July 26, 2024

How Stars' Magnetic Fields Could Impact the Chance for Life on Orbiting Planets (Source: Space.com)
The chances of a planet hosting life depends on more than just its proximity to its parent star, and the amount of radiation it receives. New research looks at the impact a star's magnetic field has on exoplanet habitability. In our solar system, Venus, Earth and Mars are all within the sun's habitable zone, yet only our planet currently has the right conditions for life (as far as we currently know).

That has prompted scientists to investigate the conditions around other stars and their respective worlds. This new work redefines the Goldilocks zone to also factor in the magnetic field of its star. By adding such extra criteria, the team offers a more nuanced picture of life in the universe. (7/26)

Plan Emerging for Starliner Return (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
“I think we’re starting to close in on those final pieces of the flight rationale to make sure that we can come home safely,” NASA Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stich said. While it was originally targeting an eight-day stay on board the ISS, the duo have now been on the station more than 50 days as Boeing and NASA work through issues found during the flight up with both helium leaks and failed thrusters on Starliner’s propulsion system. The earliest Starliner could leave the ISS would likely be mid-September.

“We kept saying eight-day minimum mission,” said Boeing’s Mark Nappi, vice president of the company’s commercial crew program. “I think we all knew that it was going to go longer than that. “We didn’t spend a lot of time talking about how much longer but I think it’s my regret that we didn’t just say we’re going to stay up there until we get everything done that we want to go do.”

That to-do list has meant making sure teams understand why five thrusters failed as Starliner approached the ISS as well as figure out the reason behind several small helium leaks in the spacecraft’s service module. While docked, the helium leaks have been locked down, and NASA and Boeing were able to refire four of the five thrusters back into working condition, although at lower than optimum power levels. (7/25)

SpaceX Moves Dragon Splashdowns to Pacific, Mitigating Debris Landfall During Reentries (Source: Space News)
SpaceX's Sarah Walker says Dragon splashdowns are moving to off the California coast as part of changes to mitigate debris from Dragon trunk reentries. Crew-9 will still do Florida splashdown. Editor's Note: This will likely transfer maritime vessels and personnel from Florida to California, and could become a factor in expansion plans at Port Canaveral. Incidentally, Florida's motivation to add Tyndall AFB and Homestead ARB as spaceport territories was in-part due to anticipated increases in splashdowns in Florida waters. (7/26)

NASA OIG to Audit SpaceX and Blue Origin Lunar Lander Contracts (Source: NASA)
The NASA Office of Inspector General (OIG) announced it is conducting an audit of the management of Human Landing System contracts with SpaceX and Blue Origin. (7/26)

Leon Assigned to Streamline DoD Space Acquisition (Source: Breaking Defense)
Frank Calvelli, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration, established a new high-level office led by Claire Leon, Chief Space Systems Engineer, to streamline supervision of acquisition programs across the Space Systems Command (SSC), Space Development Agency (SDA), and Space Rapid Capabilities Office. (7/19)

Partnership Between Nigeria and NASA to Advance Space Geodesy and Geohazard Research (Source: Space in Africa)
Nigeria's National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has renewed its agreement with NASA to advance Space Geodesy and Geohazard Research at the Center for Geodesy and Geodynamics (CGG). The partnership will deepen Nigeria’s relationship with the USA and equip NASRDA with essential training and expertise in space geodesy, crucial for monitoring Nigeria’s tectonic activity and crustal movements. (7/15)

Italy-Africa Space Conference (Source: Esteri)
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Antonio Tajani, opened the Italy-Africa Space Conference last week. The Italy-Africa Space Conference is the operational follow-up in the space sector to the Italy-Africa Summit of January 2024 and aims to start a bilateral and multilateral dialogue with African countries having space capabilities. (7/15)

U.S. Charges North Korean Man with Cyberattacks on NASA (Source: Washington Post)
A North Korean man is accused of using ransomware to attack computer systems at American hospitals, generating money that allegedly paid for a second cyber campaign to hack NASA and U.S. military bases, Justice Department officials announced Thursday. In February 2022, Rim and his co-conspirators were able to gain and retain access “for more than three months to NASA’s computer system, specifically the portal for its Office of Inspector General, and extracted over seventeen gigabytes of unclassified data,” according to the indictment. (7/26)

County Government Balks at Sharing Cost for Wastewater Project That Would Enable Expanded Spaceport Operations (Source: SPACErePORT)
Despite available funding and support from federal and state sources for a key infrastructure project that would serve the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, Brevard County is narrowing its support for a wastewater treatment plant serving the northern region of the Space Coast, including the spaceport. Space Florida and its partners at the spaceport must now scramble to move the project forward. (7/26)

SpaceX Launch Failure Linked to Liquid Oxygen Leak. Launches to Resume (Source: Space News)
SpaceX is ready to resume launches of its Falcon 9 as soon as late tonight, two weeks after an upper stage anomaly. The company said late Thursday that it has completed its mishap report into the July 11 launch, where a liquid oxygen leak prevented the upper stage engine from performing a second burn, leading to the loss of 20 Starlink satellites.

The leak was traced to a crack in a line that houses a sensor, and caused "excessive cooling" of engine components that led to a hard start of the Merlin engine for its second burn. SpaceX will remove the sensor line, noting that the sensor is not needed for flight safety. The FAA confirmed that it concluded that the incident did not pose a public safety risk, allowing SpaceX to resume launches. SpaceX is targeting just after midnight Eastern tonight for a Falcon 9 launch carrying Starlink satellites. (7/26)

AST SpaceMobile Ready to Launch First Direct-to-Device Satellites (Source: Space News)
AST SpaceMobile says its first commercial direct-to-device satellites are ready for launch. The company announced Thursday the five Block 1 BlueBird satellites are ready to ship to Florida for launch on a Falcon 9 scheduled for September. Each Block 1 BlueBird will have 10 times the capacity of its BlueWalker-3 prototype, which has achieved download rates of about 14 megabits per second since launching to LEO in 2022. Those satellites are designed to provide connectivity for mobile phones out of reach of terrestrial networks. (7/26)

Florida Groups Invite Presidential Campaigns to Promote Space Agendas with Space Coast Visits (Source: SPACErePORT)
Space Florida and aligned Space Coast organizations are working together again to encourage presidential candidates to visit or send surrogates to the Space Coast to meet with space industry leaders. This has happened with multiple campaigns over the past several election seasons. (7/26)

Akima Wins $480 Million Space Force Contract (Source: Space News)
Akima won a 10-year contract worth $480 million to support and modernize the Space Force's Satellite Control Network (SCN). The contract, called Satellite Control Network Tracking Station Operations, Remote Site and Mission Partner Support or STORMS, allows the Space Force to procure services as needed for the SCN, a decades-old system of 19 globally distributed parabolic antennas spread across several locations worldwide. In operation since 1959, the SCN is running out of capacity and in dire need of modernization, the GAO warned last year. Akima said it will incorporate "emerging technologies" to improve the resiliency and efficiency of the SCN. (7/26)

Mitchell Institute Recommends DoD Commit to Smallsats (Source: Space News)
One new report urges the U.S. military to more fully commit to using small satellites. The report by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, released Thursday, calls on the military to fully leverage the innovations in small satellite technology to enhance its space capabilities and maintain superiority in a contested domain. The report recommends the Department of Defense boost production rates, strengthen supply chains, and increase funding to support large-scale smallsat deployment.  (7/26)

Aerospace Corp. Report Highlights Benefits and Weaknesses of Smallsats (Source: Space News)
Another new report highlights the benefits and weaknesses of using smallsats for constellations. The Aerospace Corporation, in a report Thursday, examined the development of constellations by the Space Development Agency (SDA) for missile warning and communications. The report credits the SDA for creating a distinct acquisition model that enables rapid delivery of new capabilities, breaking away from traditional, often slower procurement methods. However, it highlighted challenges in demonstrating the effectiveness of such systems as well as an ambitious launch schedule. (7/26)

DoD Considers Loan Program for Critical Tech Supply Chain (Source: Space News)
A Pentagon office is seeking input on a proposed new loan program for critical technologies that include space systems. The Office of Strategic Capital released requests for information this week as it prepares to issue loans and loan guarantees for critical technology and supply chain components. The office is particularly interested in responses from companies and lenders working in 31 component areas identified as promising critical technologies and assets, including space launch, spacecraft, and space-enabled services and equipment. Comments are due to the office in October. (7/26)

More Thruster Tests for Starliner at ISS (Source: Space News)
NASA and Boeing plan more thruster tests before allowing the CST-100 Starliner spacecraft to return from the International Space Station. At a briefing Thursday, officials said they plan to fire nearly all the reaction control system thrusters on Starliner this weekend while docked to the ISS to confirm they are still performing well. This comes after ground tests that sought to duplicate the flight profile of the vehicle to try to replicate the thruster issues Starliner experienced on its way to the ISS in June. NASA has not set a date for Starliner's return, but noted an agency-level review of the spacecraft, one of the last milestones before undocking, could take place as soon as the end of next week. (7/26)

Europe's SpaceRise Consortium Asked to Resubmit Constellation Proposal (Source: Politico)
The consortium of European companies proposing to build a satellite constellation for the European Commission is fraying. Airbus and Thales Alenia Space are planning to drop out of the SpaceRise consortium that had been on track to receive a multibillion-euro contract to build the IRIS² secure connectivity constellation. Those companies would instead serve as contractors to build the satellites rather than as full partners. The Commission has given SpaceRise until early September to submit a revised proposal even as delays and cost overruns threaten the overall program. (7/26)

