June 19, 2021

NOAA is Stalling U.S. Space Traffic Management (Source: Space News)
Commerce does not need a traditional “program of record,” nor should it repackage legacy solutions that will only fail to address existing and growing data deficits; rather, it should seek to buy “space situational awareness as a service.” Large constellations such as Starlink, OneWeb, and Kuiper require more precise and timely data than U.S. Space Command provides and private sources for such data already exist. While it would be preferable, for a host of policy and diplomatic reasons, to have a trusted Commerce-sponsored data repository, the government is not vital to closing the business case for SSA data.

If the new leadership at Commerce is unable to overcome the inertia at NOAA, then Congress may need to be more directive with funding and time tables. If the government fails to create a trusted, open data repository, the commercial space sector and its investors will need to create their own solutions, which may or may not be emulated by other countries. Regardless, this is an urgent issue in which government must either lead or get out of the way. (6/18)

As China’s Space Ambitions Grow, NASA Tells Congress it Needs More Money to Compete (Source: Washington Post)
Then-Vice President Mike Pence warned that China was trying “to seize the lunar strategic high ground and become the world’s spacefaring nation.” Bill Nelson has carried on that hawkish rhetoric, casting China as “a very aggressive competitor” that has big ambitions in space and is challenging America’s leadership. “Watch the Chinese,” he recently warned.

Nelson’s strategy, like the Trump administration’s, is to cast China as a competitor racing not only to the moon, but for leadership in space more broadly. It’s a scenario that got a boost Thursday when China launched the first group of astronauts to its nascent space station. Some doubt the wisdom of Nelson’s approach, however. “Making the Chinese space station out to be such a serious threat is a mistake as it plays into China’s own political goals,” said Brian Weeden. "...Constant allusions to a space race and concerns about the threat posed by their space station are reinforcing that message.”

China's station program is “an important achievement, but it does not mean China has equaled, let alone surpassed, the U.S,” said Weeden. Editor's Note: Rhetoric about China's space station robotic arm posing a threat to US satellites is another example of dubious US posturing against China. China is watching this posturing with dismay, insisting they are eager to peacefully collaborate with the US in space. (6/18)

Japan's New Space Resources Law Similar to US, UAE, and Luxembourg Laws (Source: Space News)
Japan's parliament has approved a space resources law. The legislation, approved earlier this week by the National Diet of Japan, allows Japanese companies to extract and use space resources, and is similar to legislation on the issue in the United States, Luxembourg and the United Arab Emirates. Japan's passage of the bill came as Dmitry Rogozin, head of Roscosmos, criticized at a conference this week "unilateral" national laws on the issue and called for action by the United Nations. (6/18)

Esper Joins CAES Board (Source: Space News)
Former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper has joined the board of an electrics supplier that works in the space industry. CAES, which used to be part of British defense and aerospace contractor Cobham, said Esper will engage in mission-critical solutions across its space, air, sea and land platforms. CAES provided electronics for NASA's Perseverance Mars rover and has secured work on several classified space programs. (6/18)

UAE Plans Second Lunar Rover (Source: The National)
The United Arab Emirates is planning a second lunar rover. The UAE's space agency is flying one rover, Rashid, on a commercial lunar lander mission launching next year, but expects to pursue a second rover launching in 2024 or 2025. The rovers are part of a broader lunar exploration program that will later include orbiters and, eventually, sending Emirati astronauts to the lunar surface. (6/18)

Thales Alenia, Telespazio to Build Italian Military Satellite System (Source: Thales Alenia Space)
Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio have won a contract for an Italian military communications satellite system. The companies won a contract from the Italian Ministry of Defense for the Sicral 3 satellites and associated ground systems. Thales will build two geostationary satellites, while Telespazio will lead the ground segment. The contract provides 159 million euros ($189 million) to fund work on initial design phases of the satellites and ground systems. (6/18)

China Launches Military Satellites (Source: Space News)
China launched another group of classified satellites Friday. The Long March 2C rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China at 2:30 a.m. Eastern. It placed into orbit a ninth group of Yaogan-30 satellites. The inclination of the Yaogan-30 constellation suggests it may provide frequent revisits for electronic and signals intelligence, and optical and radar imaging, in areas close to China. (6/18)

