December 16, 2021

Space Force to Prioritize Accelerating Acquisition in 2022 (Source: National Defense)
As the Space Force approaches its second birthday, one senior official said the service’s third year of existence will focus on accelerating the acquisition of new technologies, among other initiatives. The service — which falls under the Department of the Air Force — has since been working to flesh out its structure and reached a number of milestones this year, including the establishment of Space Systems Command in August. The command focuses on developing, acquiring and fielding new capabilities.

In 2022, the service intends to focus on accelerating the acquisition of cutting edge technologies, said Lt. Gen. Nina M. Armagno, director of staff at Space Force headquarters. Part of that will be expanding the reach of its Space Warfighting Analysis Center, she noted. (12/15)

NASA Preparing Environmental Assessment for Starship Launch Complex (LC-49) at Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: NASA)
In response to an inquiry from SpaceX, NASA is preparing to conduct environmental assessments to develop a proposed new launch site, Launch Complex 49, at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The 175-acre site, located north of Launch Complex 39B within the center’s security perimeter, would support the launch and landing of the company’s Starship and Super Heavy launch vehicle. NASA and SpaceX are moving forward with the initial environmental analysis before concluding a potential agreement to develop the property.

“LC-49 has been a part of Kennedy’s master plan for several years,” said Tom Engler, Kennedy’s director of Center Planning and Development. “The Notice of Availability was updated in 2014.” (12/15)

6 Companies Awarded NASA Rotorcraft R&D Support Contracts (Source: GovConWire)
Six companies have secured contracts worth potentially $40 million combined to help NASA’s Ames Research Center develop rotorcraft vertical lift technologies. Tasks under the five-year hybrid contracts are scheduled to commence on Tuesday and will continue through Dec. 20, 2026, the space agency said. Contractors will provide resources and technical services to support Ames’ research and development of rotary-wing aircraft, flight controls and health management systems. (12/15)

Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Leads $65M Funding Round for Stoke Space’s Reusable Rockets (Source: GeekWire)
Breakthrough Energy Ventures, the multibillion-dollar clean-tech initiative created by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, is leading a $65 million funding round to back Kent, Wash.-based Stoke Space’s effort to create a new breed of fully reusable rockets — and believe it or not, there’s a climate change angle. “There is no better way to see the Earth and the severity of its climate challenges than looking at the entire globe from space,” Carmichael Roberts, co-leader of Breakthrough Energy Ventures’ investment committee, said.

“Imagine being able to detect wildfires in any country within minutes, identifying oil and gas methane emissions in real time for remediation, or verifying carbon stocks globally to enable large-scale carbon offset markets,” Roberts said. “These are just a few of the far-reaching opportunities that greater access to space can provide through advanced satellite technology.” Roberts said rocket reusability could overcome two of the barriers to such applications. “Stoke’s unique vehicle design and operational capabilities provide a path to achieving ultra-low-cost, fast-turnaround launch for dedicated orbital delivery,” he said.

The rocket business isn’t known as an environmentally friendly industry — especially when toxic chemicals like hypergolics and perchlorates come into play, and when thousands of pieces of space junk litter the sky. But Stoke Space’s co-founder and CEO, Andy Lapsa, told GeekWire that his company wants to change all that. “There are a lot of unsustainable rocket practices that have been done through history,” Lapsa said. “I think we’re in general getting smarter about that, and a reusable second stage is a big, important part of that. We can’t be dumping rockets in the ocean as we start flying hundreds or thousands of times per year.” (12/15)

SpaceX Schedules Three Falcon 9 Launches in Four Days (Source: Teslarati)
SpaceX appears to be on track to round out a record-breaking year with three Falcon 9 launches in four days. With the diverse trio of missions, SpaceX will orbit another batch of laser-linked Starlink satellites, deliver a large communications satellite to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), send a Dragon to space for sixth time this year, and break at least two company records. The first mission, known as Starlink 2-3, could occur as early as the morning of December 17th, kicking off an incredibly busy period of launches – and not just for SpaceX. (12/15)

Submit Names for a New Memorial to Space Program Workers in Huntsville (Source: Fox54)
Did you or someone you know work in Huntsville on the space program? You can add names to be remembered in an upcoming memorial project. The NASA/Marshall Retirees Association is behind an effort to create a memorial expected to be located at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.

