October 17, 2024

Behind Boeing’s Long Decline: “Putting Mediocre Things Together Doesn’t Create a Great Thing.” (Source: Marketplace)
Boeing’s spiral started before the strike, before the pandemic, before faulty planes and fatal crashes. Marcel Zondag leads the supply chain management program at Western Michigan University. He said it began back in the ’90s. “The downfall of Boeing was driven by the merger of McDonnell-Douglas,” Zondag said.

Editor's Note: That's when Boeing inherited the Delta rocket. Meanwhile, Lockheed inherited the Titan rocket with its Martin Marietta merger. They handled these major acquisitions very differently, with Boeing creating a vertical management structure and Lockheed Martin creating a horizontal one, which at the time seemed to place divisions of the company in competition with each other. Boeing narrowed its personnel hierarchy while you couldn't swing a stick without hitting a Lockheed Martin vice president. At the time I was convinced that Boeing was doing it right. (10/15)

Argotec and Thales Alenia Share Contracts for IRIDE Constellation (Source: Space News)
Argotec and Thales Alenia Space have signed contracts to build additional satellites for an Italian Earth observation constellation. Thales Alenia Space will contribute six radar satellites and Argotec will provide 15 optical satellites for the IRIDE constellation under contracts signed Wednesday at IAC. IRIDE, a project funded by Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan and managed by the European Space Agency and the Italian space agency ASI, is an ambitious campaign to launch Europe’s largest Earth-observation constellation. (10/17)

Spire and Mission Control to Collaborate on Persistence AI Project (Source: Space News)
Spire Global and Canadian startup Mission Control will collaborate on a space-based AI experiment. The Persistence mission, housed in a six-unit Spire Lemur cubesat with an optical camera, will test the use of AI to enable spacecraft autonomy. Through Persistence, Mission Control plans to demonstrate its Spacefarer AI platform, which is designed to streamline the deployment and update of AI models for spaceflight applications. The Canadian Space Agency is providing 75% of the funding for the Persistence mission, with Mission Control contributing the remainder. (10/17)

Artemis Nations Seek to Expand Partnership (Source: Space News)
Countries who have signed the Artemis Accords are redoubling their efforts to encourage more to sign. While 45 countries have signed the Accords, which outline best practices for sustainable space exploration, over four years, some officials noted at IAC this week that other countries are either not familiar with the Accords or their benefits. They said they will be making more efforts to reach those countries to build up their expertise and show the benefits of the Accords. (10/17)

AI and Advanced Robotics Could Replace Spacewalks (Source: Space News)
AI and advanced robotics could take the place of spacewalks. In a presentation at IAC, a  researcher noted that spacewalks are high-risk activities that require extensive training and preparation. Tasks currently done on ISS spacewalks could instead be done by robotics powered by AI systems that can carry out complex tasks. That greater use of advanced automation is likely to find other applications in space exploration. (10/17)

Rocket Lab Adds Mission to 2024 Launch Schedule, Prepares for Launch in Days (Source: Space Daily)
Rocket Lab USA announced a new addition to its 2024 launch schedule, with a commercial Electron rocket mission set to launch in just three days. The mission, named 'Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes,' will lift off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, starting October 19th, to support a confidential commercial client. The launch marks Rocket Lab's fastest turnaround time, with the interval between signing the contract and the scheduled launch date being under two months. (10/17)

India's Reliance Jio Opposes Starlink Spectrum Allocation (Source: Mint)
One company is criticizing India's plan to allocate satellite spectrum to services like Starlink. Reliance Jio argued that Indian regulators should auction spectrum, as it does for terrestrial mobile services, rather than allocate it through an administrative process as the government currently proposes. Other companies, including SpaceX, Amazon and Eutelsat, back the use of an administrative process. Reliant Jio said it may go to court if the government doesn't change its stance. (10/17)

NASA Considers Mars Sample Alternatives (Source: NASA)
NASA has set up a panel to review alternative concepts for Mars Sample Return. NASA announced Wednesday the formation of a strategy review team led by former administrator Jim Bridenstine and that includes other former NASA officials as well as representatives from academia. They will examine 11 proposals for alternative approaches to MSR recently completed by companies, a group of NASA Centers, JPL and APL. The panel is expected to complete their work by the end of the year, recommending a specific approach or a combination of several of the alternatives. (10/17)

Sierra Space Developing ISS Trash Compactor (Source: Sierra Space)
Sierra Space is developing a trash compactor for the ISS. The company announced Wednesday that it won a NASA contract to develop the Trash Compaction and Processing System (TCPS), which is intended to capture water from trash for reuse, compacting the remaining material into square tiles that can be easily stored or be used for additional radiation protection. TCPS will be tested on the ISS in late 2026. (10/17)

NASA: Robots Could Represent "Human Presence" in Space (Source: Space News)
NASA says its desire to maintain a "continuous human presence" in low Earth orbit after the retirement of the ISS may not mean having humans continually present. NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy said that discussions about transitions about the ISS transition have resulted in two options for maintaining a continuous human presence. One, "continuous heartbeat," would maintain humans in orbit continuously. However, a "continuous capability" alternative would allow for crew-tended missions to commercial stations, at least initially. That discussion is part of the development of a LEO microgravity strategy by NASA as well as planning for the next phase of its Commercial LEO Destinations program. (10/17)

SpaceX Plans Starship (Upper-Stage) Chopstick Catch Next Year (Source: Space.com)
SpaceX aims to do the same with Starship's 165-foot-tall upper-stage spacecraft — known as Starship — in the coming months as well, according to company founder and CEO Elon Musk. "Hopefully early next year, we will catch the ship too," Musk said Tuesday. Launch-tower catches of Ship likely won't apply to all of the vehicle's missions, however. For example, the upper stage will carry people to the surface of the moon and Mars, if all goes according to plan — jaunts that will presumably require propulsive, vertical touchdowns made with the aid of landing legs. (10/16)

Aerospace Market is Projected to Reach Almost $260 Billion by 2034 (Source: Sarens)
The global aerospace market is estimated at $373.61 billion in 2024 and is forecast to exceed $791.78 billion in 2034. In the U.S., the aerospace market size is valued at $120.3 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $259.57 billion in 2034, according to Precedence Research, a leading provider of strategic market outlooks.

The region has a mature aerospace market with a strong focus on innovation and advanced technology. Notable trends in the United States include the push for sustainable aviation, the rise of space exploration driven by companies such as SpaceX, and scientific missions including satellite technology. The emerging space tourism sector presents exciting business opportunities, with numerous companies venturing into commercial space travel. (10/17)

General Dynamics, Iridium Support SDA Ground Systems (Source: GovConWire)
The Space Development Agency has awarded Iridium Communications and General Dynamics Mission Systems a joint $491.6 million contract modification to provide ground management and integration support for SDA's Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. Iridium's portion of the contract is valued at $239 million over five years. (10/16)

The Origin of Most Meteorites traced to Three Asteroid Families (Source: Space Daily)
An international research team, including scientists from the CNRS, the European Southern Observatory, and Charles University, has traced the origins of 70% of known meteorite falls to three asteroid families in the main asteroid belt. These families - Karin, Koronis, and Massalia - were formed by collisions occurring 5.8, 7.5, and around 40 million years ago. The new findings, which have identified the origins of over 90% of all meteorites, are published in three scientific papers. (10/17)

Astronomers Use New Technique to Search for Alien Signals Between Planets (Source: Space Daily)
A new search technique has allowed astronomers to target exoplanets that align with Earth and each other in search of radio signals that could indicate interplanetary communication. Penn State researchers, in collaboration with the SETI Institute, recently conducted a 28-hour search of the TRAPPIST-1 system using the Allen Telescope Array (ATA), marking the most extensive investigation of its kind for this star system. Although the search did not uncover any signs of extraterrestrial technology, the project introduced an innovative approach that could enhance future efforts to detect such signals. (10/17)

NASA Shifts to Commercial Satellite Services, Phases Out Legacy TDRS Network (Source: Space Daily)
NASA is advancing its strategy to adopt commercially operated satellite communications for near-Earth missions, aiming to enhance service coverage, availability, and accelerate data delivery. Beginning Friday, Nov. 8, the agency's legacy Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS) system, which is part of the Near Space Network, will cease onboarding new missions. The system will continue to support existing projects, while upcoming missions will transition to commercial services. (10/17)

HydRON to Revolutionize Satellite Data Sharing with Laser-Based Network (Source: Space Daily)
The European Space Agency (ESA) signed a contract marking the start of HydRON's Element #1. HydRON, which stands for High thRoughput Optical Network, aims to enhance satellite communication using laser technology to enable faster connections between satellites and ground networks. ESA selected Kepler Communications, a Canadian satellite telecommunications company, as the primary contractor for the project's first phase.  (10/17)

Skynopy Partners with Kinéis to Accelerate the Development of Its Satellite Ground Antenna Network (Source: Skynopy)
Skynopy, a French space startup specializing in satellite connectivity, has announced a partnership with Kinéis, a satellite IoT operator, to launch its own network of antennas and further develop its efficient and sovereign turnkey satellite connectivity service. This collaboration responds to the growing needs of the space industry. (10/17)

SpaceX’s Starship and the New Race to the Moon Between America and China (Source: The Economist)
The remarkable recent test flight of SpaceX’s Starship brought the world one step closer to a host of new possibilities beyond Earth (not least the colonization of Mars). But as well as reducing the cost of sending stuff into space and opening up new business opportunities in Earth orbit, Starship will also play an important role in NASA’s plans to return to the Moon. Meanwhile, China has its own lunar ambitions, and a much simpler plan than America’s. Who will win this new space race? (10/16)

Ciseres AI Satellites Aim to Revolutionize Disaster Response (Source: Space Daily)
This week, the European Space Agency (ESA) launched the Ciseres project at the International Aeronautics Congress in Milan. Ciseres is a small satellite mission designed to speed up emergency response times by employing artificial intelligence (AI). As part of ESA's Civil Security from Space (CSS) initiative, the project aims to deliver critical updates to first responders and government officials within minutes following disasters such as floods, fires, and landslides. The mission is led by Deimos, a European company known for its expertise in small satellite operations. (10/16)

When Will Boeing’s Starliner Fly Astronauts Again? NASA Still Doesn’t Know (Source: Space.com)
NASA is still unsure when it will next put astronauts on Boeing's Starliner spacecraft, which experienced issues during its first crewed test flight this summer. Starliner's next "potential" crewed mission to the ISS in 2025 "will be determined once a better understanding of Boeing’s path to system certification is established," NASA officials wrote. NASA and Boeing are still reviewing the requirements for Starliner's certification, after propulsion problems arose on the first test flight with astronauts, which launched on June 5, agency officials added. "NASA will provide more information when available," the agency added. (10/16)

Why There's a Rush of African Satellite Launches (Source: BBC)
The cost of launching a satellite has fallen significantly in recent years, says Kwaku Sumah, founder and managing director at Spacehubs Africa, a space consultancy. “That reduction in cost has opened the market up,” he adds. “These smaller nations… now have the opportunity to get involved.” To date, a total of 17 African countries have put more than 60 satellites into orbit and, along with Senegal, both Djibouti and Zimbabwe have also watched their first satellites become operational during the past 12 months.

