July 28, 2022

Orion Teams Ready for Artemis 1 as Pre-Launch Preparations Head Into the Home Stretch (Source: NasaSpaceFlight.com)
With the Artemis 1 mission just weeks away from launch, teams at NASA and the program’s contractors are carrying out final preparations for this major milestone in the effort to return humans to the Moon. NASASpaceflight sat down with Mike Hawes, the Vice President and Program Manager for Orion at Lockheed Martin to discuss how the company was preparing its spacecraft for this mission, currently scheduled to launch no earlier than August 29. Click here. (7/27)

SpaceX Ratchets Up Fight Against 5G in 12 GHz (Source: Fierce Wireless)
As SpaceX recently launched a batch of Starlink satellites, its legal team is busy lobbing a new round of ammunition at those seeking to use the 12 GHz band for 5G. It’s not clear where this latest round starts and ends. In June, SpaceX enlisted the help of Starlink users in a campaign to show the FCC how much the service means to them. The company successfully rallied the troops – judging by the nearly 100,000 or so comments filed on its behalf in the FCC’s comment system.

Last week, SpaceX held meetings with the two Republican FCC commissioners, Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington, as well as members of their staff. That follows meetings Dish Network executives held with the FCC earlier this month. On Tuesday, SpaceX representatives held a rare call with media to talk about how disastrous it would be if the 12 GHz band were opened up to 5G. Users also were on hand, and SpaceX representatives said they’re optimistic the proceeding will go their way. (7/27)

'Neutrino Factories' Could Hold the Solution to the Cosmic Ray Mystery (Source: Space.com)
New research has revealed that high-energy neutrinos and cosmic rays that bombard the Earth from deep space originate in blazars  —  actively galactic nuclei (AGN) that lurk at the center of galaxies and are powered by supermassive black holes. Researchers know cosmic rays are charged particles from deep space that continuously strike Earth with energies as great as 1020 electron volts  —  a million times more energetic than the energies generated at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). What could launch these particles with so much force that they travel billions of light-years has, however, remained a mystery.

Neutrinos are particles with no charge and very little mass that interact with matter so weakly that they pass through galaxies, planets, and even the human body almost without trace. Because they have no charge, neutrinos don't experience the same deflections as cosmic rays do, meaning their sources can be pinpointed more accurately. In 2017, a neutrino signal was detected that could be traced back to the blazar TXS 0506+056. As a result, Buson suggested that blazars  —  which emit more radiation than the entire stellar population of the galaxies around them  — are responsible for blasting out high-energy neutrinos. (7/27)

'It Will Be Positive for the UK': Boss of Government-Backed OneWeb Defends Merger with France-Backed Eutelsat (Source: This Is Money)
The boss of a Government-backed satellite firm has defended its merger with a French rival as 'positive for the UK' after a backlash led by a former science minister. Neil Masterson, chief executive of OneWeb, which was rescued from bankruptcy by UK taxpayers, said the merger with Eutelsat would give it greater firepower to grow. It came after George Freeman, who quit as science minister just three weeks ago, claimed the deal hands over pioneering technology long desired by Britain's European rivals on the cheap.

OneWeb's UK future is protected by a Government 'golden share', enabling it to veto any move away and block sales on national security grounds. Taxpayers will have a seat on the board of the parent firm, based in Paris and listed on the French stock market, with a secondary listing in London. Masterson argues that the two are stronger together. He said customers were 'extremely positive' about a deal, which brings together its lower earth orbit (LEO) technology with Eutelsat's older geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites, saying it was important to build up scale to compete in a sector where rivals include Elon Musk's Starlink. (7/27)

ARCA's Plan to Pursue Asteroid Mining with Heavy-Lift Rocket (Sources: Space Daily, Space News)
Romania-based ARCA's Asteroid Mining Program (AMi) is a ten-year program that aims to unlock one of the largest sources of wealth in history, through profitable asteroid mining. We are committed to launch the first asteroid mining mission in 2027 targeting 1,000 kg of platinum worth around $34 million. However, the Recovery Capsule return capacity is up to 2,500 kg worth $85 million. Until 2031 we plan to return to Earth $1 billion worth of ore, and spend $100 million to tackle Earth's problems, like poverty, health, education, global warming, etc.

Another big portion will be used to boost the AMi Exploration program's capabilities and stimulate humanity's expansion into the Solar System driven by economic rationale. ARCA develops the EcoRocket Heavy launcher and the AMi Cargo spaceship to allow this endeavor. Before the fabrication of the EcoRocket Heavy, we developed the EcoRocket Demonstrator, aiming to demonstrate two main features: cost effectiveness and environment protection. EcoRocket Heavy is a reusable, sea-launched, three stages, ecological, unprecedentedly low-cost rocket, able to launch 24 tons to orbit, that will be used by ARCA to launch the asteroid mining vehicles.

