The recent Axiom-4 mission, featuring group captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force as pilot, is far more than a symbolic gesture for India. It represents an important and strategic stepping stone for the Indian Space Research Organization (Isro)’s ambitious Gaganyaan manned spaceflight program. It is also a firm indication that India is now ready to move onto a more mature space program. (7/1)
Polish Astronaut Conducts Groundbreaking Mental Health and Brain-Tech Experiments (Source: TVP World)
Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski has begun his first scientific experiments aboard the International Space Station, with potential applications reaching far beyond orbit. The research includes studies on astronaut mental health, brain-computer interaction, and stress under microgravity—trials that may advance both space travel and psychological health on Earth. He is also expected to engage with Polish students in live lessons from space in the coming days. (7/1)
Canadian Astronauts Train to Explore the Moon’s Surface (Source: SpaceQ)
Canada is home to about 30 impact craters, where certain rock formations resemble those on the Moon. In the 1970s, Apollo astronauts took geology training at the Sudbury Basin in Ontario. Over 50 years later, Dr. Gordon Osinski from Western University is leading astronauts on expeditions in various craters in Canada to prepare them for future lunar missions. (7/1)
Congress Just Greenlit a NASA Moon Plan Opposed by Musk and Isaacman (Source: Tech Crunch)
Legacy aerospace giants scored a win Tuesday when the U.S. Senate passed President Trump’s budget reconciliation bill that earmarks billions more for NASA’s flagship Artemis program. The $10 billion addition to the Artemis architecture, which includes funding for additional SLS rockets and Gateway, is a rebuke to critics who wished to see alternative technologies used instead.
Among those critics are SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, who Musk proposed as the next NASA administrator. There’s no sign the souring relations between Musk and Trump are recovering. If Trump signs the bill, the fallout, which began after the president’s abrupt revocation of Isaacman’s nomination, will likely continue — if not escalate. (7/1)
Trump Escalates Feud with Musk, Threatens Tesla, SpaceX Support (Source: Reuters)
President Trump on Tuesday threatened to cut off the billions of dollars in subsidies that Elon Musk's companies receive from the federal government, in an escalation of the war of words between the president and the world's richest man, one-time allies who have since fallen out. The feud reignited on Monday when Musk, who spent hundreds of millions on Trump's re-election, renewed his criticism of Trump's tax-cut and spending bill, which would eliminate subsidies for electric vehicle purchases that have benefited Tesla, the leading U.S. EV maker. That bill passed the Senate by a narrow margin midday Tuesday. (7/1)
Slashed NASA Funding Would Impact Colorado Programs, Jobs (Source: Denver 7)
The Planetary Society reports that the budget for NASA would fall to its lowest level since 1961, if the cuts become reality. It would also be the "largest percentage cut ever proposed for NASA," according to the organization. Coloradans who have dedicated their lives to space exploration are concerned about the impact the cuts to NASA could have on the state and country.
"American leadership in space isn't just about being number one. It's about jobs. All of the aerospace industry provides jobs here in the state of Colorado, as well as the entire nation," Curry said. "In the state of Colorado, there's $5 billion in economic output just in the aerospace industry." (7/2)
MethaneSAT Fails in Orbit (Source: Space News)
A privately funded methane-monitoring satellite has failed in orbit. The Environmental Defense Fund said Tuesday it lost contact with its MethaneSAT spacecraft on June 20, and concluded the satellite has lost power and cannot be revived. MethaneSAT launched in March 2024 to track emissions of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. The spacecraft was privately developed, with funding primarily coming from the Bezos Earth Fund. MethaneSAT used a bus from Blue Canyon Technologies and instruments developed by BAE Systems. The MethaneSAT project said it would continue to analyze data collected by the spacecraft, originally intended to operate for five years, but did not commit to building a replacement. (7/2)
Planet Labs Wins $280 Million German Contract for Satellite Imagery and Geospatial Intel (Source: Space News)
