May 22, 2022

3D Printed Satellite Antennas Can Be Made in Space with Help of Sunlight (Source: Space.com)
Satellite antennas can be 3D-printed in space with the help of sunlight, using a new patented technique that promises to do away with clunky satellite parts that take up too much space in a rocket. The new method, developed by Japanese technology company Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, uses a special type of resin that turns into a rigid solid material when exposed to ultraviolet radiation from the sun that is present in space.

The company has so far only demonstrated how the technology works in simulated space-like conditions in a test chamber. Mitsubishi researchers printed an antenna dish 6.5 inches (16,5 centimeters) wide that performed in tests just as well as a conventional satellite antenna. The sensitivity of antennas is directly related to their size; the larger the antenna, the better it detects and transmits its signal. But the size is a problem when launching to orbit, as a large antenna takes up a great deal of space in a rocket fairing. (5/21)

Isakowitz: A Pledge To Create A More Diverse Space Industry (Source: Aviation Week)
While the industry has long talked about cultivating a more diverse and inclusive workforce, the numbers show that we have failed. The facts are blunt: Not enough women or people from underrepresented groups are graduating from the nation’s top engineering programs. They are more susceptible to falling out of the talent pipeline in grades K-12, when more than 5 million students annually lack quality access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) opportunities.

We cannot afford to let innovation suffer by missing out on the potential of large segments of our population. To bolster their representation in the workforce, The Aerospace Corp. joined 25 other space companies in announcing a Space Workforce 2030 pledge at this year’s Space Symposium, and today that list continues to grow. This pledge includes a commitment to sponsor K-12 STEM programs, to increase significantly the number of women and employees from underrepresented groups in the industry’s collective technical workforce and within its senior leadership and to bring the percentage of these populations graduating with aerospace engineering degrees in line with overall engineering graduation rates. (5/17)

US, UK and EU Blame Russia for ‘Unacceptable’ Viasat Cyberattack (Source: Tech Crunch)
The U.S., U.K. and EU have formally blamed the Russian government for the February cyberattack against satellite communications provider Viasat, which triggered outages across central and eastern Europe hours before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. While the primary target of the attack is believed to have been the Ukrainian military, which relies heavily on satellite communications, the February 24 attack also impacted internet service for thousands of Viasat customers in Ukraine and tens of thousands of customers across Europe.

The attack also disconnected remote access to about 5,800 wind turbines across Germany as they relied on Viasat routers for remote monitoring and control. The attack on Viasat’s network has not yet been fully resolved months later. Viasat says the cyberattack also damaged tens of thousands of terminals that cannot be repaired and said in its most recent analysis of the incident that it had so far shipped almost 30,000 routers to customers in an effort to bring them back online.

“This unacceptable cyberattack is yet another example of Russia’s continued pattern of irresponsible behavior in cyberspace, which also formed an integral part of its illegal and unjustified invasion of Ukraine,” the EU continued, adding that the bloc is “considering further steps to prevent, discourage, deter and respond to such malicious behavior.” (5/10)

NASA Plans Early June Rollout of SLS for Next SLS Countdown Test (Source: Space News)
NASA is gearing up to perform another practice countdown of the Space Launch System in mid-June as it completes repairs to the vehicle from previous tests. NASA said May 20 it expects to roll out the SLS from the Vehicle Assembly Building at the KSC to Launch Complex 39B in early June for the next attempt at a wet dress rehearsal (WDR), where the vehicle is filled with liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellants and goes through a countdown that stops just before ignition of the core stage’s four RS-25 engines.

NASA made three attempts at completing a WDR at the pad in April, but stopped all three early after a series of problems. The agency rolled the SLS back to the VAB April 26 to fix both issues with the vehicle and its ground systems as well as with the supply of nitrogen gas at the pad. (5/21)

How Scientists Find the Big Asteroids That Can Threaten Earth (Source: Mashable)
When you're fast asleep at night, telescopes atop lofty mountains continually sleuth out unknown space rocks that might fly close to Earth, or even potentially hit us. Congress directs NASA to find and track the asteroids and comets that swoop into our cosmic neighborhood, meaning some 30 million miles from Earth's orbit around the sun. Thousands of sizable ones are thought to remain undiscovered.

