January 17, 2025

New Apple Patent Hints at Bigger Satellite Ambitions (Source: PC Magazine)
Apple has secured a new patent that hints at its ambitions to roll out more robust satellite communications for future iPhones. The patent, granted on Wednesday, focuses on one of the challenges facing satellite communications: A device like a smartphone can struggle to maintain a connection, given that orbiting satellites stay are in the sky briefly before falling out of view.

As Patently Apple reports, the company's patent proposes a “handover procedure,” ensuring that one communication beam from an orbiting satellite will smoothly transition to a second beam from a separate satellite. Thus, each satellite functions as a “transparent network relay node,” enabling groups of smartphones to remain connected, Apple wrote in the filing. (1/15)

A Crumbling Exoplanet Spills its Guts (Source: Science News)
For the first time, astronomers have taken a direct look at an exoplanet’s insides. An exoplanet about 800 light-years away is spilling its guts into space, and new observations with the James Webb Space Telescope, or JWST, have let astronomers read the entrails, astronomers report this week at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society.

The planet, a Neptune-sized world called K2 22b, was discovered in 2015. The planet sits scorchingly close to its star, completing an orbit in just nine hours. It is too small to be detected itself, but it periodically emits clouds of opaque dust that form a cometlike tail, blocking less than 1 percent of the host star’s light.

Astronomers soon realized that the dust was probably cooled magma from the planet’s interior. That trail of planet viscera offered a unique opportunity to figure out the chemical composition of an exoplanet’s mantle. Getting insight into any planet’s mantle, even the Earth’s, is challenging, says study coauthor Jason Wright of Penn State. (1/16)

ESA’s Budget Shrinks as Germany, Italy, and UK Cut Funding (Source: Payload)
ESA’s annual budget fell for the first time in four years after Germany, Italy, and the UK cut their contributions by a combined €430.1M ($440.3M) YoY, the agency announced yesterday. The €7.68B ($7.86B) budget for 2025 comes in €110M ($112.6M) shy of last year’s spending limit. But ESA’s director general Josef Aschbacher sounded confident the reduced budget wouldn’t get in the way of the agency’s bold plans for 2025. (1/10)

Trump's Space Policy Won't Catch Europe Off Guard, ESA Chief Says (Source: Space.com)
The head of the European Space Agency says that ESA is ready for any changes in NASA's direction that may come as a result of the incoming new administration in the United States. ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher held an annual press briefing on Jan. 9, detailing the agency's plans and budget for the coming years as well as plans to ramp up Europe's independent access to space with new rockets. In the immediate future, however, ESA may need to react to changes in policy and direction of its key space partner, NASA.

Aschbacher was asked during the briefing about the alliance of President-elect Donald Trump, SpaceX founder Elon Musk and Jared Isaacman, nominated to become the new NASA administrator, and specifically about potential changes to the United States' moon exploration strategy. "What I can say is that we are certainly prepared for any scenarios that might come to the table," Aschbacher said. (1/16)

What's Next for the 2 Private Landers SpaceX Just Launched Toward the Moon? (Source: Space.com)
Two newly launched private moon landers have long roads ahead of them. Early on Tuesday morning (Jan. 15), a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket sent Blue Ghost and Resilience — lunar landers built by Firefly Aerospace and the Tokyo-based company ispace, respectively — into the final frontier from Florida's Space Coast. Neither spacecraft is headed to the moon just yet, however. Here's a rundown of what they'll be doing in the coming weeks.

Blue Ghost will spend the next 25 days in Earth orbit, undergoing a variety of systems checks and gathering data with some of its 10 science and technology instruments — NASA gear that earned their spots onboard thanks to the agency's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. The entire mission, from launch to lunar sunset, is expected to last about 60 Earth days.

Resilience's mission will be more than twice that long, if all goes according to plan. The ispace lander is taking a very circuitous, energy-efficient path to lunar orbit; it's expected to reach that destination four months from now. (There is also a big milestone before that: a flyby of the moon, which Resilience will make in about a month.) ispace will then spend another two weeks or so gearing up for the landing attempt, which will take place in the Mare Frigoris ("Sea of Cold") region of the moon's northern hemisphere. (1/15)

James Webb Space Telescope Sees Little Red Dots Feeding Black Holes (Source: Space.com)
Astronomers may have "saved cosmology" by gathering the largest sample yet of some of the most ancient galaxies ever seen, the so-called "little red dots" observed by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The team behind this research found the majority of the ancient galaxies in their sample — which existed earlier than 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang — seem to host rapidly feeding, or "accreting," supermassive black holes.

The research should put an end to claims that the JWST has "broken cosmology" with its detection of shockingly bright early galaxies that seemed to contain more stars than would be expected so early in the universe's history. Instead, this new survey suggests that much of the light from these little red dots comes from the turbulent conditions generated by the feasting cosmic titans at their hearts. (1/15)

Isaacman Shifts Focus To Blue Origin (Source: inkl)
Jared Isaacman, the billionaire founder of payments platform company Shift4, has recently made headlines for his evolving relationships within the space industry. Previously known for his close ties to SpaceX, Isaacman has now been announced as President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead NASA. Isaacman's shift in alliances is evident as he is now seen collaborating with Blue Origin, a company that could potentially pose a significant challenge to SpaceX if its New Glenn launch vehicle achieves success in the competitive launch market. (1/13)

Supermassive Black Hole Caught "Turning On" in Real-Time (Source: Big Think)
Out in the Universe, galaxies everywhere contain supermassive black holes at their centers, where they occasionally feed on matter, creating quasars and active galactic nuclei. Because these “active periods” typically last for tens-to-hundreds of millions of years, we’ve never seen an active galaxy “turn on” or “turn off” in real-time before. But in 2018, galaxy 1ES 1927+654 suddenly brightened, and in the aftermath, a new jet was launched from its supermassive black hole. Astronomers are now working out just what happened. (1/14)

Galaxy Cores May be Giant Fuzzy Dark Stars (Source: Universe Today)
A fuzzy form of dark matter may clump up to become the cores of galaxies, according to new research. The traditional dark matter hypothesis, that it’s some form of cold, massive particle that hardly ever interacts with itself or with normal matter, has some difficulties. In particular, it can’t quite explain the dense cores of galaxies. Cold, heavy dark matter tends to produce extremely dense cores, far denser than what we observe.

But dark matter might be something else. Recently astronomers have hypothesized that dark matter might instead be incredibly light, far lighter than any known particle. This “fuzzy” dark matter would allow the quantum wave nature of the particles to manifest on macroscopic – even galactic – scales, allowing them to form large, diffuse clumps known as “dark stars.” Dark stars can be incredibly huge, stretching for thousands of light-years, while still having relatively low density. This would match observations of galaxy cores, which makes this an intriguing hypothesis to follow. (1/14)

Supermassive Black Hole Spotted 12.9 Billion Light-Years From Earth — and it's Shooting a Beam of Energy Right At Us (Source: Live Science)
Astronomers have discovered a supermassive black hole that's shooting a giant energy beam directly at Earth. The cosmic juggernaut, which is about as massive as 700 million suns, is taking aim at us from a galaxy in the early universe, up to 800 million years after the Big Bang — making this the most distant "blazar" ever found. (1/14)

Strange Multi-Planet System Proves Not All Hot Jupiter Exoplanets are Lonely Giants (Source: Space.com)
The discovery of an extraordinary multi-planet system has demonstrated that so-called "hot Jupiter" planets may not be lonely giants after all. The findings could force scientists to revise their models of how planets form and how planetary systems evolve. The system with this unexpected structure is centered around the K-type star WASP-132, located around 403 light-years away in the constellation of Lupus. Its inhabitants are the hot Jupiter (WASP-132b), a newly discovered inner super-Earth (WASP-132c) and an outer distant ice giant planet (WASP-132d). (1/15)

Starship Breakup Affects Air Traffic (Sources: CNN, SPACErePORT)
The disintegration of SpaceX’s Starship rocket is certainly delaying commercial flights in Florida. The Federal Aviation Administration says flights departing Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport are being delayed an average of an hour due to a “rocket launch anomaly.” A separate FAA alert says flights are delayed due to “debris.” The flight tracking site Flightradar24 shows several planes rerouting or holding near the area where Starship was destroyed. If a mishap is due to the rocket company's negligence (e.g., failing to follow safety protocols) they could potentially be held liable for resulting aviation delays. (1/17)

Starship Explodes But Super Heavy Booster Caught Again (Source: Space News)
A SpaceX Starship vehicle broke apart on its latest test flight Thursday, dealing a setback to the company. The Starship/Super Heavy vehicle lifted off from SpaceX's Starbase facility at Boca Chica, Texas, at 5:37 p.m. Eastern on the seventh test flight of the system. The Super Heavy booster was able to return to the launch site for a "catch" by the launch tower, repeating a feat first accomplished on a flight in October.