Planet Labs announced Tuesday a major contract to supply satellite imagery and geospatial intelligence to the German government. The multiyear contract valued at $280 million is the latest sign of surging international demand for commercial space-based surveillance capabilities. Planet executives noted that European governments, pressed to spend more on defense, are investing in geospatial intelligence capabilities, opening up new opportunities for the company. That increased European business comes as Planet faces potential cuts to spending on commercial imagery by the U.S. government. (7/2)
Big Bill Includes Billions for Golden Dome and Artemis (Source: Washington Post)
The Senate passed a budget reconciliation bill that includes billions for Golden Dome and Artemis. Vice President JD Vance cast a tiebreaking vote to secure the passage of the Senate’s version of HR 1, the budget reconciliation bill, sending it back to the House for a final vote. The bill includes $25 billion for the Golden Dome missile defense program, part of $150 billion in additional defense spending. The Senate added nearly $10 billion for NASA exploration programs, including buying additional SLS and Orion vehicles and completing the Gateway. The Senate bill also has $85 million to direct the transfer of a “space vehicle” to a NASA center, a provision intended to move the shuttle Discovery from the National Air and Space Museum to Houston. (7/2)
NASA Officials Told to Prepare Termination Plans for Their Programs (Source: Ars Technica)
NASA officials are telling missions to prepare termination plans even before Congress acts on its budget proposal. Missions that the administration fiscal year 2026 budget request proposes to cancel have been told to prepare closeout plans as soon as next week. Those plans could be implemented when the fiscal year begins Oct. 1. Congress is unlikely to have completed appropriations bills by then and will pass a continuing resolution to fund programs at 2025 levels, but there is concern the White House will unilaterally act to implement its budget proposal and shut down missions. (7/2)
Russian Cargo Craft Departs ISS, Making Way for Another Launching This Week (Source: TASS)
A Progress cargo spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station Tuesday. The Progress MS-29 spacecraft undocked from the station at 2:43 p.m. Eastern and deorbited several hours later. The undocking frees up a port on the ISS for a new Progress spacecraft, Progress MS-31, scheduled to launch to the station on Thursday. (7/2)
NASA Astronaut Menon Gets First Assignment to ISS (Source: NASA)
NASA assigned an astronaut to a space station mission next year. The agency said Tuesday that Anil Menon will go to the ISS next June on a Soyuz spacecraft with Russian cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina for an eight-month stay. Menon, a doctor who was SpaceX’s first flight surgeon, was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2021 and will be making his first spaceflight. His wife, Anna Menon, flew to space last year on a SpaceX Crew Dragon as part of the Polaris Dawn private astronaut mission. (7/2)
Future Space Station Life Support Systems (Source: Aerospace America)
Designing and building life support systems for space stations requires a delicate balance of knowledge, safety and cost. As a handful of companies proceed with plans to develop their own stations to succeed the International Space Station, Jonathan O’Callaghan explores how they’re approaching the challenge. Click here. (7/1)
SpaceX Launches Starlink Satellites, Hours After Other Mission in Florida (Source: Spaceflight Now)
Hours later, another Falcon 9 launched more Starlink satellites. The Falcon 9 launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 2:28 a.m. Eastern Thursday, putting 27 Starlink satellites into orbit. The launch was the 29th flight of this booster, a new record for SpaceX, and also marked the 500th launch of a Falcon 9 rocket since the vehicle’s debut 15 years ago. (7/2)
Draft Documents Reveal Proposed SpaceX Launch Site at Vandenberg Base (Source: Edhat)
The Air Force has unveiled a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) outlining the new plans for SpaceX within the Vandenberg campus. The project has been proposed as part of the company’s efforts to expand at VSFB. The proposal is still under review, and public comment is highly encouraged. The draft examines potential impacts on noise levels, cultural resources, biological resources, and air quality. Public comments have been encouraged until July 7, 2025.