Dozens more African satellites are expected to go into orbit in the coming years. And yet, the continent currently has no space launch facilities of its own. Plus, powerful countries elsewhere in the world are arguably using nascent African space programs as a means of building relationships and asserting their geopolitical dominance more broadly. Can more African nations chart their own way into orbit – and beyond? (10/14)

Rocket Lab Plans for Accomack County Boat Ramp (Source: WBOC)
Accomack County Administrator Mike Mason is providing further details on how and when Rocket Lab plans to utilize a local boat ramp to bring their rockets ashore while county and state officials weigh the impacts. As WBOC previously reported, space company Rocket Lab has been eyeing the Queen Sound boat ramp off the Chincoteague Causeway as a possible entry point for barges carrying rocket components. Those components would then be transported on the causeway to Wallops Island.

Rocket Lab’s plans drew some concern from neighbors in Chincoteague, who worried the large operations on the causeway would dam up traffic to and from the island, including emergency vehicles. “Rocket Lab's preferred and primary cargo delivery method is to use a dock option directly on Wallops Island,” Mason writes in his Key Points for a presentation scheduled for Wednesday, “Until that is available, they are considering using a barge to perform a beach landing directly on Wallops but Rocket Lab needs an alternative if weather or nesting bird restrictions derail this option which is where Queen Sound comes into play.”

Virginia's Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) owns the Queen Sound boat ramp, so the ultimate decision would be left to the Commonwealth. Mason says DWR has yet to make a decision on whether Rocket Lab will be permitted to off-load using the ramp. Rocket Lab plans to hold multiple community presentations and discussions in the near future to listen and respond to neighbors’ feedback, according to Mason. The space company is also expected to provide updates to both Chincoteague officials and the Accomack Board of Supervisors at their upcoming public meetings in November. (10/15)

South Texans Calling on the Texas Environmental Agency to Act After the Company Avoided Launch Delays (Source: Houston Chronicle)
The South Texas Environmental Justice Network said in a press release Tuesday that the community was "distraught by the negative impacts of the launch" and is frustrated with the "lack of concern for public safety and health." When Starship launched on Sunday, it happened after Elon Musk's company curiously finessed a last-minute launch license from the Federal Aviation Administration. Launches were previously said to be delayed until November.

Now, those opposed to SpaceX are preparing to gather outside a public meeting the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is holding in Brownsville on Thursday to review a permit SpaceX is seeking. The organization says it plans to hold "Fuera SpaceX" signs and hand out information about its concerns specifically over SpaceX's proposed permit to discharge deluge water they describe as polluted into a delicate ecosystem.

The Oct. 17 meeting will come as the latest pushback on SpaceX's intensified activity at its facilities in Boca Chica. In July, the FAA announced SpaceX's plans to launch up to 25 times annually from South Texas. At the time, the fifth Starship launch wasn't expected for some time, and it was eventually announced that it wasn't expected until November due to a possible more expansive sonic boom. (10/15)

Accelerated Model of Age-Related Muscle Loss in Microgravity Could Lead to New Sarcopenia Treatments (Source: CASIS)
According to the World Health Organization, more than 50 million people around the world have sarcopenia. This age-related condition causes loss of muscle mass, strength, and function and increases the risk of falls and bone fractures. Currently, the only treatment for sarcopenia is exercise. Through ISS National Lab-sponsored research, University of Florida researchers successfully modeled age-related muscle loss using tissue chips in microgravity. The model can be used to test new treatments and study sarcopenia in ways not possible on Earth. (10/15)

China Vows Enhanced International Cooperation in Space Science Exploration (Source: Xinhua)
China will pursue extensive and in-depth international cooperation in space exploration, according to a press conference held on Tuesday unveiling the nation's mid and long-term space science development program. Wang Chi, director of the National Space Science Center under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that international cooperation in space science can significantly multiply scientific output and foster mutual understanding and friendship among countries worldwide.

Wang cited the development of the Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer satellite as an example of the comprehensive collaboration between China and Europe, from its development to its operation. The establishment of multinational collaborative scientific teams with complementary advantages will be encouraged in space science projects, and the sharing of scientific data will be expanded to promote significant scientific achievements, Wang said. (10/16)

Canadian Spaceport Project Supports Suborbital Pathfinder Launch Effort (Source: Maritime Launch Services)
Maritime Launch Services and Reaction Dynamics are announcing the next steps in their continuing collaboration with the signing of an agreement for future orbital launches from Canada. This new partnership between the two Canadian space companies will begin with a pathfinder launch designed to reach the edges of space. The low impulse launch will push the limits toward a future orbital launch by reaching the Karman Line, the internationally recognized edge of Space. (10/15)

SpaceX Breaks Own Record for Falcon 9 Launches (Source: Space Policy Online)
SpaceX has set a new record for Falcon 9 launches in a single year, with the 97th successful liftoff overnight. That breaks their record of 96 in 2023 with many weeks still to go in 2024. Add in the three suborbital Starship test flights and they’ve already reached 100 successful launches this year despite one launch failure. They also experienced a landing failure plus a second stage anomaly so the year has not been trouble free, but it is an impressive achievement. (10/15)

October 16, 2024

ESA Picks Kepler for LEO Optical Relay (Source: Space News)
The European Space Agency awarded a contract to a group led by Kepler Communications for a LEO optical relay network. The contract, announced Wednesday at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) and worth 36 million euros ($39 million), covers early design work for the LEO phase of ESA's High Throughput Optical Network (HydRON) program. HydRON is a multi-orbit, terabit-per-second transport system that would extend the reach of terrestrial fiber networks. Kepler previously served as a subcontractor in two competing groups that secured ESA contracts in 2022 to conduct feasibility studies for HydRON, one led by Airbus and the other by Thales Alenia Space, and later became the head of the Airbus team. (10/16)

AST SpaceMobile Details How Its Cellular Satellite Service Will Work (Source: PC Magazine)
Starlink rival AST SpaceMobile has revealed more details about how it could charge users to access its cellular satellite service, which is slated to roll out for AT&T and Verizon customers. In an updated investor presentation first spotted by Reddit users, AST SpaceMobile says it plans to offer satellite connectivity as a monthly add-on and through a "day pass" system, which consumers can opt into whenever needed. Customers would be notified about the day-pass option the moment their phone traveled outside a carrier’s ground-based network, according to the presentation. "Subscribers receive a text on their phone asking if they would like to turn on SpaceMobile service," the company says. (10/16)

Next-Generation Starlink Satellites Will Be 'So Big That Only Starship Can Launch Them (Source: Benzinga)
SpaceX‘s next generation of Starlink satellites will be so big that it can only be launched by the company’s bigger Starship launch vehicle, company CEO Elon Musk said on Monday. What Happened: SpaceX currently launches its Starlink satellites to the low-Earth orbit on its Falcon rocket. However, the next generation of Starlink satellites would be bigger and would need to be launched on Starship, Musk said, while adding that it would ensure better performance.

SpaceX requested the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Friday to modify the operational parameters of its next-generation satellite system. SpaceX requested authority to lower the altitude of its next-generation Starlink satellites, bringing them closer to Earth, and for permission to use authorized frequencies with more flexibility. (10/15)

Airbus to Cut up to 2,500 Jobs in Defense and Space (Source: Reuters)
Airbus announced plans on Wednesday to cut up to 2,500 jobs in its Defense and Space division, citing a "complex business environment" especially in loss-making satellites. The European aerospace group said it aims to carry out the cuts, which represent 7% of the workforce in its second-largest division, by the middle of 2026 after talks with unions.