However, SpaceX lost contact with the Starship upper stage nearly eight and a half minutes after liftoff, after telemetry showed that several of its Raptor engines had shut down. SpaceX later confirmed the vehicle was lost, and videos on social media showed debris from the vehicle falling through the skies above the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean. Dozens of airline flights in the region had to be rerouted to avoid the debris, which did not cause damage. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said a propellant leak likely triggered a fire in the vehicle. (1/17)

SDA Chief on Administrative Leave During Investigation (Source: Space News)
The head of the Space Force's Space Development Agency (SDA) has been placed on administrative leave. The Department of the Air Force has removed Derek Tournear from his position as director of SDA Thursday pending the results of an investigation, but the department did not elaborate on the nature of the investigation. Sources claimed the investigation into Tournear may be linked to complaints from contractors about SDA’s unconventional procurement methods and alleged improper sharing of proprietary information. Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant, commander of the Space Force’s Space Systems Command, will step in as acting director of the SDA during the investigation. (1/17) 

NRO's Meink Nominated to SECAF (Source: Space News)
The incoming Trump administration will nominate an NRO official to be Secretary of the Air Force. Trump has selected Troy Meink, principal deputy director of the NRO, to be the next Secretary of the Air Force, pending Senate confirmation. Meink is a senior intelligence official with extensive space and defense experience, and his selection indicates a strong emphasis on space capabilities for the incoming administration. Meink has championed the agency’s shift toward a more distributed satellite architecture, a strategy aimed at making space-based intelligence capabilities more resilient to potential threats. SpaceX's Elon Musk reportedly advocated for Meink. (1/17)

Sierra Space NavSat Design Passes Review (Source: Space News)
Sierra Space has passed an early review of an alternative navigation satellite design. The company said Thursday the satellite it is designing for the Resilient Global Positioning System (R-GPS) program passed a system requirements review. Sierra Space is one of four companies selected for the R-GPS program to bolster the existing GPS satellite constellation with a fleet of smaller and more affordable satellites. The other three companies are Astranis, Axient and L3Harris. The Space Force plans to select up to two companies in 2026 to produce eight satellites, scheduled for launch by 2028. (1/17)

Space Weather Programs Expected to be Preserved in New Administration (Source: Space News)
Government officials expect the incoming Trump administration to preserve space weather programs. Efforts to better understand the sun, produce timely warnings of heightened geomagnetic activity and mitigate their terrestrial impact have been reinforced by the last several administrations. Officials at the American Meteorological Society annual meeting this week said they expect that trend to continue in the next Trump administration. Space weather experts do anticipate some changes, including a shift of national space weather activities toward providing timely alerts and warnings to the Defense Department and increasing the resilience of military systems. (1/17)

Voyager Space Restructured and Renamed (Source: Space News)
Voyager Space is changing its name to better reflect a focus on national security and defense markets. The company announced Thursday it has renamed itself Voyager Technologies and is restructuring its operations into three business segments: Defense and National Security, Space Solutions, and Starlab Space Stations. The changes, company executives said, are intended to highlight its work on national security capabilities, including missile propulsion, advanced navigation, and sensing solutions. (1/17)

China Launches Pakistani Satellite (Source: Space News)
China launched a Pakistani remote sensing satellite Thursday night. A Long March 2D rocket lifted off at 11:07 p.m. Eastern from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. It placed into orbit PRSC-EO1, the first of a series of three optical remote sensing satellites for Pakistan. These satellites will provide data for the fields of land mapping, agriculture classification and assessment, urban and rural planning, environmental monitoring, natural disaster monitoring and management, surveying, natural resources protection and others uses, according to Pakistan's space agency, SUPARCO. (1/17)

Xplore Launches First Satellite of Constellation (Source: Space News)
Xplore has launched the first satellite of a planned 12-spacecraft constellation. The company's XCUBE-1 6U cubesat was among the payloads on the Transporter-12 rideshare mission Tuesday. Xplore says the spacecraft will supply data for space domain awareness, precision agriculture, forestry management, astronomy and other applications. The company is working on a constellation with a focus on collecting hyperspectral data. (1/17)

Hague and Williams Conduct ISS Spacewalk for Repairs (Source: Space.com)
Two NASA astronauts conducted repairs outside the International Space Station Thursday. Astronauts Nick Hague and Suni Williams spent six hours outside the station on a spacewalk, repairing an astrophysics instrument called NICER and replacing a rate gyro assembly used to control the station's attitude. They also replaced a reflector that is part of a docking system used for visiting vehicles and inspected the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer instrument ahead of future repairs of it. The spacewalk was the first in more than a year by NASA astronauts after suit problems postponed spacewalks planned for mid-2024. (1/17)

Calvelli Laments Delayed GPS Ground System (Source: Breaking Defense)
The departing head of space acquisition at the Pentagon says his biggest regret is not getting a long-delayed GPS ground system completed. Frank Calvelli, outgoing assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration, said he had hoped to get the Operational Control System (OCX) program completed in 2024, but the long-delayed effort has slipped into late 2025. OCX is needed to take full advantage of new capabilities on GPS 3 satellites. (1/17)

South Korea Seeks ESA Collaboration (Source: Chosun Ilbo)
South Korea's space agency held talks with ESA about cooperation on various programs. A meeting this week between ESA and Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA) officials discussed potential partnerships in Earth and space science as well as navigation and space weather. That could include cooperation on ESA's planned Vigil mission to study the sun from the Earth-sun L-5 Lagrange point and a proposed KASA mission to carry out similar studies from the Earth-sun L-4 point. (1/17)

Second SAR Satellite Advances Space42’s Hybrid Connectivity and Imagery Vision (Source: Space News)
Emirati operator Space42 said Jan. 15 it has established communications with its recently launched Foresight-2 satellite, the second synthetic aperture radar (SAR) payload for the hybrid imaging and connectivity provider. Provided by Finnish SAR operator Iceye, Foresight-2 was one of 131 payloads SpaceX sent to sun-synchronous orbit Jan. 14 on a Falcon 9 rocket. (1/15)

What if Life on Venus is Just Life From Earth? (Source: Space.com)
Some scientists argue that the particles ejected from asteroid impacts could get unfathomably far — like, all the way to another planet far. And, as if that weren't interesting enough, one crew is also thinking about what this ejecta can hold. Earth ejecta, for instance, could hold Earth life. "We're trying to figure out how much mass is reaching Venus from Earth, and how many cells can that mass carry," said Emma Guinan. (1/16)

Small Satellite Architectures Get New Boosts From SDA, NRO (Source: Air & Space Forces)
The Pentagon’s efforts to launch and connect hundreds of satellites in orbit got two separate boosts Jan. 9, courtesy of the Space Development Agency and National Reconnaissance Office. First came a major milestone for SDA’s low-Earth orbit constellation, called the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. Contractor York Space Systems announced one of its data transport satellites had established a laser communication link with a missile warning/tracking satellite built by another vendor, SpaceX.

Shortly after York’s announcement, the National Reconnaissance Office successfully launched its seventh batch of satellites for a new proliferated constellation. The launch took place late Jan. 9 at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., with a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The NRO has remained tight-lipped, as it usually is, about its constellation, only noting that it serves to bolster the agency’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. (1/10)

What is the US Space Force Doing in Greenland? (Source: Space.com)
The Danish territory of Greenland and its strategic importance for the U.S. and NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) have been making headlines recently. Largely lost in the media furor, however, are the reasons why Greenland is vital for North American security. One of those reasons concerns the role of a crucial military installation on the world's largest island: Pituffik Space Base.

"The Department of Defense has unveiled a new Arctic strategy, underscoring the region's critical importance to our national security and that of our allies," U.S. Space Force Chief Master Sgt. John Bentivegna said when he visited Pituffik in November 2024.

Pituffik (pronounced bee-doo-FEEK) sits on Greenland's northwest coast, 700 miles (1,126 kilometers) north of the Arctic Circle. That's already a strategic location, and it's likely to become even more important as the Arctic warms and allows more shipping traffic, mining and other commercial activity, experts say. (1/10)

NGA Picks 13 Companies for Imagery and Analysis (Source: Space News)
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) selected 13 companies for a $200 million contract for commercial satellite imagery and analysis. Under the Luno B contract, the selected companies will compete for individual task orders for commercial satellite imagery analysis and insights over the next five years. The contract follows a $290 million Luno A procurement announced in September and represents the intelligence community's growing embrace of commercial space technology.  Ten of the 13 companies selected for Luno B are also part of Luno A. (1/16)

Concerns About Hubble Cuts (Source: Space News)
Potential budget cuts to the Hubble Space Telescope could impact its science and increase the risk of problems. At an American Astronomical Society conference this week, officials with the Space Telescope Science Institute, which operates Hubble, outlined how they are addressing cuts of potentially more than 20% in Hubble operations in the next few years as part of a NASA senior review of astrophysics missions. That could result in reduced support for some Hubble instruments, sharp reductions in grant funding and "increased mission risk" as staff running the telescope is cut. The institute has already reduced spending on grants and public outreach to accommodate planned reductions in 2025. (1/16)

UAE's Space42 Launches SAR Satellite on Transporter-12 (Source: Space News)
Emirati operator Space42 launched its second synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging satellite on a rideshare mission. The company said its Foresight-2 satellite, built by Finnish company Iceye, was operating well after launch on the Transporter-12 rideshare mission Tuesday. Space42, created last year by the merger of satellite operator Yahsat and geospatial artificial intelligence provider Bayanat, has a deal with Iceye for at least five SAR satellites, the first of which was launched last year. (1/16)

Slingshot Wins Space Force Phase-2 SBIR for AI GPS Threat Analysis (Source: Space News)
Slingshot Aerospace won a Space Force contract to detect interference with GPS signals. The Phase 2 Small Business Innovation Research contract, awarded through the Space Force's SpaceWERX innovation arm, will focus on the use of artificial intelligence tools to identify potential threats to GPS signals. Slingshot is adapting an AI model called Agatha, developed to identify unusual behavior in satellite constellations, to distinguish between accidental interference and deliberate jamming or spoofing attempts. (1/16)

Melroy Wins Rotary Space Award (Source: NASA)
Outgoing NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy is the winner of the 2025 National Space Trophy. The Rotary National Award for Space Achievement Foundation announced this week it is giving the award to Melroy, to be awarded at an event in Houston in April. Melroy is departing NASA after three and a half years as deputy administrator. She previously was a NASA astronaut who flew on three shuttle missions, and is just one of two women to command a shuttle mission. (1/16)

January 16, 2025

NASA Teams With Startup to Transform 1980s Aircraft Into Next-Gen Technological Marvel (Source: TCD)
Electric buses are one thing, but surely nothing bigger could run on electricity, right? Aviation startup magniX is pushing the transportation industry to think again. The company, based out of Everett, Washington, has plans to retrofit half an airplane's engines with powerful batteries, making it a hybrid that is expected to burn 40% less planet-warming fuel.