Sweden Considers Fighter Jet for Satellite Air-Launch (Source: Breaking Defense)
The Swedish military is examining using a fighter jet as an air-launch platform. The Swedish Air Force and Defense Research Agency are partnering on a study called Stella that would examine the feasibility of using the Gripen jet as a platform for launching a small rocket. Swedish officials said they believe such a capability could offer response launch services, but with no guarantee it will be developed. (7/26)

Martian Rock Investigated for Biosignatures (Source: Washington Post)
A Martian rock may contain a "potential biosignature" of past life on Mars. Scientists say that a rock analyzed by the Perseverance rover contains white patches, dubbed "leopard spots," that could be minerals produced by biological activity in the planet's past. The rock shows evidence of having been exposed to water when the planet was warmer and wetter. The rover has taken a sample of the rocket for later return to Earth as part of the Mars Sample Return campaign that NASA is currently revising the architecture for. (7/26)

Gilmour Space to Start Hypersonic Flight Tests in 2025 (Source: Space Daily)
Gilmour Space Technologies, an Australian launch services company, announced a new suborbital flight test service targeted at commercial and defense customers needing hypersonic speeds above Mach 5. While wind tunnel tests, which provide hypersonic flow for 200 to 300 milliseconds, are useful for early-stage testing of materials and geometries with scaled-down models, there remains a significant challenge in scaling these technologies to full-size applications.

"Our new HyPeRsonic FLight Test (HPRFLT or Hyper Flight) service will help to bridge that gap by providing a real-life environment for researchers and companies to test, demonstrate, and advance their innovations to higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs)," said David Doyle. Scheduled to launch in 2025 from various potential sites, the Hyper Flight service uses Gilmour Space's orbital launch vehicle technology. (7/26)

Star Catcher Secures $12.25M Seed Funding to Revolutionize Space Energy (Source: Space Daily)
Star Catcher Industries has successfully closed a $12.25 million seed funding round. The funding round was co-led by Initialized Capital and B Capital, with significant participation from Rogue VC. This investment will enable the company to build the Star Catcher Network, the world's first space-based energy grid, aimed at eliminating power constraints for space operations. (7/25)

Pioneering a Launch Industry in Nepal (Source: Space Daily)
In the Himalayan nation of Nepal, two innovators, Mohan Tamang and Akrit Dhungel, are making history with Mach24Orbitals, the country's first space-tech startup. Previously, Dhungel and Tamang led the Garuda project, which launched Nepal's first rocket on March 20, 2021. This project earned the Nancy Squires Team Spirit Award at the Spaceport America Cup 2021. Using potassium nitrate and sugar as fuel, Garuda marked a significant milestone and paved the way for Mach24Orbitals. Collaborating with entities such as the Nepal Army, National Innovation Center, and Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), they have test-launched over 15 rockets across Nepal, steadily advancing towards their goal. (7/25)

Epson Makes Strategic Investment in Microsatellite Innovator Axelspace (Source: Space Daily)
Epson, alongside its subsidiary Epson X Investment Corporation (EXI), has invested in Axelspace Holdings, the parent company of Axelspace Corporation, a startup in microsatellite development and manufacturing. This investment was facilitated through the EP-GB Investment Limited Partnership fund. Axelspace operates AxelLiner, which focuses on the development, manufacturing, and operation of microsatellites, and AxelGlobe, which specializes in Earth observation data collection, satellite imagery sales, and related analytical services. (7/25)

NASA Achieves Milestone in 4K Video Streaming from Aircraft to ISS and Back (Source: Space Daily)
NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland successfully streamed 4K video from an aircraft to the International Space Station (ISS) and back using laser communications for the first time. This achievement is part of ongoing tests to develop technology for live video coverage of astronauts on the Moon during the Artemis missions. Traditionally, NASA has used radio waves to transmit data to and from space. Laser communications, using infrared light, can transmit data 10 to 100 times faster than traditional radio frequency systems. (7/25)

Terran Orbital Secures Up to $98 Million via ATM Program (Source: Space Daily)
Terran Orbital announced an at-the-market (ATM) offering program. This program will enable the Company to sell its common stock in transactions categorized as "at the market" offerings, with a total value not exceeding $98,000,000. However, under the Company's existing debt agreements, sales are capped at 26,362,513 shares unless additional consent is obtained to sell more. (7/25)

Newest Constellation of Weather Satellites Gets Flight Plan (Source: Federal News Network)
Recently, NASA selected Lockheed Martin to build the nation’s next generation weather satellite constellation, Geostationary Extended Observations, or GeoXO. It’s a contract with an estimated value of just over $2.25 billion. To find out what the GeoXO mission is all about, Eric White spoke to Dylan Powell, Lead Strategist for Weather and Earth Science at Lockheed Martin. Click here. (7/25)

The Vacuum of Space Won't Last Forever. In Fact, It Ends Much Sooner Than We Thought (Source: Popular Mechanics)
Scientists in Slovenia have adjusted a calculation to determine how long we have before the vacuum of space decays. While this date is still an extraordinarily long time into the very, very far future, our math model to determine it is loose enough to invite more questions than answers. Eventually, the vacuum of space will decay, and things will fall apart—in a zillion years. Our universe is glued together by quantum fields, like the Higgs, which set much of our physics. Revising this lifetime down by 10,000 years is a small drop in a very enormous bucket. (7/25)

July 25, 2024

Astranis Raises $200 Million for New GEO Broadband Satellite Design (Source: Space News)
Astranis has raised $200 million to fully fund development of a new broadband satellite design. Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz co-led the Series D funding round with investment firm BAM Elevate, bringing the total raised by Astranis to $750 million. The company will use the funding to complete the development of Omega, a spacecraft slightly larger than its existing line of small GEO satellites but still small enough that 12 could fit on a single Falcon 9. The Omega satellites will have five times the throughput of its earlier satellites. Astranis has not disclosed any customers yet for Omega. (7/25)

SES Wins US Army Contract for Satcom Services (Source: Space News)
SES won a U.S. Army contract to provide managed satcom services. The $3.6 million contract to SES Space & Defense, the U.S. arm of the Luxembourg-based operator, is part of a pilot program initiated by the Army in September to explore "satcom as a managed service," a departure from traditional military contracts for satellite capacity. Under this model, SES will deliver comprehensive services including satellite capacity, ground infrastructure and network management. The Army selected SES and Intelsat for the awards in September but only now disclosed the value of the SES contract. (7/25)

Star Catcher Raises $12.5 Million for Power Beaming (Source: Space News)
A startup proposing to beam power to satellites has raised more than $12 million in seed funding. Star Catcher announced Wednesday the $12.25 million seed round co-led by Initialized Capital and B Capital. The company, founded by two former Made In Space executives and a space investor, is proposing to set up a network of spacecraft that can beam sunlight to other satellites, allowing their solar panels to generate more power. Potential applications for Star Catcher's solar energy delivery service include synthetic aperture radar satellites and direct-to-device communications constellations. The seed round will allow the company to conduct ground- and space-based demonstrations of the technology. (7/25)

Ursa Major Opens 3D Printing Center in Ohio (Source: Space News)
Engine manufacturer Ursa Major opened a new 3D-printing center in Ohio. The facility will focus on accelerating material development and qualification processes for aerospace applications of additive manufacturing. Colorado-based Ursa Major chose Ohio for the facility based on access to materials, suppliers and an existing ecosystem of additive manufacturing companies. Ursa Major said its new facility represents a $14.5 million capital investment, including $4 million from a JobsOhio grant. (7/25)

Now Frontier Tests Point-to-Point Hypersonic Engine (Source: Space News)
New Frontier Aerospace has performed the first tests of an engine it plans to eventually use on high-speed point-to-point vehicles. The company's chairman said it successfully hotfired its Mjölnir engine last week for the first time. The engine used an advanced full-flow staged combustion engine design, like SpaceX's Raptor, although with far less thrust. New Frontier proposes to use the engine to power vehicles for hypersonic intercontinental flights that will carry cargo and, eventually, people. (7/25)

Sierra Space Bursts Space Station Module Model (Source: Space News)
Sierra Space has conducted a second burst test of a full-sized space station module. The company announced Thursday it performed the test last month at the Marshall Space Flight Center, exceeding NASA safety margins by more than 20%. The result was similar to the first test the company conducted last December. Sierra Space is developing the inflatable module for the Orbital Reef commercial space station, with this test serving as a milestone in a NASA award to support its development. The company also plans to fly the module on a pathfinder mission before the end of the decade. (7/25)

July 30 Set for Delayed Rocket Lab Synspective Launch (Source; Rocket Lab)
Rocket Lab has set a July 30 date for its next Electron launch. The company said the launch will carry a radar imaging satellite for Japanese company Synspective. It will be the fifth of 16 launches Rocket Lab is conducting for Synspective, each carrying an individual satellite. The launch was previously scheduled for earlier this month with a Capella Space radar imaging satellite on board, but Capella requested the launch be postponed to perform additional tests on the spacecraft. (7/25)

