July 5, 2022

AST SpaceMobile Announces Agreement to Sell Its Investment in NanoAvionics (Source: Business Wire)
AST SpaceMobile, the company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by standard mobile phones, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its majority ownership stake in NanoAvionics, a leading smallsat mission integrator and bus manufacturer based in Lithuania.

The planned sale of our investment in NanoAvoinics will provide additional liquidity and allow AST SpaceMobile to focus on its core, direct-to-cell phone technology and the launch of the first commercial satellites. Together with existing balance sheet cash, proceeds from the sale and the recently announced $75 million committed equity facility, we have access to significant liquidity to execute our business plan.” (7/5)

NASA is Right to Examine UFOs (Source: Washington Post)
NASA isn’t saying aliens exist. But it is saying, for the first time in almost half a century, that UFOs are worth paying attention to. The space agency announced last month that a team led by a respected astrophysicist will examine what the government now prefers to call UAPs, or unidentified aerial phenomena — and along the way, what was once dismissed as conspiracy theorizing has earned the more impressive description of “high-risk, high-impact” research.

The pursuit will obviously prove worthwhile if NASA or anyone else discovers that aliens do indeed exist. But it will also be worthwhile if — and this is much more likely — researchers land on another explanation for UAPs, and even if they land on no explanation at all. As NASA associate administrator Thomas Zurbuchen said in his speech announcing the initiative: “We have the tools and team who can help us improve our understanding of the unknown. That’s the very definition of what science is.” (7/4)

South Korea Begins Transporting Country's 1st Lunar Orbiter to U.S. for Aug. Launch (Source: Yonhap)
South Korea on Tuesday started transporting the country's first lunar orbiter to the United States ahead of next month's launch using a SpaceX rocket, officials said. South Korea plans to launch the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter, also known as Danuri, aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport in Florida at 8:24 a.m. on Aug. 3 (Korean Time). (7/5)

Rocket Maker Forges Path in Fledgling Australian Space Industry, Building a 'Bus' to the Stars (Source: ABC.net)
From a big warehouse on the Gold Coast, Adam Gilmour is busy building rockets. "We take satellites up into space. A good way to think of us is like a bus to space," he explained. His rocket company is one of the startups now dominating Australia's small but growing space sector. "I was a banker at Citibank but always loved space," he said. Mr Gilmour said he taught himself the basics of rockets in his spare time before founding the company.

Now his company Gilmour Space Technologies is preparing to launch a rocket they're building in their Gold Coast workshop and also looking at sending a rocket into the Moon's orbit. Mr Gilmour is part of the changing face of the space industry, where startups and private companies like SpaceX and Virgin Galactic are replacing the once-dominant national space agencies of global superpowers like the United States and Russia.

Mr Gilmour said the industry has huge potential to grow in Australia due to our growing reliance on satellites for all facets of daily life. "I think most people don't realise how much everybody uses space technology every day ... whether it's Google Maps, Uber autonomous vehicles, a lot of the farms use satellite data to determine if their crops are safe." (7/5)

UK Satellite Launch: 'Everything Now is About Getting to Cornwall' (Source: BBC)
All eyes are now on Newquay in Cornwall for the first ever satellite launch from UK soil. Sir Richard Branson's US company Virgin Orbit successfully placed another seven spacecraft in orbit from California at the weekend and is now focused on moving operations to England.

"Everything now is about getting to Cornwall," said Flt Lt Matthew "Stanny" Stannard, who piloted the latest mission and will be at the controls again when that first British launch occurs, probably in September. Sir Richard's firm has now flown four successful satellite missions, all from California's Mojave spaceport. (7/4)

Using Microbes to Make Supercharged New Rocket Fuel (Source: Space Daily)
Converting petroleum into fuels involves crude chemistry first invented by humans in the 1800s. Meanwhile, bacteria have been producing carbon-based energy molecules for billions of years. Which do you think is better at the job?

Well aware of the advantages biology has to offer, a group of biofuel experts led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory took inspiration from an extraordinary antifungal molecule made by Streptomyces bacteria to develop a totally new type of fuel that has projected energy density greater than the most advanced heavy-duty fuels used today, including the rocket fuels used by NASA.