ARCA plans to fund development of the EcoRocket Heavy through the sale of AMi Crypto tokens. Token buyers will gain the right to purchase resources gathered by asteroid mining vehicles to be launched by the heavy EcoRocket. AMi expects to raise $73 million through token sales set to begin next month and to bring to Earth platinum, ore and other precious metals worth $1 billion by 2031. (7/26)

Redwire to Develop Space-Based Drug Development and Manufacturing Platform (Source: RedWire)
Jacksonville-based Redwire Corp. will be developing new in-space manufacturing technology to provide novel and flexible services to grow small-batch crystals of protein-based pharmaceuticals and other key pharmaceutically relevant molecules for research and production. The Pharmaceutical In-space Laboratory – Bio-crystal Optimization Xperiment (PIL-BOX) will provide commercial customers and researchers an innovative platform in microgravity that could improve the development of pharmaceuticals and other products.

Eli Lilly and Company will be partnering with Redwire to conduct critical testing during the initial flight missions for PIL-BOX. Lilly’s investigations will focus on the development of treatments for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Leveraging optimized, space-grown crystals, like those developed through the PIL-BOX platform, could enable pharmaceutical companies and researchers to develop new therapies to improve human health and quality of life on Earth. (7/28)

New Generation of Scientists Ready to Commandeer the James Webb Space Telescope (Source: LA Times)
A total of 1,172 observing proposals were submitted to the Space Telescope Science Institute, or STScI, which manages the new telescope. Of those, 286 projects were selected for its first year of operation, including about 25 led by PhD students, according to Christine Chen, an astronomer at STScI. (7/25)

Space Perspective Refines Capsule Design for Balloon Missions From Florida (Source: Space Perspective)
Space Perspective has revealed an all-new capsule design for Spaceship Neptune - now in production at their state-of-the-art campus on the Space Coast of Florida. The capsule is designed to be the most exciting, sustainable, and carbon-neutral way to reach the edge of space. Features include a spherical pressure vessel, an enhanced patent pending splash cone, reflective coated windows and center section, and a patent pending thermal control system to amplify comfort.

With water landings considered by NASA as the low risk way of returning a capsule from space, following the gradual, two-hour descent to Earth and a gentle splash down in the ocean, a Space Perspective crew will retrieve passengers, the capsule, and the SpaceBalloon by ship. Click here. (7/27)

The Space Economy Grew at Fastest Rate in Years to $469 Billion in 2021, Report Says (Source: CNBC)
The global space economy grew last year at the fastest annual rate since 2014, according to a report by the Space Foundation. Total output by the world’s governments and corporations in the realm of rockets, satellites and more expanded by 9% year-over-year, the report found. Space Foundation CEO Tom Zelibor told CNBC that the space economy is expected to weather market volatility and macroeconomic pressures, and continue growing this year. (7/27)

Innovative Data Satellite Enters Commercial Service (Source: Space Daily)
A large data-driven telecommunications satellite that uses innovative technology to keep cool as well as other innovations - developed under an ESA Partnership Project - has started its commercial service. The satellite will provide broadband connectivity for commercial shipping, aviation, governments and enterprises through its operator, SES, as well connecting underserved areas and accelerating digital inclusion.

Called SES-17, it was launched on 23 October 2021 and spent the next six months navigating into geostationary orbit. The very high throughput SES-17 belongs to a new generation of data intensive satellites and, with its new fifth-generation digital transparent processor, is able to deliver up to ten times more capacity than traditional satellites with unmatched flexibility and efficiency. (7/25)

SpaceWorks Demonstrates Rescue Supply Delivery Capsule (Source: SpaceWorks)
When SpaceWorks RED-Rescue flew in Albuquerque earlier this year, the capsule and its drone autonomously delivered crucial supplies via its Personnel Recovery Kit to a target location. In this test designed to bring aid to downed Airmen, ultimately from speeds up to Mach 6, SpaceWorks team of engineers delivered a successful project for the United States Air Force and the Air Force Research Laboratory. Click here. (7/27)

Boeing Earnings Take Another Hit From Starliner Delays (Source: Space News)
Boeing took another charge against its earnings because of delays in its CST-100 Starliner commercial crew program. The company announced the $93 million charge Wednesday in its second quarter financial results, saying the charge was primarily "driven by launch manifest updates and additional costs associated with OFT-2," the uncrewed test flight it performed in May. Boeing has taken $688 million in charges in Starliner's development since 2020. The company, though, is optimistic it will be able to conduct the first flight with astronauts on board before the end of the year. (7/28)