Morpheus Space Unveils New Mass Production Facility in Dresden (Source: Space Daily)
Morpheus Space, a leading provider of space mobility solutions, has inaugurated its first mass production facility for space systems in Dresden, Germany. The new "Reloaded" factory will begin by producing 100 units annually of the GO-2, Morpheus Space's second-generation electric propulsion system, designed to meet the increasing demand for satellite mobility solutions. The GO-2 is a modular Field Emission Electric Propulsion (FEEP) system that offers reliable and continuous mobility throughout the satellite's mission. It aims to solve the mobility challenges faced by the space industry. (7/24)

SmartSat CRC and New Zealand Govt Unveil Collaborative Space Research Projects (Source: Space Daily)
SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre (SmartSat CRC) has announced the commencement of four new space research projects jointly funded with New Zealand's Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), starting in August 2024. These initiatives mark the first phase of the Australia-New Zealand Collaborative Space Program and include projects on methane emissions monitoring, real-time greenhouse gas tracking, free space optical communication management, and maritime domain awareness. (7/24)

NASA Ranks Top Civil Space Technology Challenges for 2024 (Source: Space Daily)
This spring, NASA published a comprehensive document identifying nearly 200 technology areas requiring further development to meet future exploration, science, and other mission needs. The aerospace community was invited to rate the importance of these areas to help integrate the community's technical challenges and guide NASA's space technology development and investments. Click here. (7/24)

Gilat Secures Over $9M in Contracts for Satellite Communications Solutions (Source: Space Daily)
Gilat Satellite Networks announced that the company has received over $9 million in cumulative orders from various satellite operators. These orders aim to enhance global SATCOM networks using Gilat's advanced and proven solutions. Gilat's technology will support a variety of services and applications over GEO and NGSO satellites, including in-flight connectivity, maritime mobility, cellular backhaul, and enterprise services.  (7/24)

Designing Space Exploration with the Human in Mind (Source: Space Daily)
When designing a new spacecraft or exploration vehicle, there is intense focus on its technical performance. Do its systems perform as expected? What kind of power does it need? Will it safely reach its destination? Equally important, however, is whether that vehicle also works for the humans inside. Can astronauts easily reach critical controls? Do the seats conform to a crew member regardless of their height and body size? Does the layout of crew workstations, translation paths, stowage, and other items support effective working and living conditions?

Those are just a few of the questions NASA's Center for Design and Space Architecture (CDSA) seeks to answer. Based within the Human Health and Performance Directorate at Johnson Space Center in Houston, the CDSA is NASA's conceptual, human-centered design studio. It creates advanced concepts for spacecraft, exploration vehicles, and habitats that put crew needs first. The team provides a full spectrum of design services, from concept sketches to CAD models, to scaled mockups and virtual reality (VR), to full-size prototype fabrication. (7/24)

ICON Mission Ends with Critical Breakthroughs on Earth, Space Weather (Source: Space Daily)
Nearly five years after it launched, NASA's Ionospheric Connection Explorer -- or ICON -- mission has officially come to an end, the space agency announced Wednesday. NASA's ICON mission gathered valuable data as it orbited the outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere, about 55 miles to 360 miles into space in the ionosphere, and provided critical breakthroughs on how space weather affects Earth's weather. (7/24)

Chandra Turns 25 (Source: 1440)
NASA marked 25 years since it launched its X-ray observatory Chandra yesterday by publishing 25 previously unseen cosmic images the telescope has collected since its inception. Named after Indian American Nobel laureate and astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, Chandra is the most powerful X-ray observatory in operation. X-rays originate when matter is heated to millions of degrees, commonly in high-energy regions with extreme magnetic or gravitational forces. (7/24)

NASA’s Big Bet on Blue Origin (Source: LaunchPad)
Mars is about to get its next probe, and Blue Origin is going to launch it. When it debuts, the ultra heavy-lift rocket built by Jeff Bezos’ rapidly growing aerospace company will be the 3rd largest rocket in the world. And partially reusable, with an expendable second stage and a massive self-landing booster.

NASA has entrusted Blue Origin with a rare confidence for the maiden flight, awarding multimillions in contract value to send the ESCAPADE probe into Martian orbit. There, it will study the Martian magnetosphere and its interaction with the solar wind, for scientific research and in preparation for future manned missions to the Red Planet. (7/24)

Dream Ticket for Space? Harris Considers Kelly as VP Running Mate (Source: SPACErePORT)
Vice President Kamala Harris, who leads the National Space Council for the Biden Administration, is currently considering Arizona Senator Mark Kelly to be her running mate for November's presidential election. The NSC has given Harris a solid understanding of our nation's military, civil, and commercial space enterprise. And as a former NASA astronaut, Sen. Kelly has a career-long interest in space exploration and NASA's mission. Together they could represent attractive ticket for space-minded voters. (7/24)

Still Room to Grow. Multiple Florida Launch Pads Unassigned or Potentially Available (Source: SPACErePORT)
Recent moves by ABL and Firefly could add to Florida's inventory of available launch pads. Launch Complexes 15 and 20 were recently assigned to Firefly and ABL, but those companies have committed to using Virginia (Firefly) and Europe (ABL), raising question about their plans at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport.

Meanwhile, LC-37 hosts the retiring ULA Delta rocket, LC-12, LC-19, and LC-34 are unassigned, and LC-47 is seldom used for tiny weather sounding rockets and balloon launches. Add to this the greenfield LC-48 and LC-49 being considered for SpaceX Starship, and it's clear that there is room for new users at the Cape. Of course, launch pads are only part of the requirement, what about access to launch slots and range services? The Space Force has demonstrated a vast increase in Eastern Range throughput, allowing daily launches and even multiple launches per day. (7/24)

What is Space Force Fit? (Source: AFNS)
Military service members are expected to be fit – it’s all a part of making sure a fighting force is ready for duty and the U.S. Space Force is no exception. Guardians may spend more time tracking satellites and space debris and staying alert for hostile missiles than engaging in hand-to-hand combat, but that doesn’t mean they can slack off when it comes to physical training. As the newest military service, the U.S. Space Force is taking a more holistic health approach to fitness standards.

“Regular exercise isn't just about building physical strength; it's about optimizing our potential,” said Chief Master Sgt. Jacqueline Sauvé, Space Systems Command senior enlisted leader. “Research consistently affirms that exercise isn't merely a routine; it's a vital component fostering resilience, mental clarity and holistic health. From safeguarding against cardiovascular risks to bolstering mental well-being, fitness is a mission imperative.”

When the Space Force was first established in December of 2019 without its own formal health and fitness program, it relied mostly on the Air Force's standard Physical Fitness Assessment test, which includes a plank, crunches, hand-release and conventional push-ups and a 1.5 mile run, or shuttle run to gauge the fitness levels of Guardians. (7/23)

NASA Should Ditch the Spin on Starliner (Source: The Atlantic)
One week turned into another, and then another, and then seven. Before Starliner launched, NASA had set a 45-day deadline for keeping the spacecraft in orbit for the sake of the capsule’s batteries, which hadn’t been tested in space yet. Today is day 48. According to NASA officials, the batteries are still performing well, and Starliner could remain docked to the space station as late as mid-August while the agency and its aerospace contractor troubleshoot issues with the spacecraft.

Officials at the agency and Boeing have insisted that Wilmore and Williams are not in any danger, but the public narrative—that the astronauts are stranded on the ISS—has not been flattering. Boeing has taken the brunt of the bad reviews. But NASA, which hired Boeing to transport its astronauts, bears significant responsibility too: for its uneven supervision of Starliner’s development leading up to launch and its overly guarded communications to the public since, which have done more to fan rumors about the state of the mission than dispel them. (7/24)

July 24, 2024

Safran Generator Selected for NASA X-66 Project (Source: AIN Online)
Boeing has selected Safran Electrical & Power to provide the power system for the X-66 flight demonstrator unders NASA's Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project. Safran will supply a variable frequency generator and control unit to integrate with Pratt & Whitney's Geared Turbofan engines. (7/23)

Northrop Helps Air Force Lab Expand Military Satcoms (Source: Military & Aerospace Electronics Online)
Northrop Grumman has received a $79.3 million order from the Air Force Research Laboratory for the Defense Experimentation Using the Commercial Space Internet program. The initiative aims to enhance military communications by enabling seamless, high-bandwidth data sharing across various fixed and mobile locations via commercial space internet constellations, using standardized user terminals and hardware. (7/23)

Tim Peake Set to Lead All-Brit Axiom Mission to International Space Station (Source: Daily Mail)
Tim Peake is set to command the first ever all-British space flight to the ISS 18 months after announcing his retirement. The 52-year-old was last on the ISS in 2016 and was a European Space Agency astronaut from 2009 until last year. Axiom Space, with whom the UK Space Agency (UKSA) joined forces last year to fly a completely British crew to the ISS, announced that Major Peake has joined its astronaut corps and would be a strategic advisor for the mission, which could happen as soon as next year. (7/23)

ULA Eyes More Vulcan Launches After Expansion of Alabama Rocket Factory (Source: Made in Alabama)
United Launch Alliance is preparing for a busy schedule of rocket launches after completing of a $300 million-plus expansion project that made its Alabama rocket factory the largest facility of its kind in the world. The growth in Decatur will allow ULA to nearly double it launch rate. In February, ULA cut the ribbon on a new warehouse facility and expansion at the Decatur rocket facility. The growth project is playing a key role in North Alabama’s growing economy by creating 200 additional jobs at the facility. (7/23)