Airbus builds satellites and transporters and has key shares in European missile, fighter, and space-launch programs. It has been hit by 1.5 billion euros ($1.63 billion) of charges in space systems in recent quarters, led by the high-tech OneSat project, and delays and rising costs in defense. The job cuts, first reported by French news agency AFP, come on top of a more than year-long efficiency review in the defense and space business, code-named ATOM. (10/16)

Prada and Axiom Space Unveil Spacesuit Designs for NASA’s Artemis III Moon Mission (Source: CNN)
Luxury fashion house Prada and commercial space company Axiom Space have unveiled the designs for a spacesuit that will be worn for NASA’s Artemis III moon mission. Unveiled during the International Astronautical Congress in Milan on Wednesday, the mostly white suits feature a cropped torso and stone-gray patches across the elbows and knees. Although conspicuously free of branding or logos, the designs do include red accent lines across the forearms, waist and “portable life system backpacks,” which nod to Prada’s sub-brand, Linea Rossa. (10/16)

Astrolab Plans Smaller Lunar Rover (Source: Space News)
Astrolab, one of the companies with a NASA award to design a rover for use on later Artemis missions, is planning to develop a smaller rover. The company announced Tuesday at IAC that it is working on a smaller version of its FLEX rover called FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform, or FLIP, that it will have ready to launch as soon as the end of next year. FLIP will test technologies like batteries and tires planned for FLEX and also accommodate 30-50 kilograms of payload. Astrolab says it is looking at options for landers to take FLIP to the moon. (10/16)

Inversion Gets FAA Reentry License (Source: Space News)
Inversion, a startup developing vehicles to return cargo from orbit, has received an FAA license for its first mission. The company announced Tuesday that it received the FAA reentry license for Ray, a tech demo mission slated to launch on SpaceX's Transporter-12 rideshare mission next month. Ray will spend at least a week in orbit before performing a deorbit burn and splashing down in the ocean off the California coast. Inversion is just the second company to get a reentry license from the FAA under a set of regulations called Part 450. (10/16)

Space Companies More Likely to Attract Investors if They Talk Less About Space (Source: Space News)
If space companies want to attract investors, they should talk less about space, some experts advise. At a session during IAC this week, panelists advised companies to talk less about space technologies but instead focus on their applications and markets. When investment in space-related capabilities can be understood in terms of well-established terrestrial markets, institutional investors are more likely to show interest, they advised. That is particularly true in regions like Europe where investors are more risk averse and less willing to invest in space companies. (10/16)

China Launches Megaconstellation Satellites, Earth Observation Satellite (Sources: Space News, Xinhua)
China launched the second set of satellites for its "Thousand Sails" broadband megaconstellation Tuesday. A Long March 6A rocket lifted off from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center at 7:06 a.m. Eastern and deployed 18 of the Qianfan satellites into low Earth orbit. This mission will be closely watched since the previous Long March 6A launch of Qianfan satellites in August led to the breakup of the rocket's upper stage, creating hundreds of pieces of hazardous debris.

China also launched an Earth observation satellite Tuesday. A Long March 4C rocket lifted off at 7:45 p.m. Eastern and placed the Gaofen-12 05 satellite into orbit. The satellite is the latest in a series that provides imagery for civil applications. (10/16)

More Warnings About Megaconstellation Debris (Source: Space News)
Orbital debris experts warn of growing challenges posed by megaconstellations. Perspectives on how to deal with debris vary wildly between governments and companies, as well as between operators of large constellations and individual satellites. For example, since there aren't general rules of the road, operators whose satellites transit through the orbital shell of a large constellation are forging agreements with the constellation operators. The topic is a focus area at IAC this week, with dozens of papers on debris detection, tracking and related legal, policy and economic considerations. (10/16)

Suborbital Spaceflight Insurance is Expensive (Source: Space News)
Insurance for suborbital spaceflight companies will be expensive, at least initially. A study by PwC Strategy& of the Netherlands and the Italian National Aviation Authority presented at IAC this week concluded liability insurance would be expensive given the lack of spaceflight experience by companies. It could cause ticket prices to rise by 30% to 60% if there are not protections in place like government indemnification. (10/16)

Sun Reaching Peak Activity (Source: Space.com)
The sun is reaching the peak of its 11-year activity cycle. Scientists said Tuesday that they conclude the sun is at the peak of "Cycle 25" and will remain there for another year or so before activity starts to subside. That peak of activity has resulted in brilliant auroral displays, but solar storms that produce auroras also threaten satellites and the electrical grid. (10/16)

Blue Origin Donates New Shepard Rocket to Smithsonian (Source: CollectSpace)
Blue Origin is donating a New Shepard vehicle to the National Air and Space Museum. The museum said Tuesday that Blue Origin will donate the New Shepard capsule called "RSS First Step" once that capsule, currently in active service, is retired. A Blue Origin booster called Propulsion Module 4-2, which is now retired, will also be donated, with a mockup of the capsule accompanying it until RSS First Step is no longer in service. That propulsion module will be displayed in the "missile pit" portion of the renovated museum alongside several missiles and rockets. (10/16)

NASA Discovers Sign of a Volcanic Moon Orbiting Exoplanet WASP-49 b (Source: Business Today)
New research from NASA JPL suggests signs of a volcanic moon orbiting the exoplanet WASP-49 b, located 635 light-years from Earth. The discovery is based on a sodium cloud near the planet that could be caused by volcanic activity on a moon. (10/15)

Dragon Receives Long-Planned Propulsive Landing Upgrade After Years of Development (Source: NSF)
SpaceX announced a new capability for the Dragon spacecraft on Sep. 27 in the unlikely event of a parachute failure. Dragon now has built-in redundancy to propulsively land using its SuperDraco thrusters, saving the vehicle and potential crew from a rough landing or imminent danger. (10/10)

China’s Bright Satellite Constellation Could Block Our View of Stars (Source: Interesting Engineering)
China’s new broadband constellation has become a significant threat to astronomical observations due to its exceptional brightness. The first batch of Qianfan megaconstellation satellites was launched in August. Early observations of the deployed satellites indicate that their luminosity far exceeds the guidelines established by astronomical authorities.

China’s planned Qianfan network is designed to rival SpaceX’s Starlink in providing high-speed internet service. According to Reuters, this constellation includes 15,000 satellites, which will be deployed into orbit by 2030. The problem is that these satellites are so bright, they can interfere with astronomical observations, particularly those of faint celestial objects. The light from these satellites can completely overwhelm the scientific data and imagery. (10/15)

ESA Launches Moonlight Program to Build Lunar Communications and Navigation Network (Source: Space Daily)
The European Space Agency (ESA) has officially launched its Moonlight program, aimed at creating a satellite constellation around the Moon to provide vital communications and navigation services. With over 400 lunar missions expected from both space agencies and private companies in the next two decades, Moonlight represents a major step towards sustainable lunar exploration and the broader development of a lunar economy.

The Moonlight Lunar Communications and Navigation Services (LCNS) programme will support precise landings, surface operations, and seamless communication between Earth and the Moon. This infrastructure is key to ensuring a lasting human presence on the Moon while optimizing costs and increasing operational efficiency. (10/15)

Mathematics Behind AI-Powered Space Travel Risk Assessment Models (Source: Space Daily)
As space travel evolves from governmental projects to commercial enterprises, the safety of astronauts and spacecraft becomes a top priority. But with increasing complexity comes a pressing need for advanced risk assessment models. Traditional calculations can fall short in predicting space travel risks, as conditions in space are exceptionally unpredictable. Enter Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is now paired with powerful mathematical models to estimate, reduce, and respond to potential hazards in space.

The integration of AI technologies has transformed these models from simple probability estimations into highly sophisticated, predictive frameworks. There are both AI for math problems of any complexity, and automated predictive programs based on machine learning. Both AI solvers and more complex systems are built on mathematics. Both technologies are necessary. AI helpers help calculate any formulas and achieve greater accuracy, while predictive systems can take into account more factors. (10/15)

‘SuperLimbs’ Could Help Astronauts Recover From Falls (Source: CNN)
Humans haven’t traveled to the moon since NASA’s Apollo program ended in 1972, but the Artemis program will soon return humans to the lunar surface, with the first crewed landing currently slated for 2026. Artemis astronauts will aspire to do things humans haven’t done before, like building a habitable base to allow for long-term visits and exploring the heavily cratered lunar south pole.

Innovators across the world are working on solutions to help them achieve their goals, and to keep them safe. That includes researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), who are developing a set of wearable robotic limbs to help astronauts recover from falls. (10/13)

China Showcases Lunar Reach as Space Powers Meet Without Russia (Source: Reuters)
China unveiled a rock sample from the moon's far side to a space summit overshadowed by shifting political and commercial rivalries on Monday, with traditional space power Russia absent from the Milan gathering amid tensions with the West. The International Astronautical Congress (IAC) has been a venue since 1950 for scientists, engineers, companies and politicians of space-faring nations to discuss cooperation, even during the Cold War.

At the latest edition in Milan, the China National Space Administration showcased a rock sample that its Chang’e 6 rover fetched from the moon’s far side - the first such exploit and widely seen as evidence of Beijing’s rising space-power status. Talks were expected to touch heavily on lunar exploration, NASA's growing coalition under its Artemis moon program and Europe's pressing need for more sovereign access to space. A record 7,197 technical abstracts have been submitted. Russia's space agency Roscosmos, a storied power now isolated from the West after Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, has no official presence at this year's event, however. (10/14)

XDLINX Space Labs Secures $7 Million in Seed Funding (Source: Space Daily)
XDLINX Space Labs, a key player in India's space technology sector, has successfully raised $7 million in seed funding. The round was led by Ashish Kacholia of Lucky Investments, with additional support from E2MC, Mana Ventures, and a prominent family office. The funds will be used to drive XDLINX's mission of advancing satellite technology and innovating affordable space solutions.

Founded in 2022 in Hyderabad, XDLINX Space Labs set out to redefine space missions by making satellite technology more accessible. Their first significant achievement was the launch of JANUS-1, a software-defined 6U nanosatellite demonstrating multi-tenancy payload capabilities. Developed in just 10 months, JANUS-1 was launched aboard ISRO's SSLV-D2 rocket on February 10, 2023, significantly reducing both the cost and time for space missions compared to traditional satellite models. (10/10)

VISIMO to Test Autonomous AI System for Spacecraft Decision Support (Source: Space Daily)
VISIMO, a technology company based in Pittsburgh, PA, will test its autonomous AI system designed for decision support on an upcoming mission conducted by ABOVE Space Development Corporation, a company known for developing adaptable space platforms for commercial and defense sectors.

