April 20, 2020

Pentagon Identifies Small Launch Industry as One of the Most Impacted by Pandemic (Source: Space News)
Among the domestic industries that provide equipment and services to the Pentagon,  suppliers in the aviation, shipbuilding and small space launch sectors have been the most impacted by the pandemic, top procurement official Ellen Lord said. “We’re looking where the greatest pain points are, and again, it’s really aviation, shipbuilding and small space launch.”

The Pentagon’s concerns about the small launch sector are supported by market data pointing to an inevitable shakeout in the industry that would have happened regardless of the pandemic, analysts said. There are currently more than 100 small launch companies, says a new report by the market research firm Quilty Analytics. “It is a risky, capital intensive segment, marked by very long development cycles. Nearly all of the contenders will fail,” says the report. Quilty Analytics projects there will be enough demand to sustain only two or three small launch providers in the long term.

The report says LEO broadband, as the most capital intensive segment in all of venture space, is headed for consolidation. “OneWeb and Leosat have left the field, leaving three remaining contenders (Amazon, SpaceX, and Telesat). We expect one to two total LEO broadband players to reach operational status.” Smallsat internet-of-things services will see weakening customer demand, says the report. “Smallsat IoT is among the most crowded segments in the space industry — behind launch.” (4/20)

FAA Re-Org Looks to Bring Efficiency to Launch License Process (Source: Space News)
The Federal Aviation Administration has completed the reorganization of its commercial space office and goal of cutting red tape for launch companies. "Most importantly, it will allow us to scale our processes to meet the increased licensing demand over the next several years," according to the FAA's Wayne Monteith.

The new structure for AST creates two main offices, the Office of Operational Safety and the Office of Strategic Management. The safety office is further divided into three divisions, including one that serves as what Monteith described as a “one-stop shop” for license and experimental permit applications, as well as pre-application consultations and waiver requests. A second division is responsible for analyzing flight and system safety, while the third handles compliance oversight and inspections. (4/19)

To Attack or Deter? The Role of Anti-Satellite Weapons (Source: Space Review)
Russia’s test of an anti-satellite weapon last week has reinvigorated debates about the utility of such weapons. Dwayne Day discusses a historical case where the US proposed developing ASATs to shed light on on their roles today. Click here. (4/20)
 
The FCC Takes a Leadership Role in Combating Orbital Debris (Source: Space Review)
The FCC is scheduled to vote this week on new regulations intended to mitigate the creation of orbital debris, which some in industry oppose. Three experts explain why the regulations are a good idea even if the implementation leaves something to be desired. Click here. (4/20)
 
The President’s Space Resources Executive Order: a Step in the Right Direction (Source: Space Review)
In early April, the White House issued an executive order reiterating policy regarding rights to space resources. Paul Stimers argues that the policy is a good step towards building an international consensus on the issue. Click here. (4/20)
 
Cost Versus Control in the Small Launch Market (Source: Space Review)
Some smallsat launch customers are willing to pay a premium in order to get their payload into their desired orbit on their own schedule. Jeff Foust reports on whether there are enough such customers out there to sustain small launch vehicle companies that emphasis flexibility over price. Click here. (4/20)
 
“Space, the Final Frontier”: Star Trek and the National Space Rhetoric of Eisenhower, Kennedy, and NASA (Source: Space Review)
While “Star Trek” has been an inspiration for many who pursued space careers, the show’s origins has its links to the early space program. Glen Swanson examines the various connections between the show and the early Space Age. Click here. (4/20)

OneWeb’s Bankruptcy-to-Spectrum Sale Timing Was Not Accidental (Source: Main Engine Cut Off)
Caleb Henry, for SpaceNews, commented on OneWeb’s bankruptcy and the strategy of its timing with regards to its upcoming spectrum sale: "OneWeb’s primary spectrum filings cover Ku-band frequencies for downlinks and Ka-band for uplinks for a constellation of 720 satellites in low Earth orbit. The company brought that spectrum into use with the International Telecommunication Union, and passed the agency’s 10% milestone last month when it launched 34 satellites on an Arianespace Soyuz days before filing for bankruptcy." Cut and run once the spectrum asset was sufficiently attractive. If Amazon doesn’t jump at this sale, I’d be shocked. (4/18)

FCC Urged By DoD to Deny Ligado 5G Spectrum Plan (Source: Space News)
The FCC is also facing renewed criticism from the Defense Department about allowing a company to offer 5G services that could interfere with GPS. In a joint statement with the Department of Transportation Friday, the Pentagon called on the FCC to reverse is support for a plan by Ligado to use a spectrum band near GPS for 5G communications, saying it put various uses of GPS "at risk" because of potential interference. The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Adam Smith, said in a letter to the FCC and Defense Department that Ligado's system "poses an even larger security risk" than Chinese companies dominating 5G services. (4/20)

UAE Mars Spacecraft Ships to Japan for H-2A Launch in July (Source: Space News)
The United Arab Emirates' first Mars mission will ship to its launch site this week. The Hope orbiter was originally scheduled to go from Dubai to Japan in May for final launch preparations, but project officials moved up the shipment because of international travel restrictions instituted in response the pandemic. That means some tests of the spacecraft won't be performed, although all those deemed critical for the spacecraft have been completed. Hope will launch on an H-2A rocket in mid-July. (4/20)

Space Force Reviews Proposals for Engineering and Technical Support (Source: Space News)
The Space Force is reviewing proposals for an engineering and technical contractor to support launch activities. ManTech is the current contractor for launch systems engineering and integration, having won a 10-year contract for that work in 2010. The Space and Missile Systems Center's launch enterprise is reviewing bids and will decide in the coming months whether to stay with the incumbent or change to a new contractor. (4/20)

Soyuz Launches From French Guyana Delayed Through September (Source: TASS)
Soyuz launches from French Guiana may not resume until September. Dmitry Rogozin, head of Roscosmos, said Sunday that two Soyuz launches postponed when France closed the Kourou launch site in French Guiana in March because of the pandemic had been postponed until September. Twenty-one Russian technicians who remained in Kourou when the spaceport closed will return to Russia by the end of this month. (4/20)