Environmental Organizations Reach Out to FAA Regarding SpaceX’s Impact on Wildlife (Source: Valley Central)
Save RGV and other organizations have sent a letter to the FAA claiming SpaceX has unlawfully destroyed migratory birds. The letter was also sent on behalf of the Center for Biological Diversity, the American Bird Conservancy, the Surfrider Foundation, and the Carrizo Comecrudo Nation of Texas, Inc. It focuses on the June 6 test launch of SpaceX’s Starship. The document states the launch resulted in the documented unlawful destruction of migratory bird nests that are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. (7/23)

SpaceX’s Constitutional Challenge to NLRB Gets Judicial Support (Source: Bloomberg)
The safeguards preventing the president from firing National Labor Relations Board members and the agency’s in-house judges are probably unconstitutional, a federal judge said in an order explaining his earlier directive blocking an administrative case against SpaceX. SpaceX, the Elon Musk-owned aerospace firm, is likely to win its lawsuit challenging the removal protections for NLRB members and administrative law judges, US District Judge Alan Albright held Tuesday. Albright, a Trump appointee to the US District Court for the Western District of Texas, granted the company’s request for a preliminary injunction July 11. (7/23)

French Aerospace Company Sees Surge in U.S. Applicants After SpaceX Relocation News: ‘Come to Europe and We’ll Help You’ (Source: CNBC)
Latitude, a French aerospace company based an hour outside Paris, is getting a surge of applications from American engineers after Elon Musk said he would relocate SpaceX headquarters from California to Texas. Within the last week, a spokesperson for Latitude says it received the equivalent of one month of applications to its hiring systems, and that 89% of those are coming from U.S.-based candidates. Those job seekers work at SpaceX, Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, Tesla and other companies related to the aerospace industry, the spokesperson said. (7/23)

Musk’s Messy Divorce with California Leaves Ugly Grievances All Around (Source: LA Times)
In recent years, Musk’s California dreaming has been clouded with his dark view of a state that he accuses of “overregulation, overlitigation, overtaxation.” But critics said they saw inconsistency in Musk’s pronouncement — contending that the billionaire was finding fault with the state after years of benefiting from its blessings, including abundant government support, a green mindset and a highly educated workforce.

“California, through tax credits, [electric vehicle] subsidies and training grants made Elon successful,” Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, president of the California Labor Federation, said via text. That amounts to “hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars, for him to continually spit in the face of California’s workers & taxpayers.”

After the announcement, the governor shared a screenshot of a 2022 post by former President Trump, who claimed that Musk so craved federal subsidies for Tesla and SpaceX that “I could have said, ‘drop to your knees and beg,’ and he would have done it.” Newsom republished the comment on X, adding: : “You bent the knee.” Musk fired back: “You never get off your knees.” In another X post, the SpaceX boss added: “Gavin’s career is over.” (7/23)

What Nigeria Stands To Gain From Space Tourism (Source; Daily Trust)
SERA founders, Sam Hutchison and Joshua Skurla stated, “The Nigerian that will be picked to visit the Space will be based on a public voting process. The individual has to be healthy and can speak basic English language. Any individual is allowed to vote for themselves and will canvass votes from the public to increase their chances. “The votes will be verified using a blockchain system to ensure a fair selection process.”

Space experts said the initiative might stimulate interest and investment in scientific research, technology development, and education on space programs, potentially leading to advancements in space technology within Nigeria. Also, they added, it will enable Nigeria to achieve the major objective of the nation’s Space Program which is sending humans to space. (7/24)

India’s South Pole Lunar Landing Wins Prestigious World Space Award (Source: Organizer)
India’s Chandrayaan 3 has won the prestigious World Space Award for its historic landing near the lunar South Pole, marking a significant achievement in space exploration. The award, presented by the International Astronautical Federation, recognizes India’s advancement in space technology and innovation. (7/23)

NASA Enhancing Space Comms For Human Lunar Exploration (Source: Aviation Week)
NASA is proceeding with plans to set up a new global Lunar Exploration Ground Sites (LEGS) communications network to support continuous communications with upcoming Artemis astronaut and robotic missions intended to establish a sustained human presence at the Moon. (7/23)

Tripadvisor Publishes First Off-Earth Travel Review (Source: CollectSpace)
fter helping billions of people plan their trips around the world, Tripadvisor is ready to do the same for those looking to travel beyond the planet. "Destination Space," presented with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), is a new subsection of Tripadvisor that is focused on space tourism and exploration. "Everyone deserves to experience the marvels of space, with or without a rocketship," reads the Tripadvisor website. "So, we're making it our mission to help curious travelers from all corners of the Earth explore this lesser-known part of our universe." (7/22)

The Lost Decades of Government-Run Space Travel (Source: Washington Examiner)
America’s space shuttle program burned through almost $200 billion over the course of three decades from 1981 to 2011, but it failed to live up to expectations. A new examination has arrived at a sobering conclusion: “By every measure, the shuttle had fallen short of even the modest hopes that had surrounded it. And the shuttle remained flying only because every effort to replace it with a better-winged, reusable craft also failed.”

The costs were much higher than expected: Each flight cost an estimated $500 million, which was similar to the cost of Apollo-era launches. Carrying a one-pound payload proved to be about 10 times more expensive than the optimistic forecasts had predicted and certainly not less than the costs associated with traditional, nonreusable rockets. (7/23)

The 'Exciting' £11m Boost for Space Rocket Launch Plans on a Scottish Island (Source: The Scotsman)
It will represent the first site to ever carry out vertical rocket launches in the UK - and now a ground-breaking project on one small Scottish island has received a major funding boost. The SaxaVord spaceport based on Unst, at the northern-most point of the Shetland Islands, will benefit from an overall £10.9 million boost to space projects across Scotland. The facility will start orbital launches later this year. (7/22)

Outer Space Changes You, Literally. Here's What it Does to the Human Body (Source: NPR)
Lower gravity. Higher radiation. No ER access. These are just a few of the challenges that humans face in outer space. Emily and Regina talk to a NASA astronaut (and astronaut scientist) about the impact of spaceflight on the human body. Plus, we learn about telomeres (hint: They change in space)! Click here. (7/23)

The Best (and Least Accurate) NASA Movies (Source: Movie Web)
We spoke with real-life astronaut Nicole Stott following the release of Space Cadet, Emma Roberts' new NASA comedy film on which Stott served as a consultant. Stott has seen a fair share of other outer space-centered films that Hollywood has churned out, and she shared her thoughts with us on some of the films she truly loves — despite some glaring inaccuracies. Click here. (7/23)

SpaceX Stomped the Competition for a New Contract—That’s Not Great (Source: Ars Technica)
There is an emerging truth about NASA's push toward commercial contracts that is increasingly difficult to escape: Companies not named SpaceX are struggling with NASA's approach of awarding firm, fixed-price contracts for space services. The ISS Deorbit Vehicle offered an interesting test case for how NASA would approach commercial contracts. This mission required a spacecraft capable of docking with the ISS, remaining attached for about a year, and then powering the large station down through the Earth's atmosphere.

While there were myriad potential solutions, it seemed clear that SpaceX, with Dragon, and Northrop Grumman, having acquired Orbital Sciences and the Cygnus spacecraft, were the clear favorites. What happened next is telling. Essentially, Northrop told NASA it would not bid for a firm, fixed-priced contract. And conversely, SpaceX said it would not bid under a cost-plus contracting mechanism, which would require the company to add a new layer of bureaucracy to process such contracts.

Sticking to the original contracting mechanism would likely have meant that NASA had just a sole bidder, Northrop, for the deorbit mission. The result of the change is that Northrop made a bid under a hybrid cost-plus approach and SpaceX under a firm-fixed price contract. The expectation was that a deorbit mission would cost less than $1 billion. NASA ask the Office of Management and Budget for $1.5 billion for the program. SpaceX's bid price was $680 million. The source selection statement did not reveal a price for Northrop's bid other than saying it was "significantly higher." (7/23)

Artemis II Booster Arrives at KSC (Source: Fox 35)
NASA's Artemis II SLS rocket booster arrived at Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday. Next year, the booster will help propel astronauts on a trip around the moon. Shipped from a NASA manufacturing facility in New Orleans last Tuesday, it arrived in Central Florida Monday. (7/23)

Orlando FL Congressman Sponsors Bill to Protect Satellites From Hackers (Source: The Conversation)
In a bold move to counter the escalating threat of these attacks, US congressmen Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL) and Don Beyer (D-VA) have proposed the Spacecraft Cybersecurity Act. If passed, the legislation would mandate the US space agency NASA to overhaul the way it procures and builds its spacecraft. It would have to incorporate rigorous cybersecurity measures from the very start of the design and development process in an effort to protect them against attack. (7/23)

Expiring Medications Could Pose Challenge on Long Space Missions (Source: Duke Health)
Medications used by astronauts on the International Space Station might not be good enough for a three-year journey to Mars. A new study led by Duke Health shows that over half of the medicines stocked in space -- staples such as pain relievers, antibiotics, allergy medicines, and sleep aids -- would expire before astronauts could return to Earth. Astronauts could end up relying on ineffective or even harmful drugs, according to the study. (7/22)

Army Moves to Expand ‘Space Control’ Planning, ‘Interdiction’ Capabilities (Source: Breaking Defense)
Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC) is moving out to implement its new(ish) space “vision,” expanding both the number of personnel for planning and operations as well as their scope of deployment, according to SMDC Commander Lt. Gen. Sean Gainey. A key focus right now for SMDC’s 1st Space Brigade, headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colo., is on planning for how space capabilities can support multi-domain operations. (7/23)

Over £600,000 for University of Leicester to Shrink AI Algorithms for Smarter Spacecraft (Source: University of Leicester)
University of Leicester scientists are developing a method to shrink artificial intelligence algorithms, enabling smarter spacecraft. It is one of more than 20 national space projects to be announced by DSIT Secretary of State Peter Kyle on the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow. The projects, worth £33 million, come from the UK Space Agency’s National Space Innovation Program – designed to invest in high-potential technologies, drive innovation and unlock growth across the UK. (7/23)

Primordial Black Holes Contain Very Little Dark Matter, Say Astronomers (Source: Physics World)
When the gravitational wave detectors LIGO and VIRGO observed signals from merging black holes with masses much higher than those of black holes that form from the collapse of stars, scientists were intrigued. Had these unusually massive black holes formed when the universe was very young? And might they contain large amounts of dark matter?