Rocket Lab to Provide Solar Cells for Lockheed Martin Satellites (Source: Space News)
Rocket Lab will supply solar cells to missile-warning satellites Lockheed Martin is building for the Space Force. Rocket Lab said Wednesday it won a contract to produce solar cells and radiation-hardened assemblies for the geostationary Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared satellites that will launch starting in 2025. Rocket Lab did not disclose the value of the contract. Rocket Lab acquired SolAero, a producer of solar panels, last year. (7/28)

Lockheed Martin and Maxar Win Weather Satellite Contracts (Source: Space News)
The two companies that won study contracts for the next generation of geostationary weather satellites say they're planning to leverage experience from past programs. NASA awarded $5 million contracts this week to Lockheed Martin and Maxar to study designs for the Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) satellites. Lockheed Martin, which is building the current GOES-R fleet of weather satellites, said its design will build on current current technology and be an "absolute game-changer" for forecasting. Maxar says its GeoXO plans are "the next evolution" of weather satellite work that dates back to the 1970s. (7/28)

India Earns Millions Launching Foreign Satellites (Source: PTI)
ISRO says it's earned $279 million from launching foreign satellites. Jitendra Singh, the government minister responsible for space, told the Indian parliament Wednesday that launches of foreign satellites generated that revenue, but did not specify over what timespan that amount covered. That amount three satellites for Singapore launched on a PSLV rocket last month. (7/28)

South Korea Lunar Mission Launching on August 4 Atop Falcon 9 From Florida (Source: Yonhap)
The launch of South Korea's first lunar mission is slipping slightly. A government ministry said Thursday that next week's launch of the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter on a SpaceX Falcon 9 had slipped from Aug. 2 (U.S. time) to Aug. 4, citing additional maintenance needed on the Falcon 9. The orbiter, also known as Danuri, will enter orbit around the moon in December for a one-year science mission. (7/28)

Kimbrough Retires From NASA Astronaut Corps (Source: NASA)
NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough is retiring at the end of this month. Kimbrough, selected as an astronaut in 2004, flew on the STS-126 shuttle mission in 2008 and spent six months on the ISS in 2016-2017 as part of the Expedition 49/50 crews. He returned to the station last year as commander of the Crew-2 Crew Dragon mission, and over his three flights spent 388 days in space. (7/28)

Space Force Gets New Chief to Replace Retiring Raymond (Source: Space News)
The White House has nominated Lt. Gen. B. Chance Saltzman to be the next general in charge of the U.S. Space Force. The nomination, submitted to the Senate Armed Services Committee Wednesday, would promote Saltzman to general and name him the next chief of space operations, succeeding Gen. John Raymond, who is retiring. Saltzman served most of his career in the Air Force and transferred to the Space Force in 2020, currently serving as deputy chief of operations. According to multiple sources, Raymond strongly supported the selection of Saltzman as his successor. (7/28)

SpaceX Requests More Spectrum for Starlink (Source: Space News)
SpaceX has applied for more spectrum to upgrade Starlink satellite broadband services for mobile users. The company applied to the FCC this week for permission to use the 2-gigahertz spectrum band to "augment" its mobile satellite services, but did not disclose details about the next-generation services Starlink plans to provide with it. A modular payload would be added to future Starlink satellites to transmit frequencies in the 2-gigahertz band under the plan. The constellation currently uses higher frequencies in the Ku and Ka spectrum bands to provide broadband to mainly fixed users. (7/28)

NASA and ESA Shift to Helicopters for Mars Sample Mission (Source: Space News)
NASA and ESA have modified their plans to return samples from Mars, replacing a rover and its lander with two small helicopters. The agencies said Wednesday they will no longer develop a "fetch rover" that would have arrived on Mars in 2030 to pick up samples cached by Perseverance and place them in a rocket called the Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV) that will launch them into orbit. Instead, they will rely on Perseverance itself to deliver the samples to the MAV, saying they're confident the rover can operate through 2030.

The lander carrying the MAV will also bring two helicopters based on the Ingenuity copter currently on Mars that would also be able to pick up sample containers and deliver them to the MAV. The change is intended to reduce the risk and complexity of the overall Mars Sample Return campaign, but the agencies did not say how much money they will save. (7/28)

Five L3Harris-Built Missile Detection Satellites to Launch in 2023 (Source: Space News)
Five missile-detection satellites built by L3Harris under Pentagon contracts are projected to launch in 2023. Four of the infrared sensor satellites are for the U.S. Space Development Agency and are projected to launch to low Earth orbit in March, a company executive said. The fifth one, developed for the Missile Defense Agency, is expected to launch to low Earth orbit some time in 2023. Despite strains in the space industry supply chains, the company expects to complete these satellites on schedule and ramp up production of 14 more to be delivered by 2025. (7/28)

