Blue Origin’s New Shepard Completes
33rd Mission to Space (Source: Blue Origin)
Blue Origin successfully completed its 13th human spaceflight and the
33rd flight for the New Shepard program on Sunday from Texas. The crew
included: Allie Kuehner and her husband, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson,
Freddie Rescigno, Jr., Owolabi Salis, and Jim Sitkin. Including today’s
crew, New Shepard has now flown 70 people to space, including four who
have flown twice. (6/29)
Space Systems Command Picks SpaceX to
Launch Weather Satellite (Source: SSC)
Space Systems Command sets the stage to enhance global weather sensing
and prediction model performance, along with research, development, and
prototyping capabilities through award of latest National Security
Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 1 task order. The $81,613,951 multi-manifest
mission awarded to SpaceX makes use of available launch vehicle
capacity to efficiently deliver capability to orbit. (6/27)
Rocket Lab Completes Record Launch
Turnaround, Successfully Deploys 68th Electron Mission (Source:
Rocket Lab)
Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”),
a global leader in launch services and space systems, today
successfully launched its 68th Electron rocket to deploy a single
satellite to space for a confidential commercial customer. The mission
was the second of two launches from the same launch site in less than
48 hours, a new launch record for the Company as it continues to
deliver dedicated, repeatable and reliable access to space for
satellite operators. (6/28)
Col. Brian Chatman Named New Commander
of Space Launch Delta 45, Director of the Eastern Range (Source:
Space Coast Daily)
Colonel Brian L. Chatman is the Space Launch Delta 45 installation
commander and the Director of the Eastern Range at Patrick Space Force
Base and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. As the SLD 45 commander,
he runs the world’s busiest spaceport and is responsible for delivering
infrastructure, operations, and support for all Eastern Range launch
and test missions. As Director of the Eastern Range, he is responsible
for the safety of launch and test operations across a
15-million-square-mile area.
Editor's Note:
This was previously a role reserved for one-star general officers. I
hear the shift to a colonel slot is due to ongoing plans to shrink
DoD's general officer numbers. (6/28)
Firefly Advances Eclipse Launcher,
Blue Ghost Lunar Lander, Ocula Imaging Service (Source: NSF)
Firefly Aerospace is continuing to make good progress toward the debut
of the company’s next-generation launch vehicle, Eclipse, in
partnership with Northrop Grumman. Firefly also announced Ocula, a new
commercial lunar imaging service that will utilize the company’s Elytra
orbital spacecraft bus. Additionally, the company is continuing to
develop the lander and payloads for its second Blue Ghost mission to
the Moon. (6/27)
Canadian Space Agency Allocates $5.5
Million for 2025 FAST Program (Source: SpaceQ)
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has allocated up to $5.5 million for
the 2025 Flights and Fieldwork for the Advancement of Science and
Technology (FAST) program. The CSA posted the 2025 FAST announcement of
opportunity (AO) on its website this week. FAST is open to Canadian
universities and post-secondary institutions and the funding is in the
form of grants. (6/27)
OSHA Investigating Crane Collapse at
SpaceX's South Texas Site (Source: Houston Chronicle)
A few days after a Starship rocket exploded while it was on a test
stand in preparation for the next flight test, SpaceX's Starbase
facilities experienced another hazard. On Tuesday, video captured by
LabPadre during a livestream showed a crane collapsing at the Starbase
site. SpaceX and the city of Starbase did not respond to a request for
comment about the crane's collapse, but federal safety regulators are
conducting a probe. (6/27)
Vision Unveiled to Position EU as
Leader in Space Economy (Source: Silicon Republic)
On Wednesday (June 25), the European Commission unveiled its ‘Vision
for the European Space Economy’, an initiative that aims to position
the EU as a global leader in the space economy by 2050. The Vision
outlines a strategy to ensure Europe captures a strong share of the
global space market, while reinforcing its autonomy and technological
edge, establishing over 40 actions to strengthen the EU’s space
ecosystem.
Among these is the call to launch a ‘Space Team Europe’ – a high-level,
inclusive forum of European space stakeholders including European Space
Agency (ESA) and the EU Agency for the Space Program (EUSPA) “to unify
fragmented efforts and consolidate capabilities across the EU”. (6/27)
Can China’s Commercial Space Firms
Replicate SpaceX Magic? (Source: Straits Times)
The number of rocket launches in China by both state-owned and private
firms is expected to hit a record high in 2025, according to Chinese
industry reports, amid plans to ramp up investment in the sector. So
far, China has carried out more than 30 orbital launches, including at
least six in June, with more on the horizon. In 2024, the country
recorded 68 orbital launches and in 2023, 67 launches. China’s space
sector used to be tightly controlled by the state, until it was opened
up to private companies in 2015. (6/27)
Orbex Pushes Saxavord Blast-Off Back
to 2026 (Source: The Herald)
The first launch of one of the rockets scheduled to blast off from
Scotland’s spaceport has been pushed back until next year. Rocket
company Orbex had intended to stage a launch later this year from
SaxaVord on Shetland, but has now said that it will happen in 2026.
“Moving parts” - including infrastructure requirements and engagement
with regulators – have been blamed for the delay.
The hold-up means there is something of a space race taking place in
Scotland. German company RFA, which already test-fired a rocket on the
SaxaVord launchpad, has said it intends to launch from Shetland this
year – meaning this would be the first rocket to use the site. (6/27)
ASI Taps OHB to Develop Lunar Oxygen
Extraction Mission (Source: European Spaceflight)
The Italian space agency (ASI) has awarded OHB a contract to develop
its ORACLE mission, which aims to validate technology for the
extraction of oxygen from lunar regolith on the surface of the Moon.
Work on the Oxygen Retrieval Asset by Carbothermal-reduction in Lunar
Environment (ORACLE) mission began in July 2023 when ASI signed an
agreement with the Polytechnic University of Milan (Politecnico di
Milano) to start developing the core technology. (6/27)
Satellites Keep Breaking Up in Space.
Insurance Won't Cover Them (Source: Space.com)
Airplane passengers crossing the Indian Ocean who peered out their
windows on Oct. 19, 2024, might have seen what looked like a
fast-moving star suddenly flash and fade. Above their heads, a $500
million satellite was exploding. Operators confirmed the destruction of
the Intelsat-33e satellite two days later.
There was a bright flash as the satellite's fuel ignited, followed by
the flickering of the debris cloud as it fragmented into at least 20
pieces. Those satellite parts are now zooming around Earth, along with
around 14,000 tonnes of space debris. The satellite wasn't insured.
As space junk increases, more operators are choosing to launch without
any insurance at all. To compensate, companies are cutting back on the
cost of satellites and launching more of them at faster rates, thus
creating a feedback loop as the cheaper satellites break up more easily
and add to the problem. "I don't think it's sustainable," said
Massimiliano Vasile. (6/28)
June 28, 2025
UK Space Command Rises to Meet
Challenges (Source: The National)
When Britain’s military realized it had to have much better “situational awareness” in space, it set up Space Command in 2021. It has since grown to a force of more than 600 personnel, three quarters from the RAF, based at former Bomber Command headquarters near High Wycombe, housed in a series of unremarkable 1930s redbrick buildings that had been designed to resemble a village to put off German bombers in the Second World War. (6/27)
Japan Launches GOSAT-GW on 50th and Final Liftoff of the H-2A Rocket (Source: Space.com)
JAXA on Saturday conducted its 50th and final launch of the H-2A rocket, taking the GOSAT-GW dual-purpose satellite to space. The mission lifted off from the Tanegashima spaceport in Japan. The Greenhouse Gas and Water Cycle Observation Satellite (GOSAT-GW) is the latest in Japan's efforts to observe changes in water cycles and greenhouse gases. (6/28)
Musk Rips Into ‘Utterly Insane’ Trump-Backed Megabill (Source: CNBC)
Elon Musk said that President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” will “destroy millions of jobs in America and cause immense strategic harm to our country!” Musk’s prior criticisms of the spending package triggered a public feud between the two men even though the Tesla and SpaceX CEO had been the president’s biggest financial backer. (6/28)
SpaceX Sends Two Batches of Starlink Satellites on Saturday Doubleheader (Source: Space.com)
Two Falcon 9 rockets carrying the broadband internet satellites lifted off Saturday, the first from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport and the second from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. (6/28)
Confirmed – First Animal on Earth to Live Without Oxygen (Source: Union Rayo)
Henneguya salminicola is a very small parasite that lives inside certain fishes. At first sight, it might not seem like a big deal because it has less than 10 cells, it doesn’t move on its own and it needs to live inside another organism to survive. However, it is a radical change in animal biology.
What’s peculiar about Henneguya salminicola is that it doesn’t have mitochondrial genes, this means that it lacks genetic instructions so that its cells use oxygen as an energy source. Every animal that has been known, mitochondria is the one in charge of processing oxygen and nutrients to generate this energy, but the Henneguya salminicola doesn’t.
Basically, this animal does all its cycle of life without needing oxygen, something never seen before. This was something scientists couldn’t believe and they have come up with some theories. This has been relevant for astrobiology, the science studying the possibility of life out of Earth. So, another question is set out about animals living without oxygen on other planets, with different atmospheres. If there is one on Earth, why wouldn’t the presence of this animal or a similar one that doesn’t need oxygen to live possible in other parts of the universe? (6/27)
New Propulsion Systems Could Enable a Mssion to Sedna (Source: Phys.org)
In the outer reaches of our solar system, far beyond the orbit of Pluto, lies Sedna, one of the most mysterious objects ever discovered. This reddish dwarf planet follows such an extreme orbit that it takes more than 11,000 years to complete a single journey around the sun. Now, scientists are proposing a new mission to reach this distant world using a revolutionary propulsion technology.
A new feasibility study has examined two cutting-edge approaches to technology that would reach Sedna within this narrow window of opportunity. The first involves the direct fusion drive (DFD), a conceptual nuclear fusion engine, designed to produce both thrust and electric power. For the DFD, researchers assume a 1.6 MW system with constant thrust and specific impulse, representing a massive leap beyond current propulsion technology. (6/27)
AST SpaceMobile Pitches US Military on Using Its Satellites for 'Tactical Communication' (Source: PC Magazine)
Starlink rival AST SpaceMobile is pitching its satellite-to-phone technology to US military groups, a sign that AST and SpaceX are poised to go head-to-head in competing for defense contracts. Texas-based AST SpaceMobile has already demonstrated that its giant satellites can power voice and video calls on consumer smartphones in cellular dead zones.
But on Thursday, the company touted a successful demo of its technology for "tactical satellite communication" purposes. The demo, conducted in Hawaii, involved using AST's BlueBird satellites to beam communications to a Tactical Assault Kit (TAK), which is usually mapping-related software designed for military operations. TAK can also be installed on smartphones. (6/26)
NASA Is in Full Meltdown (Source: Futurism)
Along with staring down the barrel of major program and staffing cuts, Janet Petro may also have to serve out the rest of the year as an acting administrator. Despite her well-regarded reputation as the first woman to lead the Kennedy Space Center, Petro isn't tight with the Trump crowd and is unable to make big decisions for the agency — including about its forthcoming budget.
The White House seems disinterested in appointing a new administrator after rescinding the nomination of Jared Isaacman, the billionaire space tourist who Elon Musk put up for the job, over his past donations to Democrats. "I think the best guess would tell you that it's hard to imagine it happening before the next six months, and could perhaps go longer than that into the eight- or nine-month range," the chief of staff said. "But that's purely speculation."
One of the agency's leaders perhaps put it best when, in an interview with Ars on condition that their name be withheld, they succinctly quipped that "NASA is f**ked." (6/27)
SpaceX Reacts to Mexico President’s Comment on Debris Contamination From Latest Explosion (Source: Valley Central)
On Wednesday, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said her administration was studying contamination from the Starbase facility near the Mexican border. Sheinbaum responded to a reporter’s question during her daily news briefing, saying, “There is a general review underway of the international laws that are being violated.” She added that her administration would then see what steps to take with the company, because “there is contamination.”
On Thursday, SpaceX took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to quote-tweet an article from Bloomberg that reported the Mexican President’s remarks. “As previously stated, there are no hazards to the surrounding area. Previous independent tests conducted on materials inside Starship, including toxicity analyses, confirm they pose no chemical, biological, or toxicological risks,” SpaceX began.
SpaceX stated that despite its attempts to recover the anomaly-related debris, “which is and remains the tangible property of SpaceX, these attempts have been hindered by unauthorized parties trespassing on private property.” SpaceX reported that it has requested local and federal assistance from the Mexican government in the recovery of the debris. They claim to have offered resources and assistance in the cleanup and have sought validation of their right to conduct recovery operations. (6/26)
Trump Wants 3000+ NASA Workers to Leave (Source: NASA Watch)
"I have heard from 6 senior people today that RIFs at NASA are openly discussed – now – as a distinct possibility. Indeed NASA management is being told to urge more people to leave in advance. Casey, Janet, Vanessa et al are playing with semantics as they did today at the Town Hall when they try and convince you otherwise. NASA Needs at least 3,000+ more people to be gone according to existing downsizing plans." (6/27)
Italy Approves Space Economy Law (Source: ITA)
In June 2025, Italy approved the country’s first space economy framework law that fills a regulatory gap in private sector space activities and aligns with international standards. The law mandates both national and foreign operators to obtain authorization to operate from the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MiMiT, delegated authority for space) through the Italian Space Agency (ASI), the regulatory and enforcement authority with oversight of the registration of space objects launched from Italy. (6/25)
Kongsberg Completes N3X Satellite Network for Maritime Surveillance (Source: Space Daily)
Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace has finalized its N3X satellite constellation with the successful launch of two new microsatellites, ARVAKER 2 and ARVAKER 3, aboard SpaceX's Transporter-14 mission from California. The N3X network is engineered to strengthen Norway's maritime domain awareness. (6/26)
Varda Unveils W4 Spacecraft with First FAA Part 450 Reentry License and New Satellite Bus (Source: Space Daily)
Varda Space Industries launched its fourth mission, W-4, on Sunday, marking the inaugural flight of a fully integrated spacecraft built entirely in-house at its El Segundo facility. The mission, which took off aboard a SpaceX Transporter-14 rideshare from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 2:25 pm PT, represents several operational milestones for the company.
Unlike prior missions, Varda independently developed and operates every component of the W-4 spacecraft aside from the launch vehicle. This includes the capsule, heatshield, satellite bus, and pharmaceutical payload. The mission architecture remains consistent with earlier flights, involving in-orbit pharmaceutical processing followed by high-speed Earth reentry and recovery. (6/26)
Six Satellites Launched for ICEYE as Constellation Expansion Gains Momentum (Source: Space Daily)
Six new Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites built by ICEYE have successfully launched aboard the SpaceX Transporter-14 rideshare mission, marking the company's largest single deployment to date. The launch raises ICEYE's total number of deployed satellites to 54 and strengthens its position as the operator of the world's largest SAR satellite constellation.
The satellites, featuring 25 cm resolution class technology, represent the most advanced imaging capabilities in the industry. All units were integrated through Exolaunch and lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on June 23. ICEYE confirmed that each satellite has achieved communication and commissioning procedures are in progress. (6/26)
UC Davis and Proteus Space to Launch First-Ever Dynamic Digital Twin Into Space (Source: Space Daily)
The Center for Space Exploration Research at the University of California, Davis, has partnered with Proteus Space to launch a US government-sponsored satellite into space with a custom AI-enabled payload in a brand-new, first-ever rapid design-to-deployment small satellite. From the time the project was fully approved, the design and launch will occur within an unprecedented 13 months.
The satellite, which includes multiple commercial and research payloads, will monitor its own health in space using sensors that assess voltage and measurements of the batteries it is running on. The digital twin software will continually analyze the health and charge capacity of the battery. Using artificial intelligence, the digital twin will be aware of its own state and learn to predict its future state. (6/26)
With SLS Rocket Future Uncertain, L3Harris Still Cranking Out Engines (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
The first engine produced for the fifth mission, which was built from scratch after the depletion of the space shuttle supply, is now in NASA’s hands. On Friday, the engine, dubbed No. 20001, underwent an 8 1/2-minute hot fire on a test stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.
While the future of Artemis may shift, L3Harris will continue to build engines for which it has contracts. Manufacturing of the RS-25s happens in California. The newly manufactured engines cost 30% less than those produced and refurbished for the shuttle program, according to L3Harris, using updated processes such as 3D printing. A test version of the new engine design went through a 12-step certification series completed last year to pave the way for operational engine production.
NASA has already ordered up to 24 of the new engines on top of the 16 refurbished shuttle-era engines that would support flights through the ninth Artemis. The order totals $3.5 billion, which is about $145 million per engine. (6/24)
ULA Manages 2nd Launch of Year Hours After SpaceX’s 50th (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
United Launch Alliance took a week to reset, but was able to send up its second launch of the year, carrying more Amazon satellites to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink internet constellation. The launch came just hours after SpaceX sent up its 50th rocket from the Space Coast in 2025. (6/23)
Kennedy Space Center Goes Retro for Y2K After-Hours Event (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
Kennedy Under the Stars, an after-hours event at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, will carry a theme from a quarter-century ago. It’s set up for Y2K nostalgia. The event, set for 6:30 p.m. Aug. 30, allows access to many of the attraction’s exhibits, including Spaceport KSC, the Shuttle Launch Experience and Space Shuttle Atlantis plus a stargazing experience through telescopes provided by Ortega Observatory of Florida Tech.
On top of that are the most recent turn-of-the-century-inspired activities, including a video DJ in the Rocket Garden, a techno DJ dance party in NASA Central, mini-golf beneath the Saturn 1B rocket, science experiments, live entertainment and glowing lounge and bar areas. (6/26)
When Britain’s military realized it had to have much better “situational awareness” in space, it set up Space Command in 2021. It has since grown to a force of more than 600 personnel, three quarters from the RAF, based at former Bomber Command headquarters near High Wycombe, housed in a series of unremarkable 1930s redbrick buildings that had been designed to resemble a village to put off German bombers in the Second World War. (6/27)
Japan Launches GOSAT-GW on 50th and Final Liftoff of the H-2A Rocket (Source: Space.com)
JAXA on Saturday conducted its 50th and final launch of the H-2A rocket, taking the GOSAT-GW dual-purpose satellite to space. The mission lifted off from the Tanegashima spaceport in Japan. The Greenhouse Gas and Water Cycle Observation Satellite (GOSAT-GW) is the latest in Japan's efforts to observe changes in water cycles and greenhouse gases. (6/28)
Musk Rips Into ‘Utterly Insane’ Trump-Backed Megabill (Source: CNBC)
Elon Musk said that President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” will “destroy millions of jobs in America and cause immense strategic harm to our country!” Musk’s prior criticisms of the spending package triggered a public feud between the two men even though the Tesla and SpaceX CEO had been the president’s biggest financial backer. (6/28)
SpaceX Sends Two Batches of Starlink Satellites on Saturday Doubleheader (Source: Space.com)
Two Falcon 9 rockets carrying the broadband internet satellites lifted off Saturday, the first from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport and the second from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. (6/28)
Confirmed – First Animal on Earth to Live Without Oxygen (Source: Union Rayo)
Henneguya salminicola is a very small parasite that lives inside certain fishes. At first sight, it might not seem like a big deal because it has less than 10 cells, it doesn’t move on its own and it needs to live inside another organism to survive. However, it is a radical change in animal biology.