Deep-space missions present significant challenges, requiring spacecraft to handle unforeseen issues and system failures without relying on Earth-based communication. Effective decision support systems are crucial to help crews manage missions and respond to unexpected failures, reducing the need for extensive ground crew involvement and streamlining problem-solving processes. (10/11)

Microsatellite Project to Track Space Objects Over Canada and Antarctica (Source: Space Daily)
A new collaboration between the University of Manitoba (UM) and Magellan Aerospace, alongside Canada's Department of National Defence (DND) and the UK's Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), is spearheading a microsatellite project aimed at safeguarding Earth's orbital environment. This project will develop space monitoring systems to protect orbital infrastructure and reduce risks from space debris. Magellan Aerospace and UM, both located in Winnipeg, are partnering on the DND-funded Redwing microsatellite project, valued at $15.8 million. Redwing, designed and built in Canada, aims to monitor objects orbiting Earth, helping to prevent threats to Canada's space infrastructure. (10/11)

Musk's Mars Mission Math: 'Building A Self-Sustaining City Would Require At Least A Million Tons Of Equipment' — The Price Tag: A Mind-Boggling $1000 Trillion (Source: Benzinga)
In a recent post on X, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk outlined his vision for making life multiplanetary, emphasizing the need for a significant leap in rocket technology to reduce costs. On Monday, Musk responded to a post about the cost of launching to low earth orbit. He explained that to make life multiplanetary, rocket and spacecraft technology needs to improve by 1000X. He pointed out that recent US Mars missions have cost about $1B per ton of useful load to the surface of Mars, a figure that has been increasing over time.

Building a self-sustaining city on Mars would require at least a million tons of equipment, amounting to a cost of over $1,000 trillion. Musk highlighted the impracticality of this figure, pointing out that it far exceeds the current U.S. GDP of $29 trillion. However, Musk expressed confidence that advancements in rocket technology could bring this cost down by 1,000 times, potentially making the total cost for colonization around $1 trillion. (10/14)

Taiwan to Have Satellite Internet Service as Protection in Case of Chinese Attack (Source: The Guardian)
Taiwan is expected to have access to low earth orbit satellite internet service by the end of the month, a step the government says is crucial in case a Chinese attack cripples the island’s communications. The forthcoming service is via a contract between Taiwan’s main telecoms company, Chunghwa, and a UK-European company, Eutelsat OneWeb, signed last year, and marks a new milestone in Taiwan’s efforts to address technological vulnerabilities, particularly its internet access, after attempts to get access to Elon Musk’s Starlink service collapsed.

Chunghwa co-president Alex Chien said 24-hour coverage was expected by the end of the month, with commercial access as soon as sufficient bandwidth was reached. (10/15)

An Odd Form of Dark Energy Might Solve a Pesky Cosmic Puzzle (Source: Scientific American)
One possibility is that the Hubble tension is telling us the baby universe was expanding faster than we think. Early dark energy posits that this extra expansion might have resulted from an additional repulsive force that was pushing against space at the time and has since died out.

This suggestion is finally facing real-world tests, as experiments are just now becoming capable of measuring the kinds of signals early dark energy might have produced. So far the results are mixed. But as new data come in over the next few years, we should learn more about whether the expansion of the cosmos is diverging from our predictions and possibly why. Click here. (10/15)

When Is Virgin Galactic’s Next Launch? (Source: Forbes)
As the company moves toward a new phase of business, production has already begun on the vehicles that will replace Unity, which Virgin Galactic is calling Delta class spaceships. It announced both supplier agreements in 2022 and testing had begun earlier this year... but when will the next Virgin Galactic launch take place?

Per the company, Delta vehicles are scheduled to be ready to resume commercial spaceflight by 2026, though there will undoubtedly be test flights between now and then. As the company moves toward this new class of flight hardware, I’ll be sure to provide updates on when and where Virgin Galactic’s next launch will be — whether it’s a glide, test or commercial flight. (10/15)

Boeing to Issue Layoff Notices to Thousands Next Month (Source: Reuters)
Boeing will send 60-day notices in mid-November to staff being made redundant as part of a plan announced last week to cut 17,000 jobs at the debt-laden planemaker, an engineering union spokesperson and one industry source said on Monday. The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifications, which give workers 60 days notice prior to ending their employment, will be issued to thousands of employees in Boeing’s commercial aviation division, who will then leave the company in mid-January, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. (10/15)

October 15, 2024

Musk Threatens to Sue California Coastal Commission (Source: Business Insider)
Elon Musk threatened to take legal action following reports that a California state commission cited his politics in a decision. The California Coastal Commission on Thursday rejected a request for more-frequent SpaceX launches. The request was filed by the US Space Force, seeking more launches from the state's Central Coast. It was rejected by six votes to four. The Space Force had asked the commission to allow SpaceX to carry out 50 launches a year of its Falcon 9 rocket at Vandenberg Space Force Base, up from 36. (10/15)

Europe Must Play to Win—Not Just Play Nice—in a New Space Race, Argues ESA’s Boss (Source: The Economist)
Seeing SpaceX’s super-heavy-lift Starship soar into the skies on Oct. 13, and then its reusable booster fly back to the launch pad in a world first, filled me with awe. NASA, America’s space agency, plans to use a human-rated version of the rapid-launch vehicle to return astronauts to the Moon in a couple of years. China—which has made astonishing strides—aims to put people on the lunar surface by 2030. India hopes to do the same by 2040. A new space race is under way. So says Josef Aschbacher, ESA's director-general. For Europe, keeping up is not enough. (10/14)

The Woman Who Helped Send a Spacecraft to Europa, Jupiter’s Icy Moon (Source: New Yorker)
Just after noon on Monday, a SpaceX rocket stood on the same launchpad that once sent men to the moon. Hurricane Milton had recently ripped across Florida, whipping up winds of a hundred miles per hour in Cape Canaveral, but now the skies were a featureless blue. From a restricted viewing area not far away, Louise Prockter, a graceful scientist with sandy hair, glanced at a countdown clock and then back at the rocket, which carried her lifework. "Surreal," she said softly. (10/15)

ViaSat-3 Supports Marine Corps Operations (Source: Naval Technology)
The ViaSat-3 F1 satellite is up and running for US government clients, specifically supporting the Marine Corps Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38 and the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment. These units are using multi-mission terminals to enhance expeditionary and reconnaissance communication capabilities. (10/11)

Space Force Taps Into Small Businesses for New Ground System (Source: Defense News)
The US Space Force is transitioning its space domain awareness satellite programs to a new cloud-based ground system in partnership with a consortium of 20 small commercial firms. "We honed in on this small business approach because they've got the right experts to team with us to deliver this satellite operations software that we need for dynamic space operations," said Col. Greg Hoffman. (10/12)

Global Spaceport Alliance and FAA Host Inaugural International Spaceport Meeting in Italy (Source: GSA)
On October 13, 2024, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Commercial Space Transportation, in collaboration with the Global Spaceport Alliance (GSA), hosted the inaugural International Spaceport Meeting, held on the eve of the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2024 in Milan, Italy. The meeting brought together spaceport operators and regulatory officials from over 20 countries, marking a pivotal moment for the global spaceport industry. (10/14)

Private Investments in Space are Essential, Head of Italian Space Agency Says (Source: Reuters)
Private investment in the space sector is essential for its growth and must not be demonized, but needs to be regulated, the chief of Italian Space Agency ASI said on Sunday ahead of a conference on the industry in Milan. "We must not demonize the arrival of private companies (in the sector)," ASI President Teodoro Valente said. "All the estimates about exponential growth of the space economy are hardly achievable if there was no substantial entry of private companies."

Valente added that "private input is essential because public resources (can then) be used as a multiplier". The global space economy is seen soaring to $1.8 trillion by 2035, up from $630 billion in 2023, growing at an average of 9% per year or almost twice the rate of projected growth in global GDP, a report by the World Economic Forum and McKinsey has estimated. (10/13)

Warped Starship Booster Engines After Flight 5 Landing Will Easily Be Fixed, Says Musk (Source: WCCF Tech)
After SpaceX made history and successfully caught the world's largest rocket mid air for the first time, fresh images from the company and remarks from Elon Musk highlight the stress that the rocket experienced during its historic return to the launch tower. Starship is the only rocket in the world and in history designed to be caught by the launch tower, and SpaceX's images show its outer ring engine nozzles glowing red hot as the rocket made its way back to the launch site. Musk's latest comments about the rocket made after inspections provide details, as they share that heating deformed some of the engine nozzles during return.

Soon after Flight 5, Musk had taken to X to share that "outer engine nozzles are a little warped from high heating & strong aero forces" and maintained that the damage was "easily fixable." These fixes are essential for Starship's reusability as catching the booster is only one part of SpaceX's plans to ensure that the rocket succeeds the Falcon 9 as the next workhorse launch vehicle. (10/14)

Dark Matter Does Not Exist and the Universe is 27 Billion Years Old, Study Claims (Source: Earth.com)
The universe has always held mysteries that spark our curiosity. As we currently understand it, the fabric of the universe comprises three primary components: ‘normal matter,’ ‘dark energy,’ and ‘dark matter.’ However, new research is turning this established model on its head. Enter Rajendra Gupta, a seasoned physics professor who isn’t afraid to question the status quo. With years of research under his belt, Gupta is shaking up our understanding of the universe.

Gupta suggests we might not need dark matter or dark energy to explain the workings of the universe. This bold claim is turning heads in the scientific community. At the core of Gupta’s research is a model that combines two theories: covarying coupling constants (CCC) and “tired light” (TL). We’ve always been taught that the fundamental constants of nature — like the speed of light or the charge of an electron — are unchanging. But what if they aren’t fixed after all?