The plane of the hour is a 50-passenger de Havilland Canada DHC-7, or Dash 7. Test flights are scheduled for 2026 after one of the four engines has been electrified. The ability to incrementally phase in electrification is one reason this model was selected for the project. To make this dream come true, magniX partnered with NASA's Electrified Powertrain Flight Demonstration program, which supports the goal of building a hybrid plane and getting it airborne for regional use. (1/15)

New Glenn Flies From LC-36 at Cape Canaveral Spaceport, Booster Landing Missed (Source: CNBC)
Blue Origin launched its towering New Glenn rocket for the first time on Thursday, in a crucial milestone for Jeff Bezos’ space company. New Glenn thundered off the launchpad in the early morning hours in Florida, reaching space and ultimately making it to orbit as a part of a long-awaited debut mission. Blue Origin also attempted to land the rocket’s booster on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean, but the booster was lost during reentry through the atmosphere.

Headquartered in the Seattle suburb of Kent, Washington, Blue Origin has over 10,000 employees there and in half a dozen other major locations around the country, including in industry strongholds of Texas, Florida and Alabama. Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp previously told CNBC that Blue Origin has been “in kind of an R&D phase for a long time,” an aspect of the company’s culture he’s trying to change. Blue plans to scale the cadence of New Glenn missions quickly, wanting to perform as many as 10 New Glenn launches this year. Originally targeted for a 2020 debut, the rocket faced years of delays. (1/16)

11 Korean Traditional Poems Headed for Moon on U.S. Lunar Lander (Source: Chosun)
Eleven traditional Korean sijo poems are on their way to the moon, launched on Jan. 15 aboard a private U.S. lunar lander. According to the Sejong Cultural Society, a Korean-American foundation in Chicago, Firefly Aerospace’s lunar lander Blue Ghost was launched from Florida with the poetry collection “Polaris Trilogy,” which includes 11 traditional Korean sijo poems. This collection is part of the Lunar Codex project, which aims to send global art and cultural works to the moon. The project serves as a “time capsule” to preserve humanity’s cultural heritage for future generations. Lunar Codex plans a total of seven launches, with this being the fourth. (1/16)

Stoke Space Raises $260 Million (Source: Stoke)
Stoke Space, the rocket company building the world’s first 100% reusable medium-lift rocket, announced today that it has raised $260 million in new Series C investment to drive continued growth and innovation. This investment more than doubles the company’s total funding, bringing it to $480 million. The funding round involves new and existing investors including Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Glade Brook Capital Partners, Industrious Ventures, Leitmotif, Point72 Ventures, Seven Seven Six, the University of Michigan, Woven Capital, and Y Combinator, among others.

Record-Breaking Investments Push Government Space Budgets to $135 Billion in 2024 (Source: NovaSpace)
Government space budgets reached $135 billion in 2024, marking a 10% year-on-year increase, driven primarily by defense spending. Defense-related space investments totaled $73 billion (54% of the total), reflecting the strategic importance of space as a contested domain. While the U.S. leads global spending at 59% of the total, countries like China and emerging space nations are increasing their contributions.

Human Spaceflight programs dominate civil investments, with nations advancing their capabilities in crewed and uncrewed exploration. Government budgets are expected to stabilize, with an average annual growth rate of 1% through 2030, as nations adopt commercial procurement strategies to enhance efficiency. The space economy is projected to reach $944 billion by 2033. (1/16)

Orbex Appoints Leading UK Space Expert as CTO (Source: Orbex)
UK-based orbital launch services company, Orbex, has today announced the appointment of its new Chief Technology Officer, Andy Bradford. Bradford brings over two decades of experience in the space industry, with specialism in small satellite and launch operations having previously led UK Launch Services Ltd. (UKLSL) as CEO and spent over 10 years in various senior technical and project roles, including Director of Engineering, with Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL). (1/16)

India Becomes 4th Nation to Complete Unmanned Docking in Space (Source: Space Daily)
The Indian Space Research Organization successfully conducted an unmanned docking in space, making India the fourth country to complete the maneuver. The ISRO announced the demonstration of the maneuver in a statement, calling it "a historic moment." The Space Docking Experiment Mission, known as SpaDex, involved two satellites named Chaser and Target, each weighing about 485 pounds. They were launched into space from Sriharikota launch pad in southern India on Dec. 30. (1/16)

L3Harris Calls for Pentagon Procurement Reform (Source: Reuters)
Space Coast-based L3Harris Technologies CEO Chris Kubasik has urged the Department of Government Efficiency to reform the Pentagon's procurement process to better address threats from China and Iran. In a letter to the panel, led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, Kubasik highlighted the need for faster acquisition of capabilities, more contracting expertise and limits on contract protests. This comes as the defense industry faces increased demand following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (1/15)

RFA Granted License for Shetland Spaceport Launch (Source: ITV)
The first rocket could launch into space from Shetland Spaceport this year after an aerospace manufacturer received a vertical launch license from regulators - the first of its kind in mainland Europe. The Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA), which operates on the site, said it now has all three licenses required for a test flight from Scotland and is focusing on its final technical preparations. The license allows for a launch into space from the SaxaVord Spaceport and paves the way for the first commercial vertical launch from the UK. The approved launch will see a 30-metre RFA ONE rocket launch northwards from the coast of the Shetland Islands. (1/16)

India's Cabinet Approves the Establishment of “Third Launch Pad” (Source: ISRO)
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today approved the establishment of the Third Launch Pad (TLP) at Satish Dhawan Space Centre of ISRO at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The Third Launch Pad project envisages the establishment of the launch infrastructure at Sriharikota,Andhra Pradesh for the Next Generation Launch Vehicles of ISRO and also to support as standby launchpad for the Second Launch Pad at Sriharikota. This will also enhance the launch capacity for future Indian human spaceflight missions. The Project is of national importance. (1/16)

K2 Space Names Former Pentagon Official Head of Space Policy (Source: UPI)
California-based aerospace startup K2 Space has named John Plumb, former assistant secretary of defense for space policy, as head of strategy. Founded by Karan Kunjur and Neel Kunjur in 2022, K2 Space develops high-powered, low-cost satellite bus platforms. (1/16)

Moon Makes it to List of At-Risk Sites Amid Space Tourism Concerns (Source: Hindustan Times)
The World Monuments Fund releases a list every year to draw attention to endangered cultural heritage sites—and this year, the Moon has also made it onto the list. The Moon is the only celestial body to appear on the list, which includes 25 sites around the world, including buildings by the Musi River in India, a fabric house in Gaza, a monastery in Portugal, and more. The WMF site explains, “As a new era of space exploration dawns, the physical remnants of early Moon landings are under threat, jeopardizing these enduring symbols of collective human achievement.” (1/16)

Gaia Mission Ends (Source: 1440)
Europe's Gaia space observatory will cease science operations today as its cold gas propellant runs out after over a decade of observations. First launched in 2013, the astrometry telescope precisely cataloged nearly 2 billion objects within our Milky Way galaxy as part of an effort to create a novel three-dimensional galactic map.

The observatory orbits at Lagrange Point 2 (with its neighbor the James Webb telescope) roughly 1 million miles from Earth. Its two telescopes continuously scan the galaxy, while an array of 106 credit card-sized detectors—making the largest focal plane used in space—collects data on the luminosity and motion of stars, quasars, exoplanets, asteroids, and more. Gaia has scanned more than a billion objects over 70 times at a resolution 400,000 times fainter than what the naked eye can detect.

Data from Gaia's observations—released in batches, with the fourth expected in 2026—have led to major discoveries, including starquakes and half a million new stars, as well as revealing the Milky Way merged with another galaxy early in its formation. (1/15)

Mission to Moon Carries Tiny Red Swedish Home to Space (Source: AP)
A Swedish artist is about to have the dream of a lifetime fulfilled: A little red model house he created will be launched into space this week and, if all goes according to plan, put on the surface of the moon. The Moonhouse will hitch a ride to the moon on a lunar lander operated by the Japanese company ispace. It launched on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral on Wednesday morning.

Artist Mikael Genberg says he has been wanting to put his typically Swedish-looking miniature house on the moon for 25 years. The house is made out of aluminum and daubed with a special, space-certified paint. It’s 12 centimeters (4.7 inches) long, 8 cms (3.1 inches) wide and 10 cms (3.9 inches) tall. Genberg’s signature art project has already traveled the world in recent years, including the ISS as a companion to Sweden’s first astronaut, Christer Fuglesang. (1/15)

Pixxel Kickstarts Firefly Constellation for Climate Action (Source: Space Daily)
Pixxel, a California-based company specializing in advanced space technology, has launched the first three satellites of its Firefly constellation as part of the Transporter-12 rideshare mission by SpaceX from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. These satellites, integrated with the assistance of Exolaunch, mark the beginning of Pixxel's commercial operations, aimed at providing critical environmental insights and solidifying its role as a leader in Earth Observation.

