August 21, 2021

Further Evidence Of 200 Million-Year Cycle For Earth’s Magnetic Field (Source: Eurasia Review)
The findings of a new study by the University of Liverpool provides further evidence of an approximately 200-million-year long cycle in the strength of the Earth’s magnetic field.

Researchers performed thermal and microwave (a technique which is unique to the University of Liverpool) paleomagnetic analysis on rock samples from ancient lava flows in Eastern Scotland to measure the strength of the geomagnetic field during key time periods with almost no pre-existing, reliable data. The study also analysed the reliability of all of the measurements from samples from 200 to 500 million years ago, collected over the last ~80 years.

They found that between 332 and 416 million years ago, the strength of the geomagnetic field preserved in these rocks was less than quarter of what it is today, and similar to a previously identified period of low magnetic field strength that started around 120 million years ago. The researchers have coined this period “the Mid-Palaeozoic Dipole low (MPDL).” (8/21)

What Can We Do with a Captured Asteroid? (Source: Space.com)
There's gold in them thar asteroids! Literally — asteroids have more than enough gold, plus other metals, to provide a few lifetimes' worth of fortunes. But there are plenty of other reasons asteroids are valuable. So how do we get these metals from these faraway asteroids? Perhaps the best way is to bring the space rocks to Earth. Click here. (8/20) https://www.space.com/asteroid-mining-bring-space-rocks-to-earth

Space Beer: Hops Flying on Inspiration4 Mission Will be Auctioned for Charity (Source: Space.com)
Billionaire Jared Isaacman is looking for a brewery to make beer with space-flown hops — for a good cause. The tech entrepreneur and experienced pilot has chartered a SpaceX flight to send himself and three other passengers, all private citizens, into orbit for a three-day mission in a Crew Dragon spacecraft. Called Inspiration4, the mission is scheduled to lift off Sep. 15 from Florida.

Hitching a ride to space with the Inspiration4 crew will be 70 pounds (32 kilograms) of hops, an ingredient that adds bitterness and aroma to beer. And when that hops returns to Earth, Isaacman plans to auction it off to a brewery and donate the funds to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, he announced on Twitter Aug. 12, adding that interested breweries should "inquire on inspiration4.com." (8/20)

Private Firms Are the Key to Space Exploration (Source: National Review)
Like most NASA programs, the ISS is massively over budget. Costs were initially projected at $12.2 billion, but the bill ultimately reached a stunning $150 billion. American taxpayers paid around 84 percent of that. What happened to the American dream of human space exploration? Put simply, the government happened. NASA devolved into a jobs program to bring home the space bacon.

It is hard to imagine a better example of the private sector’s amazing ability to outcompete government bureaucracy and mismanagement than NASA’s planned Shuttle replacement, the SLS. It is estimated to cost more than $2 billion per flight. That’s on top of the $20 billion and nine years the agency has already spent developing it. Contrast that with the $300 million spent by SpaceX to develop the Falcon 9 in a little over four years, and the fact that each Falcon 9 costs around $62 million. One SLS launch could pay for over 32 SpaceX launches.

Aerospace experts expect that establishing a $10 billion prize for successfully landing a crew on Mars and returning it safely to earth could very well lead to a successful landing. That’s a bargain compared with the $500 billion cost estimates NASA puts out for the same objective. And of course in the worst-case failure scenario for a prize program, taxpayers would pay nothing until the mission was complete. A system based on private enterprise incentivized by a fixed prize would end government cost overruns and waste. (8/21)

Colorado Officials React to Trump's Statement He Was Personally Responsible for Space Command HQ Move to Alabama (Source: KKTV)
In an interview on Friday, former President Donald Trump said he “single-handedly” picked Alabama as the new home for U.S. Space Command.” The announcement by the former president confirmed earlier reports. Back in January, the U.S. Air Force announced Redstone Arsenal in Alabama as the preferred location for Space Command HQ. Currently, the command is housed at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado .

Colorado leaders were disappointed in the decision to move Space Command to Alabama and even questioned the selection process. “Colorado is the natural home for Space Command,” Gov. Polis and Lt. Governor Primavera said in a joint statement. “These callous comments fly in the face of Coloradans, military families, and those who have worked to cultivate our aerospace ecosystem that is suited to guarantee the operational success of U.S. Space Command and deliver the best value to taxpayers."