The incredible energy potential of these fuel candidate molecules, called POP-FAMEs (for polycylcopropanated fatty acid methyl esters), comes from the fundamental chemistry of their structures. Polycylcopropanated molecules contain multiple triangle-shaped three-carbon rings that force each carbon-carbon bond into a sharp 60-degree angle. The potential energy in this strained bond translates into more energy for combustion than can be achieved with the larger ring structures or carbon-carbon chains typically found in fuels. (7/1)

Turion to Launch Space Logistics Craft on Falcon-9 Rideshare Mission (Source: Space Daily)
US Company Turion Space, building spacecraft for space logistics services including space debris removal and space situational awareness data, has selected Exolaunch, a global provider of launch, deployment and integration services for small satellites, to provide launch services for their first DROID spacecraft aboard a Falcon 9 Transporter rideshare mission. The launch is planned for early 2023 using the Exolaunch's CarboNIX separation system that proved its reliable performance having deployed nearly 40 microsats over 9 missions yet. (7/1)

Terran Orbital Completes NASA Pathfinder TD 3 Bus Commissioning (Source: Space Daily)
Terran Orbital's Pathfinder Technology Demonstrator 3 (PTD-3) satellite has completed bus commissioning with all health and status checkouts nominal. Terran Orbital designed and built the PTD-3 satellite in support of NASA's PTD series of missions. The missions will test the operation of a variety of novel small satellite technologies in low-Earth orbit while providing significant enhancements to performance.

The successful demonstration of new subsystem technologies throughout multiple planned PTD missions will increase small spacecraft capabilities to enable future exploration missions and science. PTD-3 carries the TeraByte InfraRed Delivery (TBIRD) payload developed by MIT Lincoln Laboratory (MITLL) and managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. (7/1)

Smart Earbud will Measure How Astronauts Sleep (Source: Space Daily)
Sleep is important for our health and well-being, and bad sleep can negatively impact our attention span, memory, decision-making skills, creativity and judgment. Astronauts living in zero gravity with an artificial day-night cycle have trouble maintaining a natural circadian rhythm and normal sleep patterns. In fact, sleep is what astronauts complain about the most.

To avoid the negative short and long-term side effects of poor sleep, Aarhus University's Centre for Ear-EEG has developed a technology that can monitor an astronaut's sleep in a very non-invasive and discreet manner via so-called 'ear-EEG' (ear-ElectroEncephaloGraphy). The technology, along with Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen, will travel to the International Space Station ISS to examine the differences between human sleep patterns on earth and in space. (7/1)

More Research on Astronaut Bone Loss (Source: Space Daily)
Astronauts that have returned after spaceflights over three months may show signs of incomplete bone recovery even after one year on Earth. Sustained bone losses after one year are equivalent to ten years of normal age-related bone loss on Earth.

Researchers imaged 17 astronauts (14 male, three female) before spaceflight, at return to Earth, and after six and 12 months of recovery. They conducted bone scans on the tibia (shinbone) and radius (forearm) to calculate the resistance of the bone to fracture (failure load), bone mineral in the bone tissue, and tissue thickness.

The authors also recorded exercises such as cycling, treadmill running and deadlifting completed by astronauts in-flight and post-flight. One year after flight the median results for 16 of the astronauts showed incomplete recovery of the shinbone. Total bone mineral density reduced by 4.5 milligrams per cubic centimeter compared to pre-flight levels of 326.8 mg/cm3. Measures of the forearm across all astronauts did not differ at 12 months' recovery compared to pre-flight. (7/1)

New Zealand Joins ASAT Testing Ban (Source: Space News)
The government of New Zealand has formally joined a U.S.-led ban on testing of destructive direct-ascent antisatellite (ASAT) weapons in an effort to build momentum for a global prohibition on such tests. In a July 1 speech at the University of Otago, New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced that the government would join the declaration by the United States in April that it would not conduct such “irresponsible” ASAT tests because of the debris they produce, increasing the risk of collisions with satellites. (7/3)

NASA Satellite Moon-Bound to Test Unique Orbit, Pave Way for Artemis (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
A satellite the size of a microwave oven successfully broke free from its orbit around Earth on Monday and is headed toward the moon, the latest step in NASA’s plan to land astronauts on the lunar surface again. It’s been an unusual journey already for the Capstone satellite. It was launched six days ago from New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula by the company Rocket Lab in one of their small Electron rockets. It will take another four months for the satellite to reach the moon, as it cruises along using minimal energy.

“It’s probably going to take a while to sink in. It’s been a project that has taken us two, two-and-a-half years and is just incredibly, incredibly difficult to execute,” said Rocket Lab founder Peter Beck. “So to see it all come together tonight and see that spacecraft on its way to the moon, it’s just absolutely epic.” Beck said the relatively low cost of the mission — NASA put it at $32.7 million — marked the beginning of a new era for space exploration.