The CCC theory suggests these constants might actually vary across the universe. If that’s the case, it could alter our understanding of everything from the tiniest particles to the largest galaxies. Then there’s the “Tired Light” idea. Normally, we think the redshift of light from distant galaxies — the way light stretches into longer, redder wavelengths — is because the universe is expanding. But the TL model offers a different take: maybe light loses energy over vast distances. This energy loss would cause the redshift without needing the universe to expand. (10/14)

Ronald Reagan and a Goal Far, Far Away: Star Wars and the Strategic Defense Initiative in Simi Valley (Source: Space Review)
A exhibit that recently closed at the Reagan Library and Museum linked Star Wars, the movie franchise, with “Star Wars,” the nickname associated with the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). Dwayne Day explores the exhibit’s attempt to describe the legacy of SDI. Click here. (10/15)

The Trials and Tribulations of Hera (Source: Space Review)
ESA last week launched its Hera mission to the same asteroid that NASA’s DART spacecraft collided with two years ago. Jeff Foust reports on the struggles the Hera project faced getting the spacecraft launched, from funding challenges to a hurricane. Click here. (10/15)
 
Space Isn’t All About the “Race”: Rival Superpowers Must Work Together for a Better Future (Source: Space Review)
The rhetoric around a new “space race” between the US and China has only grown stronger in the last year. Art Cotterell argues that competition should be tempered with some degree of cooperation. Click here. (10/15)

Sidus Space Receives FCC Approval for Remote Sensing Satellite Micro Constellation License (Source: Sidus Space)
Sidus Space announced that the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has granted approval for the company to operate a micro constellation of remote sensing, multi-mission satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). This regulatory milestone marks a significant step in Sidus Space's on-orbit expansion plans. The FCC’s approval covers LizzieSat 2-5, beyond the successful LizzieSat-1 mission. (10/15)

Army Pilot Project Explored SatComm Outsourcing (Source: Space News)
The U.S. Army has wrapped up a one-year pilot project exploring outsourcing satellite communications services to private companies. Under the pilot, the Army selected satellite operators Intelsat and SES to provide "satcom as a managed service," a model where the provider handles all satellite communications functions through a services contract. Companies said the project demonstrated the effectiveness of a services approach, but it is unclear if the Army will fully embrace this model for future satellite communications procurement. (10/15)

Army Sharpening Space Focus (Source: Space News)
The Army is working to bolster its space warfare expertise. Army officials argue that ground forces must be better equipped to defend against and, if necessary, disrupt an adversary's space capabilities in any future conflict. The Army is taking steps to improve training and potentially establish a formal career field for space for enlisted Army personnel, allowing them to specialize on space issues. Some have argued that those efforts run the risk of duplicating capabilities offered by the Space Force, but Gen. Chance Saltzman, the Space Force's chief of space operations, said there was no competition with the Army: "We're all in this together." (10/15)

ULA Investigating SRB Anomaly During Vulcan Launch (Source: Space News)
ULA is still investigating a solid rocket booster that lost its nozzle on the second flight of the Vulcan Centaur. Speaking at the International Astronautical Conference (IAC) on Monday, ULA CEO Tory Bruno said that the core stage of the Vulcan compensated for the loss of performance from the SRB that lost the nozzle about 35 seconds after liftoff on the Oct. 4 flight. The rocket was still able to perform an orbital insertion that he said was likely more precise than any previous ULA launch. He added it will be up to the Space Force to determine any impacts of the incident on certification of the rocket for national security missions. (10/15)

D-Orbit Partners with ESA for GEO Satellite Servicing (Source: Space News)
D-Orbit is entering the GEO satellite servicing field through a partnership with ESA. D-Orbit signed a contract with ESA Monday at IAC valued at 119.6 million euros to help develop the General Expansion Architecture (GEA) spacecraft-servicing vehicle. Satellite life extension will be the first mission for GEA, which also will be designed to relocate and repair satellites. D-Orbit has not yet named the client satellite for the first mission, known as RISE, which is likely to occur in 2027 or 2028. (10/15)

EarthDaily Analytics Acquires Descartes Labs (Source: Space News)
Antarctica Capital has sold geospatial analytics provider Descartes Labs to EarthDaily Analytics (EDA). EDA said Oct. 15 it had bought Descartes Lab for an undisclosed sum to strengthen AI imagery analytics offerings in the insurance, energy, mining and U.S. defense markets. Antarctica formed EDA in 2021 after buying satellite designs, software, customer contracts and intellectual property during UrtheCast's restructuring process; Antarctica also owns Descartes Labs. The deal comes as EDA said a new satellite constellation it planned to launch last year will not be deployed until next year. (10/15)

SpaceX Launches Overnight Starlink Missions From Florida and California (Source: Spaceflight Now)
SpaceX performed a bicoastal launch doubleheader overnight. One Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral at 2:10 a.m. Eastern, placing 23 Starlink satellites into orbit. A second Falcon 9 lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 4:21 a.m. Eastern, deploying 20 Starlink satellites, including 13 with direct-to-cell payloads. The launches were the first for the Falcon 9 since an anomaly during the upper stage deorbit burn on the Falcon 9 launch of the Crew-9 mission Sept. 28. The FAA allowed SpaceX to resume Falcon 9 launches last Friday after giving approval for a single Falcon 9 launch of ESA's Hera mission early last week. (10/15)

Commercial Pads Planned at China's Inland Xichang Spaceport (Source: Space News)
China's inland Xichang launch center is set to build a commercial spaceport. Liangshan Prefecture, where the launch site is located, signed a strategic cooperation agreement last week with a company to establish the Sichuan Development International Commercial Spaceport Co., Ltd. That venture will develop a commercial launch facility at Xinchang, although the number and types of launch pads were not disclosed. The new spaceport appears to align with central government policy to promote commercial space and provincial plans to deliver local high-quality growth. (10/15)

OroraTech Raises ~$27 Million for Wildfire Detection Constellation (Source: Space News)
OroraTech has raised ~$27 million to expand a network of satellites for wildfire detection. The company announced Tuesday the Series B round led by Korys, the European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF), and existing investor Bayern Kapital. The company plans to use a third of the funding for expansion of its satellite network from a current two satellites, with two sets of eight satellites set to launch in 2025. The rest of the funding will go to enhancing a data analytics platform for tracking wildfires and to expand into North America. (10/15)

Joint Space Defense Effort Gains Momentum, Despite Lack of Clarity on Roles (Source: Space News)
France and Germany have joined a U.S.-led initiative to improve international cooperation in space defense. The two countries joined Operation Olympic Defender, overseen by U.S. Space Command to coordinate efforts among partner nations to protect space assets from potential threats, including cyberattacks, satellite jamming and anti-satellite weapons. Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand had previously joined.

It's not clear in some countries which agencies are responsible for responding to a cyberattack on space assets. People working in the same institutions sometimes provided "completely different answers" about the roles of space and cyber commands in defending satellites, said a researcher discussing a study on the topic at IAC on Monday. It is clear, though, that a lack of defined roles and responsibilities could pose problems. (10/15)

Morrison Joins Australian Spaceport Project (Source: Sydney Morning Herald)
A former Australian prime minister is joining a controversial spaceport project. Scott Morrison is the new non-executive chairman of Space Centre Australia, a company proposing to build a spaceport in Australia's Cape York Peninsula. The company's CEO, James Palmer, had told employees that he had lined up $100 million from a government agency, the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility, but the agency says it never offered that funding. Space Centre Australia has also claimed to have had a "bunch of conversations" with SpaceX about launching there. (10/15)

October 14, 2024

NASA's Europa Clipper Blasts Off at Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: New York Times)
NASA’s first mission to Jupiter in more than a decade launched on Monday. This time, the object of investigation is not the giant planet itself, but one of its moons: Europa. This Jovian satellite possesses an ocean of liquid water beneath its icy shell, and many scientists think it is the most promising place to look for life elsewhere in the solar system.

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 12:06 p.m. Eastern time, lifting the Europa Clipper spacecraft into orbit around Earth. About 47 minutes after launch, the rocket's upper stage will fire again to push the spacecraft away from Earth into orbit around the sun before deploying the spacecraft. (10/14)

Space-Made Aluminum Weld Analyzed at ESA Lab (Source: Space Daily)
ESA engineers have closely examined an aluminum weld produced in space, marking a historic achievement as the first autonomous welding conducted in orbit, and the first of its kind involving ESA. The weld, just one centimeter in size, was produced using electron beam welding during an experiment initiated by ThinkOrbital, a US startup. This weld, created aboard a spacecraft launched via a SpaceX Falcon 9 in May, is being scrutinized at ESA's Materials and Electrical Components Laboratory in the Netherlands, using various testing tools such as microscopes and X-ray tomography. The goal is to compare this space-made weld with identical samples produced on Earth. (10/11)

Parry Labs Wins Contract From US Space Force to Modernize Digital Spaceports (Source: Space Daily)
Parry Labs has secured a Direct to Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from the U.S. Space Force (USSF) as part of its "Digital Spaceport of the Future" challenge. This initiative focuses on enhancing spaceport operations with cutting-edge digital solutions. Out of over 150 submitted proposals, Parry Labs was one of 12 companies chosen for this contract, issued through SpaceWERX, the USSF's innovation branch. This selection highlights the company's pivotal role in supporting the digital transformation of U.S. military space activities. (10/11)

Space Club's Destination Space Program Will Inspire Central Florida Students at KSC (Source: NSCFL)
The National Space Club, Florida Committee's annual Destination Space program will inspire and estimated 4369 Central Florida students to focus on STEM careers with local companies who are an integral part of space exploration. Students will study the rise of the Space Coast and learn about NASA's Artemis mission. There are pre-launch activities for students to complete in the classroom, hands-on space science projects, a student learning guide, and a daylong study trip to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

From the beginning, funding for this important program has come from outside Brevard Public School’s operating budget and is dependent on contributions from the community. The Brevard Schools Foundation serves as the fiscal agent for the program, and seeks support from the community at large, and through possible grants that match funding from private industry. The NSCFL will financially contribute to Destination Space based on contributions received from the aerospace community. Click here. (10/14)

France's Constellation Technologies Secures $10 Million for VLEO Project (Source: Space News)
French startup Constellation Technologies & Operations has secured a seed round of funding for a very low Earth orbit (VLEO) constellation. The two-year-old company said France's state-backed Expansion Ventures invested about $10 million, allowing the company to complete engineering studies for its first two satellites, slated to launch in 2026. the company is proposing a constellation of up to 1,500 VLEO satellites to provide 5G broadband services. (10/14)