At the presentation of a $50,000 grant to the group, Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong said, “There is no better fitting tribute to recognize and honor the thousands of workers from NASA and their contractors whose dedicated teamwork made America’s space exploration possible from Huntsville and Madison County as well as all of North Alabama. This memorial will forever recognize these space explorers and serve as an inspiration for generations to follow in their footsteps and take us back to the Moon, Mars and points beyond.” (12/14)

Brevard NASA Worker Was Accused of Threatening to Kill Ex-Wife. But She Framed Him, Feds Say (Source: Talk of Titusville)
A 47-year-old woman from Rockledge is accused of framing her ex-husband — a NASA employee — to make it look like he threatened to kill her in emails and texts. An employee for NASA working at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida was placed on leave in 2018 after he was accused of sending harassing and threatening emails from his work account, according to federal court filings. Investigators later discovered the emails weren’t real.

The employee’s ex-wife, 47-year-old Stacy R. Caruvana, was accused of making up the allegations. Federal prosecutors said she used doctored emails and fake text messages to spur an investigation by the NASA Office of Inspector General against the employee, with whom she was going through a divorce at the time. Caruva pleaded guilty earlier this year to knowingly making a false statement in connection with a federal investigation. On Tuesday, Nov. 30, a judge sentenced her to time served and one year of supervised release. (12/14)

Will Strong Actions Follow Words in Biden’s Space Policy? (Source: Breaking Defense)
The bipartisan nature of space policy has allowed collaboration across the federal government and a continuity between administrations that is rare in the national security world. The new Space Priorities Framework released earlier this month by the Biden White House follows in that tradition, reaffirming space priorities that will allow the US government to catch up with the American commercial space sector and protect national interests in an increasingly contested domain.

From that standpoint, the framework scores full marks for continuity in strategic priorities and some improved messaging, but these priorities must be followed by actions and investments. First, the US should pledge that the US military will not intentionally create debris from destructive, kinetic ASAT (antisatellite) tests. The US Space Force and the NRO could reinforce responsible behavior by establishing more transparent practices for how they operate on-orbit inspection satellites that spy on other satellites in space.

Another avenue is decreasing the longevity of inoperable satellites by shortening and better enforcing the 25-year deorbit rule on US government and commercial satellites. The US government should also increase its investments in active debris removal, on-orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacturing, and other more sustainable practices such as safer propulsion technology and reusability of space launch... While this Framework sets a promising path for US space policy, the forthcoming NDAA, defense appropriations bill, National Defense Strategy, and FY 2023 budget request will provide a better picture of how Congress and the Biden Administration plan to follow through on these priorities and whether they are willing to do enough. (12/14)

Russian Rocket Deploys Express Comsats Into High-Altitude Orbit (Source: Spaceflight Now)
A Russian rocket stage deployed two television and internet relay satellites into a high-altitude orbit 18 hours after liftoff Monday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan aboard a Proton rocket. The Express AMU3 and Express AMU7 satellites rocketed into space from Baikonur at 7:07 a.m. EST (1207 GMT) Monday on top of a Proton launcher, running a day later than planned after troubleshooting of a technical issue on the rocket’s Breeze M upper stage. (12/14)

Japanese Billionaire Yusaku Maezawa Delivers First Uber Eats in Space (Source: Space.com)
Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa just checked another thing off of his to-do list in space: delivering Uber Eats. Yusaku Maezawa carried an Uber Eats bag filled with ready-to-eat canned Japanese dishes somewhere in the Soyuz spacecraft that he blasted off aboard to orbit last Wednesday for a 12-day mission aboard the ISS. "With dishes including boiled mackerel in miso, beef bowl cooked in sweet sauce and more, Uber Eats and Yusaku Maezawa treated the astronauts [and cosmonauts] to a delicious meal that was a welcome break from standard space food," Uber Eats said in a statement. (12/14)

FAA Creates Industry-Led Research Alliance for Commercial Space Transportation (Source: FAA AST)
Ken Davidian, Ph.D., at the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation, is leading the office's development of an industry-led research alliance. Ken has posted this video presentation of the alliance's creation, structure, and goals. Click here. (12/13)