The Firefly satellites represent a leap in hyperspectral imaging technology, offering an unprecedented 5-meter resolution - six times sharper than the standard 30-meter resolution typical of existing hyperspectral satellites. With the ability to capture data across over 150 spectral bands, these satellites can detect minute changes in chemical compositions, vegetation health, water quality, and atmospheric conditions with unmatched precision. (1/14)

NASA Grant Awarded to Enhance AI-Driven Satellite Weather Forecasting (Source: Space Daily)
A research initiative led by the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) has secured a two-year, $1.23 million grant from NASA to enhance atmospheric and oceanic forecasting. The project aims to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) and satellite data into existing forecasting systems, potentially transforming how weather predictions are made. (1/14)

NASA, Partners Invite Applications for CubeSat Summer Training Program (Source: Space Daily)
NASA, in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, is now accepting applications for a summer program designed to teach higher education institutions, faculty, and students the skills needed to build small satellites. This initiative also enhances the chances of participating teams being selected for future satellite flight opportunities. "Part of NASA's mission is to inspire the next generation," said Liam Cheney, mission manager at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

The University Nanosatellite Program Mission Concept 2025 Summer Series, running from May to August 2025, will provide systems engineering training tailored to develop expertise in small satellite design. The program aims to prepare students for industrial roles while advancing small satellite capabilities at U.S. universities. Participants may also qualify for space flight opportunities through NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) and the U.S. Air Force University Nanosatellite Program. (1/14)

H3 Varda's Second Spacecraft W-2 Successfully Launched to Orbit with SpaceX (Source: Space Daily)
Varda Space Industries has confirmed the successful launch of its second orbital processing spacecraft, W-2, aboard SpaceX's Transporter-12 rideshare mission. The spacecraft lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and will orbit Earth for several weeks before re-entering the atmosphere and landing at South Australia's Koonibba Test Range.

This event marks Australia's first commercial spacecraft re-entry, signifying a major milestone in the country's space exploration journey. Southern Launch has managed all Australian approvals and provided comprehensive support for the re-entry and recovery process, ensuring the capsule's retrieval from the Australian desert. (1/15)

Tech Innovation Propels China's Commercial Space Industry Growth (Source: Space Daily)
China's commercial space industry made remarkable progress in 2024, with market projections suggesting it will exceed 2.3 trillion yuan (approximately 314 billion U.S. dollars) in value. Technological advancements in key areas, such as reusable rocket development, smart launch infrastructure, and cutting-edge satellite transmission technologies, have catalyzed rapid industry growth and promise further momentum in the coming years. Click here. (1/13)

Dragonfly Aerospace Partners with LatConnect 60 for Advanced SWIR Imaging Satellites (Source: Space Daily)
Dragonfly Aerospace has announced a partnership with Australian Earth observation company LatConnect 60 to supply three Chameleon SWIR (shortwave infrared) imagers for their SWIRSAT satellites. Supported by the Australian Space Agency and the Western Australian State Government, the SWIRSAT satellite project aims to enhance Earth observation capabilities, with the satellites set for a 2026 launch.

The Chameleon SWIR imagers, manufactured in Stellenbosch, South Africa, will serve as the primary payloads for the SWIRSAT satellites. These imagers will be delivered to LatConnect 60 in Australia, where they will be integrated into the satellite platforms before deployment. The collaboration marks a significant step for both companies in advancing Earth observation technology. (1/13)

January 15, 2025

Lawmakers Push Space Force to Fulfill NRO Staffing (Source: Breaking Defense)
The US Space Force has been slow to meet an agreement to assign personnel to the National Reconnaissance Office, prompting Congress to mandate updates on the issue through the fiscal 2025 Intelligence Authorization Act. The NRO relies heavily on military personnel for its operations, with 27% of its workforce coming from the Space Force. (1/14)

GE Aerospace Charts Ohio Workforce Expansion (Source: Dayton Daily News)
General Electric Aerospace will create hundreds of Ohio-based jobs in coming years, supported by a research and development grant from JobsOhio. The company, which became a standalone entity in 2024, is investing $650 million in manufacturing sites and supplier partners, including significant investments in Ohio. (1/13)

Is Humanity Alone in the Universe? What Scientists Really Think (Source: Ars Technica)
During February to June 2024, we carried out four surveys regarding the likely existence of basic, complex, and intelligent extraterrestrial life. We sent emails to astrobiologists (scientists who study extraterrestrial life), as well as to scientists in other areas, including biologists and physicists. In total, 521 astrobiologists responded, and we received 534 non-astrobiologist responses. The results reveal that 86.6 percent of the surveyed astrobiologists responded either “agree” or “strongly agree” that it’s likely that extraterrestrial life (of at least a basic kind) exists somewhere in the universe.

Less than 2 percent disagreed, with 12 percent staying neutral. So, based on this, we might say that there’s a solid consensus that extraterrestrial life, of some form, exists somewhere out there. Scientists who weren’t astrobiologists essentially concurred, with an overall agreement score of 88.4 percent. In other words, one cannot say that astrobiologists are biased toward believing in extraterrestrial life, compared with other scientists.

When we turn to “complex” extraterrestrial life or “intelligent” aliens, our results were 67.4 percent agreement, and 58.2 percent agreement, respectively for astrobiologists and other scientists. So, scientists tend to think that alien life exists, even in more advanced forms. These results are made even more significant by the fact that disagreement for all categories was low. For example, only 10.2 percent of astrobiologists disagreed with the claim that intelligent aliens likely exist. (1/15)

Lunar Landers Launch at Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: Space News)
Two commercial lunar landers are on their way to the moon after an overnight launch. A Falcon 9 lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center at 1:11 a.m. Eastern. It deployed Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost 1 lander about 65 minutes after liftoff, followed nearly a half-hour later by ispace's HAKUTO-R M2 Resilience lander. Blue Ghost 1, scheduled to land on the moon in early March, is carrying 10 NASA payloads as part of the agency's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. Resilience, slated to make a lunar landing in four to five months, is carrying a set of payloads primarily for Japanese companies and a Taiwanese university. SpaceX paired the two missions to use the same Falcon 9 to maximize payload and reduce costs for Firefly and ispace. (1/15)

Loft Orbital Raises $170 Million for Expansion (Source: Space News)
Loft Orbital has raised $170 million to expand manufacturing facilities and streamline operations with more artificial intelligence. The San Francisco-based company announced its Series C round Tuesday led by Tikehau Capital and Axial Partners, bringing its total capital raised to around $325 million. Loft Orbital takes buses from multiple vendors and integrates payloads flown on behalf of customers who want to avoid the cost and complexity of operating their own satellites. Proceeds from the Series C round will support ramping up manufacturing and integration facilities, including a 4,600-square-meter factory being developed in the United Arab Emirates under a joint venture. They will also be used to further artificial intelligence that will automate satellite operations and optimize data processing to further improve efficiency. (1/15)

China's Lunar Rover Has Stopped (Source: Space News)
A Chinese robotic lunar rover likely can no longer move. Images from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter show that the Yutu-2 rover, which has been on the lunar farside since January 2019 as part of the Chang'e-4 mission, has not moved since March 2024. The rover had initially been moving up to 40 meters per lunar day, but in 2023 those drives became shorter before stopping entirely. It's not clear what caused Yutu-2 to become immobile, although it was reported to be still functioning last September. (1/15)

SWAFS to Evaluate On-Orbit Anomalies (Source: Space News)
A new tool will allow U.S. military satellite operators to determine if spacecraft problems can be blamed on space weather. Space Weather Analysis and Forecast System (SWAFS) 2.0, a cloud-based platform, will be available in March or April, an Air Force official said at the American Meteorological Society's annual meeting this week. The system will help operators evaluate on-orbit anomalies, communications interference and false-echo returns for radar systems to see if spacecraft problems can be linked to space weather events versus other causes. (1/15)

Tomorrow.io Provides Precipitation Forecasting (Source: Space News)
Weather intelligence startup Tomorrow.io has rolled out a global-precipitation forecasting platform using data from its satellites. The platform, called NextGen, ingests data from Tomorrow.io satellites to provide global precipitation forecasts with a resolution of 2.5 kilometers, updated every five minutes. The system is designed to fill gaps in terrestrial weather radars to improve forecasts and monitoring of extreme weather events. Tomorrow.io operates a constellation of six satellites: two Ka-band radar satellites launched in 2023 and four satellites with microwave sounders launched in 2024. Additional satellites are scheduled to launch in 2025. (1/15)

SpaceX Launches Over 130 Satellites on California Rideshare Mission (Source: Space News)
SpaceX launched more than 130 satellites on its latest rideshare mission Tuesday. A Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 2:09 p.m. Eastern on the Transporter-12 mission. The rocket carried 131 satellites, including some in orbital transfer vehicles that will be deployed later. That payload included imaging satellites for Planet, Satellogic, Iceye and Indian startup Pixxel, which flew its first three commercial high-resolution hyperspectral satellites.