What’s peculiar about Henneguya salminicola is that it doesn’t have mitochondrial genes, this means that it lacks genetic instructions so that its cells use oxygen as an energy source. Every animal that has been known, mitochondria is the one in charge of processing oxygen and nutrients to generate this energy, but the Henneguya salminicola doesn’t.
Basically, this animal does all its cycle of life without needing oxygen, something never seen before. This was something scientists couldn’t believe and they have come up with some theories. This has been relevant for astrobiology, the science studying the possibility of life out of Earth. So, another question is set out about animals living without oxygen on other planets, with different atmospheres. If there is one on Earth, why wouldn’t the presence of this animal or a similar one that doesn’t need oxygen to live possible in other parts of the universe? (6/27)
New Propulsion Systems Could Enable a Mssion to Sedna (Source: Phys.org)
In the outer reaches of our solar system, far beyond the orbit of Pluto, lies Sedna, one of the most mysterious objects ever discovered. This reddish dwarf planet follows such an extreme orbit that it takes more than 11,000 years to complete a single journey around the sun. Now, scientists are proposing a new mission to reach this distant world using a revolutionary propulsion technology.
A new feasibility study has examined two cutting-edge approaches to technology that would reach Sedna within this narrow window of opportunity. The first involves the direct fusion drive (DFD), a conceptual nuclear fusion engine, designed to produce both thrust and electric power. For the DFD, researchers assume a 1.6 MW system with constant thrust and specific impulse, representing a massive leap beyond current propulsion technology. (6/27)
AST SpaceMobile Pitches US Military on Using Its Satellites for 'Tactical Communication' (Source: PC Magazine)
Starlink rival AST SpaceMobile is pitching its satellite-to-phone technology to US military groups, a sign that AST and SpaceX are poised to go head-to-head in competing for defense contracts. Texas-based AST SpaceMobile has already demonstrated that its giant satellites can power voice and video calls on consumer smartphones in cellular dead zones.
But on Thursday, the company touted a successful demo of its technology for "tactical satellite communication" purposes. The demo, conducted in Hawaii, involved using AST's BlueBird satellites to beam communications to a Tactical Assault Kit (TAK), which is usually mapping-related software designed for military operations. TAK can also be installed on smartphones. (6/26)
NASA Is in Full Meltdown (Source: Futurism)
Along with staring down the barrel of major program and staffing cuts, Janet Petro may also have to serve out the rest of the year as an acting administrator. Despite her well-regarded reputation as the first woman to lead the Kennedy Space Center, Petro isn't tight with the Trump crowd and is unable to make big decisions for the agency — including about its forthcoming budget.
The White House seems disinterested in appointing a new administrator after rescinding the nomination of Jared Isaacman, the billionaire space tourist who Elon Musk put up for the job, over his past donations to Democrats. "I think the best guess would tell you that it's hard to imagine it happening before the next six months, and could perhaps go longer than that into the eight- or nine-month range," the chief of staff said. "But that's purely speculation."
One of the agency's leaders perhaps put it best when, in an interview with Ars on condition that their name be withheld, they succinctly quipped that "NASA is f**ked." (6/27)
SpaceX Reacts to Mexico President’s Comment on Debris Contamination From Latest Explosion (Source: Valley Central)
On Wednesday, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said her administration was studying contamination from the Starbase facility near the Mexican border. Sheinbaum responded to a reporter’s question during her daily news briefing, saying, “There is a general review underway of the international laws that are being violated.” She added that her administration would then see what steps to take with the company, because “there is contamination.”
On Thursday, SpaceX took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to quote-tweet an article from Bloomberg that reported the Mexican President’s remarks. “As previously stated, there are no hazards to the surrounding area. Previous independent tests conducted on materials inside Starship, including toxicity analyses, confirm they pose no chemical, biological, or toxicological risks,” SpaceX began.
SpaceX stated that despite its attempts to recover the anomaly-related debris, “which is and remains the tangible property of SpaceX, these attempts have been hindered by unauthorized parties trespassing on private property.” SpaceX reported that it has requested local and federal assistance from the Mexican government in the recovery of the debris. They claim to have offered resources and assistance in the cleanup and have sought validation of their right to conduct recovery operations. (6/26)
Trump Wants 3000+ NASA Workers to Leave (Source: NASA Watch)
"I have heard from 6 senior people today that RIFs at NASA are openly discussed – now – as a distinct possibility. Indeed NASA management is being told to urge more people to leave in advance. Casey, Janet, Vanessa et al are playing with semantics as they did today at the Town Hall when they try and convince you otherwise. NASA Needs at least 3,000+ more people to be gone according to existing downsizing plans." (6/27)
Italy Approves Space Economy Law (Source: ITA)
In June 2025, Italy approved the country’s first space economy framework law that fills a regulatory gap in private sector space activities and aligns with international standards. The law mandates both national and foreign operators to obtain authorization to operate from the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MiMiT, delegated authority for space) through the Italian Space Agency (ASI), the regulatory and enforcement authority with oversight of the registration of space objects launched from Italy. (6/25)
Kongsberg Completes N3X Satellite Network for Maritime Surveillance (Source: Space Daily)
Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace has finalized its N3X satellite constellation with the successful launch of two new microsatellites, ARVAKER 2 and ARVAKER 3, aboard SpaceX's Transporter-14 mission from California. The N3X network is engineered to strengthen Norway's maritime domain awareness. (6/26)
Varda Unveils W4 Spacecraft with First FAA Part 450 Reentry License and New Satellite Bus (Source: Space Daily)
Varda Space Industries launched its fourth mission, W-4, on Sunday, marking the inaugural flight of a fully integrated spacecraft built entirely in-house at its El Segundo facility. The mission, which took off aboard a SpaceX Transporter-14 rideshare from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 2:25 pm PT, represents several operational milestones for the company.
Unlike prior missions, Varda independently developed and operates every component of the W-4 spacecraft aside from the launch vehicle. This includes the capsule, heatshield, satellite bus, and pharmaceutical payload. The mission architecture remains consistent with earlier flights, involving in-orbit pharmaceutical processing followed by high-speed Earth reentry and recovery. (6/26)
Six Satellites Launched for ICEYE as Constellation Expansion Gains Momentum (Source: Space Daily)
Six new Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites built by ICEYE have successfully launched aboard the SpaceX Transporter-14 rideshare mission, marking the company's largest single deployment to date. The launch raises ICEYE's total number of deployed satellites to 54 and strengthens its position as the operator of the world's largest SAR satellite constellation.
The satellites, featuring 25 cm resolution class technology, represent the most advanced imaging capabilities in the industry. All units were integrated through Exolaunch and lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on June 23. ICEYE confirmed that each satellite has achieved communication and commissioning procedures are in progress. (6/26)
UC Davis and Proteus Space to Launch First-Ever Dynamic Digital Twin Into Space (Source: Space Daily)
The Center for Space Exploration Research at the University of California, Davis, has partnered with Proteus Space to launch a US government-sponsored satellite into space with a custom AI-enabled payload in a brand-new, first-ever rapid design-to-deployment small satellite. From the time the project was fully approved, the design and launch will occur within an unprecedented 13 months.
The satellite, which includes multiple commercial and research payloads, will monitor its own health in space using sensors that assess voltage and measurements of the batteries it is running on. The digital twin software will continually analyze the health and charge capacity of the battery. Using artificial intelligence, the digital twin will be aware of its own state and learn to predict its future state. (6/26)
With SLS Rocket Future Uncertain, L3Harris Still Cranking Out Engines (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
The first engine produced for the fifth mission, which was built from scratch after the depletion of the space shuttle supply, is now in NASA’s hands. On Friday, the engine, dubbed No. 20001, underwent an 8 1/2-minute hot fire on a test stand at NASA’s Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.
While the future of Artemis may shift, L3Harris will continue to build engines for which it has contracts. Manufacturing of the RS-25s happens in California. The newly manufactured engines cost 30% less than those produced and refurbished for the shuttle program, according to L3Harris, using updated processes such as 3D printing. A test version of the new engine design went through a 12-step certification series completed last year to pave the way for operational engine production.
NASA has already ordered up to 24 of the new engines on top of the 16 refurbished shuttle-era engines that would support flights through the ninth Artemis. The order totals $3.5 billion, which is about $145 million per engine. (6/24)
ULA Manages 2nd Launch of Year Hours After SpaceX’s 50th (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
United Launch Alliance took a week to reset, but was able to send up its second launch of the year, carrying more Amazon satellites to compete with SpaceX’s Starlink internet constellation. The launch came just hours after SpaceX sent up its 50th rocket from the Space Coast in 2025. (6/23)
Kennedy Space Center Goes Retro for Y2K After-Hours Event (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
Kennedy Under the Stars, an after-hours event at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, will carry a theme from a quarter-century ago. It’s set up for Y2K nostalgia. The event, set for 6:30 p.m. Aug. 30, allows access to many of the attraction’s exhibits, including Spaceport KSC, the Shuttle Launch Experience and Space Shuttle Atlantis plus a stargazing experience through telescopes provided by Ortega Observatory of Florida Tech.
On top of that are the most recent turn-of-the-century-inspired activities, including a video DJ in the Rocket Garden, a techno DJ dance party in NASA Central, mini-golf beneath the Saturn 1B rocket, science experiments, live entertainment and glowing lounge and bar areas. (6/26)
June 27, 2025
During a Town Hall NASA Officials on
Stage Looked Like Hostages (Source: Ars Technica)
The four people at the helm of America's space agency held a town hall meeting with employees Wednesday, fielding questions about downsizing, layoffs, and proposed budget cuts that threaten to undermine NASA's mission and prestige. Janet Petro, NASA's acting administrator, addressed questions from an auditorium at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC. She was joined by Brian Hughes, the agency's chief of staff, a political appointee who was formerly a Florida-based consultant active in city politics and in Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.
Two other senior career managers, Vanessa Wyche and Casey Swails, were also on the stage. They tried to put a positive spin on the situation at NASA. Petro, Wyche, and Swails are civil servants, not Trump loyalists. None of them looked like they wanted to be there. The town hall was not publicized outside of NASA ahead of time, but live video of the event was available—unadvertised—on an obscure NASA streaming website. The video has since been removed. (6/26)
UF Research: Muscle in Space Sheds Light on Ageing-Related Muscle Loss (Source: ISSCR)
Spaceflight with the associated absence of gravity and limited strain on muscles causes muscle weakness, a prominent feature of sarcopenia, within a short period of time, providing a time lapse view on age-related atrophy-associated changes in the muscle. This relatively short window of time in space provides a microgravity model for muscular aging and opens opportunities for studying sarcopenia, which normally takes decades to develop in patients on earth.
To understand the changes of muscle in microgravity, a team from the University of Florida engineered skeletal muscle microtissues from donor biopsies and launched them to the ISS aboard SpaceX CRS-25. The microtissues were taken from both young, active donors and from aged, sedentary donors and cultured in an automated mini lab, which besides regular feeding and monitoring of cultures also enabled electrical stimulation to simulate exercise.
On earth, the contraction strength of microtissues from young, active individuals was almost twice as much as the strength of tissues from older, sedentary individuals. After only two weeks in space, muscle strength trended to decline in the young tissues and was now more comparable to the strength of old tissues. A similar trend was seen for the muscle protein content. (6/26)
Latitude Commits €8M to Launch Facility in French Guiana (Source: European Spaceflight)
French launch services provider Latitude has announced that it will conduct the inaugural flight of its Zephyr rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana. The company has committed €8 million to developing its section of a new commercial launch facility being constructed by the French space agency CNES on the grounds of the former Diamant launch complex.
The new commercial launch site at the Guiana Space Centre will accommodate up to five launch companies, with a combined maximum of 40 launches per year. The facility will offer shared resources as part of a €50 million development project led by CNES under the France 2030 program, alongside dedicated facilities for each launch company. Development of these dedicated facilities will be the responsibility of the individual companies. (6/26)
Starlink Satellite Antennae Plan Divides Swiss Village (Source: Swissinfo)
Starlink announced at the beginning of June its plans to build 40 antennae in Leuk. The facilities are to be erected on a site above the village, where several large satellite dishes are already installed. The German company Signalhorn submitted a corresponding application for commercial communications services in May.
In Leuk, people are skeptical about this plan, as an information event organized by Signalhorn clearly demonstrated. Over 100 people attended on Wednesday. “We were shocked when we learned about the planning application,” explained Hanna Schnyder from Leuk after the public discussion.
The doctor is primarily concerned about health and refers to a WHO study from May 2025. “This study concluded that there is no all-clear when it comes to high-frequency electromagnetic radiation. We don’t want to become the most irradiated area in Switzerland.” (6/26)
China Just Refueled a Satellite in Space. America Should Be Worried (Source: National Interest)
By demonstrating an on-orbit refueling capability, the Chinese are extending the reach and longevity of their dangerous co-orbital satellites. Private space trackers have detected a bizarre movement of Chinese satellites in geosynchronous orbit (GEO), the farthest orbit above the Earth. Speculation in the space community has been rampant, but the majority view—though unconfirmed—is that the Chinese have achieved a stunning feat.
Most experts believe that private space monitoring firms tracked and photographed one Chinese satellite in GEO refueling another satellite, marking a world first. This is a significant event, even though it has gotten very little coverage outside of a few trade publications. It appeared that the two satellites conducted a crucial and never-before-tried mid-orbit refueling. (6/26)
How China is Winning the Military Space Race (Source: Telegraph)
China is developing space-based military technology “breathtakingly fast”, the United States has warned. Gen Stephen Whiting, the top commander of the US Space Force (USSF), said China’s use of space to complete its “kill chain” – the process of identifying, tracking and attacking a target – had become “very concerning”. Space warfare capabilities are increasingly critical to the defense strategies of major powers.
Gen Anthony Mastalir said that China’s long-range weapons, including those specifically aimed at targeting the US and its allies, “depend on space”. He added that space tech was how China “closes its kill chain” and strikes its targets with precision. By the end of last year, China had more than 500 satellites capable of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), according to the USSF. In the last decade, Beijing has deployed nearly 900 satellites into orbit. Of the 260 launched last year, 67 were capable of ISR. (6/26)
Starbase Zoning Rules Could Affect Land Not Owned by SpaceX (Source: Houston Chronicle)
Louis Balderas’ YouTube channel depends on a small piece of land in South Texas where his cameras watch SpaceX build and launch its Starship rocket. He’s leased this property for years – bringing in a steady stream of revenue with his channel – but this week said a new zoning ordinance could upend his business. His LabPadre Space YouTube channel has roughly 250,000 subscribers. “We feel that they could possibly try and make us remove our equipment.”
SpaceX and its employees own most of the land in Starbase. But some lots have other owners, and many of these are on an undeveloped swath of land that’s decently close to the launch pad – meaning the area must be evacuated for each liftoff – and is now designated as an open space. Texas law protects pre-existing land uses, but Starbase City Attorney Andy Messer, with municipal law firm Messer Fort, said Monday that zoning issues would be addressed on a “case-by-case basis.” (6/26)
Senate Budget Bill Would Boost Space Force to $40 Billion (Source: Space News)
A budget reconciliation bill in the Senate could boost Space Force spending to nearly $40 billion in 2026. The unprecedented budget structure, which defense officials describe as "one budget, two bills," would give the Space Force $26.1 billion in traditional discretionary funding while adding another $13.8 billion through the sweeping reconciliation package. The reconciliation bill also includes $25 billion for Golden Dome. The total $39.9 billion request would represent the most dramatic year-over-year increase for the military's newest service branch. However, the Pentagon said it has no backup plan for increasing defense spending if the bill fails. (6/27)
Space Force Pauses LEO Comsat Procurement, May Use SpaceX (Source: Space News)
The Space Force is pausing the procurement of the next set of low Earth orbit communications satellites as it studies whether to turn to SpaceX. The Trump administration's proposed 2026 budget would suspend procurement of data-transport satellites for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). The Space Development Agency had planned to procure up to 140 Tranche 3 satellites for that system in 2026 for launch in 2028.
The Space Force is instead considering using SpaceX's Starshield program, a militarized version of the company's commercial Starlink broadband satellites. Under that plan, the Tranche 3 satellites would be replaced with 480 Starshield satellites being procured for the "Milnet" program. That approach has raised concerns in industry about the health of satellite manufacturers and supply chains who built up their capabilities to support a steady stream of procurements for the PWSA constellations. (6/27)
Chinese Astronauts Perform TSS Spacewalk (Source: Space News)
Two Chinese astronauts performed a spacewalk outside the Tiangong space station Thursday. Chen Zhongrui and Chen Dong spent nearly six and a half hours outside the station on a spacewalk that concluded at 9:29 a.m. Eastern. The two installed debris shields on the exterior of the station and performed inspections of equipment. This was the second spacewalk for the two astronauts since they arrived at the station two months ago on the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft. The mission's third astronaut, Wang Jie, supported the spacewalk from inside the station. (6/27)
Rocket Lab Launches Four HawkEye 360 Satellites From New Zealand (Source: Space News)
Rocket Lab launched four satellites for HawkEye 360 Thursday in the first of back-to-back launches. An Electron rocket lifted off from the company's Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 1:28 p.m. Eastern, deploying its payload nearly an hour later. The rocket carried three Cluster 12 satellites HawkEye 360 will use for radio-frequency intelligence as well as a tech demo satellite, Kestrel-0A. Rocket Lab said after the launch it had rescheduled another Electron launch for a confidential customer, postponed from last week, to early Saturday. The two launches within 48 hours would be the shortest turnaround between Electron missions from Launch Complex 1. (6/27)
South Korea's LG Considering Space and Launch Business (Source: JoongAng Daily)
Korean conglomerate LG Group is looking to get into the space industry. Company executives met with officials from South Korea's space agency, KASA, on Friday to discuss cooperation on space activities. That included unspecified support for upcoming launches of South Korea's Naro rocket and work with a Korean startup on a small lunar rover. (6/27)
Former ISRO Chief Advising Skyroot Launcher (Source: Economic Times)
A former head of the Indian space agency ISRO is advising a launch startup in the country. Skyroot Aerospace said it named former ISRO chairman S Somanath as its honorary chief technical adviser. He will provide technical support as the company works on its Vikram small launch vehicle. Skyroot separately announced Thursday a memorandum of understanding with Axiom Space to examine how Skyroot could assist Axiom's commercial space station and other plans. (6/27)
Northrop Grumman Gifts $10M to Air and Space Museum (Source: WTOP)
Northrop Grumman has given $10 million to Washington, D.C.'s Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, which will rename its planetarium the Northrop Grumman Planetarium. The donation aids the museum's $285 million renovation goal of renovating the building and enhancing planetarium shows and exhibitions. (6/26)
Sierra Space Announces Opening of New “Power Station” Technology Center in Colorado as Defense Operations Grow (Source: Sierra Space)
Sierra Space, a leading commercial space company and defense tech prime that is building a platform in space to benefit and protect life on Earth, announced today a technology center expansion aimed at scaling up the production and delivery of the company’s groundbreaking Surface Mount Technology (SMT) solar power systems, including production for national defense applications.
Earlier this month, Sierra Space announced a new operation dedicated to supporting the national security space as a prime contractor — Sierra Space Defense — as well as unveiled their “Victory Works” manufacturing facility for defense satellites. (6/26)
Colorado University Expecting Cuts to its Space Program and Partnerships with NASA (Source: KKTV)
Officials at CU Boulder’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) say many of their projects that they partner with NASA on could be cut, as well as millions in funding across Colorado. The cuts are part of the “Big Beautiful Bill” being considered in Congress, which could make significant cuts to the federal budget in 2026.