Anduril Partners with Impulse for In-Space Maneuvering Tech (Source: Space News)
Defense tech firm Anduril Industries is partnering with Impulse Space to develop advanced in-space maneuvering capabilities. The companies plan to pursue military and defense contracts for space missions that involve complex orbital maneuvers, Anduril announced. Anduril will integrate its Lattice AI-enabled software platform to operate Impulse's Mira orbital trasfer vehicle, allowing a single operator to control and maneuver multiple spacecraft simultaneously. Anduril will equip those spacecraft with its own payloads as well as those from customers. (10/14)

GPS Issue Scrubs Blue Origin Suborbital Mission (Source: Space.com)
Blue Origin postponed a second attempt to launch a new suborbital vehicle Sunday. The company called off the New Shepard launch on the uncrewed NS-27 mission, citing a "GPS issue." The company postponed a launch attempt last Monday because of unspecified technical issues, and did not announce a new launch date after this latest scrub. The flight will be the first for a new model of New Shepard for crewed flights, which Blue Origin said it built to meet growing demand. (10/14)

Estonia Joins Artemis Accords (Source: NASA)
Estonia is the latest country to sign the Artemis Accords. NASA announced Sunday that Estonia signed the accords in Milan ahead of this week's International Astronautical Congress (IAC) there. Estonia is the 45th nation to sign the Accords and the second in less than a week. Nations who signed the Accords will meet at IAC this week to discuss topics related to safe and sustainable space exploration. (10/14)

October 13, 2024

When UAE Joined Artemis Accords That Will Bring the First Woman to the Moon (Source: Khaleej Times)
On October 13, 2020, the UAE Space Agency (UAESA) took a significant step by signing NASA’s Artemis Accords. This move aligned the UAE with seven other countries that were the original signatories, all committed to promoting safe and responsible international space cooperation. These accords are more than just a formal agreement; they also serve as the foundation of the Artemis program that will send the first woman and first person of colour to the surface of the Moon, “using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before.” (10/13)

Russia’s Illicit Starlink Terminals Help Power its Advance in Ukraine (Source: Washington Post)
Russian forces have become deadlier and more agile with the help of illicit Starlink terminals, allowing them to use satellite internet to enhance coordination during assaults, fly more drone sorties and batter Ukrainian troops with accurate artillery fire despite U.S. efforts to stop the flow of technology.

The terminals, which give commanders live battlefield views with drones and secure communication between soldiers, are subject to prohibitions that outlaw many U.S. electronics from reaching Moscow. Yet there is a burgeoning black market of Starlinks bringing the terminals to Russians on the front, and their proliferation has been an important factor in Russia’s recent gains during its offensive, Ukrainian soldiers said. (10/12)

Gravity Can Exist Without Mass and Dark Matter Could be Myth (Source: Interesting Engineering)
According to the theory of general relativity, a galaxy must have a certain amount of mass to be held together by gravity. However, scientists don’t see enough visible mass in many galaxies in the universe, yet gravity keeps such galaxies intact. How’s this even possible? This is where the concept of dark matter comes into play. Scientists believe that galaxies have invisible mass in the form of matter that doesn’t interact with light. The gravity holding these galaxies exists because of this invisible mass.

For decades, this explanation has supported the existence of the hypothetical dark matter. However, a new study claims that gravity can exist even without mass, potentially eliminating the need for dark matter altogether. This unique theory “is in turn driven by my frustration with the status quo, namely the notion of dark matter’s existence despite the lack of any direct evidence for a whole century,” said Richard Lieu. According to Lieu, the gravity needed to hold some galaxies or clusters together might come from “shell-like topological defects.” Topological defects are unique compact structures in space that have a high density of matter. (10/12)

SpaceX Nails Chopstick Booster Catch in Latest Super-Heavy Test (Source: Florida Today)
Sunday morning, a scene that could easily have been mistaken for a science fiction movie played out in Boca Chica, Texas. And it's a scene that could be seen at Cape Canaveral in the coming years. The fully stacked, SpaceX Starship Super Heavy rocket — towering492-feet-tall — fired its 33 first stage engines before appearing to slowly rise off its Texas launch pad as it has successfully done four times before. But something else was coming.

As the first and second stages separated, SpaceX engineers worked quickly to assess if the first stage, the Super Heavy booster, had the all-clear to make a return back to the launch pad. Being able to recapture the booster is essential for the rocket to be reusable. The team decided to go for it.

Just over seven minutes into the flight, the first stage came back into view. It hovered over the launch pad in Boca Chica − as its controlled burns brought it slowly into the cradle of the launch tower's Mechazilla arms (referred to as "chopsticks"). Just over an hour later, the Starship spacecraft also returned, making a splashdown in the Indian Ocean. While it came down apparently in tact, it burst into flames upon landing. (10/13)

SpaceX's Crew-8 Astronauts to Depart ISS for Trip Home Soon Amid Weather Delays (Source: Space.com)
SpaceX's Crew-8 astronauts will have to wait a bit longer to begin their trip home to Earth after plans to depart the ISS Sunday morning were postponed by bad weather at their splashdown site. Crew-8's Dragon capsule, named Endeavour, was scheduled to undock from the ISS at 7:05 a.m. EDT on Sunday and splash down off the coast of Florida no earlier than 3:38 p.m. EDT on Monday (Oct. 14). That plan was thwarted by poor weather conditions at their splashdown zone. (10/13)

Alien Worlds Might Not Have a Night and Day. How Would That Change Evolution? (Source: BBC)
Do aliens sleep? You may take sleep for granted, but research suggests many planets that could evolve life don't have a day-night cycle. It's hard to imagine, but there are organisms living in Earth's lightless habitats, deep underground or at the bottom of the sea, that give us an idea what alien life without a circadian rhythm may be like. Click here. (10/13)

Starship Readies for Chopsticks Landing Attempt at Texas Launch Pad. Implications for Florida? (Source: Florida Today)
As early as Sunday, October13, the huge rocket could lift off on another orbital test flight, this time with plans to return the first stage, the Super Heavy booster, to the launch pad — being caught by arms referred to as "chopsticks." Should the landing not go correctly, SpaceX claims that the Super Heavy booster will automatically switch to a trajectory that will take it out to the Gulf of Mexico for a splashdown in the water. It may still sound like science fiction, but SpaceX is taking the chance. If this is successful, it raises the question of just when Starship will launch from Cape Canaveral.

Currently, there is no update on the FAA and Space Force environment impact surveys, which were conducted earlier this year, and are necessary before SpaceX can attempt a launch from Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39A. Open to the Brevard Country public, these environmental impact surveys looked closely at any potential environmental impacts to the Space Coast. Concerns ranged from the vibrations of the rocket on surrounding area structures to impacts to wildlife.

While there isn't an official timeline for Starship to launch from Kennedy Space Center, it is noteworthy that SpaceX has had a Starship launch tower standing at Pad 39A − where it will launch − for quite some time. There is currently no update on the progress. (10/12)

The Giant Sphere that China Hopes Will Track Elusive Neutrinos (Source: South China Morning Post)
China is a step closer in its quest to measure elusive particles called neutrinos with the installation of a massive subterranean sphere detector in the country’s south. The sphere is about 35 meters in diameter and is a central element of the $376 million Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory, or JUNO, project in Jiangmen, Guangdong province. It will be filled with 20,000 tonnes of a “liquid scintillator” and suspended in 35,000 tonnes of pure water 700 meters below ground to try to measure the mass of different types of neutrinos produced by two nearby nuclear power plants. (10/12)

Boeing Plans More Commercial Crew Charges (Source: Space News)
Boeing expects to take up to several hundred million dollars in additional charges against earnings for its CST-100 Starliner commercial crew program in the third quarter. Boeing said it expects to report pre-tax earnings charges of $2 billion on four programs, including Starliner, in its Defense, Space & Security (BDS) business when it reports its third quarter financial results Oct. 23. Of that $2 billion, $1.6 billion will be charged against two military aircraft programs, the T-7A and KC-46A. That leaves $400 million for Starliner and the MQ-25 drone, but the statement did not mention the charges for each of those programs. (10/12)

October 12, 2024

Satellite Communication Companies Allocated Spectrum in India (Source: New Indian Express)
India's Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on Friday said it has provisionally allocated spectrum to eligible satellite communication players for a period of six months. The DoT, in a notification, said the spectrum will be given to firms that have secured licenses from DoT as well as In-Space authorization certificates. Currently, there are two companies -- OneWeb and Jio-SES -- that have received licenses for satellite communication in the country. Elon Musk-led Starlink and Amazon have applied but yet to get approval from the government. (10/11)

FAA Approves Falcon 9 Return to Flight (Source: Space Policy Online)
The FAA approved the return to flight of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket late this afternoon. Space X suspended all Falcon 9 launches after a second stage anomaly on September 28 following the otherwise successful launch of Crew-9 to the International Space Station. The FAA allowed SpaceX to launch ESA’s Hera mission on Monday, but other flights have had to wait until now. (10/11)

Lichens on Mars (Source: EurekAlert)
Once you know where to look for them, lichens are everywhere! These composite organisms – fungal and photosynthetic partners joined into a greater whole, can survive on a vast array of surfaces, from rocks and trees to bare ground and buildings. They are known from every continent, and almost certainly every land mass on planet Earth; some species have even survived exposure to the exterior of the International Space Station.