Also on board was Varda Space Industries' second mission, W-2, which carries NASA and Air Force Research Lab payloads on a capsule that will return to Earth, landing in Australia. Inversion space flew its first reentry vehicle, Ray, on the mission as well; it will splash down off the California coast after spending a few weeks in orbit. (1/15)

Rosotics Shifts From 3D Printers to OTVs (Source: Space News)
A startup is making a sharp pivot from producing metal 3D printers to orbital transfer vehicles. Rosotics had been developing Halo, a 3D printer for producing large metal structures for use in aerospace, maritime and other applications. The company is changing direction, using the Halo technology to instead produce orbital transfer vehicles and other in-space infrastructure. The company is moving from Arizona to Cape Canaveral to focus on those applications, but didn't disclose a schedule for flying those orbital transfer vehicles. (1/15)

India's Space Docking Experiment May Wait Until March (Source: India Today)
The Indian space agency ISRO may have to wait until March to attempt an in-space docking experiment. The agency's new chairman, V. Narayanan, said orbital parameters such as lighting conditions and access to ground stations means the current window for attempting a docking by the two Space Docking Experiment spacecraft closes Jan. 20 and does not reopen until late March. It was unclear if ISRO will make a docking attempt before the current window closes, but Narayanan said the agency was not "in any hurry" to try the docking, stating that the spacecraft have plenty of propellant. (1/15)

Study Proposed for Utah Spaceport (Source: KUTV)
Utah is showing new interest in a spaceport. State Sen. Jerry Stevenson introduced a bill in the state legislature that would provide $500,000 to establish a committee to study whether the state could host a launch site. A spaceport, he said, could support both the state's technology and tourism industries. More than a quarter-century ago, Utah examined establishing a spaceport that would serve flights by the VentureStar reusable launch vehicle, but those plans were shelved after the cancellation of that program. (1/14)

January 14, 2025

Two (or More) Ways to Get Samples Back From Mars (Source: Space Review)
Last week, NASA announced it would study two different ways to pick up the samples the Perseverance rover is collecting on Mars and return them to Earth. Jeff Foust reports on the two approaches as well as interest by at least one company in an alternative. Click here. (1/14)
 
Returning Humans to the Moon Without SLS and NRHO (Source: Space Review)
There is speculation the Trump Administration may attempt to cancel the Space Launch System. Ajay Kothari offers an alternative architecture that could get humans back to the Moon without either SLS or Starship. Click here. (1/14)
 
The Civilization Survival Scale: A Biological Argument for Space Settlement (Source: Space Review)
Some space advocates have argued that space settlement is vital to ensure the survival of humanity. Thomas Matula describes a scale for measuring the abilities of civilizations to survive that could be useful for space advocacy and for astrobiology. Click here. (1/14)

NASA and Italian Space Agency Test Future Lunar Navigation Technology (Source: Space Daily)
As the Artemis campaign leads humanity to the Moon and eventually Mars, NASA is refining its state-of-the-art navigation and positioning technologies to guide a new era of lunar exploration. A technology demonstration helping pave the way for these developments is the Lunar GNSS Receiver Experiment (LuGRE) payload, a joint effort between NASA and the Italian Space Agency to demonstrate the viability of using existing GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) signals for positioning, navigation, and timing on the Moon. (1/13)

Nokia's Cellular Network to Enable Lunar Mission Connectivity as Intuitive Machines Completes Integration (Source: Space Daily)
Intuitive Machines and Nokia have completed the final integration of Nokia's Lunar Surface Communication System ("LSCS") into the Athena lunar lander for the IM-2 mission. This mission aims to establish the first cellular network on the Moon, focusing on the lunar south pole region. Collaborating engineers performed rigorous testing and installation of the LSCS "network in a box" on Athena's carbon-composite upper panel. The installation incorporates thermal isolation and integration with Athena's Thermal Protection System to safeguard the system during its 239,000-mile journey and operation on the Moon. (1/13)

Neutron Star Deformations May Create Space-Time Ripples (Source: Space Daily)
Collapsed stars, known as neutron stars, possess extraordinary density - a trillion times that of lead. Despite their significance, the surface features of neutron stars remain largely uncharted. Recent investigations by nuclear theorists have drawn parallels between mountain formation mechanisms on planetary bodies in our solar system and those on neutron stars. These findings suggest that neutron stars could host immense mountains, whose gravity could induce oscillations in the space-time continuum. The Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) is actively searching for these subtle ripples, known as gravitational waves. (1/13)

Samples From Mars to Reveal Planet's Evolutionary Secrets (Source: Space Daily)
Mars exhibits a unique blend of geological features reminiscent of both the moon and Earth, making it a fascinating subject of study for scientists.
Current insights into the Red Planet's evolution stem largely from spacecraft observations and meteorite analysis. These meteorites, primarily found in deserts and Antarctica, were once part of Mars before being ejected into space and eventually landing on Earth. They fall into two distinct categories: shergottites and nakhlites, each offering contrasting views of Mars' geological past.

A recent study published in the *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences* highlights the potential for sample return missions to clarify these conflicting narratives. Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) emphasize the importance of analyzing samples collected directly from known locations on Mars. (1/13)

How to Get Involved in Space Research as a Student (Source: Space Daily)
The global space economy depends on the advancement in satellite technology, space tourism, and lunar exploration missions. Young researchers and students are an important part of that growth. NASA and ESA drive most of the activity, but the surge isn't limited to them. SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Rocket Lab also offer programs for young researchers. Thanks to this evolving environment, a young student's childhood dream can come true. But how do you get involved in space research? When you have access to enough information, it can actually be easy! Click here. (1/13)

Qantas Flights Delayed by Falling SpaceX Rocket Debris (Source: The Guardian)
Qantas says it has been forced to delay several of its flights to South Africa at the last minute due to warnings of falling debris from Elon Musk’s SpaceX rockets re-entering Earth. Ben Holland, the head of Qantas’s operations centre, said there was often little advance notice of where the rockets would fall over the southern Indian Ocean – the re-entry zone chosen by the space company due to its remoteness – causing the airline to delay flights on its Sydney-Johannesburg route. (1/13)

Alabama Lawmakers' Resolutions Support Space Command HQ Basing at Huntsville (Source: Rocket City Now)
Alabama lawmakers introduced bicameral resolutions Monday marking the fourth anniversary of Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville being named the preferred location for U.S. Space Command headquarters, while criticizing the Biden administration's subsequent decision to base the command in Colorado. Rep. Dale Strong (R-AL) led the House resolution alongside fellow Alabama Representatives Barry Moore, Robert Aderholt, and Gary Palmer. In the Senate, Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt introduced a companion measure. (1/13)

Trump NASA Pick Faces GOP Scrutiny Over Donations to Democrats and DEI Ties (Source: Washington Examiner)
Conservatives are sounding the alarm over how President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead NASA donated over $300,000 to Democrats while his companies promoted diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Jared Isaacman, a billionaire astronaut and businessman, was tapped in late December of last year to be NASA’s next administrator. However, to some conservatives and GOP Senate staffers, Isaacman’s reliable backing of Democrats and DEI ties should be investigated by Republican lawmakers set to review his appointment.

“All of the incoming administration’s appointees should get the benefit of the doubt, as President Trump is the preeminent constitutionally elected officer exercising judgment about staffing,” said Ryan Williams, the president of the conservative Claremont Institute think tank. “But Mr. Isaacman’s contributions to Democratic candidates and his endorsement of DEI initiatives at his companies should rightly be front-and-center at his Senate confirmation hearing. (1/13)

SpaceX Tests Lower Satellite Orbits to Stop Starlink From Ruining Telescope Images (Source: Gizmodo)
SpaceX is working to make its satellites less of a nuisance to astronomers by testing out ways to stop Starlink from showing up in images of the cosmos. The company recently lowered the altitude of a batch of its internet satellites to mitigate their brightness as viewed from Earth. SpaceX revealed that it began operating 300 of its satellites at a lower orbital altitude as part of the company’s efforts to reduce the impact of Starlink on optical astronomy. The company claims that the new method has been a success, resulting in a nearly 60% reduction of Sun-illuminated satellites showing up in images captured by the Vera Rubin Observatory, a telescope in Chile. (1/10)

Leadership Change at Telesat (Source: SpaceQ)
Telesat Chief Technology Officer David Wendling is retiring at the end of February and the company is adding a Chief Network and Information Officer to its leadership team. Replacing Wendling as Chief Technology Officer is Michel Forest who most recently served as Vice President of LEO System Engineering at the company. (1/13)

An Icy Vent Line May Have Caused Blue Origin to Scrub Debut Launch of New Glenn (Source: Ars Technica)
With 45 minutes left in a three-hour launch window, Blue Origin scrubbed its first attempt to launch the massive New Glenn rocket early on Monday morning. Throughout the window, which opened at 1 am ET (06:00 UTC), the company continued to reset the countdown clock as launch engineers worked out technical issues with the rocket.

Officially, both on its live webcast as well as on social media following the scrub, Blue Origin was vague about the cause of the delayed launch attempt. According to Blue Origin, the primary problem was likely ice clogging one of the vent lines that carry pressurized gas away from the vehicle. Several attempts were made to melt the ice, but these efforts were not successful, necessitating the scrub. (1/13)

New Glenn to Make Another Launch Attempt Early Thursday (Source: Ars Technica)
Blue Origin announced late on Monday afternoon that it planned to make a second attempt to launch the New Glenn rocket at 1 am ET (06:00 UTC) on Tuesday. But then, a couple of hours later, the company said it would move the launch to Thursday. Although the company provided no information about why it was slipping the launch two more days, it likely involved both technical work after an initial launch scrub on Monday morning and concerns about weather early on Tuesday. (1/13)

Trump Administration Should Leverage Private Space Stations to Counter China (Source: Space News)
A commercial platform will continue to support the nation’s needs at a much lower cost than the ISS while stimulating a new generation of technologies that will revolutionize our economy and preserve the national asset that is our LEO workforce. Hard-working Americans in this microgravity industry are the lifeblood of what makes America great and will ensure the Chinese never surpass us in space technology.

NASA’s current strategy for the Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) program, while well-intentioned, lacks the urgency necessary to maintain human presence in LEO by the 2030 deadline. It’s particularly lax when it comes to the acquisition of commercial services from private space stations for the post-ISS era, and it dilutes limited resources across too many companies, threatening the viability of the entire industry. This dispersed approach is stifling the growth of the commercial space market, U.S. entrepreneurship and American innovation.

