, new contracting approaches and closer ties between defense leaders and investors has some experts believing this latest reform drive may be different from the past. (10/2)

Starlink-Compatible Radios Sought for Golden Dome Interceptor Satellite Demo (Source: Space News)
The Space Force is seeking proposals for satellite antennas that can communicate directly with SpaceX’s Starlink constellation. Space Systems Command (SSC), through its spectrum warfare office, said the project is in support of the Golden Dome missile defense initiative. The planned demonstration would use radio-frequency communications terminals to establish satellite-to-satellite links between a Starlink payload and a mock space-based interceptor. SSC is seeking low size, weight and power radios that can be demonstrated on-orbit within 12 months. (10/2)

Germany's Massive Space Investment Could Change the Game in Europe (Source: Space News)
Germany’s planned massive investment in military space systems could be a game-changing moment for the German and European space industry. German defense minister Boris Pistorius said last week that the country would spend 35 billion euros ($41 billion) on military space projects over the next five years. While details about the projects that will be funded remain scarce, space industry officials in Europe say the program could be a watershed moment for the industry and encourage other European countries to invest more in space. (10/2)

Lockheed Martin Studying Orion Use Alternatives (Source: Space News)
Lockheed Martin is studying what it would take to offer the Orion spacecraft as a service, including to non-NASA customers. Lockheed announced an agreement with a nonprofit, BioAstra, to study a concept for a deep space biomedical research mission using Orion. Lockheed intends to use the study to see what is required to offer Orion to customers other than NASA. The company announced in July it was exploring a shift from traditional contracts to a service-based approach for Orion in response to NASA policy changes on Artemis. Lockheed believes that it can move gradually towards a services model, taking over capabilities currently provided by NASA. (10/2)

The Exploration Company Still Studying Reentry Failure (Source: Space News)
The Exploration Company is still investigating what went wrong in the final phases of a test flight of a reentry capsule in June. The Mission Possible spacecraft successfully operated in orbit after launch on a SpaceX Transporter rideshare mission and survived reentry, but controllers lost contact soon after reentry and the capsule’s parachutes did not deploy. An executive with The Exploration Company said the firm is still working to figure out what happened during that final phase of the mission. The European company is pressing ahead with its Nyx capsule, slated to make a flight to the International Space Station in 2028, and the company doesn’t expect what happened to Mission Possible to have a major effect on those plans. (10/2)

Blue Origin's Next New Glenn On Track (Source: Space News)
Blue Origin says it is making good progress toward its second New Glenn launch. A company executive said processing of the rocket and its payload, NASA’s ESCAPADE Mars mission, is going well. The company has not disclosed a specific launch date, although a NASA official said last week that the launch would likely take place in late October or early November. (10/2)

Nations Have a Responsibility to Inform of Potential Space Cyber Threats (Source: Space News)
A former White House official says states have a responsibility to inform citizens, including commercial spacecraft operators, of cyber threats. Diane Howard, former commercial space policy director for the National Space Council, said states have a responsibility to “share credible threat intelligence proactively” to provide warnings of cyber threats, including to space systems. That is based on the experience from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which included cyberattacks on ViaSat’s KA-SAT network and SpaceX’s Starlink. Government action to help satellite operators ward off cyberthreats could also help stabilize markets, she noted. (10/2)

ExLabs Wins Space Force Contract for Reconfigurable Satellites (Source: Space News)
Startup ExLabs won a Space Force contract to support work on its reconfigurable satellites. The $1.9 million “direct to phase 2” SBIR award from Space Systems Command will allow ExLabs to advance development of SERVSAM, a “heavy-class” reconfigurable spacecraft. SERVSAM will be based on the company’s Space Exploration and Resource Vehicle that it has been developing for deep space missions, such as to the asteroid Apophis. (10/2)

Southern Hemisphere's First Optical Ground Stations are Ready (Source: Space News)
The University of Western Australia has completed what it calls the first optical ground station network in the Southern Hemisphere. TeraNet, announced Thursday, includes two ground stations in Western Australia and a third, mobile ground station. The network is designed to support high-speed laser communications with satellites. (10/2)

Blue Origin's Next New Shepard Passengers Named, One Remains Anonymous (Source: Blue Origin)
The manifest for Blue Origin’s next New Shepard flight includes both a repeat customer and an anonymous one. The company announced Wednesday five of the six people who will fly on the NS-36 mission in the near future. They include Clint Kelly III, who flew on the NS-22 mission in 2022. Four others are executives and entrepreneurs. Blue Origin said a sixth person elected to remain anonymous until after the flight. (10/2)