If approved, the plan for SLC-6 will entail both demolition and construction of new structures. Legacy structures such as those associated with the shuttle and Delta IV programs will be eliminated, including the Mobile Service Tower and Launch Control Center. (7/1)
Ladovaz Becomes SpinLaunch CEO (Source: SpinLaunch)
A former chief technology officer of OneWeb is the new CEO of SpinLaunch. The company announced Tuesday it hired Massimiliano Ladovaz as its CEO, succeeding David Wrenn, who will remain at the company as chief innovation officer. Ladovaz was CTO of OneWeb as it developed and deployed its initial satellite constellation, and earlier this year was named interim CTO of SatOne, an Australian satellite connectivity company. SpinLaunch is best known for its plans to develop kinetic launch systems using a giant centrifuge, but the company announced plans earlier this year for its own satellite constellation, Meridian Space. (7/2)
Launch of Australia's 1st Orbital Rocket, Gilmour Space's Eris-1, Delayed Again (Source: Space.com)
Gilmour Space has stood down from the planned July 2 debut launch of its Eris-1 rocket, citing the desire for "a longer, more flexible launch window for our first test flight." A new target date could be announced next week, according to the company. The Australian company's first rocket was ready to fly in May, but an early trigger of the vehicle's fairing nixed that try. (7/1)
Starlink’s Wi-Fi Is Faster In the Air Than On the Ground (Source: CNET)
Starlink is nearly twice as fast as any other in-flight Wi-Fi option, according to a new report by the speed test site Ookla. Starlink’s speeds in the air are faster than some internet providers on the ground. The satellite internet company from SpaceX clocked median download speeds of 152Mbps and upload speeds of 24Mbps.
Those download and upload speeds were nearly twice as fast as any other in-flight internet option, but latency was where it really blew the competition away. Starlink’s in-flight latency came in at just 44ms; the next-closest, MTN Satellite Communications, was at 667ms. With those kinds of numbers, you could realistically game online or make a video call on a Starlink-equipped flight. (7/1)
SpaceX Deorbits Nearly 500 Starlink Satellites in 6 Months (Source: PC Magazine)
Over a six-month stretch, hundreds of Starlink satellites met a fiery end in the Earth’s atmosphere as SpaceX retired its aging hardware. From December to May, SpaceX deorbited 472 Starlink satellites, according to a new filing with the Federal Communications Commission. The means the company deorbited about 2.6 satellites per day, a notable increase after having only deorbited 73 satellites in the previous six-month period.
SpaceX's satellites are designed to orbit the Earth for five years before they’re retired and burn up in the Earth’s atmosphere. In the FCC filing, SpaceX said 430 of the deorbited satellites belonged to the first-generation Starlink network. However, most of the satellites that reentered the atmosphere did so less than five years after beginning operations. (7/1)
Starlink Now in Sri Lanka (Source: Daily Mirror)
Elon Musk has announced that Starlink, his satellite-based internet service, is now available in Sri Lanka. Taking to social media platform ‘X’, Musk posted, “Starlink now available in Sri Lanka!” Starlink received regulatory clearance in August 2024 after the Sri Lankan government amended its telecommunications laws to accommodate satellite-based internet providers. (7/2)
Project Kuiper Supports Global Broadband Access (Source: Broadband Breakfast)
The National Science Foundation and Amazon have signed a satellite coordination agreement aimed at expanding global broadband access and advancing astronomical science. The agreement sets protocols for Project Kuiper, Amazon's low-Earth orbit satellite network, to minimize interference with ground-based astronomy by following best practices from the International Astronomical Union. (7/1)
Astroscale Opens New Headquarters and R&D Lab in Toulouse (Source: Evertiq)
Astroscale France, a subsidiary of Astroscale Holdings, has officially opened its new headquarters and advanced R&D lab in Toulouse, France, strengthening its commitment to domestic innovation and Europe’s sovereignty in space. The new site will enable the company to scale its R&D, grow its supply chain, and deepen collaboration with Centre Nationa0l D’Etudes Spatiales (CNES), the French Space Command, the European Space Agency and European defense stakeholders. (7/1
SwRI, UTSA Selected by NASA to Test Electrolyzer Technology Aboard Parabolic Flights (Source: SwRI)
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) will receive a $500,000 award from NASA’s TechLeap Prize program to flight test novel electrolyzer technology designed to improve the production of propellants and life-support compounds on the Moon, Mars or near-Earth asteroids. The project, known as the Mars Atmospheric Reactor for Synthesis of Consumables (MARS-C), is designed to use local resources on the Moon or Mars to produce fuel, oxygen and other life support compounds needed for long-term human habitation. (7/1)
Pentagon May Put SpaceX at the Center of a Sensor-to-Shooter Targeting Network (Source: Ars Technica)
The Trump administration plans to cancel a fleet of orbiting data relay satellites managed by the Space Development Agency and replace it with a secretive network that, so far, relies primarily on SpaceX's Starlink Internet constellation, according to budget documents.