“For some tens of millions of dollars, there is now a rocket and a spacecraft that can take you to the moon, to asteroids, to Venus, to Mars,” Beck said. “It’s an insane capability that’s never existed before.” (7/4)

China Rejects NASA Accusation it Will Take Over the Moon (Source: Reuters)
China on Monday rejected as an irresponsible smear a warning from the chief of NASA that China might "take over" the moon as part of a military programme, saying it has always called for the building of a community of nations in outer space. China has stepped up the pace of its space program in the past decade, with exploration of the moon a focus. China made its first lunar uncrewed landing in 2013 and expects to launch rockets powerful enough to send astronauts to the moon toward the end of this decade.

"We must be very concerned that China is landing on the moon and saying: 'It's ours now and you stay out'," NASA Administrator Bill Nelson told a German newspaper. The U.S. space agency chief said China's space program was a military one and that China had stolen ideas and technology from others.

"This is not the first time that the head of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration has ignored the facts and spoken irresponsibly about China," said Zhao Lijian, a spokesman at the Chinese foreign ministry. "The U.S. side has constantly constructed a smear campaign against China's normal and reasonable outer space endeavours, and China firmly opposes such irresponsible remarks." (7/4)

Weather Forecasters Increasingly Address Climate Change (Source: PBS)
18,935 views  Jul 1, 2022  Even before summer began, there were extreme heat waves and new heat records throughout the Northern Hemisphere, and the forecast calls for a hotter-than-normal summer in much of the U.S. Scientists say climate change is accelerating and intensifying these kinds of heat waves. It's taken a while for some TV weather men and women to make these connections, but that's changing. (7/1)

Vaya Space Recognized for Support of Global STEM Education (Source: Vaya Space)
Launch startup Vaya Space was recently recognized by the Michaelis Foundation for Global Education. for Vaya’s contributions to education and support for Science Days in both the United States and Brazil. Representatives from the Michaelis Foundation traveled to Vaya Space’s new corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility to present the executive team with an award for their contributions in helping to inspire more than 67,000 students and educators worldwide.  

The Michaelis Foundation is an advocacy and consulting group focused on improving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education programs.  Through sponsorship of Science Days, a global science & space fair outreach event, the foundation partners with corporations and academia to inspire youth to pursue STEM education and career opportunities. (7/3)

Summer Space Reading List: Templar Incorporated by ULA’s Tory Bruno (Source: Forbes)
I wasn’t expecting a rocket scientist and corporate executive to author a book on medieval warrior monks … but then nobody expects Tory Bruno! The CEO of United Launch Alliance is one of today’s most amazing corporate leaders, in or out of space. Not only does Tory run the rocket company with the world’s best launch record – zero failures in over 145 flights – he also shares an expansive vision of a future filled with people living and working in space.

Tory’s Cis-Lunar 1,000 plan is just as inspiring as those of his new space competitors, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, while offering a more practical path to space settlement by focusing on near-term economic development. Bruno’s applied futurism is grounded in the lessons of history and is informed by a solid understanding of strategy and management theory. His surprising book, Templar Incorporated leverages all this. Being a history wonk, I enjoyed his book immensely when I read it on a recent cruise in the Baltic. Click here. (7/3)

Norway's Kongsberg to Acquire Stake in NanoAvionics (Source: Space News)
Norway's Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace will acquire a majority stake in smallsat manufacturer NanoAvionics, the companies announced Tuesday. Kongsberg will buy 77% of NanoAvionics in a deal that values it at $67 million. The management of NanoAvionics will hold the other 23%, as AST SpaceMobile sells its 51% stake in the company it purchased in 2018. NanoAvionics makes cubesats and microsatellites, and sold three microsats to Kongsberg in May for a vessel tracking network. (7/5)

More Time Needed for NASA/Russia Negotiation on Seats to ISS (Source: Space News)
Negotiations between NASA and Roscosmos on a seat barter agreement have gone into overtime. NASA officials said in April that they needed to have an agreement in place by late June in order to allow a Russian cosmonaut to fly on the Crew-5 Crew Dragon mission in early September and a NASA astronaut on a Soyuz mission launching later that month. A NASA spokesperson said Friday that discussions about that agreement continue, with no announcements yet of final crew selections for either mission. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson emphasized the importance of a seat barter agreement for ISS operations last month. (7/5)