According to new analyses of 20 years of data from the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) survey, the answer to the second question is a firm “no”. At most, members of the survey say that these cosmological structures contain only few percent of the universe’s dark matter. (7/23)

Burned-Up Satellites are Polluting the Atmosphere (Source: Science)
With commercial plans to put many tens of thousands of satellites into orbit in vast megaconstellations, researchers are starting to wonder about the atmospheric consequences when those spacecraft are retired in large numbers. Recent studies highlight growing concerns over the rising concentrations of metal particles and gases from satellites that can linger in the stratosphere for years, potentially catalyzing the destruction of ozone. (7/23)

Chandra Needs More Money (Source: Space News)
A review chartered by NASA concluded that it is not possible to operate the Chandra X-Ray Observatory at the funding levels proposed by NASA. The Operations Paradigm Change Review, conducted by a team of scientists this spring and presented Tuesday, found that the proposed sharp cuts in NASA's fiscal year 2025 budget proposal ruled out any options for continued operations of Chandra.

The committee did find approaches that would allow a cut of about a third in Chandra's budget, but with significant reductions in its scientific productivity. The same committee looked at several options to handle smaller proposed cuts in the Hubble Space Telescope budget that include reducing instrument modes and operations. NASA plans to announce its decision on how to reduce the budgets of the two space telescopes in mid-September. (7/24)

Raytheon and Avio Collaborate on Solid Rocket Motors for Military (Source: Space News)
Raytheon and Avio are joining forces to produce solid rocket motors for military applications. The companies announced Tuesday a strategic partnership that will leverage Avio's existing manufacturing and engineering capabilities in Italy to produce motors for military needs, addressing shortages in the U.S. defense industrial base. The partnership with Avio follows Raytheon's recently announced collaboration with Nammo to establish new solid rocket motor manufacturing lines in the U.S. (7/24)

ESA Expands in UK (Source: Space News)
The European Space Agency is growing its presence in the United Kingdom for research and workforce development. ESA and the U.K. government announced Tuesday that ESA will expand its European Center for Space Applications and Telecommunications, exploring the potential for a space quantum technologies laboratory in the country and collaboration in in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing capabilities. The U.K. also announced 2.1 million pounds ($2.7 million) of funding for programs tackling space industry skills gaps. (7/24)

Orbital Insight Wins NGA Contract for Maritime Tracking (Source: Space News)
Orbital Insight won a National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) contract for geospatial information services. The company, recently acquired by Privateer, received a $2 million contract to provide services for tracking illicit maritime activity in the Indo-Pacific region. NGA said 82 bids were received for the award, and 12 finalist teams were selected by a panel of analysts and collection managers from various agencies. The award is the first for NGA's new "Commercial Solutions Opening" program. (7/24)

UK Spaceport Aims for Fall Launch (Source: Space News)
The U.K.'s SaxaVord Spaceport expects to be ready to host its first orbital launch this fall. A spaceport executive said Tuesday at the Farnborough International Airshow that it expects to get the final license it needs for hosting orbital launches by September. The spaceport's first launch will be the inaugural flight of Rocket Factory Augsburg's RFA ONE rocket, which is scheduled to go through a series of static-fire tests there in the near future ahead of the launch. The spaceport is also slated to host the "U.K. Pathfinder" flight by Lockheed Martin using ABL Space System's RS1 rocket, but the spaceport acknowledged that schedule is uncertain after the recent RS1 test mishap. (7/24)

SmallSat Alliance Gets New Leader (Source: Space News)
The SmallSat Alliance industry group has a new executive director. The organization announced Tuesday that Steve Nixon had stepped down and will be replaced by Angel Smith, a former Marine pilot and congressional staffer who most recently was a Microsoft executive. The SmallSat Alliance is a coalition of more than 50 companies in the small satellite ecosystem that lobbies for government investments in relevant technologies to maintain U.S. leadership in the field. (7/24)

Thales and Airbus Space Losses Spur Potential Merger (Source: Reuters)
Thales says that its space business is not performing as well as other sectors. The company said Tuesday that its space business would have a negative operating profit margin due to falling demand for commercial communications satellites and costs of restructuring weighing down the company's stock despite better performance in other markets. Airbus has also suffered losses on its space business, leading to reports that the two companies might combine their space activities in some way. Thales CEO Patrice Caine called those reports rumors that have emerged from time to time, and that the company's focus was on "Plan A," or restructuring the business over the next three years. (7/24)

VIPER Tests Continue (Source: Space Policy Online)
Initial environmental tests of NASA's VIPER rover, which the agency said last week it would cancel, are underway. The mission's project scientist said that VIPER has completed vibration and acoustic tests without any problems, and was optimistic that other tests would not turn up any issues with the robotic lunar rover that would further delay its launch or increase its cost. NASA officials defended the decision to cancel VIPER, noting that the Griffin lander that will carry it to the moon could also face delays. Scientists at the meeting criticized the cancellation decision, noting the rover is nearly complete and will perform studies of lunar ice not possible by other missions planned for the foreseeable future. (7/24)

India's Space Budget to Rise (Source: CNBC)
The budget for India's space agency ISRO is going back up after recent declines. A new budget released by the Indian government Tuesday would allocate 130.4 billion rupees ($1.55 billion) for the space agency in 2025, a 4% increase from 2024. ISRO's budget had fallen the previous two years after a peak of 139.5 billion rupees in 2022. The government is also allocating 10 billion rupees for a venture capital fund to support Indian space startups. (7/24)

NASA Picks Universities to Receive Space Sustainability Research Grants (Source: NASA)
NASA announced new awards to fund space sustainability research. NASA said Tuesday it is providing $550,000 for five projects led by university researchers to examine aspects of space sustainability. Three of the projects are related to the policy and economics of orbital debris and two will examine issues regarding space sustainability on the moon. The research supports NASA's broader Space Sustainability Strategy that the agency released in April. (7/24)

Blue Origin Announces Crew for New Shepard’s 26th Mission, Including UF Researcher (Source: Blue Origin)
Blue Origin revealed the six-person crew flying on its NS-26 mission. The crew includes: Nicolina Elrick, Rob Ferl, Eugene Grin, Dr. Eiman Jahangir, Karsen Kitchen, and Ephraim Rabin. Karsen will become the youngest woman ever to cross the Kármán line. Ferl will be the first NASA-funded researcher to conduct an experiment as part of a commercial suborbital space crew. The experiment is designed to help scientists understand how plant genes react to the transition to and from microgravity. (7/24)

UK Space Agency Selects Finalists for Lunar Water Purification Technologies (Source: Space Daily)
Ten teams of engineers and scientists have been chosen as finalists in the Aqualunar Challenge, aimed at developing technologies to provide sustainable water supplies for a permanent Moon base. The Aqualunar Challenge is part of a Pounds 1.2m prize funded by the UK Space Agency's International Bilateral Fund and managed by Challenge Works. In collaboration with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and Impact Canada, the challenge offers UK-led teams Pounds 30,000 each to advance their technologies, with the final winner and runners-up to be announced in Spring 2025. (7/24)

Chinese Lunar Probe Finds Water in Moon Samples (Source: Space Daily)
A Chinese lunar probe found traces of water in samples of the Moon's soil, scientists have said, as the country pushes its ambitious space programme into high gear. The Chang'e-5 rover completed its mission in 2020, returning to Earth with rock and soil samples from the Moon. The lunar samples "revealed the presence of trace water", the group of scientists from Chinese universities wrote in the Nature Astronomy journal published Monday.