CU representatives also say the cuts slash their funding by $54 million, with their total budget being about $200 million. But, they also expect cuts to many other jobs supported through NASA contracts in Colorado. (6/26)
NASA Tested a New SLS Booster That May Never Fly, and the End of it Blew Off (Source: Ars Technica)
NASA's Space Launch System appears to have a finite shelf life. The Trump administration wants to cancel it after just three launches, while the preliminary text of a bill making its way through Congress would extend it to five flights. But chances are low the Space Launch System will make it to nine flights, and if it does, it's questionable that it would reach that point before 2040.
For the second time in less than a week, NASA test-fired new propulsion hardware Thursday that the agency would need to keep SLS alive. Last Friday, a new liquid-fueled RS-25 engine ignited on a test stand at NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. Then, on Thursday of this week, NASA and Northrop Grumman test-fired a new solid rocket booster in Utah. This booster features a new design that NASA would use to power SLS rockets beginning with the ninth mission, or Artemis IX.
While the engine test in Mississippi apparently went according to plan, the ground firing of the new solid rocket booster didn't go quite as smoothly. Less than two minutes into the burn, the motor's exhaust nozzle violently shattered into countless shards of debris. Northrop Grumman has had a tough time with rocket nozzles in recent years. In 2019, a test motor for the company's now-canceled Omega rocket lost its nozzle during a test-firing in Utah. Then, last year, a smaller Northrop-made booster flying on United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket lost its nozzle in flight. (6/26)
Utahns Build, Test Largest NASA Rocket Ever Produced in Promontory (Source: FOX 13)
NASA and Northrop Grumman successfully tested the most powerful segmented solid rocket motor ever created at Promontory Point in Box Elder County on Thursday. Hundreds gathered to witness the historic test of the Booster Obsolescence and Life Extension (BOLE) booster, where FOX 13 News cameras captured incredible footage of the powerful demonstration.
"This booster is a totally new booster. It's the first tip to tail new booster that NASA has tested since about 1975," said Dave Reynolds at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. The test produced a spectacular light show and ground-shaking power that could be heard "miles and miles around," according to Reynolds. The booster performed perfectly for about 100 seconds before experiencing two explosions related to the nozzle. (6/27)
Fireball in the Sky as Suspected Meteor Rattles Southeast US, Crashes Through Roof (Source: Guardian)
A “fireball” that may have been a meteor burned through the sky on Tuesday just after noon in north Georgia, with a meteorite fragment crashing through the roof of a house in metro Atlanta. “It pierced through the roof all the way through and cracked through the laminate flooring to the concrete,” said Ryan Morrison, director of emergency management for Henry county, a suburban area south-east of Atlanta.
The homeowner requested the homeland security office refrain from identifying them, because they have a small child. The fireball resembled a lightning strike on the service’s global lightning mapper, he said. The Atlanta area has had a spate of strong lightning storms over the last day, which led many to dismiss the boom as more lightning. (6/26)
SSC and Firefly Progress Toward Orbital Launch from Esrange (Source: Firefly)
Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) and Firefly Aerospace are moving closer to a historic first satellite launch from Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, Sweden, following a Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA) that was signed between Sweden and the United States on June 20. Infrastructure development at SSC’s Esrange Space Center is progressing for Launch Complex 3C where Firefly’s Alpha rocket will launch. The tracking and control systems, security and depot facilities, and the Launch Control Center have already been stood up. (6/25)
Is Eutelsat Europe’s Answer to Musk’s Starlink? (Source: France24)
With around 650 satellites in orbit, Eutelsat is the only other largescale LEO satellite provider in the world, but still lags far behind Starlink’s 7,500 units. Closing the gap between the two companies is more than a matter of financial investment.
“Although Europe is trying to catch up, it's a way behind in terms of the technology,” says Barry Evans.
In the US, Starlink is already providing a service that beams internet direct to handheld devices – a capability that does not yet exist in Europe. While Eutelsat provides a more reliable service as its terminals must be professionally installed, Starlink’s satellites are located at lower altitudes, thereby reducing latency. (6/25)
Starlink’s South African Dream May Face a Two-Year Delay (Source: TechNext)
South Africa’s quest for high-speed satellite internet via Starlink has hit a significant roadblock. According to ICT regulatory expert Dominic Cull, it may take at least two years for Starlink to secure a license to operate in South Africa owing to the country’s complex Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) regulations. Speaking at the Wapaloza 2025 conference, Cull highlighted the slow pace of regulatory reform, dashing hopes for a swift Starlink South Africa rollout. (6/25)
Starbase Lockdown: SpaceX City Blocks Public Roads, Raising Legal Questions (Source: San Antonio Express News)
Citing safety and security issues, city officials approved four gates to limit public access to the community’s residential areas. At least three are already in place, raising questions about the legality of blocking public roads and the private space company’s long-term plans. While the barriers don’t impact the public’s access to nearby Boca Chica Beach, some property owners and residents are decrying the move as another step in SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s creeping takeover of the area. (6/25)
UCF Student Explores Bridges Between Health in Space and Health on Earth (Source: UCF)
In the lead-up to a conversation with Luis Jimenez-Chavez ’22, it might be a good idea to prepare the brain for a serious workout. He’ll be talking about his research, which spans microgravity, mitochondria, galactic cosmic radiation, biophysics, bone density and the complexities of DNA.
At some point, the conversation will turn to his collaboration with NASA, the impact of his research on astronaut immunology, its potential implications for cancer patients and his presentation to a Nobel Prize winning cancer researcher. It will eventually land on an amazing family background that puts all of the above into proper perspective.
“The dreams of my uncles rubbed off on me, but mostly it was my dad,” he says. “His dream was to be a scientist at NASA and find cures for illnesses. He didn’t personally live his NASA dream, but 50% of me — Luis — is my dad’s DNA. So, whenever I’m at NASA, it’s like he’s there, too. That’s why I enjoy conversations like this — because everything I discuss is an accomplishment for my entire family.” (6/25)
UCF Scientists Process Axiom-4 Astronaut Health Samples for Space Medicine Research (Source: WESH)
Several weeks before this historic flight, which aims to take humans in orbit across the Earth's North and South poles for the first time, UCF College of Medicine scientists collected blood, saliva, and urine samples from four astronauts. Dr. Michal Masternak, an anti-aging and cancer researcher, leads the College of Medicine program conducting the before-flight processing.
"When they collect the samples, they had to be processed within two hours from the flight, so I got this opportunity, and I didn't think twice. I said I want to be part of this project," Dr. Masternak said. (6/25)
Oman's Duqm Spaceport Plans Five Launches in 2025 (Source: Times Aerospace)
Oman’s new spaceport at Etlaq is aiming for five experimental launches by the end of this year. First announced in 2023, the spaceport in Duqm successfully launched its first experimental rocket in December 2024. A 6.5-meter tall rocket, named Duqm-1, rose to an altitude of 140km above sea level, crossing the Karman line.
Chief commercial officer, Julanda al Riyami, said the next rocket launch, called Unity-1, is expected in April and will be facilitated by UK-based launch company Advanced Propulsion Technologies. The second will be the launch of the Duqm-2 rocket in June, facilitated by New Zealand-based Stellar Kinetics, in partnership with Etlaq’s parent company, NASCOM.
Al Riyami said a more complex launch, utilising different parameters and operational procedures, is scheduled for October for rocket Duqm-3. The fourth launch, scheduled for November, is Kuwait Space Rocket’s Ambition-3. The last launch of this year, currently scheduled for December, is once again for Duqm-3. Etlaq’s full-scale commercial operations are scheduled for 2027. (6/25)
UN and JAXA Open Opportunity for ISS Cubesats (Source: UNOOSA)
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), has opened the ninth round of applications for the United Nations/Japan Cooperation Programme on CubeSat Deployment from the International Space Station (ISS) Japanese Experiment Module "KiboCUBE".
KiboCUBE provides teams from government organizations, research institutes, universities and other public organizations from developing countries the opportunity to develop, build, and ultimately deploy a One Unit (1U) Cube Satellite (CubeSat) from the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” on the International Space Station (ISS). (6/25)
How Do Scientists Calculate the Probability That an Asteroid Could Hit Earth? (Source: The Conversation)
When scientists spot an asteroid whose trajectory might take it close to Earth, they monitor it frequently and calculate the probability that it might collide with our planet. As they receive more observational data, they get a better picture of what could happen. Just having more data points early doesn’t make scientists’ predictions better. They need to keep following the asteroid as it moves through space to better understand its trajectory.
The impact probability describes how likely a hazardous asteroid is to hit Earth. For example, if the impact probability is 1%, it means that in 1 of 100 cases, it hits Earth. One in 100 is kind of rare, but still too close for comfort if you’re talking about the odds of a collision that could devastate Earth.
Any uncertainty in the calculation of the object’s orbit causes variations in the predicted solution. Instead of one precise orbit, the calculation usually gives scientists a cloud of its possible orbits. The ellipse enclosing these locations is called an error ellipse. The impact probability describes how many orbital predictions in this ellipse hit the Earth. (6/25)
Senate Panel Approves Bedford FAA Nomination (Source: AIN)
The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee today narrowly approved the nomination of Bryan Bedford to serve as FAA administrator, clearing the way for Senate floor consideration. The 15-to-13 vote in the committee came as the nomination has drawn opposition from the Democrat leadership and others, such as famed pilot Sully Sullenberger, over his stance on the 1,500-hour rule. (6/25)
NASA's Been Pulling Out of Major Astronomy Meetings — and Scientists are Feeling the Effects (Source: Space.com)
Something was missing at the American Astronomical Society's 246th meeting this year, a conference sometimes referred to as the "Superbowl of Astronomy." It's a meeting that brings many of the country's most renowned scientists into the same room to share what they've been working on and thinking about lately; as you can imagine, that tends to organically foster brand new ideas for exploring the universe.
Being at these events, you can almost feel study blueprints sprouting up all around you in real-time. It's electric. But this summer, NASA wasn't there. And in fact, the National Science Foundation cancelled its planned talk at the meeting, too. Scientists I spoke with found it pretty conspicuous for both NASA and NSF to pull out. It's also pertinent that this is the first AAS meeting to occur since the Trump administration took office and began implementing some hefty, controversial changes across these organizations. (6/26)
The four people at the helm of America's space agency held a town hall meeting with employees Wednesday, fielding questions about downsizing, layoffs, and proposed budget cuts that threaten to undermine NASA's mission and prestige. Janet Petro, NASA's acting administrator, addressed questions from an auditorium at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC. She was joined by Brian Hughes, the agency's chief of staff, a political appointee who was formerly a Florida-based consultant active in city politics and in Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.
Two other senior career managers, Vanessa Wyche and Casey Swails, were also on the stage. They tried to put a positive spin on the situation at NASA. Petro, Wyche, and Swails are civil servants, not Trump loyalists. None of them looked like they wanted to be there. The town hall was not publicized outside of NASA ahead of time, but live video of the event was available—unadvertised—on an obscure NASA streaming website. The video has since been removed. (6/26)
UF Research: Muscle in Space Sheds Light on Ageing-Related Muscle Loss (Source: ISSCR)
Spaceflight with the associated absence of gravity and limited strain on muscles causes muscle weakness, a prominent feature of sarcopenia, within a short period of time, providing a time lapse view on age-related atrophy-associated changes in the muscle. This relatively short window of time in space provides a microgravity model for muscular aging and opens opportunities for studying sarcopenia, which normally takes decades to develop in patients on earth.
To understand the changes of muscle in microgravity, a team from the University of Florida engineered skeletal muscle microtissues from donor biopsies and launched them to the ISS aboard SpaceX CRS-25. The microtissues were taken from both young, active donors and from aged, sedentary donors and cultured in an automated mini lab, which besides regular feeding and monitoring of cultures also enabled electrical stimulation to simulate exercise.
On earth, the contraction strength of microtissues from young, active individuals was almost twice as much as the strength of tissues from older, sedentary individuals. After only two weeks in space, muscle strength trended to decline in the young tissues and was now more comparable to the strength of old tissues. A similar trend was seen for the muscle protein content. (6/26)
Latitude Commits €8M to Launch Facility in French Guiana (Source: European Spaceflight)
French launch services provider Latitude has announced that it will conduct the inaugural flight of its Zephyr rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana. The company has committed €8 million to developing its section of a new commercial launch facility being constructed by the French space agency CNES on the grounds of the former Diamant launch complex.
The new commercial launch site at the Guiana Space Centre will accommodate up to five launch companies, with a combined maximum of 40 launches per year. The facility will offer shared resources as part of a €50 million development project led by CNES under the France 2030 program, alongside dedicated facilities for each launch company. Development of these dedicated facilities will be the responsibility of the individual companies. (6/26)
Starlink Satellite Antennae Plan Divides Swiss Village (Source: Swissinfo)
Starlink announced at the beginning of June its plans to build 40 antennae in Leuk. The facilities are to be erected on a site above the village, where several large satellite dishes are already installed. The German company Signalhorn submitted a corresponding application for commercial communications services in May.
In Leuk, people are skeptical about this plan, as an information event organized by Signalhorn clearly demonstrated. Over 100 people attended on Wednesday. “We were shocked when we learned about the planning application,” explained Hanna Schnyder from Leuk after the public discussion.
The doctor is primarily concerned about health and refers to a WHO study from May 2025. “This study concluded that there is no all-clear when it comes to high-frequency electromagnetic radiation. We don’t want to become the most irradiated area in Switzerland.” (6/26)
China Just Refueled a Satellite in Space. America Should Be Worried (Source: National Interest)
By demonstrating an on-orbit refueling capability, the Chinese are extending the reach and longevity of their dangerous co-orbital satellites. Private space trackers have detected a bizarre movement of Chinese satellites in geosynchronous orbit (GEO), the farthest orbit above the Earth. Speculation in the space community has been rampant, but the majority view—though unconfirmed—is that the Chinese have achieved a stunning feat.
Most experts believe that private space monitoring firms tracked and photographed one Chinese satellite in GEO refueling another satellite, marking a world first. This is a significant event, even though it has gotten very little coverage outside of a few trade publications. It appeared that the two satellites conducted a crucial and never-before-tried mid-orbit refueling. (6/26)
How China is Winning the Military Space Race (Source: Telegraph)
China is developing space-based military technology “breathtakingly fast”, the United States has warned. Gen Stephen Whiting, the top commander of the US Space Force (USSF), said China’s use of space to complete its “kill chain” – the process of identifying, tracking and attacking a target – had become “very concerning”. Space warfare capabilities are increasingly critical to the defense strategies of major powers.
Gen Anthony Mastalir said that China’s long-range weapons, including those specifically aimed at targeting the US and its allies, “depend on space”. He added that space tech was how China “closes its kill chain” and strikes its targets with precision. By the end of last year, China had more than 500 satellites capable of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), according to the USSF. In the last decade, Beijing has deployed nearly 900 satellites into orbit. Of the 260 launched last year, 67 were capable of ISR. (6/26)
Starbase Zoning Rules Could Affect Land Not Owned by SpaceX (Source: Houston Chronicle)
Louis Balderas’ YouTube channel depends on a small piece of land in South Texas where his cameras watch SpaceX build and launch its Starship rocket. He’s leased this property for years – bringing in a steady stream of revenue with his channel – but this week said a new zoning ordinance could upend his business. His LabPadre Space YouTube channel has roughly 250,000 subscribers. “We feel that they could possibly try and make us remove our equipment.”
SpaceX and its employees own most of the land in Starbase. But some lots have other owners, and many of these are on an undeveloped swath of land that’s decently close to the launch pad – meaning the area must be evacuated for each liftoff – and is now designated as an open space. Texas law protects pre-existing land uses, but Starbase City Attorney Andy Messer, with municipal law firm Messer Fort, said Monday that zoning issues would be addressed on a “case-by-case basis.” (6/26)
Senate Budget Bill Would Boost Space Force to $40 Billion (Source: Space News)
A budget reconciliation bill in the Senate could boost Space Force spending to nearly $40 billion in 2026. The unprecedented budget structure, which defense officials describe as "one budget, two bills," would give the Space Force $26.1 billion in traditional discretionary funding while adding another $13.8 billion through the sweeping reconciliation package. The reconciliation bill also includes $25 billion for Golden Dome. The total $39.9 billion request would represent the most dramatic year-over-year increase for the military's newest service branch. However, the Pentagon said it has no backup plan for increasing defense spending if the bill fails. (6/27)
Space Force Pauses LEO Comsat Procurement, May Use SpaceX (Source: Space News)
The Space Force is pausing the procurement of the next set of low Earth orbit communications satellites as it studies whether to turn to SpaceX. The Trump administration's proposed 2026 budget would suspend procurement of data-transport satellites for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). The Space Development Agency had planned to procure up to 140 Tranche 3 satellites for that system in 2026 for launch in 2028.
The Space Force is instead considering using SpaceX's Starshield program, a militarized version of the company's commercial Starlink broadband satellites. Under that plan, the Tranche 3 satellites would be replaced with 480 Starshield satellites being procured for the "Milnet" program. That approach has raised concerns in industry about the health of satellite manufacturers and supply chains who built up their capabilities to support a steady stream of procurements for the PWSA constellations. (6/27)
Chinese Astronauts Perform TSS Spacewalk (Source: Space News)
Two Chinese astronauts performed a spacewalk outside the Tiangong space station Thursday. Chen Zhongrui and Chen Dong spent nearly six and a half hours outside the station on a spacewalk that concluded at 9:29 a.m. Eastern. The two installed debris shields on the exterior of the station and performed inspections of equipment. This was the second spacewalk for the two astronauts since they arrived at the station two months ago on the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft. The mission's third astronaut, Wang Jie, supported the spacewalk from inside the station. (6/27)
Rocket Lab Launches Four HawkEye 360 Satellites From New Zealand (Source: Space News)
Rocket Lab launched four satellites for HawkEye 360 Thursday in the first of back-to-back launches. An Electron rocket lifted off from the company's Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 1:28 p.m. Eastern, deploying its payload nearly an hour later. The rocket carried three Cluster 12 satellites HawkEye 360 will use for radio-frequency intelligence as well as a tech demo satellite, Kestrel-0A. Rocket Lab said after the launch it had rescheduled another Electron launch for a confidential customer, postponed from last week, to early Saturday. The two launches within 48 hours would be the shortest turnaround between Electron missions from Launch Complex 1. (6/27)
South Korea's LG Considering Space and Launch Business (Source: JoongAng Daily)
Korean conglomerate LG Group is looking to get into the space industry. Company executives met with officials from South Korea's space agency, KASA, on Friday to discuss cooperation on space activities. That included unspecified support for upcoming launches of South Korea's Naro rocket and work with a Korean startup on a small lunar rover. (6/27)
Former ISRO Chief Advising Skyroot Launcher (Source: Economic Times)
A former head of the Indian space agency ISRO is advising a launch startup in the country. Skyroot Aerospace said it named former ISRO chairman S Somanath as its honorary chief technical adviser. He will provide technical support as the company works on its Vikram small launch vehicle. Skyroot separately announced Thursday a memorandum of understanding with Axiom Space to examine how Skyroot could assist Axiom's commercial space station and other plans. (6/27)
Northrop Grumman Gifts $10M to Air and Space Museum (Source: WTOP)
Northrop Grumman has given $10 million to Washington, D.C.'s Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, which will rename its planetarium the Northrop Grumman Planetarium. The donation aids the museum's $285 million renovation goal of renovating the building and enhancing planetarium shows and exhibitions. (6/26)
Sierra Space Announces Opening of New “Power Station” Technology Center in Colorado as Defense Operations Grow (Source: Sierra Space)
Sierra Space, a leading commercial space company and defense tech prime that is building a platform in space to benefit and protect life on Earth, announced today a technology center expansion aimed at scaling up the production and delivery of the company’s groundbreaking Surface Mount Technology (SMT) solar power systems, including production for national defense applications.