"Keeping U.S. Space Command in Colorado means protecting our national security but it’s clear that the former President - now through his own admission - made this misguided decision for political or personal purposes. Unfortunately, this poor decision could cost taxpayers billions of dollars, hurt military readiness, and would be fiscally irresponsible. We urge the federal government to truly restore integrity to the process.” (8/21)

Musk’s Space Push Forces Satellite Rivals Into Merger Mode (Source: Bloomberg)
Plans by Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos to launch thousands of satellites into orbit are forcing an industry that’s traditionally wary of mergers to prepare for consolidation.  The billions of dollars that Musk is pouring into his Starlink broadband internet service are skewing the economics of space for companies like SES SA, the world’s second-biggest satellite operator by sales.

The growth of streaming over fiber optic networks threatens another of their mainstays -- satellite TV. Takeovers, investments and joint ventures in the industry this year have already surpassed 2020, with more than $3.6 billion spent on them so far in 2021. ViaSat Inc. Chairman Mark Dankberg said there “certainly is discussion” in the industry about mergers. “One of the reasons for consolidation would be to try to divert more capital funding from broadcast into broadband.” 

Although industry executives downplay the threat from Musk, they are adapting. Companies such as Inmarsat Holdings Ltd., ViaSat, Eutelsat SA and Telesat LLC plan to launch high-throughput or low-latency satellites to offer their own broadband services to businesses and homes. But each launch is an expensive bet that clients won’t defect to other technologies. Combining forces would make these rollouts more efficient. (8/20)

Colorado Pushes for Reversal of Space Command Move Following Trump Comments (Source: KOAA)
"By the way, Space Force I sent to Alabama, I hope you know that," Trump said on the broadcast. "Yeah, and they said, we're looking for a home and I single-handedly said let's go to Alabama. They wanted it, I said let's go to Alabama." Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers has long believed the January decision was based on politics.

"I guess I'm not surprised, I'm glad that he admitted it because now we can say to the Air Force we can say to DOD and everybody else this was not the merit-based process that some people pretended that it was," Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers said.

Congressman Doug Lamborn also pointed to the president's statement as an admission that the decision was based on politics and personal preference and not the Air Force's basing criteria. "This proves that claims by the Department of the Air Force that the decision was 'merit-based' are completely false," Lamborn wrote. (8/21)

Space Force Strikes Deal with University of Colorado (Source: USSF)
The U.S. Space Force expanded its University Partnership Program at the University of Colorado during a Memorandum of Understanding signing event Aug. 20. Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. David D. Thompson joined University of Colorado President Todd Saliman on the UC Colorado Springs campus to sign the MOU.
 
“The state of Colorado and community of Colorado Springs have long been key members and supporters of the national security space enterprise, so it’s fitting for the Space Force to establish a formal partnership between the University of Colorado and the Space Force,” Thompson said. Signing an MOU is only the first step in defining the partnership. Next, the Space Force will work with CU and each university that follows to outline specific implementation milestones to meet the program’s four main goals.
 
1) Establish opportunities for world-class research, advanced academic degrees, and workforce and leadership development for USSF Guardians; 2) Identify and pursue research areas of mutual interest with member universities, individually and collectively; 3) Establish scholarship, internship and mentorship opportunities for university students and ROTC cadets; and 4) Recruit and develop diverse officer, enlisted, and civilian Guardians with a particular focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. (8/20)

Space Force to Establish New Command in Colorado Focused on Training and Education (Source: Space News)
The U.S. Space Force on Aug. 23 will establish the Space Training and Readiness Command at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. A ceremony is scheduled on Monday at Peterson to be presided by the chief of space operations of the U.S. Space Force Gen. John “Jay” Raymond. Known at the STAR Command, or STARCOM, the new organization will oversee doctrine, training and professional education of Space Force military and civilian personnel, and will coordinate basic training and recruiting. (8/20)

Unlocking New Economic Frontiers in Space (Source: Space News)
While some may debate the scientific and societal benefits of space tourism flights as well as their cost, the symbolic and technical impact of the past several days cannot be ignored. On the heels of the 2019 commemoration of Apollo 11 and its monumental legacy for crewed spaceflight, we are now witness to another profound first step for humankind.