This hardy nature has long interested researchers studying what life could survive on Mars, and the astrobiologists studying life on Earth as an analog of our planetary neighbor. In the deserts surrounding two Mars analog stations in North America, lichens comprise such an important part of the local ecosystems that they inspired a biodiversity assessment with a unique twist: this collections-based inventory took place during a simulated mission to Mars! (10/11)

Telescopes Can Help Bring Renewable Energy to Isolated Chilean Communities (Source: UU.NL)
Integrating renewable energy sources into the design of the AtLAST telescope would introduce the astronomical community on the Chajnantor plateau and the nearby residential areas to more sustainable energy systems. This integration would reduce local reliance on fossil fuels and provide renewable energy. The research shows that replicating similar energy systems at nearby telescopes could reduce fossil fuel-based energy generation by 30GWh annually, cutting emissions by 18-24 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent while contributing to access to affordable renewable energy for surrounding communities. (10/11)

Boeing’s Defense/Space Unit Logs Massive $2 Billion in Losses for Third Quarter (Source: Breaking Defense)
Boeing Defense Space and Security (BDS) will take $2 billion in losses on fixed-price contracts when it reports its third quarter results later this month, the company disclosed today, bringing total defense-related charges for the company up to $3.2 billion this year. The wider company also announced plans to slash 10 percent of its total workforce.

The charges to its defense arm come as the US planemaker hemorrhages money amid an ongoing strike by its Seattle-area machinists union and as it announced the conclusion of its 767 freighter production — both factors the company states contributed to losses on the T-7A trainer, MQ-25 tanker drone, KC-46 tanker and NASA’s Starliner in the most recent financial quarter. (10/11)

Momentus Chosen by NASA for Upcoming Launch Missions (Source: Space Daily)
Momentus has been selected by NASA to provide launch services for future missions through the VADR (Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare) contract. This contract allows Momentus to support NASA's efforts to increase space access by launching satellites such as Class D, CubeSats, and other higher-risk payloads to various orbits. (10/11)

The Largest Storm in Our Solar System is Moving Unexpectedly, Scientists Say (Source: CNN)
New observations of Jupiter’s Great Red Spot captured by the Hubble Space Telescope show that the 190-year-old storm wiggles like gelatin and shape-shifts like a squeezed stress ball. The unexpected observations, which Hubble took over 90 days from December to March, show that the Great Red Spot isn’t as stable as it appears, according to astronomers. (10/11)

Space Force Finalizes $148M Professional Services Award (Source: Washington Technology)
Tecolote Research has secured a five-year, $148.1 million contract for acquisition, financial consulting support and other professional services to Space Force. The branch’s Space Systems Command sought help from industry to help manage its Assured Access to Space organization, which acquires launch services and other on-orbit activities for government agencies. SSC finalized the award on Wednesday as Tecolote was the lone company to submit a bid, according to the Pentagon’s contracts digest. (10/10)

What Trump’s Re-Election Would Mean for US Space Policy (Source: Space & Defense)
US space policy will likely get a jolt if voters re-elect Donald Trump next month. The former president won respect for his interest and work in space. In contrast, the current outgoing president is widely viewed as asleep at the wheel regarding space. During his first term, Trump initiated several substantive space policy reforms, including starting the Artemis program, reinstating the National Space Council, and creating the United States Space Force. In a speech in August, Trump said establishing the Space Force was “one of my proudest achievements in my first term.”

Trump’s second-term policy platform, released in July, says “the United States will create a robust manufacturing industry in near Earth orbit, send American astronauts back to the Moon, and onward to Mars, and enhance partnerships with the rapidly expanding commercial space sector to revolutionize our ability to access, live in, and develop assets in space.” If re-elected, Trump has said he intends to set up a 4,000-person-strong stand-alone Space National Guard, which would act as the primary US Space Force combat reserve. (10/11)

What Space Capabilities Do NATO Nations Have? The Alliance Wants to Know (Source: Air & Space Forces)
NATO is asking all 32 of its member nations to detail their space capabilities so it can better plan for future operations, the first U.S. Space Force general officer assigned to the alliance said Oct. 10. Additionally, NATO is also working on a commercial space strategy of its own after the Pentagon and Space Force released their versions earlier this year, and the alliance may even one day get space assets of its own, suggested Maj. Gen. Devin R. Pepper, deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and policy at NATO Allied Command Transformation, during a livestreamed discussion at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. (10/10)

California Officials Cite Elon Musk’s Politics in Rejecting SpaceX Launches (Source: Politico)
Elon Musk’s tweets about the presidential election and spreading falsehoods about Hurricane Helene are endangering his ability to launch rockets off California’s central coast. The California Coastal Commission on Thursday rejected the Air Force’s plan to give SpaceX permission to launch up to 50 rockets a year from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Santa Barbara County.

“Elon Musk is hopping about the country, spewing and tweeting political falsehoods and attacking FEMA while claiming his desire to help the hurricane victims with free Starlink access to the internet,” Commissioner Gretchen Newsom said at the meeting in San Diego. The agency’s commissioners, appointed by the governor and legislative leaders, voted 6-4 to reject the Air Force’s plan over concerns that all SpaceX launches would be considered military activity, shielding the company from having to acquire its own permits, even if military payloads aren’t being carried.

The Coastal Commission, known for its sharp-elbowed defense of public access to the state’s 840-mile coastline, has been sparring with the Air Force’s Space Force branch since May 2023, when DOD asked to increase SpaceX’s satellite launches from Vandenberg from six to 36 per year. Things came to a head in August when commissioners unloaded on DOD for resisting their recommendations for reducing the impacts of the launches. (10/10)

Alaska's Kodiak Island Spaceport Relying on More Than Rocket Launches to Generate Revenue (Source: KMXT)
Many residents saw a failed rocket test at the Pacific Spaceport Complex-Alaska on Kodiak Island this summer and pointed to the facility’s shortcomings. But the Kodiak spaceport will sign an agreement later this week to support other spaceports across the country and the world by sharing one of its systems known as RSTS.

When a rocket is launched from any spaceport, the typical standard practices involve tracking the flight and remotely monitoring it through what’s known as a Range Safety and Telemetry System, or RSTS. John Oberst, CEO of the Alaska Aerospace Corporation, said the Kodiak spaceport has set up its own version of the RSTS in shipping containers to be mobile and deployable all over the world. When the system is shipped overseas teams from the island go, too. Oberst said the spaceport has enough staff to support two missions or launches simultaneously, one in Kodiak and one abroad. (10/10)

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson On The Agency’s Future (Source: Aviation Week)
All I know is there is only one [Moon-/Mars-class] rocket flying and that is the SLS. The others are not off the ground and haven’t orbited yet, so I’ve got to take it one step at a time... There are some things that are out of our control and in the private sector itself. For example, some of the [Human Landing System] delay is when Blue Origin loses the first round of competition and then sues. That delays everything for six months. There are delays with some of the environmental concerns and the fact that maybe the FAA doesn’t have enough people to process everything that’s on their plate. Click here. (10/10)

Anti-Dust Shield Progress in China's Lunar Exploration Quest (Source: Xinhua)
China has initiated the lunar landing phase of its manned lunar exploration program, with a plan to complete a manned lunar landing by 2030. Among all the challenges faced by scientists and engineers working on the program, lunar dust is very small in size, but potentially a big threat to lunar exploration missions. However, Chinese researchers have found a simple, fast and promising way to build an anti-dust shield by fabricating a lunar dust-repellent surface via nanosecond laser etching.

Wang's team opted for aluminum as their chosen material, as it is lightweight, high-strength and corrosion-resistant, and then used nanosecond laser etching to prepare multi-level and micro-structure surfaces with different structural parameters. During the process of using different parameters, the team found that the aluminum surface treated with a scanning spacing of 80 microns had the smallest contact area with dust particles, thus resulting in the best anti-dust effect. (10/9)

NATO Looks to Publish First Commercial Space Strategy in 2025 (Source: Defense Scoop)
As it looks to ensure access to critical capabilities during conflicts, NATO plans to release its own commercial space strategy next year that aims to expand the alliance’s ability to tap into advancements in the private sector. While the strategy’s development is still in nascent stages, it’s intended to provide guidance as to how member nations can take advantage of a range of commercial space technologies to increase resiliency in the domain, said Maj. Gen. Devin Pepper.

“There’s a lot of commercial capability out there that we can leverage to increase our own resiliency at NATO. We want to be able to capture that,” he said during a webinar hosted by the Mitchell Institute. “Right now we have contractors with several commercial companies today. We want to be able to expand that and make sure that we can rely upon that in a conflict if we need it.” (10/10)

October 11, 2024

Japan’s H3 to Launch Emirati Asteroid Mission (Source: Space News)
The UAE has selected Japan's H3 rocket to launch an asteroid mission. The UAE Space Agency announced Thursday it signed a contract with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) for the launch of the MBE Explorer spacecraft in the first quarter of 2028. That spacecraft will fly by six asteroids in the main belt from 2030 to 2033 before arriving at a seventh asteroid in 2034 and deploying a lander there. UAE previously selected MHI for the launch of its Emirates Mars Mission orbiter spacecraft on an H-2A in 2020. (10/11)

China Launches Third High Orbit Internet Satellite (Source: Space News)
China launched a new communications satellite towards geostationary orbit Thursday. A Long March 3B lifted off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 9:50 a.m. Eastern and placed into orbit the High orbit internet satellite-03 (Weixing Hulianwan Gaogui-03) spacecraft. The first two such satellites were launched in February and August, but Chinese officials have provided few details about their capabilities and applications. The lack of publicly available information raises speculation about their potential uses, which could include military applications. (10/11)

Falcon 9 Launches ESA’s Hera Asteroid Mission at Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: Space News)
A Falcon 9 successfully launched a European asteroid mission Oct. 7 in a partial return to flight for the rocket. The Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 10:52 a.m. Eastern. The rocket deployed the Hera spacecraft for the European Space Agency about 76 minutes later, after two burns of the upper stage to place the spacecraft on an interplanetary trajectory. (10/11)

Chinese Orbital Free-Flyer Returns to Earth with Experiments (Source: Space News)
A Chinese capsule landed late Thursday after two weeks of on-orbit experiments. The Shijian-19 satellite touched down at 10:39 p.m. Eastern at the Dongfeng landing site near Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert. The spacecraft launched Sep. 27 carrying space science and biology payloads as well as experiments for technology verification. The mission also verified the performance of the spacecraft itself, which Chinese officials said was a next-generation "high-performance reusable returning space test platform." (10/11)