A NASA infrared detector already confirmed in 2020 the existence of water on the Moon, while scientists found traces of water in recent analyses of samples dating from the 1960s and 1970s. (7/23)

New Magnetic Criteria Suggest Only Two Exoplanets Potentially Habitable (Source: Space Daily)
Interest in Earth-like planets within the habitable zone of their stars has surged, driven by the quest to find life beyond our solar system. However, the potential habitability of such planets, known as exoplanets, depends on more than just their distance from the star. A new study broadens the definition of a habitable zone to include the impact of the host star's magnetic field. The research reveals that the star's magnetic field significantly influences a planet's ability to support life. (7/23)

Deep-Ocean Minerals Generate Oxygen at 13,000 Feet Below Surface (Source: Space Daily)
An international team of researchers has discovered that metallic minerals on the deep-ocean floor can produce oxygen at depths of 13,000 feet. This finding challenges the traditional belief that only photosynthetic organisms, such as plants and algae, generate Earth's oxygen. The discovery suggests oxygen can also be produced at the seafloor, supporting aerobic sea life in complete darkness. (7/23)

NASA Picks Crew for Another Simulated Mars Mission (Source: Space Daily)
The third volunteer research team to participate in NASA's simulated mission to Mars has been picked as the United States aims to better understand how humans will react during a deep-space mission, the space agency said Monday. Erin Anderson, Sergii Iakymov, Brandon Kent and Sarah Elizabeth McCandless are to begin their simulated trek to Mars within NASA's Human Exploration Research Analog -- or HERA -- at Johnson Space Center in Houston on Aug. 9. The volunteer crew of four will stay inside the 650-square-foot habitat for 45 days and exit Sep. 23 after a simulated return to Earth. Jason Staggs and Anderson Wilder will serve as "alternate" crew members. (7/22)

July 23, 2024

Snakebit Rover (Source: Space Review)
NASA announced last week it was cancelling VIPER, a robotic lunar rover mission, a move that took some by surprise given that the rover was virtually complete after spending nearly half a billion dollars. Jeff Foust reports on why NASA is walking away from the mission and its implications for commercial lunar landers. Click here. (7/23)
 
Staying on Course: The Vital Role of GPS Backup Systems (Source: Space Review)
There is growing concern about the effect of jamming of GPS signals on sectors like aviation. Lauren Miller describes how those concerns can be mitigated by the use of backup systems even as some countries consider doing away with terrestrial alternatives to satellite-based navigation. Click here. (7/23)
 
The Threat From China and Russia’s Space-Based SIGINT Satellites (Source: Space Review)
Both China and Russia have invested in new signals intelligence, or SIGINT, satellites to eavesdrop on Western communications and specifically for naval reconnaissance. Matthew Mowthorpe examines what is known about those satellites. Click here. (7/23)

ABL Suffers Irrecoverable Rocket Damage During Alaska Launch Pad Test (Source: Space News)
ABL Space Systems says its second RS1 rocket suffered "irrecoverable" damage after a test on its launch pad. The company, in a brief statement Monday, said the rocket was damaged by a residual fire after a static-fire test on the pad at Kodiak Island, Alaska. The company was preparing for the first launch of the rocket since its inaugural flight more than 18 months ago, when its engines shut down seconds after liftoff. ABL did not provide any other details about the incident or the impact on its plans. The company has attracted a lineup of customers that includes the U.S. Space Force and Lockheed Martin, and is also slated to perform a "U.K. Pathfinder" launch from SaxaVord Spaceport next year. (7/23)

ESA Confident That Ariane 6 Success Puts an End to Europe's Launcher Crisis (Source: Space News)
ESA's leadership believes Europe's "launcher crisis" is behind it after the Ariane 6 launch earlier this month. Josef Aschbacher called the launch a "100% success" despite an anomaly later in the mission that prevented the upper stage from performing a deorbit burn. ESA expects to provide more details about that anomaly after a task force meeting at the end of this week. The first operational Ariane 6 launch is planned for late this year. The smaller Vega C rocket is also on track for a return to flight between mid-November and mid-December, its first since a failure in late 2022. (7/23)

Space Plays Key Role in DoD Arctic Strategy (Source: Space News)
Space plays a key role in a new Defense Department Arctic strategy. The strategy, released Monday, emphasizes the increasing reliance on satellites for critical activities in the Arctic. The Pentagon is calling for investments in space-based capabilities to enhance communications, intelligence gathering and monitoring activities. A key trend highlighted in the document is China's ambition to expand its footprint in the Arctic through infrastructure investments and an increased military presence, in collaboration with Russia. (7/23)

China Aims for 50 Nations as Partners in Lunar Base (Source: Space News)
China wants to have 50 nations involved in its International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) effort. The chief designer of China’s lunar exploration program said in a television interview that China wants to work 500 foreign scientific institutions in 50 countries on the ILRS, which has the long-term goal of establishing a base at the south polar region of the moon.

China and Russia have attracted 10 countries, while a series of universities, companies, institutes and regional organizations have signed memorandums of understanding on the ILRS. However, that effort is going slower than expected, with China yet to create the International Lunar Research Station Cooperation Organization (ILRSCO) it once said it would set up in 2023. (7/23)

SpaceX Chosen to Launch NASA/NOAA Weather Satellite (Source: NASA)
NASA selected SpaceX to launch a weather satellite. NASA announced Monday it awarded SpaceX a contract valued at $112.7 million for the launch of NOAA's Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) 4 spacecraft on a Falcon 9 in 2027. JPSS-4 is the fourth and final satellite in the series of polar-orbiting weather satellites. It is unclear if any other launch vehicles were eligible to compete for the launch. (7/23)

Space Force’s Calvelli Aims to ‘Integrate’ Space Acquisition Organizations (Source: Breaking Defense)
The Pentagon's head of space acquisition wants to integrate the various organizations that handle procurement of space systems and services. Frank Calvelli, assistant secretary for space acquisition and integration, announced in a memo earlier this month he has created a high-level office to oversee procurement work by the Space Force's Space Systems Command as well as the Space Development Agency and Space Rapid Capabilities Office. The new office, led by Claire Leon, will work to ensure the efforts by the three organizations fit together. (7/23)

ULA National Security Launch Contract Hits $4.5B (Source: GovCon Wire)
United Launch Alliance has been awarded $1.1 billion contract modification from the US Space Force for launch services under the National Security Space Launch Phase 2 program. The modification boosts ULA's total award to $4.5 billion. (7/22)

Replica Rocket Part of free Exhibition at Spaceport Cornwall (Source: The Packet)
UKSA's 72ft replica rocket has returned to Spaceport Cornwall and will form part of a free space exhibition. It arrived back at its home in Newquay after the rocket completed a Space For Everyone UK tour. The new exhibition coincided with Space Exploration Day yesterday (Saturday, July 20), commemorating man's historic first steps on the moon back in 1969. (7/21)

NASA Suborbital Mission Launches at White Sands NM (Source: Space Daily)
Investigators at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, will use observations from a recently-launched sounding rocket mission to provide a clearer image of how and why the Sun's corona grows so much hotter than the visible surface of Earth's parent star. The MaGIXS-2 mission - short for the second flight of the Marshall Grazing Incidence X-ray Spectrometer - launched from White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico on Tuesday, July 16. The mission's goal is to determine the heating mechanisms in active regions on the Sun by making critical observations using X-ray spectroscopy. (7/22)

Top Official in China's Rocket Force Investigated for Corruption (Source: Space Daily)
A top Chinese official in Beijing's secretive Rocket Force has been placed under investigation for corruption, state media said, deepening a crackdown on alleged graft in the military. Sun Jinming was kicked out of the ruling Communist Party and is under investigation for "grave violations of party discipline and laws", state news agency Xinhua said Thursday, using a common euphemism for graft. (7/19)

Senior Scientists Complain of Unfairness in Promotions at ISRO (Source: New Indian Express)
There are loud rumblings of “unfairness and merit taking a backseat” at the country’s premier ISRO. Some senior scientists complained that there is tangible discrimination in extension of service and disparity in promotions. They pointed out that one person, a “close friend” of a top official, was promoted unfairly. They complained of toxic influence of “caste and regional considerations”, instead of merit, coming to play in the organization. (7/21)

Civilian Guardians Participate in ‘Azimuth’ Missions Training (Source: USSF)
Two procurement experts from the Space Force are the first Guardian civilians to graduate from the demanding “Azimuth” aerospace missions training program for early career personnel. Mallory Avila and Aman Zemoy, both acquisition logistics management specialists with the Space Force’s Space Systems Command, graduated in June from the three-week training program held at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Azimuth is designed to immerse top performers in the board range of aerospace missions conducted across military services. (7/18)

Artificial Intelligence Will Let Humanity Talk to Alien Civilizations (Source: Scientific American)
Large language models may enable real-time communication with extraterrestrial civilizations despite the vast distances between stars. We need to start thinking about what to tell them about us.

As alien-curious scientists, we propose advancing METI by transmitting not just music, math or brief descriptions of ourselves but something more meaningful: a well-curated large language model that encapsulates the diverse essence of humanity and the world we live in. This would enable extraterrestrial civilizations to indirectly converse with us and learn about us without being hindered by the vast distances of space and its corresponding human lifetime delays in communication. Aliens could learn one of our languages, ask the LLM questions about us and receive replies that are representative of humanity. (7/20)

Astroscale UK Secures Contract for Final Phase of ELSA-M In-Orbit Demonstration (Source: Astroscale)
Astroscale has secured EUR 13.95 million (approximately $15 million) from the UK Space Agency and the European Space Agency to support the final phase of the End-of-Life by Astroscale-Multiple (ELSA-M) in-orbit demonstration. The funding was released following the securing of the contract with Eutelsat OneWeb in the context of the Sunrise Partnership Project, a public-private partnership between ESA and the Eutelsat Group. (7/22)

Mercury Has an 11-Mile Thick Diamond Layer Between its Core and Mantle (Source: TechSpot)
Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system and has always been a mystery due to its dark surface and high core density. However, astronomers have long known that its surface contains significant amounts of graphite, a form of carbon. A new reveals that a thick diamond layer lies beneath that graphite crust at its core-mantle boundary. (7/21)

China Comes Up with Attack Plan for Starlink-Like Satellites (Source: Times of India)
China's People Liberation Army has deployed its submarine with a laser weapon to counter military threats to Beijing, including Starlink satellites. Using missiles to attack such satellites is highly inefficient. Submarine-based laser weapons can solve these issues. (7/22)

How the CIA 'Kidnapped' a Soviet Moon Probe During the Space Race (Source: Space.com)
To gain insight on how the Soviet Union built moon-bound gear, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) carried out a covert spy job on a Soviet exhibit in 1959. A CIA action team dismantled a "Lunik 2" exhibit to document what techniques and technologies were used by the Soviet Union.