These flights represent the start of a thrilling new space race as well as a time to celebrate a key milestone of our civilization. After all, our overall advancement and progress have always been measured by transportation and exploration. While reflecting that the real competitors in this arena are the U.S and Chinese governments, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson remarked that Branson’s flight is a “great” milestone. (8/21)

Space Tourism’s Environmental Price Tag (Source: Space News)
Whether or not you agree with Elon Musk that we need higher volume and lower cost access to space so that a small portion of humanity can flee our imperiled planet and become planetary refugees, at least he has a plausible justification (albeit one that deserves scrutiny and debate) for undertaking major industrial activities and launch operations that inject thousands of tons of carbon and other greenhouse gasses (GHG) into the atmosphere.

The backdrop, though, is that we are reeling from multiple and recurring extreme weather events caused at least in part by climate change wrought by human activities. So, how do Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos, and to some extent, Elon Musk, justify their extensive, carbon-generating activities? Space Tourism!

The carbon footprint and other GHG contributions from the development, construction and operation of space launch systems is massive. As with many human activities, we are only beginning to quantify the total impact of this industry, but it is not impossible to do so; recall the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analyses frequently conducted by companies to justify their investments. Whatever the specific analysis eventually reveals, we are talking about tons and tons and tons of atmospheric carbon. It is truly a massive footprint. I challenge the launch services providers to demonstrate otherwise. (8/21)

Billionaire Anders Povlsen Fails in UK Spaceport Legal Challenge (Source: Northern Scot)
A Moray-based company has welcomed the failure of a legal bid to stop Britain's first spaceport from being built. Orbex, which is based in Forres Enterprise Park, says today's ruling has opened the way for work to push ahead at a site in Sutherland. Danish-born billionaire and environmentalist Anders Povlsen instigated action to stop the plans back in May at the Scottish Land Court.

Mr Povlsen, who lives near Kingussie, put forward a list of 61 objections which touched on a wide variety of issues including the site's environmental impact. However, in his legal opinion delivered today, Lord Doherty rejected them all. The result has been welcomed by Chris Larmour, who is the CEO of Orbex, the Forres-based company that is building the rockets which will be launched from the site. (8/20)

Last Stop on the Way to the Cosmos? No Thanks (Source: New York Times)
On an isolated archipelago off the coast of Georgia, where the vestiges of America’s Gilded Age aristocracy keep sprawling estates in tropical wilds, a controversy is roiling over a proposed spaceport. On one side of the fight are the commissioners of Camden County, Ga., who have put nine years and close to 10 million taxpayer dollars toward the construction of a rocket launch facility on the mainland that they say will bring jobs, tourism and cachet to the area of about 55,000 people.

On the other are residents of the nearby barrier islands and coastline who fear falling debris, toxic plumes and catastrophic fire. The heirs to the Coca-Cola fortune have homes on one of these islands, as do descendants of the Carnegies and other families known for generational wealth, so it’s easy for the spaceport’s most ardent champions to paint opposition to it as “elitist.”

But the fears aren’t based on nothing: Last September, one of the same class of rockets for which Camden County is tailoring its application tumbled from the sky in flaming pieces, igniting fires on public land near its launch site on Kodiak Island in Alaska. In 2014, a different type of rocket, launched from Wallops Island, Va., flew for six seconds before it fell to the ground and exploded, burning 15 acres and blowing windows and doors off buildings over a mile away. Click here. (8/21)

Rocket Lab Reveals Date for US$4.1 Billion Nasdaq Listing (Source: New Zealand Herald)
With more than 6000 Kiwi investors crowding the launchpad, Rocket Lab has revealed the date for its listing on the Nasdaq at a US$4.1 billion ($6b) valuation: August 25. Founder, chief executive and one-time Fisher & Paykel Appliances apprentice Peter Beck will be ringing the bell for the US exchange at 9.30am next Wednesday (1.30am Thursday NZT). Because of Delta border closures, it will be a virtual ceremony. (8/20)

Rocket Lab's High-Stakes Bid to Match SpaceX's Dominance (Source: Dot.LA)
A Long Beach company that has taken on SpaceX to become one of the leaders in small satellite launches is set to go public next week. Rocket Lab will arrive on Wall Street in a deal with a blank-check company that pegs the 15-year old satellite launcher's value at $4.1 billion. Rocket Lab first announced its plans in March to go public via a SPAC deal. Shareholders on Friday approved the merger. The company will trade on the NASDAQ beginning Aug. 25 under the ticker symbols RKLBW and RKLB.