Space Force Used Commercial Satellite Imagery to Support Hurricane Recovery (Source: Space News)
The Space Force used a commercial satellite imagery program to support disaster relief after Hurricane Helene. The Tactical Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Tracking (TacSRT) program supplied U.S. Northern Command with detailed analyses of road closures, conditions and bridge statuses along key routes between Knoxville, Tennessee, and Asheville, North Carolina, the service said Thursday, as well as supported the rescue of four injured civilians in North Carolina. TacSRT operates as a marketplace where government organizations can request specific data, including both imagery and analysis, on disaster-affected regions from commercial satellite providers. (10/11)

ViaSat-3 Now Serving Marine Corps (Source: Space News)
The first ViaSat-3 satellite is now providing services for the U.S. Marine Corps. The ViaSat-3 F1 satellite, which covers the Americas, is supporting the Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38 and the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, utilizing existing military multi-mission terminals for access. The Marine Corps is the first U.S. government user of the new spacecraft, which experienced antenna deployment issues after its launch last year. (10/11)

Volta's LightGrid to Power Lunar Operations (Source: Space News)
A startup has unveiled plans to provide power services at the moon. Volta Space Technologies said it is developing a network of spacecraft called LightGrid that will collect solar power while orbiting the moon and transmit it to landers and rovers on the surface using lasers. That could allow those spacecraft on the surface to operate through the lunar night and travel into permanently shadowed craters at the lunar poles. Volta plans to demonstrate its technology in Earth orbit in 2026 and start deploying spacecraft around the moon in 2028. (10/11)

Europa Clipper Could Launch Sunday After Minor Hurricane Damage at Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: NASA)
NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft could launch as soon as Sunday as the Kennedy Space Center cleans up from Hurricane Milton. The agency said late Thursday that KSC remains closed as post-storm assessments were underway, but initial checks showed only minor damage so far. NASA said it is protecting a launch opportunity as soon as Sunday for Europa Clipper, launching on Falcon Heavy from KSC's Launch Complex 39A, with additional opportunities daily through Nov. 6. (10/11)

Vega C Return Planned for December (Source: Arianespace)
The return to flight for Europe's Vega C rocket is now scheduled for early December. Arianespace said Thursday it is planning for a Dec. 3 launch of the rocket from French Guiana carrying the Sentinel-1C radar imaging satellite. The launch will be the first for the Vega C since launch failure in late December 2022 that was blamed on the nozzle in the second-stage Zefiro-40 motor of the solid-fuel rocket. The Zefiro-40 motor has been redesigned and passed two static-fire tests, including one last week. (10/11)

Group Sues SpaceX for Wastewater Discharge at Texas Starbase (Source: Bloomberg)
An environmental group is suing SpaceX regarding wastewater discharges from its Starbase launch site. The group SaveRGV filed suit in federal district court this week, asking the court to prevent SpaceX from using a launch pad deluge system until the company receives a federal permit for it, and to assess fines for previous unpermitted use of the system. SpaceX counters that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality concluded the deluge system does not pose an environmental risk and has allowed the company to use the deluge system while it gets an EPA permit. (10/11)

NASA Extends CAPSTONE Lunar Mission (Source: Advanced Space)
NASA is extending the mission of the CAPSTONE cubesat orbiting the moon. Advanced Space, the company that runs the mission, said this week that NASA granted an extension to continue mission operations and perform additional tests of its Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System, as well as analyze the feasibility of "high-priority experiments in support of NASA’s technology needs." CAPSTONE has been in a near-rectilinear halo orbit around the moon, the same orbit to be later used by the lunar Gateway, since November 2022. (10/11)

Hyperspectral Instrument Measures CO2 From Planet Satellite (Source: Carbon Mapper)
A hyperspectral instrument on a Planet satellite has made its first measurements of emissions. The instrument on the Tanager-1 satellite, launched in August, has provided measurements of carbon dioxide and methane emissions for Carbon Mapper, a nonprofit organization. The instrument is able to pinpoint "super-emitters" of those greenhouse gases, such as from power plants and oil fields. The effort is part of a partnership that also includes NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and other organizations. (10/11)

NASA's Hubble, New Horizons Team Up for a Simultaneous Look at Uranus (Source: NASA)
Uranus has been described as mysterious, strange, and fairly unknown to those of us here on Earth. However, in astronomy, these terms are pretty relative. Compared to the remote, dark stretches of the early universe or oddball exoplanets dozens of light-years from our solar system, researchers actually know a lot about Uranus. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is among the observatories that can view the planet in high resolution, showing up-close details of the planet's atmospheric features.

Astronomers have now taken advantage of this viewpoint in a new way. They viewed Uranus in high resolution with Hubble, and at the same time, with the New Horizons spacecraft from 6.5 billion miles away, where the planet appears as just a splotch. This combined perspective can help teach them more about what to expect while imaging planets around other stars. (10/9)

Zaitra Raises €1.7M as AI-Enhanced Hyperspectral Smallsat Prepares for November Rideshare Launch (Source: Space News)
An AI-enhanced hyperspectral small satellite is set to launch on SpaceX’s Transporter-12 rideshare mission this November. The TROLL 6U satellite, developed by TRL Space, integrates Zaitra’s SKAIDOCK hardware with SKAISEN software, marking a key milestone for the Czech startup. This achievement has helped Zaitra raise €1.7 million ($1.9 million) in pre-seed funding, fueling its expansion into the U.S. space market.

SKAIDOCK is a hardware accelerator built around an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array)—a type of reprogrammable chip that can be customized for specific tasks, like processing data directly onboard a satellite. On the TROLL mission, SKAIDOCK will run SKAISEN, Zaitra's AI software for data filtering and cloud detection, reducing the amount of unnecessary data sent back to Earth. This capability is crucial for Earth observation missions, where hyperspectral imaging often faces bandwidth constraints. (10/10)

Stratolaunch Tests Recoverable Test Vehicle at Mojave Spaceport (Source: Stratolaunch)
Talon-A2 is Stratolaunch’s first recoverable autonomous hypersonic testbed designed to repeatedly air launch, fly a hypersonic trajectory, and land on a standard runway. It represents a new era of low-risk, affordable, and routine access to the hypersonic environment. Click here. (10/10)

Using AI and VR to Revolutionize Space Exploration (Source: Global Innovation Forum)
SpaceVerse stands out by utilizing AI in two forms: predictive systems and large language models (LLMs). These tools understand aerospace dynamics and human parameters such as body movements and facial expressions. “Our LLM allows users to interact with the system through voice commands, adding another layer of seamless engagement,” Moscatelli highlights. She emphasizes that the company’s use of Unity software integrates AI with virtual reality to offer high-quality simulations at reduced costs. Click here. (10/7)

VISIMO LLC to Test Autonomous AI Data System on ABOVE Mission (Source: Above Space)
VISIMO, a technology company in Pittsburgh, PA, will test its AI software system for decision support on an upcoming payload mission being flown by ABOVE Space Development Corporation. Deep-space missions will require spacecraft to overcome unknown problems and unexpected system failures in outer space without the support of Earth-based communication or resources.

Reliable decision support systems are necessary to assist crew with managing and executing missions, and responding to unanticipated failures and anomalies, thereby reducing cognitive burden of the ground crew and time spent on troubleshooting. VISIMO's NASA Phase II contract, Graceful Architecture for Mitigation of System failures (GRAMS), is engineered for managing spacecraft operations, primarily addressing autonomous systems management for long-duration space missions. (10/10)

X-37B Begins Novel Space Maneuver (Source: AFNS) 
The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-7) will begin executing a series of novel maneuvers, called aerobraking, to change its orbit around Earth and safely dispose of its service module components in accordance with recognized standards for space debris mitigation. Since December 28, 2023, the United States Space Force, supported by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, has conducted radiation effect experiments and has been testing Space Domain Awareness technologies in a Highly Elliptical Orbit.

The use of the aerobraking maneuver- a series of passes using the drag of Earth's atmosphere- enables the spacecraft to change orbits while expending minimal fuel. Once the aerobrake maneuver is complete, the X-37B will resume its test and experimentation objectives until they are accomplished, at which time the vehicle will de-orbit and execute a safe return as it has during its six previous missions. (10/10)

Overview: New Blue (Source: Michael Sheetz)
The age-old writer’s wisdom of “show, don’t tell” also applies to the space industry. Many folks in PR have heard me over the years request videos and imagery of real people and their real space hardware. Not renderings, not graphics, not animations. Real. Last weekend we published my feature on Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp — unpacking why he took the job, what he’s focused on in the first nine months, and his goals for the company this year. One thing we didn’t really get into during that piece was the shift in how often both Limp and the company have been sharing updates about Blue’s programs.

Before Limp, I’d often go months without seeing significant updates on Blue Origin’s work until a New Shepard launch, where I’d look for short snippets on development of New Glenn, its rocket engines and more. But since Limp started, he’s taken to regularly posting updates on social media, with photos and videos of Blue Origin teams inside factories and at testing facilities, showing the hardware they’re building.

But I’d like to see even more, publicly. Take for example Monday’s New Shepard launch attempt. It was scrubbed due to “a vehicle issue” that needed troubleshooting. Not necessarily serious — the company had said during its webcast there was a telemetry issue it was diagnosing — but, in the three days since, the company hasn’t posted an update on whether the telemetry problem was the vehicle issue that caused the scrub or if it was something else. (10/10)

SpaceX Alums are Working to Raise a Hefty $550M First Deep Tech Fund (Source: Tech Crunch)
Interlagos, the venture capital firm started by former senior SpaceX leaders, is looking to raise $550 million for its first venture fund, according to regulatory filings and a confidential deck sent to prospective LPs. Almost nothing has been publicly disclosed about its prospective investment thesis — until now. El Segundo-based Interlagos is broadly targeting startups across “deep tech” sectors, someone familiar with the firm’s plans said. The firm will provide capital from inception through Series B, with the targeted $550 million to be deployed across 26-32 investments, the deck says. (10/10)