Years later, that secretive act was detailed by the CIA and ballyhooed as a stealthy spy operation that was done unbeknownst to the Soviet Union. The unusual overnight caper by the CIA involved Soviet upper stage space hardware that was being toted around as part of an exhibition to promote Soviet industrial and economic achievements. (7/21)

Futuramic Expands on Space Coast (Source: North Brevard Business Review)
Futuramic, a Michigan-based company that provides advanced engineering, fabrication, and machining services to the aviation and aerospace industry, announced plans to build a 6,000 sq. ft. addition to its existing 12,000 sq. ft. assembly and manufacturing building in Titusville. The company, which services both commercial aerospace companies and government missions for NASA and the Space Force, purchased the site in 2022, with plans to create a business campus on adjoining property. The company anticipates a project cost of more than $1.2 million. (3/24)

NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for NOAA’s JPSS-4 Mission (Source: NASA)
NASA, on behalf of NOAA, has selected SpaceX to provide launch services for NOAA’s JPSS-4 mission. The spacecraft is part of the multi-satellite cooperative Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) program, a partnership between NASA and NOAA. This is a firm fixed price contract with a value of approximately $112.7 million, which includes launch services and other mission related costs. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the satellite from California. (7/22)

July 22, 2024

South Korea’s New Space Agency Outlines Plans (Source: Space News)
South Korea’s new space agency, less than two months old, is laying out ambitious goals in spaceflight as part of its efforts to serve as a “control tower” for the county’s growing space presence. The Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) 45th Scientific Assembly held here served as one of the first opportunities for the Korea Aerospace Administration, or KASA, to tell an international audience about its plans to coordinate and expand space activities in the country.

KASA started operations on May 27. The agency, Youngbin Yoon said, “serves as the control tower for national space affairs and international cooperation,” with the goal of creating an aerospace economy in South Korea. That work will be focused on space transportation, satellite, space exploration and aviation. KASA has long-term goals, he added, of sending a robotic lander to the moon in 2032 and another to Mars in 2045. (7/20)

Astronomers Discover What May Be 21 Neutron Stars Orbiting Sun-Like Stars (Source: Phys.org)
Most stars in our universe come in pairs. While our own sun is a loner, many stars like our sun orbit similar stars, while a host of other exotic pairings between stars and cosmic orbs pepper the universe. Black holes, for example, are often found orbiting each other. One pairing that has proven to be quite rare is that between a sun-like star and a type of dead star called a neutron star.

Now, astronomers led by Caltech's Kareem El-Badry have uncovered what appear to be 21 neutron stars in orbit around stars like our sun. Neutron stars are dense burned-out cores of massive stars that exploded. (7/16)

'Dark Comets' May Be a Much Bigger Threat to Earth Than We Thought (Source: LiveScience)
Mysterious, nearly invisible objects known as "dark comets" may pose a bigger threat to Earth than scientists thought, new research suggests. These small, rapidly spinning objects wander near Earth, likely after migrating from more distant reaches of the solar system. They might be a source of water and other volatile elements — and also a potent source of danger.

Dark comets are small — only tens of kilometers across. They show no visible outgassing or evaporation of volatile elements like water. But they don't move in perfect orbits, either. Instead, they show evidence for "nongravitational" acceleration, implying that there are some other forces capable of gently nudging their orbits.  (7/20)

Patented 'Exodus Effect' Propellantless Propulsion Drive that Defies Physics is Ready to Go to Space (Source: The Debrief)
A patented experimental propellantless propulsion drive is finally ready to go to space, according to its inventor, a veteran NASA scientist with decades of expertise in electrostatics. Dr. Charles Buhler, the technology’s creator, says the propulsion system may represent a working version of Quantized Inertia.

The controversial technology, which The Debrief covered in April, is privately owned by Exodus Propulsion Technologies and is not affiliated with NASA. After almost a decade of research, design, and testing, Buhler says he and his team are confident they have verified the force, one his team calls the Exodus Effect. The final step required to officially demonstrate the validity of their discovery is to send the propulsion drive unit into space. (7/19)

China Plans to Deflect Near-Earth Asteroid in 2030 (Source: New Atlas)
China is looking to get into the planetary defense business. A new paper by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) confirms that in 2030, the country plans to conduct a test mission to deflect a small asteroid from its current course. If you're going to have a space race, making the goal to develop a way of protecting the Earth from rogue asteroids is one of the more benign ones. Assuming, of course, that no one gets the idea of using the technology to deflect asteroids towards the Earth. That gets into Bond villain territory. (7/17)

Airbus Looking at Opportunities to Create Scale in Space, Satellites (Source: Reuters)
Airbus is looking at opportunities to create scale in defense, space and particularly satellites markets, CEO Guillaume Faury said on Sunday. Airbus and France's Thales are exploring a tie-up of some space activities as new competition disrupts the sector, two industry sources said last week. The sources said preliminary talks were focusing on the companies' overlapping satellite activities.

Airbus and Thales Alenia Space, in which Italy's Leonardo holds a 33% stake, are Europe's largest makers of satellites for telecommunications, navigation and surveillance. Demand for their geostationary satellites is increasingly under pressure as traditional manufacturers face competition from massive constellations of expendable satellites in low Earth orbit. (7/21)

Sci-Fi Horror Bug Discovered on International Space Station (Source: Fox8)
Aboard the International Space Station, NASA discovered 13 strains of a superbug, a multidrug-resistant bacterium. Its name? Enterobacter bugandensis. Having mutated in the extraordinary (and extraordinarily isolated) environment of outer space, the microscopic oddity is genetically distinct enough from its terrestrial counterparts to develop resistance to drugs.

It spells out prospective health risks—particularly to astronauts’ respiratory systems. Astronauts already suffer from weakened immune systems while on the space station. The discovered mega bug could especially assail astronauts in this state, potentially sickening them in a less than ideal environment. Obviously, the limited access to medical facilities in space adds to the difficulty. (7/21)

ScienceAlert: This Plant Is So Extreme Scientists Think It Could Thrive on Mars (Source: ScienceAlert)
Mosses are among Earth's great terraformers, turning barren rock into fertile soils, and now a team of scientists is proposing these non-vascular plants could do the same on Mars. Whether we should introduce life from Earth onto our red neighbor is another question – we don't have a great track record with this on our own planet.

But if we decide it's worth messing with soil on Mars to create a second home for us Earthlings, ecologist Xiaoshuang Li and colleagues at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have a candidate that they think should do just the trick. Syntrichia caninervis is committed to upholding a severely frugal way of life. It thrives in the deserts of China and the US, along with the icy mountains of the Pamir, Tibet, the Middle East, Antarctica, and circumpolar regions. (7/21)

Cruise Ship-Sized Asteroid Moves Toward Earth (Source: Weather Channel)
An asteroid the size of a cruise ship will make a close pass to Earth in 2029 – here’s what to know. (7/20)

Satellite Damaged by Particle 'Smaller Than a Grain of Sand' and Historic Solar Storm (Source: Fox Weather)
Even big spacecraft on a mission to map the stars have to deal with the hazards of space. According to the European Space Agency, the Milky Way "billion-star surveyor" satellite called Gaia was struck by a high-speed micrometeoroid that was "smaller than a grain of sand" in April before being hit by the strongest solar storm in 20 years – the same storm that led to brilliant auroras on Earth in May. This affected the craft's ability to carry out the precise measurements for which it is famous. (7/20)

Senate Spending Bill Includes NASA Funding Increase (Source: Space News)
A spending bill a Senate committee will debate this week includes a funding increase for NASA. The Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to mark up its commerce, justice and science (CJS) fiscal year 2025 spending bill Thursday, along with three other bills.

While the text of the bill has not been released yet, the leaders of the CJS subcommittee said Monday that the bill will include an unspecified increase for NASA, and will specifically protect the Artemis lunar exploration effort. They didn't discuss how the bill will differ from a House bill that appropriations advanced earlier in the month to provide a smaller increase than requested by NASA for 2025. (7/22)

Thales Alenia Team Wins French Satellite Inspection Contract (Source: Space News)
A team lead by Thales Alenia Space won a French government contract to operate a satellite inspection mission. Supported by undisclosed funding from the French space agency CNES and state-owned investment bank Bpifrance, the mission would use a pair of spacecraft due to launch before the end of 2028 as part of the European Robotic Orbital Support Services (EROSS) program.

The French effort, called Démonstration d'Inspection et Amarrage Novatrice Embarquée (DIANE), will use the EROSS spacecraft to inspect a spinning satellite and capture it. The timeline for DIANE depends on the availability of the EROSS assets, but in principle the mission could start as soon as the initial EROSS demonstration is over. (7/22)

ESA Apophis Mission Proceeds Ahead of Funding Decision (Source; Space News)
ESA is allowing a proposed mission to the asteroid Apophis to move ahead before a funding decision next year. ESA announced last week that it gave the Ramses mission permission to begin preparatory work before a funding decision at the 2025 ministerial meeting. Ramses, or Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety, is based on the Hera asteroid mission scheduled to launch in October.