The move prompted questions from lawmakers during a Senate hearing on the Space Force's budget last week. While details of the Pentagon's plan remain secret, the White House proposal would commit $277 million in funding to kick off a new program called "pLEO SATCOM" or "MILNET." (7/1)
Space Force Boosting an Ecosystem of GPS Alternatives in Low-Earth Orbit (Source: Air and Space Forces)
The Space Force is playing midwife to a new ecosystem of commercial satellite constellations providing alternatives to the service’s own Global Positioning Service from much closer to the Earth, making their signals more accurate and harder to jam.
A half-dozen companies, including two with research contracts from Space Force or Air Force tech incubators, are currently planning low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellations of hundreds of small satellites that will offer position, navigation, and timing services to augment or back up GPS. (7/1)
Rocket Lab Logs Major Milestones for SDA Constellation (Source: Rocket Lab)
Rocket Lab announced the successful completion of its Critical Design Review (CDR) for the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 2 Transport Layer-Beta (T2TL-Beta) program. The milestone follows Rocket Lab’s successful Preliminary Design Review in late 2024, confirms that spacecraft design, manufacturing approach, and systems architecture meet all mission requirements and enables the program to move into full-scale production. (7/1)
LeoLabs Wins SpaceWERX Contract for Mobile Missile Tracking Radar (Source: S[ace News)
LeoLabs won $4 million to upgrade a mobile missile-tracking radar system. The funding was awarded through a Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) agreement, a cost-sharing mechanism used by the U.S. Department of the Air Force’s SpaceWERX program to accelerate the deployment of dual-use commercial technologies with national security applications. The funding, split evenly between the Air Force Research Lab and private sources, will go toward software upgrades of Scout, a mobile radar used to enhance detection and tracking of missile launches. (7/2)
DOD To Tap Second Vendor For MEO-Based Missile Tracking Sats (Source: Aviation Week)
The U.S. Space Force expects to soon award a second contract for its next batch of missile warning/missile tracking satellites in medium Earth orbit (MEO), the program executive officer for space sensing said July 1. The service on May 29 awarded a $1.2 billion contract to BAE. (7/1)
Space Force Brigadier General Atwood Dies (Source: The Gazette)
Members of Space Operations Command are mourning the loss of a highly respected senior officer. The command’s Deputy Commander, Brig. Gen. Chandler Atwood, died Sunday, officials said. No cause of death was given. (7/1)
SDA's Dragoon Satellite Showcases Rapid Operational Shift (Source: Defense One)
The Space Development Agency has achieved a milestone with the Dragoon satellite, the first of 12 planned as part of the Tranche 1 Demonstration and Experimentation System. Dragoon shifted from safe mode to operational mode in four days instead of four months, and the acquisition process for Tranche 0 has been reduced to as little as 27 months from as many as eight years. "This is why I'm such a believer in this spiral development model: you launch, you learn while you're building the next ones," SDA Director Derek Tournear says. "That's what we keep pushing." (7/1)
Curious 2024 Radio Burst Linked to Dead Satellite (Source: CNN)
The signal seemed to be coming from very close to Earth — so close that it couldn’t be an astronomical object. “We were able to work out it came from about 4,500 kilometers away. And we got a pretty exact match for this old satellite called Relay 2." NASA launched Relay 2, an experimental communications satellite, into orbit in 1964 to relay signals between the US and Europe and broadcast the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Just three years later, with its mission concluded and both of its main instruments out of order, Relay 2 had already turned into space junk.
It has since been aimlessly orbiting our planet, until researchers linked it to the weird signal they detected last year. The researchers have two ideas on what could have caused such a powerful spark. The main culprit was likely a buildup of static electricity on the satellite’s metal skin, which was suddenly released, James said. “You start with a buildup of electrons on the surface of the spacecraft. The spacecraft starts charging up because of the buildup of electrons. And it keeps charging up until there’s enough of a charge that it short-circuits some component of the spacecraft, and you get a sudden spark.”