ESA Aims for July 13 Vega Launch (Source: ESA)
The inaugural launch of the Vega C has slipped to next week. The European Space Agency said Monday it is now planning the launch of the rocket from French Guiana for no earlier than July 13, six days later than previously announced. The agency didn't give a reason for the delay. Vega C is an upgraded version of the Vega rocket with significantly increased payload capacity. The launch will carry LARES-2, an Italian satellite that will be used for testing general relativity, as well as six cubesats. (7/5)

SLS Rocket Back in VAB (Source: SpaceFlight Now)
The first Space Launch System rocket is back in the Vehicle Assembly Building for final launch preparations. The SLS rolled back to the VAB early Saturday after delays for additional inspections. Technicians will now perform final work on the vehicle, including repairs to fix a hydrogen leak in a bleed line, to prepare for the Artemis 1 launch. NASA is planning to launch the vehicle in a window that opens Aug. 23 and runs through Sept. 6, pending completion of launch preparations. (7/5)

Cosmonauts Display Pro-Invasion Flags on ISS (Source: The Guardian)
Russian cosmonauts on the ISS displayed flags of two Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine. Roscosmos released images Monday of the three Russian cosmonauts on the station holding flags of the self-proclaimed republics of Luhansk and Donetsk, regions of Ukraine occupied by Russian forces. The statement celebrated a "Liberation Day" for Luhansk as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues. The three cosmonauts arrived on the station in March wearing yellow jumpsuits that some observers interpreted as a symbol of support for Ukraine, but instead were in honor of the university they attended. (7/5)

Fidelity Reduces Stake in Relativity (Source: Insider)
Fidelity has reduced the value of its stake in Relativity Space. According to filings, Fidelity's Contrafund reduced the value of its Series D holdings in the launch vehicle startup by 28% from the beginning of the year, and Series E holdings by 16%. It was not clear if Fidelity was writing down the value of its shares or had instead sold some shares. (7/5)

Sidus Space Celebrates the Successful Space-Qualification of Dhruva Space’s Satellite Orbital Deployer (Source: Sidus Space)
Dhruva Space’s Satellite Orbital Deployer successfully achieved space-qualification on June 30 on India's recent PSLV C53 mission. By achieving space qualification, the Deployer has proven that it can withstand and operate properly in the harsh environment of space, a necessary and critical milestone. In December 2021, Jamie Adams, Sidus Space CTO participated in a Zero-G flight demonstration designed to simulate a microgravity environment to test the spring-loaded mechanisms and electronics that unlatch the door on the Orbital Deployer.

Sidus Space will integrate Dhruva’s CubeSat deployer with its own Phoenix Deployer which is in development. The Phoenix Deployer accommodates a customized configuration of 3, 6 or 12 CubeSat deployers based on each mission’s need. This combined capability will allow the Sidus Space / Dhruva Space partnership to offer full-service CubeSat launch options to a large variety of customers. (7/5)

Airbus to Provide 42 Satellite Platforms and Services to Northrop Grumman for DoD Constellation (Source: Airbus)
Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc., has been contracted to provide 42 satellite platforms as well as assembly, integration, and test (AIT), launch, and space vehicle commissioning support services to Northrop Grumman to satisfy the U.S. Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 1 Transport Layer prototype constellation (T1TL) award.

Derived from the flight-proven ARROW platform, the Airbus U.S. solution expands on its commoditized satellite bus design providing more power and a larger payload accommodation. This modular solution offers a scalable 300-500 kg bus for the Northrop Grumman payload and future U.S. Government missions.

Airbus U.S. has designed a highly adaptable spacecraft platform and will utilize Airbus OneWeb Satellites (AOS), the Airbus U.S. and OneWeb joint venture in Merritt Island, FL, to assemble it using their state-of-the-art production line. This line is currently delivering up to two satellites per day to OneWeb. AOS achieves this industry-leading result through its mature supply chain and manufacturing approach. To date, this facility has already produced over 400 of the 648 satellites on order for OneWeb. (7/5)

L3Harris Unveils Tech That Can Capture Battlefield Imagery From Space (Source: Defense Post)
L3Harris has unveiled a new infrared technology capable of capturing high-resolution imagery and other crucial battlefield information from space. According to the company, the six-foot-tall instrument was designed for the Space Systems Command. It is reportedly part of a “wide-field-of-view satellite” that will support the army’s future space-based missile defense missions.

The infrared technology will be positioned 22,000 miles above the Earth to enable better monitoring of potential missile launches. L3Harris explained that its newly-developed device would significantly improve the surveillance capabilities of the military, especially as it continues to invest in missile defense. (7/1)