It would launch in 2028 and arrive at Apophis about two months before the asteroid makes a very close flyby of Earth. It would complement NASA's OSIRIS-APEX mission, which will arrive at Apophis after the flyby. Project officials said they needed the approval to start work now before the ministerial to keep Ramses on schedule. (7/22)

Capella Halts Rocket Lab Launch for More Satellite Testing (Source: Rocket Lab)
Rocket Lab postponed an Electron launch that had been scheduled for the weekend at the request of its customer. Rocket Lab said Capella Space sought the delay to perform additional testing of the satellite, with no new launch date announced. The next Electron launch will now be for another SAR imaging company, Synspective, scheduled "within the next few weeks." (7/22)

Space Foundation Sees 7% Space Economy Growth (Source: Space Foundation)
The Space Foundation says the global space economy grew by more than 7% last year. The organization estimated the value of space activities worldwide at $570 billion in 2023 according to its annual report released last week. That is a 7.4% increase over the $531 billion for the global space economy in 2022. The increase was driven by an 11% increase in international government spending, with commercial revenues growing 5.4%. (7/22)

UK Parastronaut Can Fly to Space (Source: The Telegraph)
A British "parastronaut" can safely fly to space, an ESA study has concluded. The feasibility study by ESA found no "technical showstoppers" that would keep John McFall, a British man with a prosthetic leg, from going to space. ESA selected McFall as an astronaut candidate in 2022 to see if people with physical limitations could participate in missions. McFall would still wear his prosthesis in space, with studies ongoing about any design changes needed for it. The study does not guarantee that McFall will go on a future mission to the International Space Station but shows that, if selected, he could be a full member of the crew. (7/22)

NASA Renames JSC Building for Apollo-Era "Hidden Figure" (Source: Houston Chronicle)
NASA renamed a building at the Johnson Space Center after one of the Apollo-era "hidden figures." At an event Friday, NASA formally renamed Building 12 at the center the "Dorothy Vaughan Center in Honor of Women of Apollo." Vaughn was a human computer for NASA and its predecessor NACA who went on to become the first Black manager at the agency. She was one of the people highlighted in the book and movie "Hidden Figures" about the roles that Black women played in the early space program. (7/22)

JPL's Theisinger Passes at 78 (Source: Pasadena Star-News)
Pete Theisinger, a key figure in several JPL planetary missions, has died at the age of 78. He spent 50 years at JPL in roles that included being manager of the Curiosity Mars rover mission. He also worked on Mariner missions to Venus and Mars, the Voyager missions and Galileo, and helped start the Perseverance Mars mission. (7/22)

Washington DC and Milwaukee Among US Cities Most at Risk from Space Weather (Source: Space Daily)
Several cities in the United States, including the nation's capital, have power grids particularly vulnerable to space weather, according to new research. However, the reasons for this susceptibility remain unclear. The British Geological Survey (BGS) conducted a study revealing that some US regions are more prone to the impacts of geomagnetic storms. These storms are caused by solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from the Sun. (7/21)

ISS Could 'Drift Down' for a Year Before SpaceX Vehicle Destroys it in Earth's Atmosphere (Source: Space.com)
SpaceX's newly commissioned reentry vehicle will only push the ISS into Earth's atmosphere some 12 to 18 months after the complex "drifts down" from its normal orbit. "We'll leave the crew on board as long as possible, so they're available to help maintain station and keep it healthy," NASA's Dana Weigel, ISS program manager, told reporters.

"Our plan is for [the astronauts] to leave about six months before the final reentry, as ISS reaches about 220 kilometers [136 miles]," Weigel said, explaining that's as low as human vehicles are typically rated to fly. For comparison, the typical ISS orbit is 250 miles (400 km) above Earth. (7/17)

July 21, 2024

What Became of the Flags Apollo Astronauts Left on the Moon? (Source: Space.com)
In Platoff's report, she points out that the Apollo flag-raising also gave NASA engineers technical challenges. "They designed a flagpole with a horizontal bar allowing the flag to 'fly' without the benefit of wind to overcome the effects of the moon's lack of an atmosphere. Other factors considered in the design were weight, heat resistance, and ease of assembly by astronauts whose space suits restricted their range of movement.

Apollo 11's Buzz Aldrin later recounted in an article written for Life magazine that as he looked at the flag, the moonwalker sensed an "almost mystical unification of all people in the world at that moment." Aldrin also described what it was like when he and Armstrong were able to put up the flag, a pennant that was purchased locally in Houston for $5.50. "Just beneath the powdery surface, the subsoil was very dense," Aldrin recalled. "We succeeded in pushing the flagpole in only a couple of inches. It didn't look very sturdy." Click here. (7/20)

How Will SpaceX Starship Overcome This Problem? (Source: Marcus House)
SpaceX’s Starship is an engineering marvel knocking off one challenge at a time before we can see them design solutions to the future challenges. Here is the question. With the LOX and CH4 storage and temperature challenges, how can they store them together for long periods of time. Indeed, How Will SpaceX Starship Overcome This Problem? Secondly, how with they solve Zero Boiloff (or near zero boiloff)? Click here. (7/20)

Study Finds Increased Fire Risk on Future Space Missions (Source: Phys.org)
A research team from Germany has investigated the risk of fire on spacecraft in a recent study. The results show that fires on planned exploration missions, such as a flight to Mars, could spread significantly faster than, for example, on the ISS. This is due to the planned adjustment to a lower ambient pressure on spacecraft.

A fire burns with a smaller flame and spreads more slowly, which means it can go unnoticed for a long time. However, it burns hotter and can therefore also ignite materials that are basically non-flammable on Earth. In addition, incomplete combustion can produce more toxic gases. (7/16)

NASA, Boeing Complete Starliner Engine Testing (Source: SciTech Daily)
Engineers at NASA and Boeing are scrutinizing recent engine tests to ensure the safe return of the Boeing Crew Flight Test. Simultaneously, astronauts on the ISS engage in health and scientific experiments, contributing to our understanding of space’s effects on human physiology and material sciences. NASA and Boeing engineers are evaluating results from last week’s engine tests at NASA’s White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico as the team works through plans to return the agency’s Boeing Crew Flight Test from the International Space Station in the coming weeks. (7/19)

Looking Ahead to the Next 25 Years of Private Space Stations (Source: Space.com)
Space stations have proved that humans can live and work in space while bringing unique lessons about microgravity and the cosmos. They have taught us about the challenges of living in microgravity and the fragility of life beyond our planetary cradle. But shifting dynamics in the space industry are set to usher in a new era of private space stations tasked with continuing this legacy. The ISS — a decades-long, multinational grand endeavor of cooperation and technological feats — is winding down and could be decommissioned around 2030. Click here. (7/18)

Musk Faces Backlash Over Boca Chica's 'Starbase, Texas' Rebrand (Source: My San Antonio)
Elon Musk has been pushing for years to rename the area surrounding SpaceX's South Texas facility to Starbase. Musk's constant misidentification of the region has now triggered backlash from locals who want the Rio Grande Valley to be properly represented. As Starbase is not a real city, many locals in the area are demanding that their area be properly represented.

"Where exactly is 'Starbase, TX'? Is he renaming Boca Chica or is he just buying some land and creating an unincorporated place?" wrote one critic. Others have banded together to fight against the notion of Musk moving the company to the RGV to prevent gentrification in a low-cost city. "It ain’t called Starbase, it’s called Boca Chica... Valley needs to band together, or these rich tech tycoons will come in and destroy environmental ecosystems, heritage, and ultimately pricing people out of their homes," AceKnight21 said. "Wake up 956." (7/20)

Republican Party Platform Goes All In on Space Exploration (Source: Washington Examiner)
In Chapter 3, which relates the Republican Party position on the economy, part of a section that deals with innovation and mentions space exploration stands out. “Under Republican Leadership, 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,” it says. (7/19)

CSA Releases Human Analog Studies Opportunity (Source: SpaceQ)
The Canadian Space Agency has issued another health in space Announcement of Opportunity (AO), this one on Human Analog Studies. As with past opportunities related to health in space, all proposals must have the dual-purpose of meeting the requirements of increasing our “understanding, mitigation or elimination of health risks associated with human space exploration” and “generate scientific insights that will contribute to applications on Earth.” (7/19)

U.S. Prepares Jamming Devices Targeting Russian and Chinese Satellites (Source: Japan Times)
The U.S. is about to deploy a new ground-based jammer designed to blunt Chinese or Russian satellites from transmitting information about U.S. forces during a conflict, the Space Force disclosed. The Pentagon’s space service branch tested the system for the first time earlier this year at two different locations, with control of the system at a third. The devices aren’t meant to protect U.S. satellites from Chinese or Russian jamming but "to responsibly counter adversary satellite communications capabilities that enable attacks,” the Space Force said. (7/20)

California Brushes off Elon Musk's Plans to Move X, SpaceX to Texas (Source: My San Antonio)
California officials and experts have responded to the move in terms of its economic impact and they don't seem too worried. California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office responded on Tuesday, comparing the recent announcement to the last time the SpaceX CEO "moved" Tesla's headquarters to Texas. The quotation marks were put around "moved" by Newsom's office. "The last time Elon Musk 'moved' an HQ, Tesla ended up expanding in California — even relocating their Global Engineering & AI headquarters to California because of our diverse, world-leading talent," he wrote. (7/19)