Earlier this month, Sierra Space announced a new operation dedicated to supporting the national security space as a prime contractor — Sierra Space Defense — as well as unveiled their “Victory Works” manufacturing facility for defense satellites. (6/26)
Colorado University Expecting Cuts to its Space Program and Partnerships with NASA (Source: KKTV)
Officials at CU Boulder’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) say many of their projects that they partner with NASA on could be cut, as well as millions in funding across Colorado. The cuts are part of the “Big Beautiful Bill” being considered in Congress, which could make significant cuts to the federal budget in 2026.
CU representatives also say the cuts slash their funding by $54 million, with their total budget being about $200 million. But, they also expect cuts to many other jobs supported through NASA contracts in Colorado. (6/26)
NASA Tested a New SLS Booster That May Never Fly, and the End of it Blew Off (Source: Ars Technica)
NASA's Space Launch System appears to have a finite shelf life. The Trump administration wants to cancel it after just three launches, while the preliminary text of a bill making its way through Congress would extend it to five flights. But chances are low the Space Launch System will make it to nine flights, and if it does, it's questionable that it would reach that point before 2040.
For the second time in less than a week, NASA test-fired new propulsion hardware Thursday that the agency would need to keep SLS alive. Last Friday, a new liquid-fueled RS-25 engine ignited on a test stand at NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. Then, on Thursday of this week, NASA and Northrop Grumman test-fired a new solid rocket booster in Utah. This booster features a new design that NASA would use to power SLS rockets beginning with the ninth mission, or Artemis IX.
While the engine test in Mississippi apparently went according to plan, the ground firing of the new solid rocket booster didn't go quite as smoothly. Less than two minutes into the burn, the motor's exhaust nozzle violently shattered into countless shards of debris. Northrop Grumman has had a tough time with rocket nozzles in recent years. In 2019, a test motor for the company's now-canceled Omega rocket lost its nozzle during a test-firing in Utah. Then, last year, a smaller Northrop-made booster flying on United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket lost its nozzle in flight. (6/26)
Utahns Build, Test Largest NASA Rocket Ever Produced in Promontory (Source: FOX 13)
NASA and Northrop Grumman successfully tested the most powerful segmented solid rocket motor ever created at Promontory Point in Box Elder County on Thursday. Hundreds gathered to witness the historic test of the Booster Obsolescence and Life Extension (BOLE) booster, where FOX 13 News cameras captured incredible footage of the powerful demonstration.
"This booster is a totally new booster. It's the first tip to tail new booster that NASA has tested since about 1975," said Dave Reynolds at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. The test produced a spectacular light show and ground-shaking power that could be heard "miles and miles around," according to Reynolds. The booster performed perfectly for about 100 seconds before experiencing two explosions related to the nozzle. (6/27)
Fireball in the Sky as Suspected Meteor Rattles Southeast US, Crashes Through Roof (Source: Guardian)
A “fireball” that may have been a meteor burned through the sky on Tuesday just after noon in north Georgia, with a meteorite fragment crashing through the roof of a house in metro Atlanta. “It pierced through the roof all the way through and cracked through the laminate flooring to the concrete,” said Ryan Morrison, director of emergency management for Henry county, a suburban area south-east of Atlanta.
The homeowner requested the homeland security office refrain from identifying them, because they have a small child. The fireball resembled a lightning strike on the service’s global lightning mapper, he said. The Atlanta area has had a spate of strong lightning storms over the last day, which led many to dismiss the boom as more lightning. (6/26)
SSC and Firefly Progress Toward Orbital Launch from Esrange (Source: Firefly)
Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) and Firefly Aerospace are moving closer to a historic first satellite launch from Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, Sweden, following a Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA) that was signed between Sweden and the United States on June 20. Infrastructure development at SSC’s Esrange Space Center is progressing for Launch Complex 3C where Firefly’s Alpha rocket will launch. The tracking and control systems, security and depot facilities, and the Launch Control Center have already been stood up. (6/25)
Is Eutelsat Europe’s Answer to Musk’s Starlink? (Source: France24)
With around 650 satellites in orbit, Eutelsat is the only other largescale LEO satellite provider in the world, but still lags far behind Starlink’s 7,500 units. Closing the gap between the two companies is more than a matter of financial investment.
“Although Europe is trying to catch up, it's a way behind in terms of the technology,” says Barry Evans.
In the US, Starlink is already providing a service that beams internet direct to handheld devices – a capability that does not yet exist in Europe. While Eutelsat provides a more reliable service as its terminals must be professionally installed, Starlink’s satellites are located at lower altitudes, thereby reducing latency. (6/25)
Starlink’s South African Dream May Face a Two-Year Delay (Source: TechNext)
South Africa’s quest for high-speed satellite internet via Starlink has hit a significant roadblock. According to ICT regulatory expert Dominic Cull, it may take at least two years for Starlink to secure a license to operate in South Africa owing to the country’s complex Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) regulations. Speaking at the Wapaloza 2025 conference, Cull highlighted the slow pace of regulatory reform, dashing hopes for a swift Starlink South Africa rollout. (6/25)
Starbase Lockdown: SpaceX City Blocks Public Roads, Raising Legal Questions (Source: San Antonio Express News)
Citing safety and security issues, city officials approved four gates to limit public access to the community’s residential areas. At least three are already in place, raising questions about the legality of blocking public roads and the private space company’s long-term plans. While the barriers don’t impact the public’s access to nearby Boca Chica Beach, some property owners and residents are decrying the move as another step in SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s creeping takeover of the area. (6/25)
UCF Student Explores Bridges Between Health in Space and Health on Earth (Source: UCF)
In the lead-up to a conversation with Luis Jimenez-Chavez ’22, it might be a good idea to prepare the brain for a serious workout. He’ll be talking about his research, which spans microgravity, mitochondria, galactic cosmic radiation, biophysics, bone density and the complexities of DNA.
At some point, the conversation will turn to his collaboration with NASA, the impact of his research on astronaut immunology, its potential implications for cancer patients and his presentation to a Nobel Prize winning cancer researcher. It will eventually land on an amazing family background that puts all of the above into proper perspective.
“The dreams of my uncles rubbed off on me, but mostly it was my dad,” he says. “His dream was to be a scientist at NASA and find cures for illnesses. He didn’t personally live his NASA dream, but 50% of me — Luis — is my dad’s DNA. So, whenever I’m at NASA, it’s like he’s there, too. That’s why I enjoy conversations like this — because everything I discuss is an accomplishment for my entire family.” (6/25)
UCF Scientists Process Axiom-4 Astronaut Health Samples for Space Medicine Research (Source: WESH)
Several weeks before this historic flight, which aims to take humans in orbit across the Earth's North and South poles for the first time, UCF College of Medicine scientists collected blood, saliva, and urine samples from four astronauts. Dr. Michal Masternak, an anti-aging and cancer researcher, leads the College of Medicine program conducting the before-flight processing.
"When they collect the samples, they had to be processed within two hours from the flight, so I got this opportunity, and I didn't think twice. I said I want to be part of this project," Dr. Masternak said. (6/25)
Oman's Duqm Spaceport Plans Five Launches in 2025 (Source: Times Aerospace)
Oman’s new spaceport at Etlaq is aiming for five experimental launches by the end of this year. First announced in 2023, the spaceport in Duqm successfully launched its first experimental rocket in December 2024. A 6.5-meter tall rocket, named Duqm-1, rose to an altitude of 140km above sea level, crossing the Karman line.
Chief commercial officer, Julanda al Riyami, said the next rocket launch, called Unity-1, is expected in April and will be facilitated by UK-based launch company Advanced Propulsion Technologies. The second will be the launch of the Duqm-2 rocket in June, facilitated by New Zealand-based Stellar Kinetics, in partnership with Etlaq’s parent company, NASCOM.
Al Riyami said a more complex launch, utilising different parameters and operational procedures, is scheduled for October for rocket Duqm-3. The fourth launch, scheduled for November, is Kuwait Space Rocket’s Ambition-3. The last launch of this year, currently scheduled for December, is once again for Duqm-3. Etlaq’s full-scale commercial operations are scheduled for 2027. (6/25)
UN and JAXA Open Opportunity for ISS Cubesats (Source: UNOOSA)
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), has opened the ninth round of applications for the United Nations/Japan Cooperation Programme on CubeSat Deployment from the International Space Station (ISS) Japanese Experiment Module "KiboCUBE".
KiboCUBE provides teams from government organizations, research institutes, universities and other public organizations from developing countries the opportunity to develop, build, and ultimately deploy a One Unit (1U) Cube Satellite (CubeSat) from the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” on the International Space Station (ISS). (6/25)
How Do Scientists Calculate the Probability That an Asteroid Could Hit Earth? (Source: The Conversation)
When scientists spot an asteroid whose trajectory might take it close to Earth, they monitor it frequently and calculate the probability that it might collide with our planet. As they receive more observational data, they get a better picture of what could happen. Just having more data points early doesn’t make scientists’ predictions better. They need to keep following the asteroid as it moves through space to better understand its trajectory.
The impact probability describes how likely a hazardous asteroid is to hit Earth. For example, if the impact probability is 1%, it means that in 1 of 100 cases, it hits Earth. One in 100 is kind of rare, but still too close for comfort if you’re talking about the odds of a collision that could devastate Earth.
Any uncertainty in the calculation of the object’s orbit causes variations in the predicted solution. Instead of one precise orbit, the calculation usually gives scientists a cloud of its possible orbits. The ellipse enclosing these locations is called an error ellipse. The impact probability describes how many orbital predictions in this ellipse hit the Earth. (6/25)
Senate Panel Approves Bedford FAA Nomination (Source: AIN)
The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee today narrowly approved the nomination of Bryan Bedford to serve as FAA administrator, clearing the way for Senate floor consideration. The 15-to-13 vote in the committee came as the nomination has drawn opposition from the Democrat leadership and others, such as famed pilot Sully Sullenberger, over his stance on the 1,500-hour rule. (6/25)
NASA's Been Pulling Out of Major Astronomy Meetings — and Scientists are Feeling the Effects (Source: Space.com)
Something was missing at the American Astronomical Society's 246th meeting this year, a conference sometimes referred to as the "Superbowl of Astronomy." It's a meeting that brings many of the country's most renowned scientists into the same room to share what they've been working on and thinking about lately; as you can imagine, that tends to organically foster brand new ideas for exploring the universe.
Being at these events, you can almost feel study blueprints sprouting up all around you in real-time. It's electric. But this summer, NASA wasn't there. And in fact, the National Science Foundation cancelled its planned talk at the meeting, too. Scientists I spoke with found it pretty conspicuous for both NASA and NSF to pull out. It's also pertinent that this is the first AAS meeting to occur since the Trump administration took office and began implementing some hefty, controversial changes across these organizations. (6/26)
June 26, 2025
Space Force's SCAR Speeds Phased Array
Antenna Integration (Source: Breaking Defense)
The Space Force hopes to soon be able provide new orbital warfare capability to operators through integrating the modern phased-array antennas being developed under its Satellite Communications Augmentation Resource (SCAR) program with its R2C2 satellite command and control software, according to senior program officials. (6/23)
Military Satellite Maker Iceye Explores IPO as Sales on Track to Double (Source: Bloomberg)
A Finnish satellite startup that’s benefiting from Europe’s military spending boom expects to double sales this year and is exploring an initial public offering. Iceye, which makes Earth-observation satellites, expects to double revenue in 2025 to over €200 million ($230 million), Chief Executive Officer said. (6/23)
Following the Loss of Ship 36, SpaceX now Focuses on Rebuilding Site (Source: NSF)
Following the loss of Ship 36 at Masseys and the cleanup operations now underway, SpaceX must rebuild the static fire stand. While crews work towards this goal, progress on Pad B continues, along with the development of next-generation hardware. Click here. (6/25)
Orbiter Pair Expands View of Martian Ionosphere (Source: Phys.org)
One way to study the Martian ionosphere is with radio occultation, in which a spacecraft orbiting Mars sends a radio signal to a receiver on Earth. When it skims across the Martian ionosphere, the signal bends slightly. Researchers can measure this refraction to learn about Martian ionospheric properties such as electron density and temperature. However, the relative positions of Mars, Earth, and the sun mean conventional radio occultation cannot measure the middle of the Martian day.
Now, Jacob Parrot and colleagues deepen our understanding of the Martian ionosphere using an approach called mutual radio occultation, in which the radio signal is sent not from an orbiter to Earth but between two Mars orbiters. As one orbiter rises or sets behind Mars from the other's perspective, the signal passes through the ionosphere and refracts according to the ionosphere's properties. (6/23)
Geomorphological Evidence of Near-Surface Ice at Candidate Landing Sites in Northern Amazonis Planitia, Mars (Source: AGU)
Recent studies have indicated the presence of substantial volumes of near-surface excess ice in Arcadia Planitia, making this region a promising candidate for future human and robotic exploration. This study focuses on three specific candidate landing sites adjacent to the Arcadia Planitia: AP-1, AP-8, and AP-9.
We have identified a wide range of ice-related morphologies, providing further evidence for the occurrence of excess ice in the study area. We have mapped and measured ∼9,000 thermal contraction polygons. We estimate ice beneath these polygons to be on the order of tens of cm from the surface, which is sufficiently shallow to be accessible for potential in situ resource utilization (ISRU). (5/3)
Mexico May Sue Over SpaceX Rocket Debris, Conducting "Comprehensive Review" of Environmental Impacts (Source: Phys.org)
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday threatened legal action over falling debris and contamination from billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket launches across the border in the United States. Mexico's government was studying which international laws were being violated in order to file "the necessary lawsuits" because "there is indeed contamination," Sheinbaum told her morning news conference.
Mexican officials are carrying out a "comprehensive review" of the environmental impacts of the rocket launches for the neighboring state of Tamaulipas, Sheinbaum said. The US FAA approved an increase in annual Starship launches from five to 25 in early May, stating that the increased frequency would not adversely affect the environment. The decision overruled objections from conservation groups that had warned the expansion could endanger sea turtles and shorebirds. (6/25)
Rocket Lab's Beck Describes His Routine (Source: Business Insider)
I started Rocket Lab in 2006, after skipping out on college. We began in New Zealand as a small advanced technology house and launched our first rocket in 2009. Eventually, I went to Silicon Valley and raised our first bit of capital. That's when we started building Electron, our partially reusable two-stage rocket, and we're now working on Neutron, our medium-lift rocket scheduled to launch this year. The company has gone from generating a few million to hundreds of millions in revenue. Click here. (6/25)
Construction on Mars Takes a Leap Forward (Source: Phys.org)
Scientists need to figure out how to build structures millions of miles from Earth. Sending rockets carrying massive payloads of construction materials into space isn't practical or affordable. Enter Texas A&M University's Dr. Congrui Grace Jin. Jin and her colleagues have worked for years on bio-manufacturing engineered living materials and have developed a synthetic lichen system that can form building materials with no outside intervention.
Their latest study applies this research to the autonomous construction of structures on Mars, using the planet's regolith, which includes dust, sand and rocks. This advancement has the potential to revolutionize extraterrestrial construction by enabling structures to be built in the most demanding environments with restricted resources.
"We can build a synthetic community by mimicking natural lichens," explains Jin. "We've developed a way to build synthetic lichens to create biomaterials that glue Martian regolith particles into structures. Then, through 3D printing, a wide range of structures can be fabricated, such as buildings, houses and furniture." (6/24)
'Space Chocolate,' Mango Nectar and Pierogis: Here are the International Foods the Private Ax-4 Astronauts are Flying to the ISS (Source: Space.com)
Ax-4 is carrying four people from four different nations to the orbiting lab, so the mission's larder is quite diverse. For example, Ax-4 pilot Shubhanshu Shukla is bringing up some delicacies from his native India, including a variety of sweets. He's carrying mango nectar to the orbiting lab, as well as moong dal halwa and carrot halwa. (Halwa is a sweet dish made by roasting lentils, wheat or flour in ghee, then boiling that mixture in sugary milk.)
Tibor Kapu of Hungary said he has packed some "space chocolate," which was provided by Stuhmer, a company from his native land. Also going up are several spicy, paprika-like Hungarian pastes, he added. Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland, a European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut, put together an entire menu for Ax-4. Polish chef and restaurateur Mateusz Gessler helped in this endeavor, as did Lyofood, a family-run Polish company with freeze-drying expertise. (6/25)
Starfighters Aerospace Expands to Midland, Texas, While Maintaining Kennedy Space Center Operations (Source: Vintage Aviation)
Starfighters Aerospace, renowned for operating the world’s only fleet of privately-owned supersonic F-104 Starfighters, is expanding its footprint with a significant new presence at the Midland International Air and Space Port in Texas. This development marks a major step forward in the company’s long-term strategy to support hypersonic flight testing, commercial space operations, and advanced aerospace research.
The expansion to Midland is part of a broader growth strategy, not a relocation. Starfighters Aerospace will continue to operate from its established base at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where it has long supported commercial and government testing missions. By adding a second operational hub, the company aims to increase its capacity, improve flexibility for customers, and bolster the United States’ hypersonic testing capabilities.
In partnership with the Midland Development Corporation (MDC), Starfighters has committed to bringing at least $78 million in assets to the spaceport by December 2027. This includes the relocation of three TF-104 jets—specially modified variants of the iconic Cold War-era interceptor that are capable of sustained Mach 2 flight. These aircraft will be central to high-speed testing missions, including operations within a proposed supersonic corridor between Midland and New Mexico’s Spaceport America. (6/23)
June 30 Protest Against Trump NASA Cuts at NASA HQ (Source: NASA Watch)
A protest is planned in front of @NASA HQ on Mon June 30 from 7:00-11:00 AM. This event has a permit with Metro DC Police. Organizers will not prevent or dissuade anyone from entering HQ but will raise awareness about hashtag#NASA budget cuts. Click here. (6/26)
Umbra Expands U.S. Production Capacity with Move to New 50,000 Sq Ft Manufacturing Facility (Source: Umbra)
Umbra announced the opening of its new 50,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Southern California, marking a major milestone in the company’s growth and commitment to U.S.-based innovation and defense readiness. The new facility boosts Umbra’s annual satellite production capabilities – supporting new satellites with over four times the imaging throughput and enabling the manufacture of world-class apertures more than four times larger than previously possible.
This expansion in capacity positions Umbra to deliver tailored radar solutions at speed and scale, from precision data products to full system deployments. In addition to Umbra’s new facility, Umbra is also doubling its office space in Arlington, Virginia to support research and development and deepen engagement with government programs. (6/26)
Petro Plans NASA Structural Changes (Source: Space News)
NASA's acting administrator said she is planning to decide on a new top-level structure for the agency in the coming weeks. At an internal town hall meeting Wednesday, acting administrator Janet Petro said she is considering three approaches that would align the agency along either mission directorates, field centers or product lines. She added she wanted to move much of the work from NASA Headquarters to centers.
