December 2, 2025

Blue Origin Seeks State Approval to Discharge Millions of Gallons of Wastewater into Indian River (Source: Space Coast Daily)
Blue Origin is seeking state approval to continue discharging millions of gallons of wastewater into the Indian River, a proposal that is drawing close attention from local officials and residents concerned about environmental impacts on one of Florida’s most fragile ecosystems. The Brevard County Commission is scheduled to discuss the company’s permit request during its meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 5 p.m.

While county commissioners do not have the authority to approve or deny the permit, they are expected to consider whether to send a formal letter to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) urging the agency to hold a public meeting on the issue. The proposal centers on renewing an existing permit under which Blue Origin has operated for nearly 5 years.

According to draft documents submitted to the state, the company is requesting authorization to discharge an average of 0.467 million gallons per day (MGD) of process wastewater and an additional 0.015 MGD of non-process wastewater into a large on-site stormwater pond covering nearly 403,000 square feet. From there, the water would flow into the Indian River. The documents indicate that only a portion of the wastewater would be treated in the stormwater pond before it ultimately reaches the lagoon system. (12/1)

The Legacy of Moses Lake’s 1990s Spaceport Efforts: What We Can Learn Today (Source: PALS)
In the late 1990s, long before commercial launch became synonymous with reusable rockets, Washington State briefly stood at the edge of a bold aerospace transformation. Moses Lake, with its wide-open skies, deep aviation history, and one of the longest commercial runways in the country, was evaluated as a potential site for Lockheed Martin’s next-generation launch system: the VentureStar, a fully reusable single-stage-to-orbit vehicle intended to revolutionize space access.

It didn’t happen. But the reasons it almost did, and the assumptions that drove that early effort, matter more today than ever. According to a 1999 report, officials from Lockheed Martin and the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development were in active discussions about siting a VentureStar launch facility at Grant County International Airport in Moses Lake. At that time, the VentureStar concept was seen as the future of spaceflight. (12/20)

The Deorbiting Effect (Source: Interstellar Performance Labs)
One of the most important (and least acknowledged) human factors in analog missions is what happens after the mission ends. Psychologically, the brain doesn't snap back to normal just because the environment changes. Human factors research shows that after high-stress or high-demand periods, the brain stays in an elevated, task-oriented state long after the external pressure is gone. A 2024 fMRI study found that individuals showed lingering neural activation during the recovery phase, meaning the nervous system continues operating in “mission mode” even after the mission itself has ended.
 
This pattern is reflected in spaceflight as well. Astronauts returning from orbit often experience emotional and cognitive recalibration in the days and weeks after landing. Neurophysiological research has shown that the brain's Default Mode Network, which is responsible for self-processing, reflection, and internal regulation, can take up to 20 days to stabilize post-flight. This aligns with decades of space psychology literature, which documents the emotional, interpersonal, and identity shifts astronauts experience during reintegration.
 
For analog astronauts, this is the essence of the Deorbiting Effect. Your mind is still holding structure, vigilance, and purpose from the mission, even as your environment becomes suddenly unstructured. Recognizing this transition is a human factors skill. The smoother the psychological re-entry, the safer and more sustainable the long-term performance. (12/1)

Astroscale Strengthens Proximity Operations with New Autonomous Capabilities (Source: Astroscale)
Astroscale U.S. is advancing a new generation of Autonomous Rendezvous, Proximity Operations, and Docking (ARPOD) technologies that will redefine how satellites are operated, serviced and supported in space. Building on an $8.7 million contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) this summer,  the company's ARPOD technologies will play an important role for the Astroscale U.S. Refueler (APS-R), which will conduct two on-orbit refueling operations for a Space Force satellite. (12/1)

1st European to Fly to the Moon Will Be German (Source: Space.com)
A German astronaut will be the first European to fly to the moon with a future NASA-led Artemis mission, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher said at the ESA Ministerial Council, a high-level conference deciding the agency's budget and future direction, on Nov. 27 in Bremen, Germany. Germany is ESA's biggest budget contributor. (12/1)

Italian Minister Endorses Airbus-Thales-Leonardo Space Merger as ‘an Example of Where We Should be Going’ (Source: Space Intel Report)
The proposed merger of the space divisions of Airbus, Thales Alenia Space and Leonardo is not expected to close until mid-2027 as it works through anti-trust and other regulatory reviews. But already two of the three governments with the most at stake in the deal have signaled their strong backing for it. In June, French President Emmanuel Macron said a large space hardware prime contractor with the scope and scale to compete with US and Chinese companies is in Europe’s clear interest. (12/1)

