May 26, 2021

Viasat Seeks Halt to Starlink Launches (Source: Space News)
Viasat is asking the FCC to halt Starlink launches as it seeks an environmental review of the constellation. Viasat filed a request with the FCC late last week, seeking to stay a license modification the FCC granted last month to SpaceX that allows the company to launch more Starlink satellites into lower orbits. Viasat argues that the FCC was wrong to reject a request for an environmental assessment of Starlink, and said that if the FCC doesn't grant its request for a stay by June 1, it will go to U.S. District Court. A stay of the FCC license modification would effectively halt Starlink launches, since SpaceX has already launched more satellites intended for 550-kilometer orbits than allowed by the original license. SpaceX is moving ahead with plans for another Falcon 9 launch of Starlink satellites, scheduled for 2:59 p.m. Eastern Wednesday. (5/26)

SECAF Nominee Pledges Support for Space Force (Source: Space News)
The White House's nominee to be secretary of the Air Force said he will work to support the Space Force. At a Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday, Frank Kendall said he will ensure the Space Force gets the necessary resources to continue to stand up units and acquire new systems. He said he would not commit to specific actions in support of the new service until after he reviewed current plans. Kendall, a former undersecretary of defense for acquisition, said he was personally not convinced of the need for a separate civilian space acquisition executive, but if confirmed would ensure the position is filled. [SpaceNews]

US Space Command Chief Keeping Close Eye on China Capabilities (Source: Stars and Stripes)
The head of U.S. Space Command described China as the "pacing threat" for the U.S. military. During a visit to Japan. Gen. James Dickinson said he is watching China's space capabilities closely, including space exploration activities such as the Chang'e-5 lunar sample return mission last year. "We are seeing the expansion of their space program and we are watching that very closely," he said. (5/26)

Eutelsat Investment in OneWeb Could Jeopardize Role in EU Constellation (Source: Space News)
An EU official said Eutelsat's investment in OneWeb may be incompatible with participation in a European satellite constellation program. In a call with reporters this week, Thierry Breton, the EU commissioner whose portfolio includes space, said Eutelsat was free to acquire a quarter of OneWeb for $550 million, a deal announced a month ago. But, he said that meant it was investing "into a project in direct competition with the European initiative that we’re working on." Eutelsat is one of the companies in a consortium performing an initial study of the proposed satellite constellation, and Breton suggested Eutelsat's continued participation in that effort could be reconsidered. Eutelsat has argued that the EU project and OneWeb are not in competition with each other as they serve different customers. (5/26)

Canada to Run C-Band Spectrum Auction (Source: Space News)
The Canadian government, not Telesat, will run an auction of C-band satellite spectrum. Telesat had sought to auction that spectrum to 5G network operators to raise money for its Lightspeed constellation, but the Canadian government recently announced that it will hold a public auction of that spectrum. That mirrors what happened in the U.S., where satellite operators sought to auction that spectrum only to have the FCC decide to conduct a public auction. It is unclear whether Telesat will be compensated for satellites, gateways and other infrastructure it loses as it relocates broadcast services to other parts of the band. (5/26)

US and South Korea to Collaborate on SatNav Constellation (Source: Space News)
The U.S. will support South Korea's development of its own satellite navigation system. The two countries agreed to cooperate on the Korean Positioning System, a $3.5 billion project to launch seven satellites into geosynchronous and inclined geosynchronous orbits to provide regional navigation services that will be interoperable with the American GPS system. Those satellites will be in orbit by 2035. The two countries also announced at last week's summit meeting of Presidents Joe Biden and Moon Jae-in that South Korea will sign the Artemis Accords, paving the way for South Korea to participate in NASA's Artemis lunar exploration program. Stocks of South Korean space companies surged after the announcements. (5/26)

NOAA Plans Weather Satellite Partnerships (Source: Space News)
NOAA is taking a "portfolio" approach to future weather satellites. Stephen Volz, NOAA assistant administrator, said that the agency will examine how satellite systems, including those from other nations, work together to provide the best possible data for weather and climate. Those partners include Europe and Japan as well as NASA and the U.S. Space Force. Volz said that NOAA is incorporating commercial weather data into its forecasting models, and is looking for, but has yet to identify, additional commercial datasets to support its mission. (5/26)