At the town hall, Petro said she would remain acting administrator until a successor is confirmed, a process other officials said could take six to nine months. Agency officials used the town hall to defend a budget proposal that would cut NASA spending by nearly 25% and also said that they are not making any plans for layoffs, although voluntary buyout efforts have so far only accounted for a fraction of the agency's projected workforce reduction. (6/26)
Companies Warn Against NRO Cuts (Source: Space News)
U.S. satellite imagery providers are intensifying their warnings over proposed cuts to the National Reconnaissance Office's commercial imagery budget. Executives said the potential cuts are not only disruptive, but out of sync with the administration's expressed support for a more competitive commercial space sector. The proposal would cut spending on commercial optical imagery by 30% and end funding for radar imagery. The Commercial Spaceflight Federation in a letter this week urged lawmakers to restore the full funding for commercial imagery and allocate an additional $83 million to the Space Systems Command's Commercial Space Office, which procures commercial satellite data for military uses. (6/26)
Rocket Lab Piccked to Launch ESA Tech Sats (Source: Space News)
ESA is turning to Rocket Lab to launch a pair of navigation tech demo satellites. Rocket Lab said Wednesday it won a contract for the launch of the "Pathfinder A" satellites, built by GMV and Thales Alenia Space, on an Electron no earlier than December. The satellites are a precursor to Europe's proposed LEO-PNT constellation of navigation satellites in low Earth orbit. ESA said it awarded Rocket Lab the contract to ensure the satellites would be in orbit by next spring to meet a deadline from the International Telecommunication Union to put spectrum assigned to them in use. (6/26)
Lux Aeterna Raises $4 Million for Reusable Satellites (Source: Space News)
Startup Lux Aeterna has raised $4 million in seed funding for work on reusable satellites. The Denver-based company plans to launch a demonstration mission, Delphi, in 2027, placing a 200-kilogram satellite into orbit that will be able to reenter at the end of its mission for recovery and reuse. Lux Aeterna says the design could serve customers looking to perform technology demonstrations in orbit and then recover the hardware or companies planning in-space manufacturing. (6/26)
Muon's FireSat Releases First Images (Source: Space News)
A wildfire-detection satellite launched earlier this year has returned its first images. The FireSat Protoflight satellite, built by Muon Space, launched in March on a SpaceX rideshare mission. It carries a multispectal infrared instrument, and the company said the new images show that instrument is working as expected. The spacecraft is a prototype for a constellation of more than 50 satellites planned by the nonprofit Earth Fire Alliance (EFA) to provide rapid detection of wildfires. (6/26)
SpaceX Launches Starlink Mission From Florida Hours After Sending Astronauts to ISS (Source: SpaceFlight Now)
SpaceX followed up yesterday's Crew Dragon launch with another Starlink launch. A Falcon 9 lifted off at 3:54 p.m. Eastern Wednesday from Cape Canaveral, placing 27 Starlink satellites into orbit. The booster used for the launch completed its 20th mission, with past flights including two previous Axiom Space launches. (6/26)
China Considers Swarming Asteroid with Cubesats (Source: Space News)
China is considering sending a swarm of cubesats to an asteroid when it flies by Earth in 2029. Scientists from several Chinese universities are proposing a "rapid response" mission to the asteroid Apophis, which will pass close to the Earth in April 2029. The Apophis Recon Swarm (ARS) proposal features a flexible mission design, consisting of multiple cubesats launched either together or as rideshares on other missions for multiple flybys of Apophis. Several other agencies worldwide are planning missions to study Apophis before and after the flyby. (6/26)
Blue Origin Hopes For Government Business After Trump-Musk Troubles (Source: Wall Street Journal)
Blue Origin is trying to take advantage of the split between President Trump and Elon Musk. Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos has spoken with Trump at least twice this month, and CEO Dave Limp met with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles in mid-June. The conversations are seen as efforts by Blue Origin to get more government contracts as Elon Musk's influence on the administration, once thought to help SpaceX, has waned. One problem for Blue Origin is that while SpaceX is planning to perform 170 Falcon launches this year alone, Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket has flown just once with a second launch not expected before late summer. (6/26)
Casani Passes at 92 (Source: NASA)
John Casani, a longtime engineer and manager of NASA spacecraft missions, has died at the age of 92. Casani joined JPL in 1956 and worked on many early Ranger and Mariner missions, then served as project manager for Voyager, Galileo and Cassini. He retired in 1999 only to return to JPL in 2003 in various roles until a second retirement in 2012. He also led an independent review of JWST in 2010. He received multiple awards in his career, including NASA's Exceptional Achievement Medal and the Air and Space Museum Trophy for Lifetime Achievement. (6/26)
Fire Test New RS-25 Rocket Engine for Artemis (Source: L3Harris)
NASA and L3Harris have successfully test-fired the first RS-25 rocket engine slated to help power the fifth launch of the Space Launch System or SLS rocket for the Artemis Moon exploration campaign. This is the first hot-fire test of a flight version of the new RS-25 engine. The first four Artemis missions use upgraded RS-25 engines from the space shuttle program.
NASA awarded L3Harris a contract in 2015 to restart RS-25 engine design and production for SLS, including leveraging modern manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing. The new production engines are 30% less expensive than the space shuttle main engines and will deliver the same reliability and efficiency. (6/24)
Isar Aerospace Raises 150 Million Euros (Source: Space News)
German launch vehicle startup Isar Aerospace has raised 150 million euros ($174 million) in the form of a convertible bond from an American investor. Isar announced June 25 it raised the funding from Eldridge Industries, a Miami-based company that invests in a variety of industries, including technology. The investment is in the form of a convertible bond, a debt instrument that can later be converted into equity in the company. (6/25)
Brussels Moves to Tackle Satellite Junk in Space (Source: Politico)
The European Union is trying to stop space from turning into a junkyard. The European Commission on Wednesday proposed a new Space Act that seeks to dial up regulatory oversight of satellite operators — including requiring them to tackle their impact on space debris and pollution, or face significant fines.
The EU executive wants to set up a database to track objects circulating in space; make authorization processes clearer to help companies launch satellites and provide services in Europe; and force national governments to give regulators oversight powers.
The Space Act proposal would also require space companies to have launch safety and end-of-life disposal plans, take extra steps to limit space debris, light and radio pollution, and calculate the environmental footprint of their operations. (6/25)
Smallest Alien World Ever Seen Spotted by JWST (Source: Science Alert)
JWST has made another breakthrough. Around a newly formed star just 111 light-years away, the powerful space telescope has officially imaged the smallest exoplanet. TWA-7b is a cold gas giant with about a third of the mass of Jupiter, orbiting its red dwarf host star at a staggering distance – 52 times farther than Earth orbits the Sun. In our Solar System, that distance would place TWA-7b out in the Kuiper Belt, far beyond the orbit of Pluto. (6/26)
Scientists Are Sending Cannabis Seeds to Space (Source: WIRED)
Hundreds of seeds, fungi, algae, and human DNA samples, many of which have never been exposed to space before, made their maiden voyage aboard a SpaceX Transporter Falcon 9 mission. The samples are in a small biological incubator called MayaSat-1, developed by the Genoplant Research Institute, a Slovenian aerospace company specializing in space-based biological research.
At an altitude above 500 kilometers, the incubator, housed inside a larger capsule, will cross zones near the North and South poles where concentrations of charged particles emitted by the sun are high due to the Earth’s magnetic field. When we grow life on Mars, cannabis is an ideal candidate. “It can be a source of food, protein, building materials, textiles, hemp, plastic, and medicine. I don’t think many other plants give us all these things.” (6/23)
Space Club Seeks Florida Award Nominations (Source: NCFL)
Each year the National Space Club Florida Committee recognizes deserving individuals who make significant contributions to the U.S. space program. Nominations for the National Space Club Florida Committee 2025 Lifetime Achievement, Rising Star, Kolcum News & Communications, and Space Worker Hall of Fame Awards are now open. The deadline is Friday, July 11. Click here. (6/25)
UK Government Industrial Strategy Includes Space Focus (Source: AstroAgency)
Space business leaders say the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, “sets the stage for timely and meaningful discussion at next month’s UK Space Conference”. The Industrial Strategy names space as a ‘frontier’ industry alongside 10 others “where investment supports both economic growth and security”. The space sector sits across two of the detailed sector plans, ‘Advanced Manufacturing’ and ‘Digital and Technologies’. On that basis, UK space businesses now sit squarely in two flagship sector programs, potentially opening a broader pool of innovation grants, facilities, and cluster support. (6/25)
AUS/USA Space Partners Eye Secure Future (Source: Defense.gov.au)
Australia’s enduring partnership with the United States in space security and innovation was front and center during a recent visit by General Stephen N. Whiting, Commander of the United States Space Command. The visit showcased Defense’s growing space capabilities, including 1 Space Surveillance Unit and the Joint Commercial Operations Cell which combines global commercial space domain awareness capabilities with military oversight from allies to support real-time detection and characterization of space events. (6/24)
Vandenberg Space Force Base Opens New Public Museum (Source: KEYT)
Vandenberg Space Force Base held a ribbon cutting Tuesday afternoon to mark the opening of its newly relocated Space and Missile Technology Center (SAMTEC) at the site of the former Marshallia Ranch Golf Course. The base describes the facility as a place that preserves and interprets the evolution of missile and space system activity at Vandenberg Space Force Base from the 1958 to present day. (6/24)
HD Hyundai Poised to Deploy Starlink at Surveillance Center in Korean First (Source: Korea JoongAng Daily)
HD Hyundai, Korea's largest shipbuilding group, will deploy Starlink's satellite network to power its digital surveillance center, becoming one of the first major Korean clients of the satellite internet service operated by SpaceX. The deployment, intended to provide more stable internet connectivity in trial vessel operations, will begin as early as this month should the commercial rollout of the Starlink service gain final regulatory approval. (6/25)
India, Poland, Hungary Make Spaceflight Comeback With Axiom-4 Mission (Source: NDTV)
India, Poland and Hungary are sending people to space for the first time in decades on an American commercial mission to the International Space Station that blasted off Wednesday. Axiom Mission 4, or Ax-4, launched from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport with a brand-new SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule riding atop a Falcon 9 rocket.
The last time India, Poland or Hungary sent people to space, their current crop of astronauts had not yet been born -- and back then they were called cosmonauts, as they all flew on Soviet missions before the Iron Curtain fell. All three countries are footing the bill for their astronauts. Hungary announced in 2022 it was paying $100 million for its seat, according to spacenews.com. India and Poland have not disclosed how much they're spending. (6/25)
CU Boulder Establishes Colorado Space Policy Center (Source: CU Boulder Today)
The University of Colorado Boulder has established the Colorado Space Policy Center—positioning itself as a new resource on the forefront of an evolving landscape in national and global space exploration. The center is designed for original research; discussion and debate on space policy issues; and educational programming. The work of the center will address advances in space science and technology, the role of government, the growth of commercial space, increases in global entrants and civilian-military interactions within the space sphere. (6/24)
The Space Force hopes to soon be able provide new orbital warfare capability to operators through integrating the modern phased-array antennas being developed under its Satellite Communications Augmentation Resource (SCAR) program with its R2C2 satellite command and control software, according to senior program officials. (6/23)
Military Satellite Maker Iceye Explores IPO as Sales on Track to Double (Source: Bloomberg)
A Finnish satellite startup that’s benefiting from Europe’s military spending boom expects to double sales this year and is exploring an initial public offering. Iceye, which makes Earth-observation satellites, expects to double revenue in 2025 to over €200 million ($230 million), Chief Executive Officer said. (6/23)
Following the Loss of Ship 36, SpaceX now Focuses on Rebuilding Site (Source: NSF)
Following the loss of Ship 36 at Masseys and the cleanup operations now underway, SpaceX must rebuild the static fire stand. While crews work towards this goal, progress on Pad B continues, along with the development of next-generation hardware. Click here. (6/25)
Orbiter Pair Expands View of Martian Ionosphere (Source: Phys.org)
One way to study the Martian ionosphere is with radio occultation, in which a spacecraft orbiting Mars sends a radio signal to a receiver on Earth. When it skims across the Martian ionosphere, the signal bends slightly. Researchers can measure this refraction to learn about Martian ionospheric properties such as electron density and temperature. However, the relative positions of Mars, Earth, and the sun mean conventional radio occultation cannot measure the middle of the Martian day.
Now, Jacob Parrot and colleagues deepen our understanding of the Martian ionosphere using an approach called mutual radio occultation, in which the radio signal is sent not from an orbiter to Earth but between two Mars orbiters. As one orbiter rises or sets behind Mars from the other's perspective, the signal passes through the ionosphere and refracts according to the ionosphere's properties. (6/23)
Geomorphological Evidence of Near-Surface Ice at Candidate Landing Sites in Northern Amazonis Planitia, Mars (Source: AGU)
Recent studies have indicated the presence of substantial volumes of near-surface excess ice in Arcadia Planitia, making this region a promising candidate for future human and robotic exploration. This study focuses on three specific candidate landing sites adjacent to the Arcadia Planitia: AP-1, AP-8, and AP-9.
We have identified a wide range of ice-related morphologies, providing further evidence for the occurrence of excess ice in the study area. We have mapped and measured ∼9,000 thermal contraction polygons. We estimate ice beneath these polygons to be on the order of tens of cm from the surface, which is sufficiently shallow to be accessible for potential in situ resource utilization (ISRU). (5/3)
Mexico May Sue Over SpaceX Rocket Debris, Conducting "Comprehensive Review" of Environmental Impacts (Source: Phys.org)
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday threatened legal action over falling debris and contamination from billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket launches across the border in the United States. Mexico's government was studying which international laws were being violated in order to file "the necessary lawsuits" because "there is indeed contamination," Sheinbaum told her morning news conference.
Mexican officials are carrying out a "comprehensive review" of the environmental impacts of the rocket launches for the neighboring state of Tamaulipas, Sheinbaum said. The US FAA approved an increase in annual Starship launches from five to 25 in early May, stating that the increased frequency would not adversely affect the environment. The decision overruled objections from conservation groups that had warned the expansion could endanger sea turtles and shorebirds. (6/25)
Rocket Lab's Beck Describes His Routine (Source: Business Insider)
I started Rocket Lab in 2006, after skipping out on college. We began in New Zealand as a small advanced technology house and launched our first rocket in 2009. Eventually, I went to Silicon Valley and raised our first bit of capital. That's when we started building Electron, our partially reusable two-stage rocket, and we're now working on Neutron, our medium-lift rocket scheduled to launch this year. The company has gone from generating a few million to hundreds of millions in revenue. Click here. (6/25)
Construction on Mars Takes a Leap Forward (Source: Phys.org)
Scientists need to figure out how to build structures millions of miles from Earth. Sending rockets carrying massive payloads of construction materials into space isn't practical or affordable. Enter Texas A&M University's Dr. Congrui Grace Jin. Jin and her colleagues have worked for years on bio-manufacturing engineered living materials and have developed a synthetic lichen system that can form building materials with no outside intervention.
Their latest study applies this research to the autonomous construction of structures on Mars, using the planet's regolith, which includes dust, sand and rocks. This advancement has the potential to revolutionize extraterrestrial construction by enabling structures to be built in the most demanding environments with restricted resources.
"We can build a synthetic community by mimicking natural lichens," explains Jin. "We've developed a way to build synthetic lichens to create biomaterials that glue Martian regolith particles into structures. Then, through 3D printing, a wide range of structures can be fabricated, such as buildings, houses and furniture." (6/24)
'Space Chocolate,' Mango Nectar and Pierogis: Here are the International Foods the Private Ax-4 Astronauts are Flying to the ISS (Source: Space.com)
Ax-4 is carrying four people from four different nations to the orbiting lab, so the mission's larder is quite diverse. For example, Ax-4 pilot Shubhanshu Shukla is bringing up some delicacies from his native India, including a variety of sweets. He's carrying mango nectar to the orbiting lab, as well as moong dal halwa and carrot halwa. (Halwa is a sweet dish made by roasting lentils, wheat or flour in ghee, then boiling that mixture in sugary milk.)
Tibor Kapu of Hungary said he has packed some "space chocolate," which was provided by Stuhmer, a company from his native land. Also going up are several spicy, paprika-like Hungarian pastes, he added. Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland, a European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut, put together an entire menu for Ax-4. Polish chef and restaurateur Mateusz Gessler helped in this endeavor, as did Lyofood, a family-run Polish company with freeze-drying expertise. (6/25)
Starfighters Aerospace Expands to Midland, Texas, While Maintaining Kennedy Space Center Operations (Source: Vintage Aviation)
Starfighters Aerospace, renowned for operating the world’s only fleet of privately-owned supersonic F-104 Starfighters, is expanding its footprint with a significant new presence at the Midland International Air and Space Port in Texas. This development marks a major step forward in the company’s long-term strategy to support hypersonic flight testing, commercial space operations, and advanced aerospace research.
The expansion to Midland is part of a broader growth strategy, not a relocation. Starfighters Aerospace will continue to operate from its established base at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where it has long supported commercial and government testing missions. By adding a second operational hub, the company aims to increase its capacity, improve flexibility for customers, and bolster the United States’ hypersonic testing capabilities.
In partnership with the Midland Development Corporation (MDC), Starfighters has committed to bringing at least $78 million in assets to the spaceport by December 2027. This includes the relocation of three TF-104 jets—specially modified variants of the iconic Cold War-era interceptor that are capable of sustained Mach 2 flight. These aircraft will be central to high-speed testing missions, including operations within a proposed supersonic corridor between Midland and New Mexico’s Spaceport America. (6/23)
June 30 Protest Against Trump NASA Cuts at NASA HQ (Source: NASA Watch)
A protest is planned in front of @NASA HQ on Mon June 30 from 7:00-11:00 AM. This event has a permit with Metro DC Police. Organizers will not prevent or dissuade anyone from entering HQ but will raise awareness about hashtag#NASA budget cuts. Click here. (6/26)
Umbra Expands U.S. Production Capacity with Move to New 50,000 Sq Ft Manufacturing Facility (Source: Umbra)
Umbra announced the opening of its new 50,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Southern California, marking a major milestone in the company’s growth and commitment to U.S.-based innovation and defense readiness. The new facility boosts Umbra’s annual satellite production capabilities – supporting new satellites with over four times the imaging throughput and enabling the manufacture of world-class apertures more than four times larger than previously possible.
This expansion in capacity positions Umbra to deliver tailored radar solutions at speed and scale, from precision data products to full system deployments. In addition to Umbra’s new facility, Umbra is also doubling its office space in Arlington, Virginia to support research and development and deepen engagement with government programs. (6/26)
Petro Plans NASA Structural Changes (Source: Space News)
NASA's acting administrator said she is planning to decide on a new top-level structure for the agency in the coming weeks. At an internal town hall meeting Wednesday, acting administrator Janet Petro said she is considering three approaches that would align the agency along either mission directorates, field centers or product lines. She added she wanted to move much of the work from NASA Headquarters to centers.