It also threatens to create a gap in LEO — a gap that will only benefit China and its ambitions to be the leader in space technology. The new administration can ensure NASA’s CLD initiative is prioritized and adequately supported. Decisive action will demonstrate to our allies and China that the U.S. will not cede this leadership, or domain, and will rally other countries to join us. (1/13)

Air Force Chief’s Parting Warning: U.S. Must Transform Space Force to Counter China (Source: Space News)
Outgoing Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall delivered a stark warning to Congress in his final weeks in office: The United States risks falling behind China in the military space race unless it fundamentally transforms its space capabilities. Kendall outlined an ambitious vision for both the Air Force and Space Force, emphasizing the need for dramatic expansion in space-based capabilities between now and 2050 to counter growing threats from China and Russia.

“We’re going to need a much bigger, much more powerful Space Force,” Kendall said, adding that the military branch needs to evolve “from the equivalent of a merchant marine to a navy.” The Space Force — currently comprising about 10,000 personnel — will need to grow substantially while investing heavily in artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and modernized networks of space-based sensors. (1/13)

NOAA Sees New Applications for Commercial Weather Data (Source: Space News)
In addition to purchasing global datasets, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) plans to pay a premium for observations of oil spills or other events. For oil spills, the spot-market approach “is inevitable, but not yet practical,” Steve Volz, assistant administrator for NOAA’s Satellite and Information Service, told SpaceNews at the American Meteorological Society annual meeting here.

To date, NOAA has purchased radio occultation soundings primarily through contracts that give the government free and open access. As a result, NOAA can integrate the commercial observations with government data and share the results widely. Going forward, NOAA will continue to acquire global datasets and respond to events by purchasing data on the spot market. (1/13)

China Plans to Plant a Waving Flag on the Moon in 2026 (Source: Space.com)
Research work on building China's Chang'e 7 lunar exploration mission includes sending a flag that can flutter in the moon's thin and tenuous atmosphere. "We know that the moon is vacuum with no air, so it is difficult to make a flag flutter by wind like on Earth," said Zhang Tianzhu, deputy head of the institute of future technology at the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory. Engineers will "make the flag flutter through the interaction of electromagnetic fields." (1/13)

SpaceX Launches 21 Starlink Satellites From Cape Canaveral Monday (Source: SpaceFlight Now)
SpaceX kicked off a busy launch week that features flights from all four of its launch pads between California, Florida and Texas. Assuming no launch slips, it will launch three Falcon 9 rockets and the seventh flight test of its Starship-Super Heavy rocket. First up was the Starlink 12-4 mission, which launched from Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. (1/13)

X-Ray Flashes From a Nearby Supermassive Black Hole Accelerate Mysteriously (Source: MIT News)
One supermassive black hole has kept astronomers glued to their scopes for the last several years. First came a surprise disappearance, and now, a precarious spinning act. The black hole in question is 1ES 1927+654, which is about as massive as a million suns and sits in a galaxy that is 270 million light-years away. In 2018, astronomers at MIT and elsewhere observed that the black hole’s corona — a cloud of whirling, white-hot plasma — suddenly disappeared, before reassembling months later.

The brief though dramatic shut-off was a first in black hole astronomy. Members of the MIT team have now caught the same black hole exhibiting more unprecedented behavior. The astronomers have detected flashes of X-rays coming from the black hole at a steadily increasing clip. Over a period of two years, the flashes, at millihertz frequencies, increased from every 18 minutes to every seven minutes. This dramatic speed-up in X-rays has not been seen from a black hole until now. (1/13)

The New Age of Infrastructure Maintenance Using Data From Space (Source: NRCST)
The concentration of the population in cities is accelerating, and difficulties in maintaining various infrastructures are arising due to extreme weather. Extensive infrastructures like waste landfill facilities face significant challenges due to the difficulty for managers to stay on-site or access them. These maintenance issues are resulting in various problems, including environmental pollution.

To solve these issues, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT, President Sun Kyu, Park) has developed a cost-effective and high-efficiency maintenance technology using satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data. The team utilized satellite SAR data to study the impact of underground structures, including roads and subways. The research analyzed the effects of excavation, such as subsidence on the surface caused by blasting, and verified the applicability of the technology under various structural conditions in urban areas. (1/13)

Missile Export Policy Change Could Support Launch Vehicle Exports (Source: Breaking Defense)
A change in missile export policy could help companies export launch vehicles. The Biden administration released last week an update to its interpretation of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) intended to provide what it called "increased flexibility for case-by-case review" of proposed exports of such technologies. Previously, the U.S. had banned the export of launch vehicles to all but a handful of countries, even those that had signed on to the MTCR, but the new policy would allow exports to MTCR signatories. (1/14)

Bezos Says Space Industry Has Room for ‘Multiple Winners’ (Source: Bloomberg)
Amazon-founder and billionaire Jeff Bezos said the space industry has room for “multiple winners,” including his own firm Blue Origin LLC and the company it most hopes to challenge, Elon Musk’s SpaceX. “There is going to be new uses for space that’s going to drive demand for large capacity up,” Bezos said in an interview with Bloomberg on the eve of his company’s first orbital rocket launch attempt.

“SpaceX is going to be very successful. They’re going to continue to be very successful. Blue Origin is going to be successful. And there’s some company that hasn’t even been founded yet, hasn’t even been thought of yet — they’re going to be successful, too.” Speaking at the company’s rocket factory in Cape Canaveral, Florida, Bezos and Blue Origin Chief Executive Officer Dave Limp said they have high expectations that the New Glenn rocket will successfully achieve orbit. It’s slated to launch as early as Monday at 1 a.m. local time from Florida.

But if there is a failure during the flight, they plan to move on quickly. “We have more vehicles in build right here,” Bezos said, adding, “we’ll be ready to fly again in the spring.” (1/12)

FAA Public Meeting Draws Ire From Texas Residents at SpaceX Plans for Twice-Monthly Super-Heavy Launch Operations (Source: SPACErePORT)
Residents criticized the Government's apparent lax oversight of SpaceX's rapidly expanding operations at Boca Chica, saying the current approvals SpaceX enjoys were made based on what originally was a more-limited environmental assessment for fewer launches of SpaceX's much-smaller Falcon 9 rockets. 

Most commenters said the massive changes to SpaceX's original plans for Starbase (including not just more and larger launches, but also a major rocket manufacturing operation) justify a full-blown Environmental Impact Study (EIS), suggesting if SpaceX had originally proposed it's current plan, an EIS would surely have been required. Complaints focused on severe damage to local wildlife habitats, public beach closures, progressive damage to buildings from sonic booms and launch-initiated 'earthquake' conditions far from the site, and extensive SpaceX water use during an ongoing drought. 

My own comment, submitted in writing, focused on impacts and potential blowback from Mexico. The US-established launch hazard zone for Starship/Super-Heavy launch operations extends into Mexico and Mexican territorial waters. Do the governments of Mexico or the Mexican state of Tamaulipas have any recourse to address the hazards to its property or people? Can Mexico halt launch operations at Boca Chica? (1/13)

January 13, 2025

Research Blasts Off Toward Future Space Factory Development (Source: ADS Advance)
Researchers at a Scottish university have taken one small step towards a future where orbital factories can 3D print future tech on demand in space. Dr. Gilles Bailet has been awarded a patent for a new system which overcomes the challenges of 3D printing in zero-gravity. His technology has recently been rigorously tested during a series of trips on a research aircraft. That equipment could include solar reflectors to generate zero-carbon power for transmission back to Earth, improved communication antennae, or drug research stations that can create purer, more effective pharmaceuticals. (1/13)

ArianeGroup Already Working to Secure IRIS2 Launch Contract (Source: European Spaceflight)
ArianeGroup CEO Martin Sion stated on 10 January that discussions regarding a launch contract for the European Union’s IRIS2 secure communications megaconstellation must begin in 2025, emphasizing the need for an agreement to be reached quickly.

In December 2024, the European Union signed a €10.6 billion contract with the SpaceRIDE consortium to develop and launch around 290 satellites for the IRIS2 constellation. The satellites will be deployed into various orbits around Earth with the goal of establishing a sovereign, secure, and resilient communication capability for EU member state governments. The first IRIS2 satellites are expected to be launched in 2029. Any launch contracts awarded as part of the IRIS2 program will have a European preference. (1/13)

Call for Proposals for International Teams in the Space & Earth Sciences (Source; ISSI)
Eligible research projects must involve the interdisciplinary analysis and evaluation of space mission data. They may also draw on complementary ground-based data and/or theoretical modelling where this adds scientific value. This call is open to all scientists, regardless of nationality or institutional affiliation, who are actively involved in any of the following research fields:

Space Sciences: Astrobiology, Astrophysics and Cosmology, Fundamental Physics in Space, Magnetospheric and Space Plasma Physics, Planetary Sciences, Solar and Heliospheric Physics, and Solar-Terrestrial Sciences.