Damaged Shenzhou-20 Spacecraft to Return to Earth Uncrewed for Inspection (Source: Reuters)
China's first crewed spacecraft to be ruled unfit to fly in mid-mission will be sent back to Earth for experts to assess the damage it sustained more closely. On November 5, the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft was meant to bring its crew back to China just after finishing a six-month stay aboard Beijing's permanently inhabited space station Tiangong. But after the Shenzhou-20 crew discovered a crack in the window of the vessel's return capsule right before takeoff, the return mission was delayed - a first in China's human spaceflight program. (12/1)

Voyager Betting on Private Space Station Viability (Source: Ars Technica)
Time is running out for NASA if it wants to establish continuity from the ISS, which will reach its end of life in 2030, with a follow-on station ready to go before then. One of the more intriguing companies in the competition is Voyager Technologies, which recently announced a strategic investment from Janus Henderson, a global investment firm. In another sign that the competition is heating up, Voyager also just hired John Baum away from Vast, where he was the company’s business development leader. Click here. (12/1)

Reditus Space Unveils Plans For Reusable Reentry Vehicle (Source: Payload)
A new startup is challenging the idea that reentry from orbit has to be destructive. Reditus Space, founded by two Georgia Tech engineering grads, emerged from stealth with plans for a reusable reentry vehicle that can offer quick turnaround flights for microgravity researchers and in-space manufacturers. Reditus expects to complete the build of its first spacecraft, called ENOS, just a year and a half after its founding in October 2024. The goal for the mission is to hitch a ride on a SpaceX rideshare mission next summer. (12/1)

Huntsville Readies for Spaceplane Landings (Source: HSV)
Huntsville International Airport (HSV) stands out as the first U.S. commercial airport licensed to land space vehicles, with advanced infrastructure, aerospace industry integration, and specialized facilities supporting the Dream Chaser spaceplane and broader commercial spaceflight initiatives. HSV features two parallel runways, with the west runway measuring 12,600 feet (the second-longest in the southeastern U.S.) allowing safe accommodation of spaceplane landings alongside standard commercial air traffic.

The airport’s mild climate and extensive safety systems (ARFF, law enforcement, EMS) reduce operational risks for space vehicle landings. The airport also has over 400,000 square feet of hangar space, a 4,000-acre industrial park connected to utilities, and a planned 8,000+ acre campus for future space-related expansion. (12/1)

Astronaut Rescue. Space Coast Firm Deploys by Air, Sea for Crewed Cape Launches (Source: Florida Today)
Shane Smith, a former U.S. Air Force Reserve 920th Rescue Wing command chief, provides a custom-engineered, heavy-duty inflatable raft for astronaut rescue after splashdowns at sea. His company, Operator Solutions, is based at Melbourne International Airport and has partnered with Axiom Space on its private astronaut missions to the ISS.

During the Ax-4 crewed launch in June, Operator Solutions strategically deployed a Lockheed C-130A Hercules military transport plane, two Sikorsky S-76 helicopters, boats, personal watercraft and more than 50 search-and-rescue personnel to swoop in if astronauts need rescued hundreds of miles offshore after a post-liftoff mishap. During previous American crewed missions, the Department of Defense handled these responsibilities.

The company's rigid, hexagon-shaped raft is more like a stand-up paddleboard than a traditional life raft, allowing for stable medical procedures and treatment. Smith's firm developed the raft, which can be deployed by air or sea, and the rigid floor provides a platform for performing medical treatments like chest compressions without being "wet and soupy" like a normal raft. (12/1)

India Needs a Third Launch Pad Urgently (Source: India Today)
A major accident at Russia’s Baikonur Cosmodrome has brought Moscow’s access to space to a standstill, sharply highlighting why India’s space ambitions demand an immediate expansion of its own launch infrastructure. The November 27 Soyuz MS-28 mission successfully ferried crew to the ISS, but post-launch inspections revealed that Baikonur’s movable servicing cabin, a critical component for boarding crew, collapsed into the exhaust trench, severely damaging the pad. (12/1)

India Puts Data Sovereignty and Chip Self-Reliance at Core of Expanding Space Push (Source: ANI News)
India is sharpening its focus on data sovereignty and semiconductor self-reliance as its space program accelerates, a former ISRO chairman said. He said India is expanding its satellite fleet, and ensuring easily accessible data and protecting sensitive information has become a central policy priority. (12/1)