At the town hall, Petro said she would remain acting administrator until a successor is confirmed, a process other officials said could take six to nine months. Agency officials used the town hall to defend a budget proposal that would cut NASA spending by nearly 25% and also said that they are not making any plans for layoffs, although voluntary buyout efforts have so far only accounted for a fraction of the agency's projected workforce reduction. (6/26)
Companies Warn Against NRO Cuts (Source: Space News)
U.S. satellite imagery providers are intensifying their warnings over proposed cuts to the National Reconnaissance Office's commercial imagery budget. Executives said the potential cuts are not only disruptive, but out of sync with the administration's expressed support for a more competitive commercial space sector. The proposal would cut spending on commercial optical imagery by 30% and end funding for radar imagery. The Commercial Spaceflight Federation in a letter this week urged lawmakers to restore the full funding for commercial imagery and allocate an additional $83 million to the Space Systems Command's Commercial Space Office, which procures commercial satellite data for military uses. (6/26)
Rocket Lab Piccked to Launch ESA Tech Sats (Source: Space News)
ESA is turning to Rocket Lab to launch a pair of navigation tech demo satellites. Rocket Lab said Wednesday it won a contract for the launch of the "Pathfinder A" satellites, built by GMV and Thales Alenia Space, on an Electron no earlier than December. The satellites are a precursor to Europe's proposed LEO-PNT constellation of navigation satellites in low Earth orbit. ESA said it awarded Rocket Lab the contract to ensure the satellites would be in orbit by next spring to meet a deadline from the International Telecommunication Union to put spectrum assigned to them in use. (6/26)
Lux Aeterna Raises $4 Million for Reusable Satellites (Source: Space News)
Startup Lux Aeterna has raised $4 million in seed funding for work on reusable satellites. The Denver-based company plans to launch a demonstration mission, Delphi, in 2027, placing a 200-kilogram satellite into orbit that will be able to reenter at the end of its mission for recovery and reuse. Lux Aeterna says the design could serve customers looking to perform technology demonstrations in orbit and then recover the hardware or companies planning in-space manufacturing. (6/26)
Muon's FireSat Releases First Images (Source: Space News)
A wildfire-detection satellite launched earlier this year has returned its first images. The FireSat Protoflight satellite, built by Muon Space, launched in March on a SpaceX rideshare mission. It carries a multispectal infrared instrument, and the company said the new images show that instrument is working as expected. The spacecraft is a prototype for a constellation of more than 50 satellites planned by the nonprofit Earth Fire Alliance (EFA) to provide rapid detection of wildfires. (6/26)
SpaceX Launches Starlink Mission From Florida Hours After Sending Astronauts to ISS (Source: SpaceFlight Now)
SpaceX followed up yesterday's Crew Dragon launch with another Starlink launch. A Falcon 9 lifted off at 3:54 p.m. Eastern Wednesday from Cape Canaveral, placing 27 Starlink satellites into orbit. The booster used for the launch completed its 20th mission, with past flights including two previous Axiom Space launches. (6/26)
China Considers Swarming Asteroid with Cubesats (Source: Space News)
China is considering sending a swarm of cubesats to an asteroid when it flies by Earth in 2029. Scientists from several Chinese universities are proposing a "rapid response" mission to the asteroid Apophis, which will pass close to the Earth in April 2029. The Apophis Recon Swarm (ARS) proposal features a flexible mission design, consisting of multiple cubesats launched either together or as rideshares on other missions for multiple flybys of Apophis. Several other agencies worldwide are planning missions to study Apophis before and after the flyby. (6/26)
Blue Origin Hopes For Government Business After Trump-Musk Troubles (Source: Wall Street Journal)
Blue Origin is trying to take advantage of the split between President Trump and Elon Musk. Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos has spoken with Trump at least twice this month, and CEO Dave Limp met with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles in mid-June. The conversations are seen as efforts by Blue Origin to get more government contracts as Elon Musk's influence on the administration, once thought to help SpaceX, has waned. One problem for Blue Origin is that while SpaceX is planning to perform 170 Falcon launches this year alone, Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket has flown just once with a second launch not expected before late summer. (6/26)
Casani Passes at 92 (Source: NASA)
John Casani, a longtime engineer and manager of NASA spacecraft missions, has died at the age of 92. Casani joined JPL in 1956 and worked on many early Ranger and Mariner missions, then served as project manager for Voyager, Galileo and Cassini. He retired in 1999 only to return to JPL in 2003 in various roles until a second retirement in 2012. He also led an independent review of JWST in 2010. He received multiple awards in his career, including NASA's Exceptional Achievement Medal and the Air and Space Museum Trophy for Lifetime Achievement. (6/26)
Fire Test New RS-25 Rocket Engine for Artemis (Source: L3Harris)
NASA and L3Harris have successfully test-fired the first RS-25 rocket engine slated to help power the fifth launch of the Space Launch System or SLS rocket for the Artemis Moon exploration campaign. This is the first hot-fire test of a flight version of the new RS-25 engine. The first four Artemis missions use upgraded RS-25 engines from the space shuttle program.
NASA awarded L3Harris a contract in 2015 to restart RS-25 engine design and production for SLS, including leveraging modern manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing. The new production engines are 30% less expensive than the space shuttle main engines and will deliver the same reliability and efficiency. (6/24)
Isar Aerospace Raises 150 Million Euros (Source: Space News)
German launch vehicle startup Isar Aerospace has raised 150 million euros ($174 million) in the form of a convertible bond from an American investor. Isar announced June 25 it raised the funding from Eldridge Industries, a Miami-based company that invests in a variety of industries, including technology. The investment is in the form of a convertible bond, a debt instrument that can later be converted into equity in the company. (6/25)
Brussels Moves to Tackle Satellite Junk in Space (Source: Politico)
The European Union is trying to stop space from turning into a junkyard. The European Commission on Wednesday proposed a new Space Act that seeks to dial up regulatory oversight of satellite operators — including requiring them to tackle their impact on space debris and pollution, or face significant fines.
The EU executive wants to set up a database to track objects circulating in space; make authorization processes clearer to help companies launch satellites and provide services in Europe; and force national governments to give regulators oversight powers.
The Space Act proposal would also require space companies to have launch safety and end-of-life disposal plans, take extra steps to limit space debris, light and radio pollution, and calculate the environmental footprint of their operations. (6/25)
Smallest Alien World Ever Seen Spotted by JWST (Source: Science Alert)
JWST has made another breakthrough. Around a newly formed star just 111 light-years away, the powerful space telescope has officially imaged the smallest exoplanet. TWA-7b is a cold gas giant with about a third of the mass of Jupiter, orbiting its red dwarf host star at a staggering distance – 52 times farther than Earth orbits the Sun. In our Solar System, that distance would place TWA-7b out in the Kuiper Belt, far beyond the orbit of Pluto. (6/26)
Scientists Are Sending Cannabis Seeds to Space (Source: WIRED)
Hundreds of seeds, fungi, algae, and human DNA samples, many of which have never been exposed to space before, made their maiden voyage aboard a SpaceX Transporter Falcon 9 mission. The samples are in a small biological incubator called MayaSat-1, developed by the Genoplant Research Institute, a Slovenian aerospace company specializing in space-based biological research.
At an altitude above 500 kilometers, the incubator, housed inside a larger capsule, will cross zones near the North and South poles where concentrations of charged particles emitted by the sun are high due to the Earth’s magnetic field. When we grow life on Mars, cannabis is an ideal candidate. “It can be a source of food, protein, building materials, textiles, hemp, plastic, and medicine. I don’t think many other plants give us all these things.” (6/23)
Space Club Seeks Florida Award Nominations (Source: NCFL)
Each year the National Space Club Florida Committee recognizes deserving individuals who make significant contributions to the U.S. space program. Nominations for the National Space Club Florida Committee 2025 Lifetime Achievement, Rising Star, Kolcum News & Communications, and Space Worker Hall of Fame Awards are now open. The deadline is Friday, July 11. Click here. (6/25)
UK Government Industrial Strategy Includes Space Focus (Source: AstroAgency)
Space business leaders say the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, “sets the stage for timely and meaningful discussion at next month’s UK Space Conference”. The Industrial Strategy names space as a ‘frontier’ industry alongside 10 others “where investment supports both economic growth and security”. The space sector sits across two of the detailed sector plans, ‘Advanced Manufacturing’ and ‘Digital and Technologies’. On that basis, UK space businesses now sit squarely in two flagship sector programs, potentially opening a broader pool of innovation grants, facilities, and cluster support. (6/25)
AUS/USA Space Partners Eye Secure Future (Source: Defense.gov.au)
Australia’s enduring partnership with the United States in space security and innovation was front and center during a recent visit by General Stephen N. Whiting, Commander of the United States Space Command. The visit showcased Defense’s growing space capabilities, including 1 Space Surveillance Unit and the Joint Commercial Operations Cell which combines global commercial space domain awareness capabilities with military oversight from allies to support real-time detection and characterization of space events. (6/24)
Vandenberg Space Force Base Opens New Public Museum (Source: KEYT)
Vandenberg Space Force Base held a ribbon cutting Tuesday afternoon to mark the opening of its newly relocated Space and Missile Technology Center (SAMTEC) at the site of the former Marshallia Ranch Golf Course. The base describes the facility as a place that preserves and interprets the evolution of missile and space system activity at Vandenberg Space Force Base from the 1958 to present day. (6/24)
HD Hyundai Poised to Deploy Starlink at Surveillance Center in Korean First (Source: Korea JoongAng Daily)
HD Hyundai, Korea's largest shipbuilding group, will deploy Starlink's satellite network to power its digital surveillance center, becoming one of the first major Korean clients of the satellite internet service operated by SpaceX. The deployment, intended to provide more stable internet connectivity in trial vessel operations, will begin as early as this month should the commercial rollout of the Starlink service gain final regulatory approval. (6/25)
India, Poland, Hungary Make Spaceflight Comeback With Axiom-4 Mission (Source: NDTV)
India, Poland and Hungary are sending people to space for the first time in decades on an American commercial mission to the International Space Station that blasted off Wednesday. Axiom Mission 4, or Ax-4, launched from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport with a brand-new SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule riding atop a Falcon 9 rocket.
The last time India, Poland or Hungary sent people to space, their current crop of astronauts had not yet been born -- and back then they were called cosmonauts, as they all flew on Soviet missions before the Iron Curtain fell. All three countries are footing the bill for their astronauts. Hungary announced in 2022 it was paying $100 million for its seat, according to spacenews.com. India and Poland have not disclosed how much they're spending. (6/25)
CU Boulder Establishes Colorado Space Policy Center (Source: CU Boulder Today)
The University of Colorado Boulder has established the Colorado Space Policy Center—positioning itself as a new resource on the forefront of an evolving landscape in national and global space exploration. The center is designed for original research; discussion and debate on space policy issues; and educational programming. The work of the center will address advances in space science and technology, the role of government, the growth of commercial space, increases in global entrants and civilian-military interactions within the space sphere. (6/24)
June 25, 2025
Axiom Mission Launches to ISS From
Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: Space News)
A private astronaut mission is finally on its way to the International Space Station after weeks of delays. A Falcon 9 lifted off at from the Kennedy Space Center and put a Crew Dragon into orbit. That spacecraft, flying the Ax-4 mission for Axiom Space, is carrying astronauts from Hungary, India and Poland, and is commanded by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson. It will dock with the station tomorrow morning for a two-week stay. The mission was postponed from early this month initially because of a problem with the Falcon 9 but later by an investigation into an air leak on the ISS. Whitson announced that the Crew Dragon flying this mission, making its first flight, will be named "Grace." (6/25)
Lynk Sued by SPAC Partner (Source: Space News)
Lynk Global is being sued by the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) it planned to merge with. Slam Corp., the SPAC founded by former baseball player Alex Rodriguez, is suing Lynk to keep that direct-to-phone satellite operator from walking away from a planned merger. The suit alleges that Lynk breached the agreement and failed to meet its obligation to operate in good faith, although Lynk says the claims are baseless. The companies announced in February 2024 plans to merge, allowing Lynk to go public, but Slam has lost nearly all of the $575 million it raised because of shareholder redemptions. Lynk is seeking funds to grow its satellite constellation and improve capabilities after deploying five satellites in low Earth orbit. (6/25)
Maxar's Sentry Offers Surveillance Service (Source: Space News)
Maxar Intelligence launched a new monitoring product that is part of a broader effort to move beyond satellite imagery. The new product, Sentry, would provide customers with continuous surveillance capabilities across multiple global locations simultaneously. With this new service, Maxar is seeking to compete in the higher-value intelligence market as satellite imagery becomes increasingly commoditized. The company says it can provide value through an archive of imagery going back more than two decades as well as accessing optical and radar imagery from other providers. The service will use artificial intelligence to analyze that imagery, identifying unusual patterns of activity that would be of interest to customers. (6/25)
Rocket Lab Shuffles Launches (Source: Rocket Lab)
Rocket Lab is reshuffling its lineup of upcoming launches. The company said Tuesday its next Electron launch, which had been for an undisclosed commercial customer, will instead be for HawkEye 360, deploying four of that company's satellites for radio-frequency monitoring. That launch is scheduled for Thursday. The "Symphony in the Stars" launch for the undisclosed customer, which was postponed over the weekend because of weather, will take place later this month. (6/25)
Chinese Astronauts Plan TSS Spacewalk (Source: Xinhua)
Astronauts on China's space station are preparing for another spacewalk. Chinese officials said Wednesday astronauts on the Tiangong space station will perform a spacewalk "within the next few days." Such announcements usually come a day or so before the spacewalk. The announcement did not disclose additional details. (6/25)
Space Force's RCO Readies "Full-Up" Satellite Missions (Source: Air & Space Forces)
The Space Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) plans to fly its first "full-up satellites" in the next year. Kelly Hammett, director of that Space Force office, did not disclose details about the satellites or their mission at a Mitchell Institute event Tuesday, although Hammett has previously said the office is focused on space control, or the ability to protect space assets from attack and forces from space-enabled attack. Space RCO has shown an interest in highly maneuverable satellites and in-space refueling. (6/25)
Crypto Tokens Scheme Would Align with SpaceX Shares (Source: Wall Street Journal)
A new investment platform would allow people to reap gains in SpaceX without actually investing in the company. Republic plans to offer crypto tokens whose value will match those of SpaceX shares traded privately. The tokens would represent securities held by Republic itself and not SpaceX shares, and people who own the tokens would not get access to SpaceX financial information that shareholders can view. Republic argues the approach is a way for the public to gain the benefits of investing in privately held companies like SpaceX, although the approach does face potential legal challenges. (6/25)
NATO Funding Boost Expected to Bolster Space Capabilities (Source: Payload)
NATO countries have agreed to increase defense spending, focusing on air defense, tanks and munitions in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. However, although not explicitly mentioned in NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's remarks, space capabilities are expected to benefit from this funding. Experts predict nations will invest more in space, particularly commercial capabilities, to enhance national security. (6/24)
Starlink Serving Lesotho, Now in 24 African Countries (Source: TechNext)
Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has officially launched in Lesotho. The rollout follows the granting of a 10-year operating licence on April 14, 2025, by Lesotho’s communications regulator, enabling high-speed, low-latency internet access across the mountainous southern African nation. Lesotho’s adoption of Starlink comes barely two months after regulatory approval, reflecting the country’s urgency to enhance connectivity. (6/23)
Blue Origin Lobbies Against Cruz Space Tax (Source: Politico)
Jeff Bezos’ space company Blue Origin has added a familiar face to its growing mix of outside lobbyists as the industry faces a potential new tax in the GOP reconciliation bill. Capitol Counsel’s Mac Campbell, who previously lobbied for Blue Origin in 2021, resumed working for the company last month — along with tax lobbyists David Olander and David Bridges — to “monitor and evaluate proposed changes to the Internal Revenue Code being considered by Congress as part of the budget reconciliation process,” according to a disclosure filing. (6/23)
Texas Gives Elon Musk’s ‘Company Town’ Power to Shut Down Beaches, Highways for SpaceX (Source: Dallas News)
Elon Musk’s “company town” in coastal South Texas will have the power to shut down beaches and highways for SpaceX rocket launches under a new bill passed by state lawmakers. The proposal was among a few legislative wins for Musk and a newly formed city, Starbase, led by current and former employees of the world’s richest person’s space exploration business on the southern tip of Texas.
Lawmakers decided to give the town the ability to shut down public areas for launches during closed-door negotiations as the legislative session wrapped up in early June. Those provisions weren’t in the proposal until hand-picked members of both chambers added them as the House and Senate worked out differences between two versions of the bill. (6/23)
NATO Unveils New Commercial Space Strategy At Annual Summit (Source: Aviation Week)
NATO is establishing a range of initiatives to deepen its ties to the commercial space industry spread across its 32-member alliance, via an inaugural strategy released June 24. The five-page document was released as the alliance kicks off its annual summit in the Hague, the Netherlands. (6/24)
New Zealand Govt Announces $5.6m for NZ-NASA Research Projects (Source: Inside Government)
The Government is investing $5.6 million to support five new joint NZ-NASA research projects in the field of Earth observation as part of a partnership with the US. Researchers from New Zealand and NASA will work in partnership to tackle challenges such as disaster resilience and environmental management over the next three years. (6/24)
Transporter-14 Launches with Five Canadian Satellites (Source: SpaceQ)
SpaceX Falcon 9 launch of the Transporter-14 rideshare mission included five Canadian satellites and several payloads built by Canadian companies. Transporter-14 is a dedicated SmallSat rideshare mission with 70 payloads including “cubesats, microsats, re-entry capsules, and orbital transfer vehicles carrying three of those payloads to be deployed at a later time.” (6/23)
Crunch Time—We’ll Soon Find Out if Amazon’s Launch Providers are Up to the Job (Source: Ars Technica)
Project Kuiper has now completed three launches, including a test launch in 2023 with a pair of Kuiper prototypes. When complete, the network's architecture will consist of 3,232 satellites in low-Earth orbit, enabling coverage of most of the populated world.
Amazon has procured more than 80 launches with four companies to put all of these satellites into orbit. ULA won the lion's share of the launch contracts to deploy more than half of the Kuiper constellation. Amazon purchased the last nine Atlas V rockets before ULA retires the vehicle in favor of the newer Vulcan rocket. Shortly thereafter, Amazon signed a contract for 38 Vulcan flights, each of which ULA says will deliver 45 Kuiper satellites into orbit.
Europe's Ariane 6 rocket is under contract for 18 missions with Kuiper satellites. The New Glenn from Blue Origin, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, will launch at least 12 times to add satellites to the Kuiper network. Amazon has a contract option with Blue Origin for up to 15 additional New Glenn launches. These newer rockets don't have much of a track record. ULA and Arianespace have each flown their Vulcan and Ariane 6 rockets twice, and Blue Origin's New Glenn has completed just one launch. The Atlas V rocket is nearing retirement, and ULA has no more Atlas Vs available for purchase. (6/23)
Goodbye to NASA – the White House Proposes Halting Exploration of the Solar System With Budget Cuts (Source: El Adelantado)
A hard-driving space probe is still cruising beyond Pluto, its instruments healthy and its fuel tanks half full. Yet a single spreadsheet in Washington says it’s time to pull the plug. That spreadsheet —released quietly on a Friday afternoon—lays out the White House’s $18.8 billion request for NASA in fiscal year 2026, a shock $6 billion below the agency’s current funding.
The Office of Management and Budget’s “pass-back” rules let the president send agencies a draft one year before appropriations. Usually NASA touts its request with a slick briefing; this time PDFs were posted without notice. Buried in the technical supplement: “Operating missions that have completed their prime phase are eliminated.” No footnotes. No science rationale. (6/23)
There’s a New Reusable Rocket, And It’s a Honda (Source: Hackaday)
We all know Honda as a car company but it seems they are in the rocket business too, and they successfully tested a reusable rocket. It’s an experimental 900 kg model that flew to a height of 300 m before returning itself to the pad, but it serves as a valuable test platform for Honda’s take on the technology.