Specialized telescopes in Hawaii, Arizona, and beyond have spotted around 95 percent of the behemoths one kilometer wide or larger that would trigger planetary devastation. Yet astronomers have only found 40 percent of the rocks 140 meters or bigger. These are still relatively large, menacing objects. Crucially, even a smaller asteroid could destroy a place like Kansas City, home to half a million people. So the surveys for rocks large and "small" are vital.

If it turns out a rock larger than 10 meters wide has greater than a one percent chance of hitting Earth, NASA will give an official warning to the White House and other government leaders, who will then assess the situation and inform the public about any potential strike (hopefully it misses Earth or drops into the expansive oceans). NASA, however, has still never issued such a warning. Click here. (5/21)

Musk Visits Brazil's Bolsonaro to Discuss Amazon Rainforest Plans (Source: VOA)
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk met with Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro on Friday to discuss connectivity and other projects in the Amazon rainforest. The meeting was organized by Communications Minister Fabio Faria, who has said he is seeking partnerships with the world's richest man to bring or improve internet in schools and health facilities in rural areas using technology developed by SpaceX and Starlink, and also to preserve the rainforest. (5/20)

Space Tourism: Kennedy Space Center Sets Date for New Gateway Attraction (Source: MyNews13)
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex’s new attraction on space exploration will officially open to the public next month. "​​Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex" will debut June 15. The attraction, which was initially expected to open in the spring, will feature exhibits and interactive displays that give visitors a chance to learn about present and future space travel efforts. (5/20)

Four Groups Sue FAA Over Georgia Spaceport License (Source: Law Street)
The National Parks Conservation Association, One Hundred Miles, Little Cumberland Island Hoes Inc., and Caretta Foundation Inc. filed a complaint against the FAA, Daniel Murray, and James Repcheck alleging the defendants are in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), FAA regulation Part 420, section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act, Cumberland Island National Seashore Enabling Legislation, and the National Historic Preservation Act.

The complaint alleges that the FAA issued a launch site operator license for Spaceport Camden, a proposed commercial spaceport that would launch rockets directly over populated areas and a national seashore. The FAA’s issuance of this license is contrary to the agency’s regulations for licensing launch sites, per the plaintiffs.

According to the complaint, the agency failed to evaluate the project as required by the NEPA; when the county changed the nature of the project to accommodate smaller rockets, said to be more more failure-prone, the FAA failed to update its review. The complaint also alleges that Camden County falsified a non-existent rocket for its review revision so that its proposed project could meet FAA agency regulations. (5/20)

India to Skips GSLV to Launch GSAT-24 on Ariane 5 (Source: IBT)
India has decided to use European space agency Arianespace to launch GSAT-24 instead of ISRO's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle -Mk III (GSLV-Mk III) which is a four ton payload rocket. Arianespace will put it into space orbit on June 22 using its Ariane 5 rocket. (5/21)

Uncrewed Boeing Starliner Capsule Links Up with Space Station After ‘Excruciating’ Wait (Source: GeekWire)
Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner space taxi docked with the ISS for the first time during an uncrewed flight test, marking one more big step toward being cleared to carry astronauts to orbit. But it wasn’t easy. “The last few hours have been excruciating,” Kathy Lueders, NASA’s associate administrator for space operations, acknowledged.

Despite a few glitches, Lueders and other leaders of the NASA and Boeing teams said they were generally pleased with Starliner’s performance, beginning with Thursday’s launch from Florida and continuing with today’s hours-long series of orbital maneuvers.

The docking was originally scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET, but a snag involving components of the docking system delayed the hookup for more than an hour. Starliner had to be commanded to retract its docking ring, reset the system and try again. (5/20)

Wildfire Monitoring, Other State Missions in Jeopardy Without a Space Guard (Source: Air Force Times)
Longtime military space officers in the National Guard warned Thursday that their home states will lose the ability to surveil wildfires, monitor public demonstrations and conduct other missions if the U.S. does not create a Guard component under the new Space Force.

More than 1,000 airmen are in limbo between an Air Force that has largely ceded space operations to the Space Force, and a Space Force that isn’t authorized to manage Air Guard personnel. They believe slow-walking a new Space National Guard is causing problems that could spell the end of satellite and radar-support missions in seven U.S. states and Guam.

When Congress created the Space Force in 2019, it allowed for active duty troops but wanted more time to consider the Pentagon’s suggestions for space reserve components. The government is considering setting up a less-traditional, full-time and part-time workforce that would absorb space-centered units that are still in the Air National Guard and Air Reserve. (5/20)