DOD Secures Access to Capella's SAR Constellation (Source: Space News)
Capella Space won a research contract from the Space Development Agency (SDA). The $3 million award will support work on the SDA's National Defense Space Architecture regarding "novel remote sensing phenomenologies." Capella Space is deploying a constellation of synthetic aperture radar satellites, and have previously won contracts from the Air Force, Navy and NRO. (6/18)

Hyrdosat Raises $5 Million for Drought and Fire Tracking Satellite Constellation (Source: Space News)
Hydrosat raised $5 million in a seed round Thursday. The company said the funding round, led by Cultivation Capital, will support work on a satellite constellation designed to map the Earth at thermal infrared wavelengths, tracking droughts and fires. The company also announced that Lori Garver, Earthrise Alliance CEO and former NASA deputy administrator, would join its board of directors. (6/18)

KSC Plans July 6 Webinar for Small Business Development (Source: NASA)
The Office of Small Business Programs at NASA Kennedy Space Center will hold a July 6 webinar focused on the agency's SBIR/STTR program and opportunities for small business funding. Mr. Michael E. Vinje, SBIR Technology Infusion Manager, will discuss best practices to navigate the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. Click here. (6/18)

DiBello Testifies Before Congressional Committee on the FAA's Role (Source: SPACErePORT)
Space Florida's Frank DiBello joined officials from the FAA, GAO, Virgin Galactic, ULA, and the Air Line Pilots Association to provide testimony on the FAA's role in the future of spaceflight. The subcommittee hearing of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure  explored broadly the future of the U.S. commercial space transportation industry, its rapid growth and expansion into human spaceflight, and the role of the FAA in overseeing and regulating the industry. Click here for a video and to download the written remarks submitted by the participants (6/18)

Space Sustainability Rating to Shine Light on Debris Problem (Source: Space Daily)
A new 'Space Sustainability Rating' will score space operators on the sustainability of their missions, increasing the transparency of their contributions to protecting the space environment and encouraging and recognizing responsible behavior. Because no single government or authority has the power to set and enforce strict rules of behavior for all space-faring organizations, this project promises to be a game changer. Much like the energy efficiency and nutrition labels now common among consumers, the Space Sustainability Rating will make clear what individual companies and organizations are doing to sustain and improve the health of the near-Earth environment.

The SSR initiative has been developed over the past two years by the Forum, ESA and a joint team led by the Space Enabled Research Group at the MIT Media Lab. The Space Center (eSpace) at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) has been selected to lead and operate the Space Sustainability Rating in preparation for its roll out.

The SSR rating system will score the sustainability of spaceflight operators based on factors ranging from data sharing, choice of orbit, measures taken to avoid collisions and plans to de-orbit satellites at end of mission to how easily their satellites can be detected and identified from the ground. There will be 'bonus marks' for adding optional elements, such as grappling fixtures, that could be used for the possible future active removal of debris. (6/18)

Boeing Sending Florida A&M Pennant to Space to Promote Diversity in Aerospace (Source: Florida Today)
A lot of unique stuff has been sent to space but this will be the first 'rattler.' An orange and green pennant emblazoned with the Florida A&M mascot rattlesnake will be headed to space onboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft in an effort to promote diversity in aerospace. Flags, small pennants and other items representing 14 historically black colleges and universities throughout the U.S. will be part of the hundreds of pounds of cargo onboard the uncrewed test flight set for July. (6/18)

Study Suggests Iron Volcanism on Psyche Asteroid (Source: Sky & Telescope)
A new study of asteroid 16 Psyche suggests that ferrovolcanism, volcanos that spew molten iron, may be present on this solar system object. Asteroid (16) Psyche is the largest metallic, or M-class, asteroid in the solar system and the destination of NASA’s Psyche mission, set to launch in 2022. But what this world will look like is up for debate. Perhaps the most tantalizing scenario is a world that oozes iron lava, a phenomenon known as ferrovolcanism. The new study provides strong evidence for molten iron volcanos on Psyche’s surface.

The presence of iron on Psyche’s surface, which another study recently confirmed, initially led astronomers to propose that the asteroid is an exposed planetary core, uncovered after violent collisions with other objects. However, recent measurements revealed that the asteroid’s overall density is surprisingly low, suggesting it might be porous or simply a conglomerate of rubble, and not a planetary core after all.