It’s a research project as it stands, but it’s being developed with an eye towards future low-cost satellite launches rather than as a crew launch platform. As a news story though it’s of interest beyond its technology, because it’s too easy to miss news from the other side of the world when all eyes are looking at Texas. It’s the latest in a long line of interesting research projects from the company, and we hope that this time they resist the temptation to kill their creation rather than bring it to market. (6/24)
Earth's Satellites at Risk if Asteroid Smashes Into Moon (Source: Space Daily)
If a huge asteroid smashes into the Moon in 2032, the gigantic explosion would send debris streaming towards Earth that would threaten satellites and create a spectacular meteor shower, according to researchers. Earlier this year there were briefly fears that the 60-metre-wide (200-foot-wide) asteroid called 2024 YR4, which is big enough to level a city, would strike Earth on December 22, 2032.
The impact would be "comparable to a large nuclear explosion in terms of the amount of energy released". Up to 100 million kilograms (220 million pounds) of material would shoot out from the Moon's surface, according to a series of simulations run by the researchers. If the asteroid hit the side of the Moon facing Earth -- which is roughly a 50-percent chance -- up to 10 percent of this debris could be pulled in by Earth's gravity over the following days. (6/23)
Portugal Expands Space Capabilities with ICEYE SAR Satellite Acquisition (Source: Space Daily)
ICEYE has signed an agreement with the Portuguese Air Force to deliver a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite, along with a ground segment and antenna, marking a strategic investment in national space infrastructure. The contract, announced during a ceremony in Lisbon on June 12, outlines the delivery of these assets to CTI Aerospacial, a joint venture between the Air Force and Portuguese innovation hub CEiiA.
The SAR satellite will contribute to the Atlantic Constellation, an Earth observation initiative led by Spain and Portugal. This constellation aims to enhance environmental monitoring and disaster response capabilities across Europe, supplementing the continent's Copernicus program. (6/16)
High Precision LLNL Telescope to Drive Next Generation Lunar Imaging (Source: Space Daily)
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is advancing a major leap in lunar imaging through a partnership with Firefly Aerospace. The lab's cutting-edge optical telescope system is set to fly aboard Firefly's Elytra orbital platform as early as 2026, powering Firefly's commercial Ocula imaging service.
This will be the first commercial lunar imaging operation, offering unprecedented ultraviolet and visible-spectrum views of the Moon from orbit. LLNL's telescope is engineered to achieve 0.2-meter resolution at a 50-kilometer altitude, enabling detailed mineral mapping, precise landing site selection, and enhanced monitoring of the lunar environment. (6/21)
Orion Advances Ouija Satellite Toward 2025 VLEO Launch Milestone (Source: Space Daily)
Orion Space Solutions, a subsidiary of Arcfield, has announced the successful completion of the test readiness review (TRR) for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Ouija mission. The nanosatellite, scheduled for launch in late summer 2025, will operate in very low Earth orbit (VLEO) to gather high-frequency (HF) ionospheric data.
Initiated in 2022, the DARPA Ouija program is designed to characterize the space-based HF noise environment and improve real-time propagation predictions. The satellite will house an advanced instrument suite that includes Langmuir and RF Impedance Probes, HF Sounders, Atomic Oxygen Sensors, Science Magnetometers, Floating Potential Probes, and Accelerometers. The mission's primary objective is to collect novel measurements from the F2 layer of the ionosphere. (6/21)
NASA Prepares Sensor Breakthrough for Upcoming Hypersonic Rocket Flights (Source: Space Daily)
NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center is preparing for the first hypersonic test flights of its Fiber Optic Sensing System (FOSS), a compact and lightweight technology that measures temperature and strain on high-speed vehicles. These upcoming rocket launches, scheduled for summer 2025, mark a key milestone in the advancement of hypersonic research.
On March 26, Armstrong engineers conducted vibration tests using shaker equipment in the Environmental Laboratory, confirming the FOSS system's resilience under intense launch conditions. These successful trials follow earlier lab and flight evaluations in 2024, supporting FOSS's integration into Department of Defense research rockets.
FOSS uses a single hair-thin fiber to gather temperature and strain data along its length, significantly reducing the size and complexity of traditional sensor systems. This innovation allows more efficient data collection during extreme hypersonic conditions, which exceed Mach 5. (6/21)
Globalstar Expands Wildfire Safety Tools with Technosylva Satellite Tech (Source: Space Daily)
Globalstar announced further international deployment of its satellite-enabled technologies through an expanding partnership with Technosylva, a specialist in wildfire modeling and risk management. This collaboration continues to equip firefighting agencies with real-time situational tools that enhance safety and response coordination in extreme conditions.
One of the most recent developments involves ongoing implementation with INFOCA, the fire agency for Andalusia, Spain. As one of Europe's largest emergency response organizations, INFOCA uses Technosylva's Wildfire Analyst and fiResponse platforms, which are field-enabled by Globalstar's SPOT satellite devices. These tools provide consistent tracking and communication capabilities in areas beyond the reach of traditional cellular networks. (6/21)
New Frontier Aerospace Tests 3D-Printed Rocket Engine (Source: Geekwire)
Washington-based based New Frontier Aerospace says it has put its 3D-printed Mjölnir rocket engine through a series of successful hot-fire tests, in preparation for an initial flight test of a hypersonic drone that could take place as early as next year.
Mjölnir is named after the hammer that was wielded by Thor in Norse mythology (and in Marvel movies). The first job for this hammer would be to propel an uncrewed aerial system called Pathfinder for a series of hovering tests, currently set for 2026. Eventually, Pathfinder could be used for weapons testing or for suborbital point-to-point cargo transport. (6/23)
A private astronaut mission is finally on its way to the International Space Station after weeks of delays. A Falcon 9 lifted off at from the Kennedy Space Center and put a Crew Dragon into orbit. That spacecraft, flying the Ax-4 mission for Axiom Space, is carrying astronauts from Hungary, India and Poland, and is commanded by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson. It will dock with the station tomorrow morning for a two-week stay. The mission was postponed from early this month initially because of a problem with the Falcon 9 but later by an investigation into an air leak on the ISS. Whitson announced that the Crew Dragon flying this mission, making its first flight, will be named "Grace." (6/25)
Lynk Sued by SPAC Partner (Source: Space News)
Lynk Global is being sued by the special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) it planned to merge with. Slam Corp., the SPAC founded by former baseball player Alex Rodriguez, is suing Lynk to keep that direct-to-phone satellite operator from walking away from a planned merger. The suit alleges that Lynk breached the agreement and failed to meet its obligation to operate in good faith, although Lynk says the claims are baseless. The companies announced in February 2024 plans to merge, allowing Lynk to go public, but Slam has lost nearly all of the $575 million it raised because of shareholder redemptions. Lynk is seeking funds to grow its satellite constellation and improve capabilities after deploying five satellites in low Earth orbit. (6/25)
Maxar's Sentry Offers Surveillance Service (Source: Space News)
Maxar Intelligence launched a new monitoring product that is part of a broader effort to move beyond satellite imagery. The new product, Sentry, would provide customers with continuous surveillance capabilities across multiple global locations simultaneously. With this new service, Maxar is seeking to compete in the higher-value intelligence market as satellite imagery becomes increasingly commoditized. The company says it can provide value through an archive of imagery going back more than two decades as well as accessing optical and radar imagery from other providers. The service will use artificial intelligence to analyze that imagery, identifying unusual patterns of activity that would be of interest to customers. (6/25)
Rocket Lab Shuffles Launches (Source: Rocket Lab)
Rocket Lab is reshuffling its lineup of upcoming launches. The company said Tuesday its next Electron launch, which had been for an undisclosed commercial customer, will instead be for HawkEye 360, deploying four of that company's satellites for radio-frequency monitoring. That launch is scheduled for Thursday. The "Symphony in the Stars" launch for the undisclosed customer, which was postponed over the weekend because of weather, will take place later this month. (6/25)
Chinese Astronauts Plan TSS Spacewalk (Source: Xinhua)
Astronauts on China's space station are preparing for another spacewalk. Chinese officials said Wednesday astronauts on the Tiangong space station will perform a spacewalk "within the next few days." Such announcements usually come a day or so before the spacewalk. The announcement did not disclose additional details. (6/25)
Space Force's RCO Readies "Full-Up" Satellite Missions (Source: Air & Space Forces)
The Space Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) plans to fly its first "full-up satellites" in the next year. Kelly Hammett, director of that Space Force office, did not disclose details about the satellites or their mission at a Mitchell Institute event Tuesday, although Hammett has previously said the office is focused on space control, or the ability to protect space assets from attack and forces from space-enabled attack. Space RCO has shown an interest in highly maneuverable satellites and in-space refueling. (6/25)
Crypto Tokens Scheme Would Align with SpaceX Shares (Source: Wall Street Journal)
A new investment platform would allow people to reap gains in SpaceX without actually investing in the company. Republic plans to offer crypto tokens whose value will match those of SpaceX shares traded privately. The tokens would represent securities held by Republic itself and not SpaceX shares, and people who own the tokens would not get access to SpaceX financial information that shareholders can view. Republic argues the approach is a way for the public to gain the benefits of investing in privately held companies like SpaceX, although the approach does face potential legal challenges. (6/25)
NATO Funding Boost Expected to Bolster Space Capabilities (Source: Payload)
NATO countries have agreed to increase defense spending, focusing on air defense, tanks and munitions in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. However, although not explicitly mentioned in NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's remarks, space capabilities are expected to benefit from this funding. Experts predict nations will invest more in space, particularly commercial capabilities, to enhance national security. (6/24)
Starlink Serving Lesotho, Now in 24 African Countries (Source: TechNext)
Starlink, the satellite internet service operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has officially launched in Lesotho. The rollout follows the granting of a 10-year operating licence on April 14, 2025, by Lesotho’s communications regulator, enabling high-speed, low-latency internet access across the mountainous southern African nation. Lesotho’s adoption of Starlink comes barely two months after regulatory approval, reflecting the country’s urgency to enhance connectivity. (6/23)
Blue Origin Lobbies Against Cruz Space Tax (Source: Politico)
Jeff Bezos’ space company Blue Origin has added a familiar face to its growing mix of outside lobbyists as the industry faces a potential new tax in the GOP reconciliation bill. Capitol Counsel’s Mac Campbell, who previously lobbied for Blue Origin in 2021, resumed working for the company last month — along with tax lobbyists David Olander and David Bridges — to “monitor and evaluate proposed changes to the Internal Revenue Code being considered by Congress as part of the budget reconciliation process,” according to a disclosure filing. (6/23)
Texas Gives Elon Musk’s ‘Company Town’ Power to Shut Down Beaches, Highways for SpaceX (Source: Dallas News)
Elon Musk’s “company town” in coastal South Texas will have the power to shut down beaches and highways for SpaceX rocket launches under a new bill passed by state lawmakers. The proposal was among a few legislative wins for Musk and a newly formed city, Starbase, led by current and former employees of the world’s richest person’s space exploration business on the southern tip of Texas.
Lawmakers decided to give the town the ability to shut down public areas for launches during closed-door negotiations as the legislative session wrapped up in early June. Those provisions weren’t in the proposal until hand-picked members of both chambers added them as the House and Senate worked out differences between two versions of the bill. (6/23)
NATO Unveils New Commercial Space Strategy At Annual Summit (Source: Aviation Week)
NATO is establishing a range of initiatives to deepen its ties to the commercial space industry spread across its 32-member alliance, via an inaugural strategy released June 24. The five-page document was released as the alliance kicks off its annual summit in the Hague, the Netherlands. (6/24)
New Zealand Govt Announces $5.6m for NZ-NASA Research Projects (Source: Inside Government)
The Government is investing $5.6 million to support five new joint NZ-NASA research projects in the field of Earth observation as part of a partnership with the US. Researchers from New Zealand and NASA will work in partnership to tackle challenges such as disaster resilience and environmental management over the next three years. (6/24)
Transporter-14 Launches with Five Canadian Satellites (Source: SpaceQ)
SpaceX Falcon 9 launch of the Transporter-14 rideshare mission included five Canadian satellites and several payloads built by Canadian companies. Transporter-14 is a dedicated SmallSat rideshare mission with 70 payloads including “cubesats, microsats, re-entry capsules, and orbital transfer vehicles carrying three of those payloads to be deployed at a later time.” (6/23)
Crunch Time—We’ll Soon Find Out if Amazon’s Launch Providers are Up to the Job (Source: Ars Technica)
Project Kuiper has now completed three launches, including a test launch in 2023 with a pair of Kuiper prototypes. When complete, the network's architecture will consist of 3,232 satellites in low-Earth orbit, enabling coverage of most of the populated world.
Amazon has procured more than 80 launches with four companies to put all of these satellites into orbit. ULA won the lion's share of the launch contracts to deploy more than half of the Kuiper constellation. Amazon purchased the last nine Atlas V rockets before ULA retires the vehicle in favor of the newer Vulcan rocket. Shortly thereafter, Amazon signed a contract for 38 Vulcan flights, each of which ULA says will deliver 45 Kuiper satellites into orbit.
Europe's Ariane 6 rocket is under contract for 18 missions with Kuiper satellites. The New Glenn from Blue Origin, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, will launch at least 12 times to add satellites to the Kuiper network. Amazon has a contract option with Blue Origin for up to 15 additional New Glenn launches. These newer rockets don't have much of a track record. ULA and Arianespace have each flown their Vulcan and Ariane 6 rockets twice, and Blue Origin's New Glenn has completed just one launch. The Atlas V rocket is nearing retirement, and ULA has no more Atlas Vs available for purchase. (6/23)
Goodbye to NASA – the White House Proposes Halting Exploration of the Solar System With Budget Cuts (Source: El Adelantado)
A hard-driving space probe is still cruising beyond Pluto, its instruments healthy and its fuel tanks half full. Yet a single spreadsheet in Washington says it’s time to pull the plug. That spreadsheet —released quietly on a Friday afternoon—lays out the White House’s $18.8 billion request for NASA in fiscal year 2026, a shock $6 billion below the agency’s current funding.
The Office of Management and Budget’s “pass-back” rules let the president send agencies a draft one year before appropriations. Usually NASA touts its request with a slick briefing; this time PDFs were posted without notice. Buried in the technical supplement: “Operating missions that have completed their prime phase are eliminated.” No footnotes. No science rationale. (6/23)
There’s a New Reusable Rocket, And It’s a Honda (Source: Hackaday)
We all know Honda as a car company but it seems they are in the rocket business too, and they successfully tested a reusable rocket. It’s an experimental 900 kg model that flew to a height of 300 m before returning itself to the pad, but it serves as a valuable test platform for Honda’s take on the technology.
It’s a research project as it stands, but it’s being developed with an eye towards future low-cost satellite launches rather than as a crew launch platform. As a news story though it’s of interest beyond its technology, because it’s too easy to miss news from the other side of the world when all eyes are looking at Texas. It’s the latest in a long line of interesting research projects from the company, and we hope that this time they resist the temptation to kill their creation rather than bring it to market. (6/24)
Earth's Satellites at Risk if Asteroid Smashes Into Moon (Source: Space Daily)
If a huge asteroid smashes into the Moon in 2032, the gigantic explosion would send debris streaming towards Earth that would threaten satellites and create a spectacular meteor shower, according to researchers. Earlier this year there were briefly fears that the 60-metre-wide (200-foot-wide) asteroid called 2024 YR4, which is big enough to level a city, would strike Earth on December 22, 2032.
The impact would be "comparable to a large nuclear explosion in terms of the amount of energy released". Up to 100 million kilograms (220 million pounds) of material would shoot out from the Moon's surface, according to a series of simulations run by the researchers. If the asteroid hit the side of the Moon facing Earth -- which is roughly a 50-percent chance -- up to 10 percent of this debris could be pulled in by Earth's gravity over the following days. (6/23)
Portugal Expands Space Capabilities with ICEYE SAR Satellite Acquisition (Source: Space Daily)
ICEYE has signed an agreement with the Portuguese Air Force to deliver a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite, along with a ground segment and antenna, marking a strategic investment in national space infrastructure. The contract, announced during a ceremony in Lisbon on June 12, outlines the delivery of these assets to CTI Aerospacial, a joint venture between the Air Force and Portuguese innovation hub CEiiA.
The SAR satellite will contribute to the Atlantic Constellation, an Earth observation initiative led by Spain and Portugal. This constellation aims to enhance environmental monitoring and disaster response capabilities across Europe, supplementing the continent's Copernicus program. (6/16)
High Precision LLNL Telescope to Drive Next Generation Lunar Imaging (Source: Space Daily)
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is advancing a major leap in lunar imaging through a partnership with Firefly Aerospace. The lab's cutting-edge optical telescope system is set to fly aboard Firefly's Elytra orbital platform as early as 2026, powering Firefly's commercial Ocula imaging service.
This will be the first commercial lunar imaging operation, offering unprecedented ultraviolet and visible-spectrum views of the Moon from orbit. LLNL's telescope is engineered to achieve 0.2-meter resolution at a 50-kilometer altitude, enabling detailed mineral mapping, precise landing site selection, and enhanced monitoring of the lunar environment. (6/21)
Orion Advances Ouija Satellite Toward 2025 VLEO Launch Milestone (Source: Space Daily)
Orion Space Solutions, a subsidiary of Arcfield, has announced the successful completion of the test readiness review (TRR) for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA) Ouija mission. The nanosatellite, scheduled for launch in late summer 2025, will operate in very low Earth orbit (VLEO) to gather high-frequency (HF) ionospheric data.
Initiated in 2022, the DARPA Ouija program is designed to characterize the space-based HF noise environment and improve real-time propagation predictions. The satellite will house an advanced instrument suite that includes Langmuir and RF Impedance Probes, HF Sounders, Atomic Oxygen Sensors, Science Magnetometers, Floating Potential Probes, and Accelerometers. The mission's primary objective is to collect novel measurements from the F2 layer of the ionosphere. (6/21)
NASA Prepares Sensor Breakthrough for Upcoming Hypersonic Rocket Flights (Source: Space Daily)
NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center is preparing for the first hypersonic test flights of its Fiber Optic Sensing System (FOSS), a compact and lightweight technology that measures temperature and strain on high-speed vehicles. These upcoming rocket launches, scheduled for summer 2025, mark a key milestone in the advancement of hypersonic research.
On March 26, Armstrong engineers conducted vibration tests using shaker equipment in the Environmental Laboratory, confirming the FOSS system's resilience under intense launch conditions. These successful trials follow earlier lab and flight evaluations in 2024, supporting FOSS's integration into Department of Defense research rockets.
FOSS uses a single hair-thin fiber to gather temperature and strain data along its length, significantly reducing the size and complexity of traditional sensor systems. This innovation allows more efficient data collection during extreme hypersonic conditions, which exceed Mach 5. (6/21)
Globalstar Expands Wildfire Safety Tools with Technosylva Satellite Tech (Source: Space Daily)
Globalstar announced further international deployment of its satellite-enabled technologies through an expanding partnership with Technosylva, a specialist in wildfire modeling and risk management. This collaboration continues to equip firefighting agencies with real-time situational tools that enhance safety and response coordination in extreme conditions.
One of the most recent developments involves ongoing implementation with INFOCA, the fire agency for Andalusia, Spain. As one of Europe's largest emergency response organizations, INFOCA uses Technosylva's Wildfire Analyst and fiResponse platforms, which are field-enabled by Globalstar's SPOT satellite devices. These tools provide consistent tracking and communication capabilities in areas beyond the reach of traditional cellular networks. (6/21)
New Frontier Aerospace Tests 3D-Printed Rocket Engine (Source: Geekwire)
Washington-based based New Frontier Aerospace says it has put its 3D-printed Mjölnir rocket engine through a series of successful hot-fire tests, in preparation for an initial flight test of a hypersonic drone that could take place as early as next year.