China's Wenchang Spaceport Reports Double-Digit Launches in 2025 (Source: Xinhua)
China's Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site achieved a milestone on Sunday, conducting its 10th launch of 2025, in the first time it has seen double-digit annual launches. The record-setting mission saw a modified Long March-7 rocket successfully send the Shijian-28 satellite into its preset orbit on the 611th overall flight for the Long March series. (11/30)

China's First Sea-Based Rocket Net Recovery Platform Delivered (Source: Xinhua)
China's first seaborne platform designed for rocket recovery using a net system was delivered on Sunday, offering a critical piece of infrastructure for the country's reusable rocket launch. The platform, named "Linghangzhe" or Pathfinder, has been certified by the China Classification Society, making it the first sea-based rocket recovery platform in the country to receive the required class and statutory certifications. (12/1)

Spaceport Cornwall Shortlisted as Testing Location (Source: BBC)
ESA has shortlisted Spaceport Cornwall in Newquay as a suitable testing location for its "landmark program". Machrihanish in Scotland has also been shortlisted for the program Invictus, which the ESA said would put the UK at the forefront of next-generation aerospace and space access. It said Invictus was set to deliver a "hypersonic flight test capability unlike anything currently available in Europe" and enable technologies that make future reusable spaceplanes possible. Head of engagement at Spaceport Cornwall, Ross Halbert said "nearly everything that they would require is already here." (11/30)

Russia’s War Drones Still Using Starlink Despite Pentagon Crackdown (Source: United 24)
Russia is still equipping its military drones with Starlink satellite terminals despite previous US commitments to cut off such unauthorized use. According to Defense Express on November 30, imagery has emerged showing what appears to be a Russian “Molniya”-type drone fitted with a mini-Starlink unit, reportedly observed near the Pokrovsk sector in eastern Ukraine. (12/1)

On Space Command: Colorado Springs Focuses on the Mission, Not Politics (Source: Gazette)
In October, Colorado’s Attorney General announced a lawsuit challenging the President’s decision to relocate U.S. Space Command from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama. That announcement has sparked renewed debate about how our city should respond. from my first day as Mayor, my focus has been simple and unwavering: to build and sustain the best place in America for military missions, military families, and national security investment. That commitment has not changed.

Colorado Springs is home to five military installations, including NORAD and USNORTHCOM. We host the highest concentration of space operators in the country. More than 150 aerospace and defense companies operate here, contributing to a $12.7 billion space economy. And we’ve already demonstrated what full operational capability looks like for the command. That success didn’t come from political posturing; it came from decades of consistency, collaboration, and excellence. (11/30)

Isaacman, NASA’s Incoming Billionaire Boss (Source: The Observer)
Isaacman has spoken of “a thriving space economy” as an inevitability that will “create opportunities for countless people to live and work in space”. At the helm of NASA he wants to “usher in an era where humanity becomes a true spacefaring civilization”. But his first priority will be more down-to-earth: reviving the spirits of an embattled government department that is low on morale.

President Trump is threatening NASA with deep cuts that would slash its science budget in half and reduce its staff by a third. Thousands have already left. Meanwhile, technical delays to its Artemis lunar program mean the US risks losing the race to return to the moon to China, which aims to send an astronaut there by 2030. NASA had planned to go back by 2024 but is now targeting 2027.

“The job is a leadership role, where your task is to motivate people from wide-ranging, different disciplines to come together to define the problem as the same and then go about trying to solve it through multiple avenues,” said former NASA chief Sean O'Keefe. “Everything I’ve heard about him certainly suggests that he’s got a lot of talent and capability to make him the ideal person.” (12/1)

Astronomers Discover Three Earth-Sized Planets Orbiting Two Suns (Source: Indian Defence Review)
Located 190 light-years from Earth, the TOI-2267 system contains two stars — and, remarkably, each of them hosts planets that transit, or pass in front of, their respective suns. This is the first confirmed case of planets transiting both stars in a binary system. The discovery challenges existing theories of planetary formation but also broadens the search for rocky worlds in binary environments once thought too unstable.

The compact nature of TOI-2267 makes it even more intriguing, with both stars closely orbiting each other in a gravitationally intense dance. These extreme conditions, long believed hostile to planet formation, seem instead to have nurtured three stable terrestrial worlds. (12/1)