In their new study, Michael Shephard and his collaborators analyzed features on Psyche’s surface and refined measurements of its size and shape. Shephard’s team also studied Psyche’s albedo, a measurement of how reflective a surface is to both visible light and radar. In the first composite albedo map of Psyche, they showed that areas with high visible-light reflectivity, or high albedo, are also highly radar reflective. This correlation, the authors argue, furthers the case for ferrovolcanism as opposed to a barren metal core. (6/18)

NASA-DLR Study Finds Sustainable Aviation Fuel Can Reduce Contrails (Source: NASA)
Cleaner-burning jet fuels made from sustainable sources can produce 50%-70% fewer ice crystal contrails at cruising altitude, reducing aviation’s impact on the environment, according to research conducted by NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Ice crystal contrail formations can linger in the upper atmosphere for hours and affect the way Earth is heated and cooled. They produce localized increases in temperature – which over time impacts climate change.

Jet engine exhaust includes water vapor and soot particles. As the water vapor cools, it condenses. Ice crystals form when that supercooled water interacts with either exhaust soot or particles naturally present in the air. By using alternative fuel, jet engines release fewer soot particles, resulting in fewer ice crystal formations. The crystals that do form are larger, but that does not create a problem because they fall more quickly and melt in the warmer air below. (6/17)

Lawmakers Question Space Force Technology Investments (Source: Space News)
U.S. Space Force technology investments was one of the topics discussed June 16 at a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee, which held a three-hour session to review the Department of the Air Force budget request. Chairman Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) noted that this is the first year the Space Force has “control of its own budget process” and raised some concerns about the proposal.

Smith said his committee agrees that the Space Force has to invest in new capabilities to defend U.S. satellites. But he is concerned that the budget funds mostly legacy programs and not enough cutting-edge technologies. Similar comments were made last month by Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN), chairman of the HASC strategic forces subcommittee. Cooper questioned why billions of dollars in the Space Force budget are for satellites that the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. John Hyten criticized for being too big and expensive, making them attractive targets for enemies. (6/16)

China in Space for Cooperation, Not Zero-Sum Race (Source: Space Daily)
The vast space is a common wealth for the human race. The Chinese people share with people worldwide both the dream and the right to explore the mysterious universe. China's purpose of space exploration has all along been the peaceful use of what many call the final frontier of humanity. Beijing has never intended to join a zero-sum space race or compete for global space leadership.

From the moon to Mars, from unmanned planet roaming to manned space missions, China goes into the deep space with an open mind as well as steadfast readiness to cooperate with others and to share its achievements. One tangible proof is that China and the United Nations released in 2019 the first nine international cooperation projects for China's then planned space station. They involve 23 entities from 17 countries in the fields of aerospace medicine, space life sciences and biotechnology, microgravity physics and combustion science, astronomy and other emerging technologies.

In contrast, U.S. lawmakers have established a law barring the National Aeronautics and Space Administration from cooperating with China. Their narrow-mindedness and selfishness have failed to undermine both the ambition and progress of China's space program. As China is building the new space station as an outpost for humanity's future exploration of the unknown universe, it intends to turn the outer space into a new field for cooperation instead of another battleground for you-win-I-lose competition. (6/16)

South Australia Startups Target International Space Opportunities (Source: Space Daily)
All based in Adelaide, South Australia, the companies include Fleet Space Technologies, Inovor Technologies and Southern Launch. Southern Launch has been approved to conduct three rocket test launches from its site on the southern tip of the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia. The State Commission Assessment Panel has approved Southern Launch to build the infrastructure required to commence three tests before 31 December. Southern Launch will establish a permanent orbital facility near the local town of Port Lincoln.

Inovor Technologies and Fleet Space Technologies both announced they are expanding their satellite capabilities. Inovor, which had previously concentrated on Cubesats, will start building more small satellites. The company is developing a satellite called 'Australis' to meet Australia's increased demand from Australian defense and science organizations for larger, sovereign space technologies. Fleet Space Technologies, an Internet of Things company that has scheduled its sixth nanosatellite this month, has been awarded $386,770 as part of the Australian government's Moon to Mars Supply Chain Capability Improvement grant program. (6/18)