A less likely cause is the impact of a micrometeorite, a space rock no bigger than 1 millimeter in size: “A micrometeorite impacting a spacecraft (while) traveling at 20 kilometers per second or higher will basically turn the (resulting) debris from the impact into a plasma — an incredibly hot, dense gas,” James said. “And this plasma can emit a short burst of radio waves." (6/30)
JWST Readies for Deeper Study of Water Planet (Source: Union Rayo)
Only 100 light-years from Earth, there is a planet that is causing a lot of buzz. Astronomers have identified it as TOI-1452 b, and it could be covered by 30% water. We would be talking about the first ocean planet documented by science. TOI-1452 b challenges everything we thought we knew about exoplanets. Given its orbit, it seemed unlikely to feature liquid water. The key is in the combination of its low density, the heat it receives from its star, and its size.
The first analyses indicate that it could be made of layers of liquid water or ice, similar to the hidden oceans of the moons Ganymede and Enceladus. And its location in the constellation Draco makes it a perfect target for the James Webb Space Telescope, which is already preparing to analyze its atmosphere in search of signs of life (or at least habitable conditions). (6/30)
Space Force Seeks Industry Ideas For Space-Based Interceptors (Source: Aviation Week)
The U.S. Space Force (USSF) is conducting market research regarding space-based interceptor (SBI) capabilities for missile defense purposes, a June 27 request for information (RFI) says. (6/30)
Move Over Starlink, Here Comes Kuiper (Source: Gulf News)
Project Kuiper aims to beam high-speed, low-latency internet to every nook and cranny of the planet — especially remote and underserved areas where reliable connectivity is still a dream. With over 80 launches booked on rockets from ULA, Blue Origin, Arianespace, and even SpaceX (yes, Amazon is hitching a ride on Musk’s Falcon 9!), Kuiper is gearing up for a serious space race.
Each Kuiper satellite features optical inter-satellite links (OISLs) — high-speed infrared laser connections that allow them to talk directly to each other in space. These links can transfer data at up to 100 Gbps over distances of 2,600 km, enabling rapid, low-latency data routing without always needing to bounce signals to Earth.
Since testing prototypes in 2023, Amazon has significantly upgraded the production satellites. The latest designs include enhanced phased array antennas, custom processors, improved solar arrays, and better optical and propulsion systems to support faster, more reliable connections, according to the company. (7/1)
Don’t Forget About Iran’s Space Program (Source: Politico)
Left out of Israel and the United States’ bombardment of Iran was one potentially key piece of infrastructure: Iran’s growing space program, which U.S. officials have warned could one day help power an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking far beyond the Middle East. The program may have suffered indirectly in the strikes though — and could well be a target in the future.
Iran currently has no known program for building ICBMs. Indeed, Iran has taken pains to say it has limited its missiles’ range to under 1250 miles. However, Iran does have an increasingly robust space program — which could allow it to develop the rocketry and associated tech necessary to build an ICBM. (6/30)
Hey Siri, Fix My Spacecraft! (Source: Texas A&M)
When astronauts make the long journey to Mars in the not-so-distant future, communication with mission control will be impossible for days to weeks at a time. Enter Daphne-AT, a virtual assistant (VA) designed to help astronauts safely and efficiently solve problems that arise on their spacecraft. While Daphne-AT might not be ready to help our astronauts on the way to Mars just yet, researchers from Texas A&M are working toward giving Daphne the ability to help solve spacecraft anomalies. (6/30)
Mitsubishi and JAXA Aim to Halve Launch Cost of H3 Rocket (Source: Japan Times)
Japan's H2 rocket failed to win commercial launch orders, a problem that has been passed on to its successor, the H3. There was an average of only two H2 launches a year, and most depended on “public demand” for government satellites. There were only orders for commercial launches for five satellites belonging to foreign countries. The launch fee was expensive, reaching as high as ¥10 billion.
For Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which took over the manufacture and operation of the H2A from JAXA in 2007, winning commercial orders has been a longstanding issue. “If we cannot win the competition in the market, we will not be able to maintain the [domestic] industry, and there will be no companies or personnel to manufacture rockets. Our current technology will one day become obsolete, so it is essential to develop a rocket to succeed the H3,” said Hiroaki Akiyama. (7/1)
The Second Launch of New Glenn Will Aim for Mars (Source: Ars Technica)
Blue Origin is making steady progress toward the second launch of its New Glenn rocket, which could occur sometime this fall. The company already ignited the second stage of this rocket, in a pre-launch test, in April. And two sources say the first stage for this launch is in the final stages of preparation at the company's facilities at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport.