Earth Sciences using space data. This includes understanding and modelling Earth system processes, as well as climate change projections. Click here. (1/13) https://www.issibern.ch/call-for-proposals-2025-for-international-teams-in-space-and-earth-sciences/

Former NASA Official, Astronaut Bob Cabana Receives Top Civilian Award (Source: NASA)
Robert Cabana, who served as a NASA associate administrator, astronaut, and a colonel in the United States Marine Corps, received the President’s Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service, recognizing his exceptional achievements and public service to the nation. The award, signed by President Biden, is the highest honor the federal government can grant to a federal civilian employee.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy presented Cabana with the award during a ceremony at NASA Headquarters in Washington on Jan. 10. Cabana most recently served as NASA’s associate administrator, which is the agency’s highest ranking civil servant, from 2021 until he retired from the agency at the end of 2023. (1/13)

Humans Will Soon be Able to Mine on the Moon. But Should We? (Source: Space.com)
By the end of this decade, nations and private companies may well be mining the surface of the moon. But as space becomes accessible to more nations and corporations, we need to stop and ask ourselves what commercial activities we want to allow, including on the moon. Now is the time to create the rules and regulations that will protect humanity’s shared future in space and ensure the moon remains a symbol and inspiration for generations to come. Click here. (1/13)

An Education Ecosystem is Being Built in Elon Musk’s Image. It Starts in Rural Texas (Source: Houston Public Media)
But behind its walls, the nondescript farmhouse represents a key step in what may be the next big venture for the world's richest man. This is Ad Astra, a private school for kids ages 3-6. It's opened right around the corner from Elon Musk's massive corporate compound in Bastrop County, which already houses offices for SpaceX, the Boring Company and, soon, X (formerly Twitter). Records show an entire system of education — from pre-K to college — is being created in Musk's image. And it starts right here in rural Central Texas.

The initial curriculum, which The Texas Newsroom obtained from the state through a public records request, pulls heavily from a Montessori-inspired playbook of "individualized exploration" and the school's website promises students a course of study delivered in a "progressive learning environment" focused on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).

Musk's name isn't on the school's application or its website. It isn't even on the paperwork of a nonprofit that reported total assets of more than $200 million at the end of 2022. But his foundation provided the seed money, his top advisers are leading the venture and Musk's influence is everywhere. This isn't the first time Musk has waded into the education world. He started programs for his and his employees' kids in the past. But what starts here with Ad Astra promises to be Musk's biggest foray into education to date and, if successful, will add to his already massive footprint in Central Texas. (1/13)

Rocket Subsystem Issue Scrubs New Glenn Debut (Source: Space News)
Blue Origin scrubbed its first launch attempt for its New Glenn rocket overnight. The company called off the launch shortly after 3 a.m. Eastern Monday, citing problems with an unspecified vehicle subsystem that could not be fixed before the day's launch window closed at 4 a.m. Eastern.  Blue Origin did not elaborate on the cause for the scrub or announce a new launch date. The scrub is the latest delay for the long-awaited first flight of the rocket. The launch, called NG-1 by the company, will carry a technology demonstration payload for its Blue Ring orbital transfer vehicle that will remain attached to the upper stage. (1/13)

Astranis Satellites Pass Initial Tests In Orbit (Source: Space News)
Astranis announced Friday that four small GEO communications satellites it launched last month have passed initial tests. The four Block 2 satellites completed initial commissioning and have started to use their electric propulsion systems to move from their initial transfer orbits to GEO. The company, which is operating the spacecraft on behalf of customers that have leased their broadband capacity, expects to bring Block 2 services online by the middle of the year. (1/13)

Churn at NASA Science Divisions (Source: Space News)
Retirements and reassignments have led to new leadership at some of NASA's science divisions. Mark Clampin, director of NASA's astrophysics division, announced Sunday he was stepping in as acting deputy associate administrator for the agency's Science Mission Directorate for the next year after the retirement of Sandra Connelly. The astrophysics division will be led by Shawn Domagal-Goldman, deputy director of the science and exploration directorate at Goddard. That news came days after NASA announced it was hiring Louise Prockter as acting planetary science division director for the next year. Lori Glaze, the longtime planetary science division director, took a position in NASA's exploration systems directorate last year. (1/13)

Wildfire Response at JPL Turns to Employee Relief Effort (Source: Space News)
As the fire threat recedes for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, relief efforts are stepping up for affected employees. The Eaton Fire that burned more than 14,000 acres in the Los Angeles area near JPL is no longer an immediate threat to the lab. While the fire caused no damage to JPL itself, it's estimated that several hundred JPL employees are among those who had their homes damaged or destroyed by the fire. Relief effort for them and others are underway, including one fund specifically for JPL and other Caltech employees. (1/13)

China Launches 10 Smallsats From Sea-Based Barge (Source: Space News)
China launched a sea-based rocket Sunday night. A Jielong-3 rocket lifted off at 10 p.m. Eastern from a barge in coastal waters offshore from the city of Haiyang. It placed into orbit a group of 10 Microcentispace-01 smallsats for Chinese company Future Navigation designed to augment navigation services. The satellites are part of a constellation that will ultimately number 190 satellites in low Earth orbit. This was the fifth launch of the Jielong-3, a solid-propellant rocket designed to place up to 1,600 kilograms into orbit. (1/13)

Pakistan Courts OneWeb, Starlink, and Shanghai SpaceCom for Broadband Services (Source: The News)
Pakistan is considering allowing three broadband megaconstellations to provide services in the country. The Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board is weighing requests from OneWeb, Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology and SpaceX's Starlink to operate in the country, but the board has yet to formally approve any of the companies. SpaceX reportedly plans to invest millions of dollars to help build out a local network in Pakistan if approved. (1/13)

Indian Satellites Approach Each Other in Docking Test (Source: PTI)
Two Indian satellites approached within three meters of each other Saturday in a trial run before a docking attempt. The Space Docking Experiment, or SpaDeX, spacecraft made a close approach to one another before withdrawing to allow engineers to analyze data. The Indian space agency ISRO did not state when it expected to attempt a docking of the two spacecraft, testing technology needed for future robotic and crewed missions. (1/13)

NASA Picks Phase-1 NIAC Study Projects (Source: NASA)
NASA has picked 15 early-stage technologies for initial studies. The agency announced Friday the selection of the concepts for Phase 1 studies as part of the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) with a combined value of about $2.6 million. The technologies include concepts for a fusion propulsion system for spacecraft and lunar habitats made of glass produced from local materials. One winner was Nobel laureate John Mather, who received a NIAC award to study an inflatable starshade that could be used with a space telescope to observe Earth-sized exoplanets. (1/13)

January 11, 2025

BlackSky Wins Space Force Rapid Procurement Contracts Supporting Tactical Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Tracking (Source: BlackSky)
BlackSky Technology won multiple rapid procurement contracts for its high-margin, core analytics services through the U.S. Space Force’s online Global Data Marketplace (GDM) supporting a variety of Tactical Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Tracking (TacSRT) missions. The GDM has supported Space Systems Command’s TacSRT pilot program and is designed to rapidly provide U.S. military combatant commands with access to insights for critical areas of interest worldwide. (1/10)

Heavy Traffic in Texas for SpaceX Super-Heavy Launch (Source: Valley Central)
SpaceX’s seventh launch is scheduled to occur at 4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 12. While many are excited, others are not looking forward to the traffic congestion following the launch. Cameron County Park Ranger Chief Horacio Zamora said they are prepared for the traffic that is coming next week. Many people have reported either getting stuck on the causeway or as they get into Port Isabel. Cameron County Park Ranger Chief Zamora said they already have coordinated with the cities of South Padre Island and Port Isabel to have extra police officers in the expected heavily congested areas to direct traffic. (1/10)

Incident Closes Roadway at Patrick Space Force Base (Source: Florida Today)
An investigation into an unknown incident that shut down a portion of State Road A1A and a Patrick Space Force Base entrance Thursday was ongoing Friday. A portion of State Road A1A was closed off for several hours Thursday as law enforcement — including the Brevard County Sheriff's Office — investigated an unspecified situation that also forced the closure of an entrance to Patrick Space Force Base. The road was open in both directions as of 9:15 p.m. Thursday. Editor's Note: This came after reported bomb threats at SpaceX's Texas launch site, and after the Space Force tightened entry restrictions at Patrick SFB and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. (1/9)

Cosmic Chili: José Andrés Group is Helping Pioneer Cooking in Space (Source: Axios)
Forget Michelin stars — José Andrés Group is shooting for the moon, teaming up with an aerospace engineer to pioneer cooking in space. A first-of-its-kind culinary device aims to revolutionize space food and bring its flavors closer to home. José Andrés Group (JAG) is working with engineer Jim Sears of Ascent Technology to research and develop recipes for SATED Space, a cooking device designed to prepare food in zero gravity. SATED, which stands for "Safe Appliance, Tidy, Efficient and Delicious," won honors and funding in last year's NASA Deep Space Food Challenge, an international competition where teams create innovative food solutions with long-term missions in mind. (1/10)

ESA Set to Sign Major Argonaut Lunar Lander Contract in Q1 (Source: European Spaceflight)
The European Space Agency expects to award a contract to build the main element of its Argonaut lunar lander in the first quarter of 2025. Funding for the Argonaut lunar lander project was approved by ESA Member States in November 2022 at the agency’s Ministerial Council meeting in Paris. Argonaut will be a multi-role lunar lander capable of delivering up to 1,600 kilograms of cargo to the surface of the Moon. It will consist of three main elements: the lunar descent element, the cargo platform element, and, finally, the payload itself. (1/11)

How Star Trek Fans Changed the Name of NASA’s First Space Shuttle (Source: Popular Science)
These are the voyages of the space shuttle Enterprise, boldly renamed by former President Gerald Ford after a massive letter-writing campaign from Star Trek fans. In 1974, construction of the world’s first space shuttle, known then as Orbital Vehicle-101 (OV-101), began at Rockwell Corporation’s plant in Downey, California. With the debut of the spacecraft set for 1976, it was rechristened the Constitution in honor of the U.S. bicentennial. But, as Spock himself, Leonard Nimoy, joked at a ceremony for the shuttle decades later, “Star Trek fans can be very persuasive.”