CesiumAstro Cubesats to Test Intersatellite Links (Source: Space News)
CesiumAstro will launch two satellites later this year to demonstrate its phased-array antenna technology. Cesium Mission 1 will feature two 6U cubesats launching as secondary payloads in September to low Earth orbit. The satellites will demonstrate proprietary hardware and software in addition to testing intersatellite links and Ka-band communications, the company said. CesiumAstro is also offering customers the ability to purchase time on the five-year mission to experiment with active phased array and intersatellite links. (5/26)

UAE in Mars Orbit, Ready to Begin Science Mission (Source: The National)
The UAE's space agency has released some of the first results from its Hope Mars orbiter. Project officials said the Emirates Mars Mission is now "perfectly positioned" to begin a two-year science mission. The Hope spacecraft went into orbit around Mars in February, and teams have since been commissioning its instruments. The project released images and other data collected by those instruments, designed to study the planet's atmosphere. (5/26)

MLS Picks Stantec to Design Canadian Spaceport (Source: SpaceQ)
Maritime Launch Services (MLS) has selected Stantec to lead the design team for its Nova Scotia based spaceport. The company also announced several other contractors, many local, as it plans to break ground this fall and begin initial construction. (5/26)

ESA Creates New Job of Director of Commercialization (Source: SpaceWatch Global)
The European Space Agency (ESA) creates the new position of Director of Commercialization, Industry & Procurement. The new director is responsible for elaborating and implementing ESA’s industrial policy, representing the Director General in all relations with industry, elaborating and implementing the agency’s procurement rules and policies, and conducting negotiations and managing procurement for all activities and programs, ESA said.

The Director will also support the industrialisation and the commercialization of space products and services, the scale-up on global markets, as well as access to investments and finance for European space industry. The position will be based at ESA headquarters in Paris. (5/25)

Europa's Interior May Be Hot Enough to Fuel Seafloor Volcanoes (Source: NASA)
Jupiter’s moon Europa has an icy crust covering a vast, global ocean. The rocky layer underneath may be hot enough to melt, leading to undersea volcanoes. New research and computer modeling show that volcanic activity may have occurred on the seafloor of Jupiter’s moon Europa in the recent past – and may still be happening. NASA’s upcoming Europa Clipper mission, targeting a 2024 launch, will swoop close to the icy moon and collect measurements that may shed light on the recent findings.

Scientists have strong evidence that Europa harbors an enormous ocean between its icy crust and rocky interior. The new work shows how the moon may have enough internal heat to partially melt this rocky layer, a process that could feed volcanoes on the ocean floor. The recent 3D modeling of how this internal heat is produced and transferred is the most detailed and thorough examination yet of the effect this interior heating has on the moon. (5/25)

Peggy Whitson is Returning to Space — This Time, on a Private Ride (Source: The Verge)
Peggy Whitson, one of NASA’s most experienced retired astronauts, is going back to space — this time with a racecar driver and two other passengers in the latest mission planned by Axiom Space. The Houston-based space company announced on Tuesday that Whitson will serve as the mission commander for its second private flight to the International Space Station, with John Shoffner, a GT racer, serving as mission pilot.

The Ax-2 mission with Whitson and Shoffner will be similar to Ax-1, Axiom’s first planned flight for early next year: a crew of four private citizens will fly to the International Space Station for a roughly eight-day stay conducting scientific research. It’s the latest private spaceflight planned so far as companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic race to offer tourists a trip to space — either to the ISS, orbit, or the edge of space. (5/25)

More People are Going to Space, but Diversity is Still Grounded (Source: New Scientist)
While the cost for most of these flights haven’t been released publicly, the going rate is around $50 million, so those of us without tens of millions of dollars to play with will still only be able to experience space flight through a screen, unless we get very lucky in a competition. And money isn’t the only barrier to orbit. When the Russian space agency was looking for an actress to be in Challenge, it specifically sought someone between the ages of 25 and 40, weighing 50 to 70 kilograms and physically fit.

The same is true of all the other non-government folks heading to space, even if they aren’t going all the way into orbit – the Blue Origin sub-orbital flight carries requirements for height, weight, physical fitness and dexterity. And the winner must be able to speak and listen to instructions in English in order to fly.

There are programs looking to broaden the range of people who can go to space. For example, the European Space Agency is running a “parastronaut feasibility project” studying what adaptations are necessary to send individuals with physical disabilities to space. The project website says: “Right now we are at step zero. The door is closed to persons living with disabilities.” Getting to a point where any member of the public can go to space will take work – and it remains to be seen whether private space flight companies are willing to put in the effort. (5/20)