Publicly, the company has said this second launch will take place no earlier than August 15. This is now off the table. One source told Ars that a mid- to late-September launch date was "realistic," but another person said late October or November was more likely. Sources say it will carry NASA's ESCAPADE mission, with a pair of small spacecraft that will be sent to Mars to study the red planet's magnetosphere. (6/30)
White House Works to Ground NASA Science Missions Before Congress Can Act (Source: Ars Technica)
In another sign that the Trump White House is aggressively moving to slash NASA’s science programs, dozens of mission leaders have been asked to prepare "closeout" plans by the end of next week.
The new directive came from NASA's senior leadership on Monday, which is acting on behalf of the White House Office of Management and Budget. Copies of these memos, which appear to vary a little by department, were reviewed by Ars. The detailed closeout plans called for must be prepared by as soon as July 9 for some missions, which has left principal investigators scrambling due to the tight deadline and the July 4 holiday weekend. (7/1)
China to Set Up First International Association on Deep-Space Exploration (Source: Xinhua)
China will officially launch the International Deep Space Exploration Association (IDSEA) next Monday, with a particular aim of empowering other developing countries in developing deep-space technologies. Located in Hefei, Anhui Province, the association will be the nation's first international academic organization in the aerospace domain, capitalizing on the growing global interest in China's lunar and Mars missions.
The IDSEA will focus on deep-space study, which includes probes into the moon, other planets and asteroids, and promote international cooperation, according to the Hefei-based Deep Space Exploration Laboratory, one of the association's five initiators. (7/1)
Air Force and Space Force Exceed Annual Recruiting Goals (Source: USSF)
The Department of the Air Force achieved 100% of its annual recruitment goal three months ahead of schedule, a testament to the enduring appeal of service and the effectiveness of modernized recruiting strategies. To date, the Air Force and Space Force have sent nearly 25,000 of the 30,000 contracted recruits to basic military training, while the remaining recruits are scheduled to begin training by Sep. 30. (6/30)
NASA Budget Cuts Threaten Europe's Already Troubled Flagship Mars Rover (Source: Space.com)
Cuts to NASA's budget proposed by President Donald Trump would likely cause further delays to Europe's ExoMars rover mission, due to the fact that some critical technologies currently unavailable in Europe were to be provided by the American space agency.
When Europe began planning for its first rover to land on Mars in the early 2000s, NASA was its partner of choice. Somehow, that alliance proved troubled. NASA withdrew from the ExoMars project in 2012 after the Obama administration eliminated its funding for the mission. Russia's space agency Roscosmos stepped in, committing to provide a rocket, a landing module and a few other bits and pieces.
After several delays and budget overruns, the project was finally on schedule to launch in September 2022. But Russia's invasion of Ukraine meant that cooperation had to end. NASA stepped back in 2024, offering to help ESA make it to the launch pad by 2028. The Trump budget cuts now mean Europe may have to go it alone, possibly facing further delays. (6/30)
Moog Expands in New York (Source: Space News)
Moog Inc. has completed its new electromechanical actuation facility to enhance its manufacturing capabilities for space and defense customers that need precision steering in the most demanding domains. This customer-focused expansion at Moog headquarters in East Aurora addresses the growing need for innovative precision actuation and avionics systems to control and steer launchers.