It couldn't come at a better time, with the market for satellite launches growing and the company mired in debt. Rocket Lab, which has raised $400 million in capital, lost $55 million alone last year, according to filings. That net loss is an increase from 2019, which saw the company lose about $30.4 million. The company declined to comment for this article. In an investor presentation filed Aug. 18, Rocket Lab revealed just how tough it has been to sustain its reusable rocket, called Electron, and take on SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

"The Company has suffered recurring losses from operations that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern," auditors noted. The deal is projected to give Rocket Lab some much-needed funds, nearly $750 million in cash. Vector will contribute the majority of that money but existing Rocket Lab investors BlackRock and Neuberger Berman, which are part of the special purpose acquisition company or SPAC, will also participate. (8/20)

Virgin Galactic Stock-Price Target Slashed 39% by Bank of America as Analysts Expect Delays in Commercial Spaceflight Timeline (Source: Business Insider)
Bank of America slashed its Virgin Galactic from $41 to $25 on Friday, representing a downgrade of 39%. Analysts cited delays in the company's commercial space flight schedule and a lack of catalysts in the short term. Virgin Galactic fell about 1% Friday to $23.99. Analysts lowered their price target to $25 from $41. Shares of Virgin Galactic traded just above $24 Friday afternoon and are down 4.8% for the week.

BofA said that a longer maintenance for Virgin's Eve Mothership will delay the company's first commercial passenger flight to late into the third quarter of 2022 from early 2022. This will result in lower short-term earnings estimates, said the analysts. In the long term, analysts also anticipate that Virgin's shot at orbital customer travel won't come to fruition until 2035. They previously estimated 2028 for the base case. (8/20)

Top Talent Departs Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin as NASA Lander Fight Escalates (Source: CNBC)
Blue Origin has lost more than a dozen key leaders and top engineers this summer, CNBC has learned, with most leaving in the weeks after founder Jeff Bezos’ spaceflight. Several of the engineers who left were part of Blue Origin’s astronaut lunar lander program. Earlier this year Blue Origin lost its bid for a valuable NASA development contract. Shortly after Bezos’ spaceflight, Blue Origin gave all its full-time employees a $10,000, no-strings-attached cash bonus, multiple people familiar with the situation told CNBC.

Two of the engineers, Nitin Arora and Lauren Lyons, this week announced jobs at other space companies: Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Firefly Aerospace, respectively. Others quietly updated their LinkedIn pages over the past few weeks. Each unannounced departure was confirmed to CNBC by people familiar with the matter. Those departures include: New Shepard senior vice president Steve Bennett, chief of mission assurance Jeff Ashby (who retired), New Glenn senior director Bob Ess, and New Glenn senior finance manager Bill Scammell.

Also gone are senior manager of production testing Christopher Payne, New Shepard technical project manager Nate Chapman, senior propulsion design engineer Dave Sanderson, senior HLS human factors engineer Rachel Forman, BE-4 lead integration and testing engineer Jack Nelson, and others. Those who announced they were leaving Blue Origin did not specify why, but frustration with executive management and a slow, bureaucratic structure is often cited in employee reviews on job site Glassdoor. (8/20)

More Americans Now Correctly Believe UFOs Could Be Alien Craft From Outer Space (Source: Vice)
At a time of ongoing, slow-moving apocalypse and increasingly violent political division, it’s reassuring to know that Americans may, one day soon, finally band together to admit that aliens are real. A new poll from the public opinion polling company Gallup shows that the number of Americans who think UFOs could be literal alien craft from outer space has substantially increased, especially among people with college educations. (8/20)

Perspectives on UFOs From Across the Atlantic (Source: Air & Space)
Last week the German Aerospace Society held a workshop to discuss the search for extraterrestrial intelligent life and whether a recently released Pentagon report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena—the new preferred name for UFOs—should change our outlook in this regard. Invited speakers were Massimo Teodorani, an astrophysicist and book author from Italy, Hakan Kayal, a remote sensing expert from the University of Würzburg in Germany, and myself.

The consensus of the workshop participants was that UAPs should be investigated with greater openness, and without a stigma. According to Kayal, the low but significant percentage of observations that remain unexplained (3.4 percent, according to GEIPAN) could be due to secret technology developments, previously unknown natural phenomena, or extraterrestrial intelligence, any of which would be exciting and important to know about. I’m confident that science will eventually be successful in providing an answer, especially as sensing technology improves. (8/16)