Mjölnir is named after the hammer that was wielded by Thor in Norse mythology (and in Marvel movies). The first job for this hammer would be to propel an uncrewed aerial system called Pathfinder for a series of hovering tests, currently set for 2026. Eventually, Pathfinder could be used for weapons testing or for suborbital point-to-point cargo transport. (6/23)
June 24, 2025
Propelling and Navigating South
Korea’s Space Ambitions (Source: Space Review)
South Korea is seeking to become a major space power in East Asia with new investments in launch vehicles and navigation satellites. Jennifer Hong Whetsell and Seokjin Yun explore those initiatives and the challenges they face. Click here. (6/24)
Strategies for Lunar Development (Source: Space Review)
Potential changes to Artemis have created uncertainty about long-term plans for the Moon. Jeff Foust reports on new concepts for lunar development but also lingering questions about what just will be developed on the Moon. Click here. (6/24)
Intellectual Property Challenges in the Space Economy (Source: Space Review)
As the space economy evolves into new applications, it raises questions about how companies can protect their proprietary technologies. Phil Merchant examines some of the challenges of enforcing patent law in space and some potential solutions. Click here. (6/24)
Commercializing India’s SSLV Rocket (Source: Space Review)
The Indian government announced last week it selected a company to take over building and operating a small launch vehicle. Ajey Lele discusses how this could help the competitiveness of India’s space industry. Click here. (6/24)
Exploration Company's Reentry Capsule Lost at Sea (Source: Space News)
The Exploration Company says the flight of a large reentry capsule launched Monday was only partially successful. The European firm flew its Mission Possible spacecraft, a 1.6-ton capsule to test reentry technologies, on the SpaceX Transporter-14 rideshare mission that launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California Monday afternoon. The company said the capsule operated well in space and reentered as planned a few hours after launch, with communications reestablished after the reentry blackout. However, an unspecified issue caused a loss of communications minutes before splashdown, and the company suggested the capsule was lost. The spacecraft was designed to test technologies for its Nyx cargo spacecraft and also carried 300 kilograms of payloads for customers. (6/24)
York SDA Satellites Launched with Transporter-14 Mission (Source: Space News)
Another payload on Transporter-14 was the first in a series of York Space System satellites for the Space Development Agency (SDA). The Dragoon spacecraft flown on the mission is the first of 12 York is building for SDA's Tranche 1 Demonstration and Experimentation System (T1DES) effort to test secure communications. The mission also included the debut of York's new LX-class satellite bus, designed to support payloads of up to 300 kilograms. The Transporter-14 mission overall carried 70 payloads, including the Otter Pup 2 servicing spacecraft for Starfish Space and W-4 reentry spacecraft for Varda. (6/24)
Eastern European Consortium Plans Earth Observation Constellation (Source: Space News)
A consortium of Ukrainian, Nordic and Eastern European companies is raising money for an Earth observation constellation intended to reduce dependence on the United States. The project is working to raise more than 100 million euros ($115 million) by the end of 2026 to deploy a constellation or more than 70 optical and radar imaging satellites by the end of the decade. The dual-use satellite constellation, dubbed Intermarsat, would provide daily revisits across the belt between the Baltic and the Mediterranean Sea, covering countries as far north as Finland and Estonia and as far south as Bulgaria. The consortium started the project after the U.S. government briefly halted sharing of commercial satellite imagery with Ukraine earlier this year. (6/24)
Japan's ispace Blames Laser Rangefinder for Second Lunar Crash (Source: Space News)
Japanese company ispace said problems with a laser rangefinder caused its second lunar lander to crash earlier this month. The company said in a briefing late Monday that while the laser rangefinder was designed to operate at least three kilometers above the surface, it did not start providing data until less than 900 meters above the surface, delaying the firing of thrusters to brake the spacecraft for landing. Those thrusters could not slow the spacecraft down in time, causing a crash landing. Ispace concluded several factors could have affected the laser rangefinder's performance, including low power of the laser or decreased reflectivity of the lunar surface. The company plans to consider replacing the laser rangefinder on future landers and augment it with other systems, like lidars and navigation cameras. That work will not delay the company's next two missions, scheduled for launch in 2027. (6/24)
NASA Approves Axiom Mission Launch (Source: NASA)
NASA has given the green light for the launch of a private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. NASA said Monday it has agreed with Axiom Space to attempt a launch of the Ax-4 mission Wednesday at 2:31 a.m. Eastern. The mission, which had been scheduled to launch early this month, was postponed first by an issue with its Falcon 9 rocket and then with studies of an air leak on the ISS. NASA did not provide an update on the air leak. (6/24)
Brain Drain Will Hamper US Response to Iranian Threats (Source: NBC)
As the United States faces possible retaliatory attacks from Iran, a “brain drain” in top Justice Department and FBI national security and counterterrorism units could reduce their ability to prevent potential terror and cyberattacks from Tehran, according to six former senior DOJ and FBI officials.
Staff levels in the DOJ National Security Division’s Law and Policy section have dropped by as much as two-thirds, two former DOJ officials said. Its counterintelligence and export control section — which tracks foreign espionage in the U.S. by Iran and other foreign rivals — has lost about a third of its workforce, the former DOJ officials said. A former senior FBI official said he was aware of at least 20 national security personnel who had left the bureau in the last three months. (6/23)
Lunar Dust Poses Lower Health Risk Than Urban air Pollution (Source: Space Daily)
New research led by the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) reveals that lunar dust is considerably less toxic to human lung cells than typical Earth-based air pollution. This finding offers reassurance for NASA's Artemis missions, which aim to establish a sustained human presence on the moon.
The study, published in Life Sciences in Space Research, examined the effects of advanced lunar dust simulants on human lung cells and compared them to fine particulate matter collected from a busy street in Sydney. The results showed that while lunar dust can act as a physical irritant, it does not inflict the same level of cellular damage or inflammation caused by urban pollutants. (6/23)
Macron Says Europe Must Become 'Space Power' Again (Source: Space Daily)
President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that Europe must again become a global space power, warning that France risked being squeezed out of the global low-orbit satellite constellation market. Macron called for more investment as the European space industry struggles to remain competitive in the face of US and Chinese rivals. (6/23)
Northrop Grumman Expands Use of NVIDIA AI to Boost Autonomous Space Operations (Source: Space Daily)
Northrop Grumman Corporation is deepening its collaboration with NVIDIA by integrating the NVIDIA Omniverse simulation platform into space applications and utilizing the NVIDIA Isaac Lab framework to advance AI for autonomous spacecraft operations.
The aerospace company plans to develop a comprehensive AI robotics architecture capable of supporting a broad range of complex space environments. These include future missions involving autonomous spacecraft docking, in-orbit servicing, inspections, and repairs. Central to this initiative is the deployment of agentic AI across all spacecraft operations phases, enabling systems to autonomously produce and execute mission commands and workflows. (6/23)
Next Generation Engine Initiative Launched by ArianeGroup with CNES Support (Source: Space Daily)
ArianeGroup has signed a new agreement with the French Space Agency (CNES) to spearhead the development and validation of next-generation, high-thrust rocket engines. These engines are expected to deliver between 200 and 300 tons of thrust-twice the output of the Vulcain 2.1, which powers today's Ariane 6 launch vehicle.
The project will focus on creating advanced technologies tailored for future heavy-lift rockets, with a particular emphasis on high performance and scalable propulsion. ArianeGroup's liquid propulsion division will lead the effort by applying innovations in the full-flow staged combustion cycle, a configuration critical for achieving the required thrust and efficiency. (6/23)
Amazon and ULA Confirm Successful Kuiper Launch and Deployment (Source: Space News)
Amazon and United Launch Alliance confirmed the success Monday of the second launch of Project Kuiper satellites. The companies said a little more than an hour after the 6:54 a.m. Eastern launch that the 27 Kuiper satellites on board were deployed from the Centaur upper stage into their planned orbits at 450 kilometers. The satellites will later move to operational orbits at 630 kilometers. Amazon now has 54 operational Kuiper satellites in orbit out of a planned constellation of more than 3,200 satellites. (6/24)
Virts Plans US Senate Run in Texas (Source: New York Times)
A former astronaut is running for the U.S. Senate in Texas. Terry Virts announced Monday he will seek the Democratic nomination in 2026 for the Senate seat currently held by Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican. Virts, selected as an astronaut in 2000, was pilot on the STS-130 shuttle mission in 2010 and spent six months on the ISS in 2014-2015, retiring from NASA in 2016. Virts said he plans to run as a "common sense Democrat" and was critical of both Republicans and Democrats in his campaign announcement. (6/24)
ESA Releases Biomass SAR Images (Source: ESA)
ESA has released the first images from its Biomass Earth science satellite. The images, released at a conference Monday, were the first from the spacecraft, launched less than two months ago. The spacecraft carries a synthetic aperture radar designed to penetrate forest canopies and accurately measure the overall biomass in forests. ESA noted that the spacecraft is still going through the commissioning process, but the images show that it is working well. (6/24)
Lunar Dust Dangers Maybe Less Severe for Lungs (Source: Space.com)
Lunar dust may not be as dangerous to humans as once thought. Medical researchers had been concerned that lunar dust could cause respiratory problems when inhaled, based on the experience from the Apollo missions. A new study, using simulated lunar regolith and lung cells, found that lunar dust can irritate cells, but not as bad as particles from terrestrial pollution. The study concluded that while dust on the moon could cause a "lunar hay fever," it is unlikely to cause more serious lung diseases. (6/24)
Vera Rubin Observatory Releases First Images (Source: Nature)
The first images from a new telescope have excited astronomers. At an event Monday, astronomers released the first images from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, an 8.4-meter telescope in Chile with a wide field of view and a 3,200-megapixel camera. The telescope is designed to scan the sky every few days in great depth, and images from a test run showed rich detail of stars and galaxies. That test run also discovered more than 2,000 asteroids. Rubin will operate for at least 10 years, building up a catalog of billions of galaxies and millions of asteroids among other expected discoveries. (6/24)
South Korea is seeking to become a major space power in East Asia with new investments in launch vehicles and navigation satellites. Jennifer Hong Whetsell and Seokjin Yun explore those initiatives and the challenges they face. Click here. (6/24)
Strategies for Lunar Development (Source: Space Review)
Potential changes to Artemis have created uncertainty about long-term plans for the Moon. Jeff Foust reports on new concepts for lunar development but also lingering questions about what just will be developed on the Moon. Click here. (6/24)
Intellectual Property Challenges in the Space Economy (Source: Space Review)
As the space economy evolves into new applications, it raises questions about how companies can protect their proprietary technologies. Phil Merchant examines some of the challenges of enforcing patent law in space and some potential solutions. Click here. (6/24)
Commercializing India’s SSLV Rocket (Source: Space Review)
The Indian government announced last week it selected a company to take over building and operating a small launch vehicle. Ajey Lele discusses how this could help the competitiveness of India’s space industry. Click here. (6/24)
Exploration Company's Reentry Capsule Lost at Sea (Source: Space News)
The Exploration Company says the flight of a large reentry capsule launched Monday was only partially successful. The European firm flew its Mission Possible spacecraft, a 1.6-ton capsule to test reentry technologies, on the SpaceX Transporter-14 rideshare mission that launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California Monday afternoon. The company said the capsule operated well in space and reentered as planned a few hours after launch, with communications reestablished after the reentry blackout. However, an unspecified issue caused a loss of communications minutes before splashdown, and the company suggested the capsule was lost. The spacecraft was designed to test technologies for its Nyx cargo spacecraft and also carried 300 kilograms of payloads for customers. (6/24)
York SDA Satellites Launched with Transporter-14 Mission (Source: Space News)
Another payload on Transporter-14 was the first in a series of York Space System satellites for the Space Development Agency (SDA). The Dragoon spacecraft flown on the mission is the first of 12 York is building for SDA's Tranche 1 Demonstration and Experimentation System (T1DES) effort to test secure communications. The mission also included the debut of York's new LX-class satellite bus, designed to support payloads of up to 300 kilograms. The Transporter-14 mission overall carried 70 payloads, including the Otter Pup 2 servicing spacecraft for Starfish Space and W-4 reentry spacecraft for Varda. (6/24)
Eastern European Consortium Plans Earth Observation Constellation (Source: Space News)
A consortium of Ukrainian, Nordic and Eastern European companies is raising money for an Earth observation constellation intended to reduce dependence on the United States. The project is working to raise more than 100 million euros ($115 million) by the end of 2026 to deploy a constellation or more than 70 optical and radar imaging satellites by the end of the decade. The dual-use satellite constellation, dubbed Intermarsat, would provide daily revisits across the belt between the Baltic and the Mediterranean Sea, covering countries as far north as Finland and Estonia and as far south as Bulgaria. The consortium started the project after the U.S. government briefly halted sharing of commercial satellite imagery with Ukraine earlier this year. (6/24)
Japan's ispace Blames Laser Rangefinder for Second Lunar Crash (Source: Space News)
Japanese company ispace said problems with a laser rangefinder caused its second lunar lander to crash earlier this month. The company said in a briefing late Monday that while the laser rangefinder was designed to operate at least three kilometers above the surface, it did not start providing data until less than 900 meters above the surface, delaying the firing of thrusters to brake the spacecraft for landing. Those thrusters could not slow the spacecraft down in time, causing a crash landing. Ispace concluded several factors could have affected the laser rangefinder's performance, including low power of the laser or decreased reflectivity of the lunar surface. The company plans to consider replacing the laser rangefinder on future landers and augment it with other systems, like lidars and navigation cameras. That work will not delay the company's next two missions, scheduled for launch in 2027. (6/24)
NASA Approves Axiom Mission Launch (Source: NASA)
NASA has given the green light for the launch of a private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. NASA said Monday it has agreed with Axiom Space to attempt a launch of the Ax-4 mission Wednesday at 2:31 a.m. Eastern. The mission, which had been scheduled to launch early this month, was postponed first by an issue with its Falcon 9 rocket and then with studies of an air leak on the ISS. NASA did not provide an update on the air leak. (6/24)
Brain Drain Will Hamper US Response to Iranian Threats (Source: NBC)
As the United States faces possible retaliatory attacks from Iran, a “brain drain” in top Justice Department and FBI national security and counterterrorism units could reduce their ability to prevent potential terror and cyberattacks from Tehran, according to six former senior DOJ and FBI officials.
Staff levels in the DOJ National Security Division’s Law and Policy section have dropped by as much as two-thirds, two former DOJ officials said. Its counterintelligence and export control section — which tracks foreign espionage in the U.S. by Iran and other foreign rivals — has lost about a third of its workforce, the former DOJ officials said. A former senior FBI official said he was aware of at least 20 national security personnel who had left the bureau in the last three months. (6/23)
Lunar Dust Poses Lower Health Risk Than Urban air Pollution (Source: Space Daily)
New research led by the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) reveals that lunar dust is considerably less toxic to human lung cells than typical Earth-based air pollution. This finding offers reassurance for NASA's Artemis missions, which aim to establish a sustained human presence on the moon.
The study, published in Life Sciences in Space Research, examined the effects of advanced lunar dust simulants on human lung cells and compared them to fine particulate matter collected from a busy street in Sydney. The results showed that while lunar dust can act as a physical irritant, it does not inflict the same level of cellular damage or inflammation caused by urban pollutants. (6/23)
Macron Says Europe Must Become 'Space Power' Again (Source: Space Daily)
President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that Europe must again become a global space power, warning that France risked being squeezed out of the global low-orbit satellite constellation market. Macron called for more investment as the European space industry struggles to remain competitive in the face of US and Chinese rivals. (6/23)
Northrop Grumman Expands Use of NVIDIA AI to Boost Autonomous Space Operations (Source: Space Daily)
Northrop Grumman Corporation is deepening its collaboration with NVIDIA by integrating the NVIDIA Omniverse simulation platform into space applications and utilizing the NVIDIA Isaac Lab framework to advance AI for autonomous spacecraft operations.
The aerospace company plans to develop a comprehensive AI robotics architecture capable of supporting a broad range of complex space environments. These include future missions involving autonomous spacecraft docking, in-orbit servicing, inspections, and repairs. Central to this initiative is the deployment of agentic AI across all spacecraft operations phases, enabling systems to autonomously produce and execute mission commands and workflows. (6/23)
Next Generation Engine Initiative Launched by ArianeGroup with CNES Support (Source: Space Daily)
ArianeGroup has signed a new agreement with the French Space Agency (CNES) to spearhead the development and validation of next-generation, high-thrust rocket engines. These engines are expected to deliver between 200 and 300 tons of thrust-twice the output of the Vulcain 2.1, which powers today's Ariane 6 launch vehicle.
The project will focus on creating advanced technologies tailored for future heavy-lift rockets, with a particular emphasis on high performance and scalable propulsion. ArianeGroup's liquid propulsion division will lead the effort by applying innovations in the full-flow staged combustion cycle, a configuration critical for achieving the required thrust and efficiency. (6/23)
Amazon and ULA Confirm Successful Kuiper Launch and Deployment (Source: Space News)
Amazon and United Launch Alliance confirmed the success Monday of the second launch of Project Kuiper satellites. The companies said a little more than an hour after the 6:54 a.m. Eastern launch that the 27 Kuiper satellites on board were deployed from the Centaur upper stage into their planned orbits at 450 kilometers. The satellites will later move to operational orbits at 630 kilometers. Amazon now has 54 operational Kuiper satellites in orbit out of a planned constellation of more than 3,200 satellites. (6/24)
Virts Plans US Senate Run in Texas (Source: New York Times)
A former astronaut is running for the U.S. Senate in Texas. Terry Virts announced Monday he will seek the Democratic nomination in 2026 for the Senate seat currently held by Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican. Virts, selected as an astronaut in 2000, was pilot on the STS-130 shuttle mission in 2010 and spent six months on the ISS in 2014-2015, retiring from NASA in 2016. Virts said he plans to run as a "common sense Democrat" and was critical of both Republicans and Democrats in his campaign announcement. (6/24)
ESA Releases Biomass SAR Images (Source: ESA)
ESA has released the first images from its Biomass Earth science satellite. The images, released at a conference Monday, were the first from the spacecraft, launched less than two months ago. The spacecraft carries a synthetic aperture radar designed to penetrate forest canopies and accurately measure the overall biomass in forests. ESA noted that the spacecraft is still going through the commissioning process, but the images show that it is working well. (6/24)
Lunar Dust Dangers Maybe Less Severe for Lungs (Source: Space.com)
Lunar dust may not be as dangerous to humans as once thought. Medical researchers had been concerned that lunar dust could cause respiratory problems when inhaled, based on the experience from the Apollo missions. A new study, using simulated lunar regolith and lung cells, found that lunar dust can irritate cells, but not as bad as particles from terrestrial pollution. The study concluded that while dust on the moon could cause a "lunar hay fever," it is unlikely to cause more serious lung diseases. (6/24)
Vera Rubin Observatory Releases First Images (Source: Nature)
The first images from a new telescope have excited astronomers. At an event Monday, astronomers released the first images from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, an 8.4-meter telescope in Chile with a wide field of view and a 3,200-megapixel camera. The telescope is designed to scan the sky every few days in great depth, and images from a test run showed rich detail of stars and galaxies. That test run also discovered more than 2,000 asteroids. Rubin will operate for at least 10 years, building up a catalog of billions of galaxies and millions of asteroids among other expected discoveries. (6/24)
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