Once complete, the 120,000-square-foot facility will be the largest Moog site dedicated to its diverse space portfolio, which includes components and systems for launchers, missiles, satellites, and human habitats. Moog technology launches into space weekly and has enabled missions to every planet in our solar system. (6/30)
Astronaut Sells Flown Checklist Pages He Wasn't Meant to Have (Source: CollectSpace)
Former NASA astronaut Robert "Hoot" Gibson is selling pages from the checklists he used on his first space shuttle mission. There are two things remarkable about that. First, in the more than 40 years since he launched as the pilot of mission STS-41B, Gibson has never sold anything that he carried to or used in space, even on his later four flights as commander. Secondly, he was never supposed to have his flown checklists. (6/28)
SpaceX Launches ESA Payloads From Florida (Sources: Spaceflight Now, Bill Harwood)
A Falcon 9 rocket launched the Meteosat Third Generation Sounder (MTG-S1) satellite on behalf of the European Organization for the Exploration of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT). The satellite included the Copernicus Sentinel-4 instrument, provided by the European Commission. The mission is coordinated and managed by ESA. This was the 82nd Falcon 9 launch so far this year and the 499th since the rocket's debut in 2010. (7/1)
There Are Too Many Spacecraft in LEO (Source: Payload)
Objects in orbit stay there for a long time, and we keep putting more up there. Now, researchers say that despite efforts by satellite operators to limit collisions, popular orbits are too crowded for long-term stability. The number of objects in orbit between 800 km and 1,000 km are above the Kessler Syndrome 'runaway' threshold, and objects in the region between 600 km and 1,000 km is above the 'unstable' threshold. Without a response, the technology required to avoid collisions in those orbits could make them too expensive for satellite operators to use. (7/1)
FAA: June Was a Record Month for Commercial Space (Source: FAA)
FAA-licensed commercial space operations reached a new monthly record in June, with 21 operations. The previous record for a single month was 20, in November 2024. The FAA continues to fine-tune its internal processes and policies to reach timely license authorizations that support the increasing pace of operations now and into the future. (7/1)
Sidereus Space Dynamics Nears Completion of EOS Test Stand (Source: European Spaceflight)
Italian rocket builder Sidereus Space Dynamics has announced that it is nearing completion of its Solaris Test Bench, which will be used for key testing of its EOS launch system before its inaugural flight. Sidereus Space Dynamics describes its EOS launch system as a small single-stage-to-orbit rocket designed to be transported, along with all its launch infrastructure, in a 40-foot container. (7/1)
Boeing Names Stephen Parker as CEO of Defense, Space & Security (Source: Boeing)
Boeing announced Stephen Parker as president and CEO of its Defense, Space & Security (BDS) business. Parker has served as interim leader of the Boeing business unit since September 2024. Parker will report to Boeing President Kelly Ortberg and serve on the company's Executive Council. Parker will oversee all aspects of the company's business unit that provides technology, products and solutions for defense, government, space and intelligence customers worldwide. (7/1)
MethaneSAT Malfunctions, Contact Lost (Source: MethaneSAT)
On June 20, the MethaneSAT mission operations lost contact with MethaneSAT. After pursuing all options to restore communications, we learned this morning that the satellite has lost power, and that it is likely not recoverable. While this is difficult news, it is not the end of the overall MethaneSAT effort, or of our work to slash methane emissions.
Launched in March 2024, MethaneSAT had been collecting methane emissions data over the past year. It was one of the most advanced methane tracking satellites in space, measuring methane emissions in oil and gas producing regions across the world. The mission has been a remarkable success in terms of scientific and technological accomplishment, and for its lasting influence on both industry and regulators worldwide. (7/1)
Endangered Turtles Share Mexican Beach with Starship Debris. SpaceX Says There’s No Risk of Harm (Source: CNN)
Melted plastics, aluminum and pieces of blue adhesive. It all ends up on the sands of Bagdad beach in Tamaulipas, Mexico, home to an endangered species of sea turtle. Conibio Global, a small non-governmental organization, has taken on a daunting task: cleaning up trash from SpaceX. Jesús Elías Ibarra of Conibio Global claims millions of particles ended up contaminating the area on the Mexican side. The organization collected more than a ton of waste in an area of 500 meters.
“We are a very small group, it’s impossible to clean everything.” SpaceX claimed they have requested local and federal assistance from the Mexican government for debris recovery. Under the Outer Space Treaty, SpaceX is entitled to have its debris returned. “The debris is still there,” Ibarra said. “It’s no longer as visible as in the photos because the tides have been burying it, but it’s there, and it has to be removed sooner or later.”
Ibarra claimed that during one of the cleanup visits they were “harassed” by SpaceX drones that were recording them. Ibarra, who is also a veterinarian and director of the Marine Turtle Program at Conibio Global, said that he believes the vibrations generated by the rockets compact the sand where there are turtle nests and prevent them from emerging. He said that at least 300 hatchlings have died in the compacted nests. (7/1)