In a now declassified memo, Ford’s advisors asked the president for approval to change the name of the Constitution to the Enterprise. “NASA has received hundreds of thousands of letters from the space-oriented ‘Star Trek’ group asking that the name ‘Enterprise’ be given to the craft,” wrote William Gorog, noting that use “of the name would provide a substantial human interest appeal. (1/11)

Does India Need More Funds to Fuel its Cosmic Dreams? (Source: Economic Times)
India’s space ambitions are soaring, with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) positioning itself as a critical player on the global stage. However, as the nation charts its path to becoming a global space superpower, the question remains: Does India need a higher space budget to achieve its ambitious dreams? The answer may be found soon as India gets ready to present its Union Budget for the next fiscal year.

Over the past decade, the space sector has generated $60 billion for India’s GDP, creating 4.7 million jobs, including 96,000 in the public and private sectors, according to Socio-Economic Impact Analysis of Indian Space Program. However, India currently holds merely 2%-3% of the global space economy. Looking ahead, India’s space economy is expected to reach $13 billion by 2025, with the country aiming for a 10% share of the global space market by 2033. ISRO expects a 20%-30% rise in its budget over the long term, former ISRO Chairman S. Somanath said.

In 2023, India’s space sector received a record $130 million in funding, marking a 32.9% increase over the previous year. However, despite this positive momentum, a recent report by market intelligence platform Tracxn revealed that overall funding in India’s space sector plummeted by 55% in 2024, reflecting a broader 20% decline in global space investment. (1/11)

Orbital Launch Cadence Spikes in 2024, New Countries Joining the Club in 2025 (Source: SpaceQ)
In 2025 SpaceX’s Gwynne Shotwell, President and Chief Operating Officer, said the company is aiming for 175 – 180 Falcon launches. China is planning more launches with new variants of the Long March planned as well as entrants from the commercial sector. There are currently 12 countries in recent years who’ve demonstrated the ability to launch payloads to orbit. This includes the U.S., China, Russia, Japan, India, Iran, Europe/French Guyana, North Korea, South Korea, New Zealand, and Israel.

Attempting to join them this year are multiple efforts from Australia, Germany and the United Kingdom. While there will be no orbital launch attempts in Canada this year, Montreal area Reaction Dynamics is expected to perform a suborbital launch test from Australia. Canada’s other launch company that is actively discussing their efforts in public, NordSpace, could attempt a test of its launch vehicle Taiga in 2025, trying to reach the 100km Karman line, the edge of space. Canada’s only spaceport in development, Spaceport Nova Scotia, being developed by Maritime Launch Services, is still looking for international customers as it slowly builds infrastructure. (1/10)

The Future Of The Spacesuit; What NASA’s Artemis Astronauts Will Wear (Source: Forbes)
Would spacesuits intended for a space station work on the moon? Would a suit designed for the moon work on Mars? Or do all these drastically different environments require gear specific to whatever environment? “You could make a Mars suit that would work on the Moon,” Doten explained. “But starting with the Moon, in my opinion, would be the wrong spot. Because we will definitely need a new suit for Mars. They're both dry and dusty, but the terrain is different. While you're not as heavy on Earth, you're a lot heavier on Mars than you are on the Moon. So your boots need to be able to take that sort of impact on those sometimes sharp rocks, and your weight on those boots is going to cause a difference.

"The space suit itself will be so much heavier on Mars than it would be on the Moon. The Apollo suits weighed over 200 pounds, that's on Earth. It was only 35 pounds on the Moon, which means that that suit would weigh about 80 pounds on Mars. That would severely limit the astronauts' abilities. Even the most fit astronaut, taking samples and squatting in an 80-pound suit is extremely taxing... They have similar needs for radiation and temperature protection and things like that. In my opinion, a great way to start would be, let's get a suit for Mars, because that would probably work on the Moon.” (1/10)

Air Force Restarts $12B Missile System Contract (Source: Washington Technology)
The US Air Force has restarted the Integration Support Contract 2.0 for the modernization of the Minuteman III missile system, issuing a sources sought notice for the $12 billion. The contract involves sustainment of the Minuteman III and deployment of the Sentinel system, with services including systems engineering, cybersecurity and infrastructure support. (1/9)

Rocket Lab Completes Review for SDA Satellite Project (Source: SatNews)
Rocket Lab has completed the preliminary design review for the Space Development Agency's Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Beta program, advancing towards the detailed design phase of an 18-satellite constellation for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. The $515 million contract involves designing, integrating and testing the satellites, utilizing Rocket Lab's vertically integrated subsystems. (1/9)

ReOrbit and Ananth Technologies Collaborate on GEO Satellite Development (Source: Space Daily)
ReOrbit, a prominent provider of software-driven satellites for secure communications, has formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ananth Technologies, a leading Indian aerospace and defense manufacturer. This strategic agreement aims to explore joint initiatives in the design and development of geostationary orbit (GEO) communications satellites. The partnership focuses on combining expertise to advance satellite innovation and deployment. Ananth Technologies intends to integrate ReOrbit's cutting-edge software-enabled GEO communications satellite technology. Simultaneously, ReOrbit plans to leverage Ananth Technologies' advanced manufacturing and assembly, integration, and testing (AIT) facilities. (1/10)

The Space Economy to Reach $944 Billion by 2033 (Source: Space Daily)
Novaspace, a prominent space consulting and market intelligence firm, has unveiled the 11th Edition of its Space Economy Report, projecting a significant growth trajectory for the global space economy. The report anticipates an increase from $596 billion in 2024 to $944 billion by 2033, driven largely by the advancement of downstream applications, signaling a transformative decade for the sector. The report underscores the growing influence of technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing in downstream solutions. These technologies are enhancing capabilities for data collection and processing, accelerating their integration with the digital economy, and paving the way for broader commercial adoption. (1/10)

Rocket Lab to Provide Hypersonic Test Launches for Department of Defense (Source: Space Daily)
Rocket Lab USA has been selected as part of a team led by Kratos Defense and Security Solutions for a major DoD contract. The five-year Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) for the Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonic Test Bed (MACH-TB) 2.0, under Task Area 1, has a total potential value of $1.45 billion. The MACH-TB program, overseen by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD (R&E)) Test Resource Management Center (TRMC), is a cornerstone of the National Hypersonic Initiative 2.0. Its mission is to establish an affordable test bed that bridges the gap between ground-based hypersonic testing and full-scale flight tests. MACH-TB 2.0 aims to expand the nation's hypersonic flight testing capacity with a cost-effective and scalable approach. (1/10)

Space Force Selects L3Harris to Design Resilient GPS Satellites (Source: Inside GNS)
L3Harris Technologies has received a contract from the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command to design concepts for Phase 0 of the Resilient Global Positioning System (R-GPS) program. The R-GPS program is a procurement of cost-effective small satellites that will augment the existing 31-satellite GPS constellation providing resilience to military and civil GPS users. Space Force plans to produce and launch up to eight satellites to address jamming, spoofing and more permanent disruptions. (1/9)

Public Should Weigh In On Elon Musk's SpaceX Plans To Splash Down Near Hawaii (Source: Honolulu Civil Beat)
Since 2022, Elon Musk and SpaceX has requested larger and larger landing areas near Hawai‘i for their experimental rocket, Starship. Now, the aerospace company is seeking federal approval to launch more frequently and to land even closer to Hawaii, with the current proposal being over 20 times the size of the initial request. Hawaii stakeholders have never been consulted in the environmental review process. That is not necessary, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, because “the Starship vehicle is planned to land outside of range for impacts to the residents of Hawaii.” (1/10)

In US: Generals, Spies and Moguls Cross Their Fingers for Bezos’ New Glenn (Source: Aerospace America)
National security leaders do not like to be single-string on rocket launches, and recent history shows why. SpaceX’s Falcon 9s were briefly grounded by FAA three times between July and October due to malfunctions, including a liquid oxygen leak in a second stage that prevented the payloads from reaching their target altitudes. In all cases, SpaceX was cleared to return to flight in a matter of days, but Ryan Puleo, an analyst with Virginia-based BryceTech, says the groundings nevertheless highlight the importance of having “a diversified array of options.”

“They have customers waiting, so they have to start making progress,” Puleo says. By customers, he’s referring in part to a handful of internet megaconstellation builders, including Amazon’s Project Kuiper — another Jeff Bezos-owned venture. Kuiper’s license from the Federal Communications Commission requires 1,600 of the planned 3,236 satellites to be orbited by July 2026, and the company has booked 12 New Glenn launches with the option for 15 more.

If Blue can prove New Glenn’s safety and reliability, Puleo sees the design as well-positioned to fill a gap in the heavy-lift market. Its “two main differentiators” are a 7-meter-diameter fairing, and the ability to send 45 metric tons to low-Earth orbit. That extra fairing volume means New Glenn can hold spacecraft with “unique dimensions” that don’t fit in the roughly 5-meter fairings of Falcons and Vulcans. (1/9)

Space Consortium Promises to be a Boon for Space Research Among Florida Universities (Source: Florida Politics)
“Florida’s universities have long been prodigious sources of talent, skill and audacious thinking,” said Mori Hosseini, Chair of UF’s Board of Trustees. “This consortium is a perfect way to harness those assets to help lift the great state of Florida and our nation in their quest to keep us at the forefront of space exploration and advance America’s global leadership.”

Ultimately, the initial consortium is designed to serve as a springboard for an invitation for other colleges and universities from across Florida to join the effort and increase collaboration with NASA and researchers on different campuses. “This agreement is a shining example of what it looks like when we link arms and create a space for the whole to be greater than all our parts,” said Janet Petro, Kennedy Space Center Director and a signatory on the agreement. (1/9)