January 17, 2018

Virgin Orbit Wins GomSpace Launch Contract (Source: Space News)
Virgin Orbit has won a launch contract from GomSpace for the launch of satellites to track ships and planes. The contract covers the launch in 2019 of eight nanosatellites into a low-inclination orbit. The satellites will be for Aerial & Maritime Ltd., a spinoff of GomSpace that plans to operate a constellation of 80 satellites by 2021 to track ships and places. GomSpace will be the primary customer for that launch, but with the LauncherOne rocket carrying secondary payloads as well. The first LauncherOne launch is planned for the first half of this year.

Editor's Note: Virgin Orbit lists the Mojave Air and Space Port as its "primary spaceport" but is assessing multiple "lower latitude" locations including the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport, Kona International Airport in Hawaii, and Roosevelt Roads in Puerto Rico. (1/17)

23 Ariane 5 Launches Remain (Source: Space News)
Arianespace plans fewer than two dozen Ariane 5 launches before shifting entirely to the Ariane 6. The company expects to perform 23 more Ariane 5 launches through 2022, including a period of overlap with the Ariane 6, whose first launch is scheduled for 2020. Arianespace is currently selling slots on the final 10 Ariane 5 missions, from 2020 to 2022, with a few having already been sold. (1/17)

"Effective Space" Plans Satellite Servicing Spacecraft (Source: Space News)
Effective Space has signed its first contract for its satellite life extension services. The company announced Wednesday that the contract, with an undisclosed regional satellite operator, covers two launches of its Space Drone life extension spacecraft in 2020. The contract has a total value of more than $100 million. The Space Drone spacecraft will attach to communications satellites and take over maneuvering and attitude control, similar to the Mission Extension Vehicles being offered by Orbital ATK. Effective Space says they're seeing growing interest in their satellite life extension services as satellite operators, uncertain about the effects of high-throughput satellites and low Earth orbit constellations on the market, seek ways to keep existing satellites operational rather than purchase new satellites. (1/17)

Congress' Continuing Resolution Kicks Budget Ball to February (Source: Politico)
House appropriators have introduced another continuing resolution (CR) in a bid to keep the government operating after this Friday. The resolution, announced Tuesday evening, would fund the government through Feb. 16. The government is operating under a CR set to expire this Friday. The CR includes a provision granting NASA permission to spend funds on exploration programs, including SLS and Orion, at levels needed to maintain current schedules rather than strictly adhering to 2017 spending levels. House Republicans believe they have enough support to win passage there, but its fate in the Senate is unclear. (1/17)

NASA Tests Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-25 for SLS (Source: Aerojet Rocketdyne)
NASA performed a static fire test of an RS-25 engine Tuesday. The test at the Stennis Space Center was a qualification test for the controller on the third of four RS-25 engines that will be used on the second Space Launch System mission in the early 2020s. The test also confirmed the performance of a 3D-printed part used to dampen engine vibrations. (1/17)

India's New Space Chief "Tamed" Troubled Launcher Program (Source: Economic Times)
The new head of India's space agency won the job thanks to his work turning around a troubled launch vehicle program. K. Sivan, who took over as chairman of ISRO this week, had previously been project director of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), a rocket that had suffered from a number of failures. Under his guidance the GSLV program got back on track. "We have tamed the naughty fellow," Sivan said after the rocket performed a successful launch in 2014. (1/17)

Japan Seeks Food Variety for Astronauts (Source: Food Navigator)
Japan's space agency wants to see more space-certified food developed for its astronauts. JAXA has currently certified 31 food items from 15 companies as "Japanese Space Food" that can be flown on space station missions, but the agency wants to provide more options for its astronauts. The goal is to "provide Japanese astronauts with meals that remind them of home" while they're on the station, a JAXA official said. (1/17)