Iridium Pursuing Capability for Smartphone Service (Source: Space News)
Iridium announced this week it has entered into a development agreement to enable its technology in smartphones. Iridium said the deal with the unnamed company is "contingent upon the successful development of the technology," as well as a service provider agreement that it expects to finalize before the end of 2022. Iridium declined to disclose details about the project, which it announced as part of its quarterly financial results. The company said revenue increased 17% to $175 million for the three months ending in June, compared with the same period last year. Net income increased 19% to $4.6 million. (7/28)

Semiconductor Bill Passes Senate with NASA Authorization Inserted (Sources: Roll Call, House Science Committee)
The Senate passed a semiconductor manufacturing bill Wednesday that includes a NASA authorization act. The "Chips and Science Act" cleared the Senate on a 64-33 vote and now heads to the House for a vote as soon as Thursday. While the primary purpose of the bill is to stimulate domestic manufacturing of semiconductors, it includes a NASA authorization act that would be the first to become law since 2017. The House also passed this week the Commercial Remote Sensing Amendment Act of 2022, a bill that would shorten the time the Commerce Department would have to review commercial remote sensing satellite license applications and revise annual reports the department provides on licenses. (7/28)

China Denounces US for Calling Space a 'Warfighting Domain' (Source: Sputnik)
Last month, the US Space Force (USSF) launched a new intelligence center and US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines called space "a warfighting domain." The military branch was launched in 2019 as Washington began to fret it was losing its half-century of dominance in US orbit. The Chinese government has denounced the United States' militarization of space, calling on Washington to allow space to be a peaceful domain instead of seeking to control it exclusively.

"Space is a global public sphere and a key factor in humanity's security and wellbeing. Preventing space arms race is an important prerequisite for ensuring peace, tranquility and sustainable use of outer space," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian told reporters on Tuesday. "The US is the main driver in turning outer space into a weapon and a battlefield. It has long pursued a strategy for dominance in space and openly defined outer space as a war-fighting domain," he said. (7/21)

NOAA Contracts with Planet to Image Oil Spills, Marine Debris, and Marine Life (Source: Space Daily)
Planet Labs PBC (NYSE: PL), a leading provider of daily data and insights about Earth, has announced a new contract with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The organization is leveraging Planet's PlanetScope and SkySat products to evaluate oil spills, track marine debris, detect vessels, and identify large marine mammals like whales. (7/25)

Smallsats Drive the Push for Nimbler Propulsion Options (Source: Via Satellite)
As the missions and business cases for smallsats evolve and grow, smallsat propulsion is innovating to keep up. Smallsats need more flexibility and maneuverability, and access to multiple orbits. How are changing mission requirements affecting propulsion requirements and what technologies are poised to disrupt the industry?

According to Mike Cassidy, missions require more propulsion today than in the past for several reasons, including the increasingly charged geopolitical landscape. “With the tragedy in Ukraine and other places, there's certainly some fear that you might need to have satellites that are more mobile so they are more survivable,” Cassidy says.

Scenarios by bad actors could include launching an anti-satellite system or targeting the satellite with a laser or cyber-attack, notes Riskaware, a U.K.-based incident modeling solutions provider. Another reason is the fact that new spacecraft are mandated to de-orbit at the end of mission life to help minimize space junk. In addition, spacecraft are flying lower than ever because the closer they fly to the ground, the better image resolution and throughput speed they’ll have. However, low-flying performance gains come at a price. (7/25)

Deep Space Transport to Manage SLS Production (Source: GovConWire)
Deep Space Transport, a joint venture between Boeing and Northrop Grumman is in line for NASA's Exploration Production and Operations Contract, bringing Space Launch System production and operation under a single agreement. NASA plans to procure five launch services using the SLS rocket for Artemis V through IX missions under the EPOC contract with 15 additional options, including an option for five more Artemis launches and another 10 launches for other NASA missions. The contract is expected to be awarded by Dec. 31, 2023. (7/27)

US Postal Service to Launch James Webb Space Telescope 'Forever' Stamp (Source: Space.com)
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is celebrating NASA's revolutionary James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) with a new "Forever" stamp. The new James Webb Space Telescope Forever stamps will be available for preorder on Aug. 8 through the USPS's online stamp store, and will open for general sale on Sep. 8. (7/27)

Russia Tells NASA Space Station Pullout Less Imminent Than Indicated Earlier (Source: Reuters)
Russian space officials have informed U.S. counterparts that Moscow would like to keep flying its cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) until their own orbital outpost is built and operational, a senior NASA official told Reuters on Wednesday. Taken together with remarks from a senior Russian space official published on Wednesday, the latest indications are that Russia is still at least six years away from ending an orbital collaboration with the United States that dates back more than two decades. (7/27)