February 6, 2022

Astra Receives FAA License for First Launch From Florida (Source: SpaceFlight Now)
Astra has become the first company to receive a commercial launch license from the FAA through a streamlined regulatory regime, clearing a procedural hurdle before launching a small rocket and four NASA-sponsored CubeSats into orbit from Space Florida's Launch Complex 46 at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. A launch attempt on Saturday was scrubbed due to an Eastern Range equipment problem. The company now plans to launch on Monday. (2/5)

Space Force Good Conduct Medal Design Submitted for Approval (Source: Air Force Magazine)
The Space Force is currently the only military branch without its own version of the Good Conduct Medal, awarded to service members who have completed three consecutive years of “honorable and faithful service.” That could change in the near future, and a recent social media post shows what the medal might look like. A user on the Space Force’s official Reddit page uploaded a photo of a Space Force Good Conduct Medal in late January, seemingly already physically produced. Click here. (2/4) https://www.airforcemag.com/space-force-good-conduct-medal-design-submitted-approval/

US Experts Request to Permanently Move ISS to Lower Orbit (Source: TASS)
American specialists asked to permanently shift the orbit of the International Space Station (ISS) several kilometers lower, Ballistics Chief at the Energia Space Rocket Corp. (within the federal space agency Roscosmos) Rafail Murtazin said. "Per Americans’ request, in order to provide conditions for their tests, we will switch to a different orbit. Now we will fly not at an orbit of 419 kilometers, but at 3 kilometers less - 416 kilometers," he noted. According to the expert, this orbit may be maintained until it is decided to sink the ISS. (2/5)

Satellogic Announces Strategic Partnership With Palantir Technologies (Source: Space Daily)
Satellogic announced a new partnership with Palantir Technologies to leverage Palantir's Foundry platform, accelerating business processes, rapid image product delivery, AI model training, and enterprise-wide data integration. Palantir's government and commercial customers will have access to Satellogic's Aleph platform APIs to power their use of Palantir's MetaConstellation and Edge AI capabilities. (2/2)

Space Foundation Launches Space Commerce Institute (Source: Space Daily)
The Space Foundation, a nonprofit advocate organization founded in 1983 for the global space ecosystem, has launched Space Commerce Institute, a program offered by Center for Innovation and Education to facilitate access and growth for university students, entrepreneurs, businesses and professionals. Led by Kelli Kedis Ogborn, Space Foundation's new vice president of space commerce and entrepreneurship, Space Commerce Institute will offer four distinct pillars of service, each designed at various levels to support specialized needs. (2/3)

Satellites Offer New Capabilities and Complexities for 5G Networks (Source: Space Daily)
New advances in 5G standards are creating opportunities to integrate non-terrestrial networks (NTN) into an interoperable, standardized wireless experience across the entire globe. Today, 5G Americas, the voice of 5G and 4G LTE for the Americas, announced the release of its latest white paper covering the role of 5G in satellite networks entitled, "5G and Non-Terrestrial Networks." (2/2)

Boost for Space Clusters Across the UK (Source: Space Daily)
New UK regional hubs, known as space clusters, will support new and growing companies, building on local expertise and catalysing investment into the space sector. Over 600,000 pounds will go towards supporting activities that create jobs and growth, including recruiting space cluster managers, to strengthen local space sector leadership groups and developing new business opportunities. The funding comes as the Government is set to unveil its flagship Levelling Up White Paper later today, setting out a plan to transform the UK by spreading opportunity and prosperity to all parts of it. (2/3)