August 23, 2022

Intelsat Pays $1M to Settle Claim, Millions More Pending (Source: Luxembourg Times)
An Israeli satellite operator collected $1 million to end a dispute with Intelsat stemming from the Luxembourg-based company's US bankruptcy case, a process which also still includes a claim by rival SES that it is owed hundreds of millions from a deal gone bad. Intelsat paid Space-Communications of Tel Aviv to settle a disagreement over frequencies Intelsat used, a US bankruptcy court judge said on Friday. The same judge has been deliberating since February over claims by SES - a Luxembourgish company - that it is entitled to hundreds of millions of euros from Intelsat.

Regulating Space Solar Power Plants (Source: Space News)
Concepts for beaming solar energy from satellites to Earth via radio waves aim to revolutionize the market for clean and sustainable power. If successful, they would open up the colossal energy industry to the space sector while potentially helping connect around 700 million people estimated to be without access to electricity. But while space-based solar power (SBSP) principles have been around for decades, the economics for power plants that would need to span thousands of meters in orbit have not added up.

That could now be changing with the advent of renewable rockets and advancing in-orbit assembly capabilities. The latest SBSP concepts also envisage modular structures in geostationary orbit (GEO) ranging from about two million to 10 million kilograms. While still enormous, the original NASA Solar Power Satellite reference system from the late 1970s was not modular and had a proposed mass of about 50 million kilograms. That’s over seven thousand times more mass than the heaviest commercial satellite ever launched to GEO.

According to a study by engineering firm Frazer Nash Consultancy for the British government last year, SBSP is now not only technically feasible but it could also be developed quickly enough to significantly contribute to the U.K.’s goal to decarbonize its economy by 2050. Editor's Note: Maybe a huge orbital solar power plant would also produce a bit of shade to counter global greenhouse warming. (8/23)

Space Force to Solicit Industry Comments on Space Test Experiment Platform Procurement (Source: Executive Gov)
The U.S. Space Force will conduct an industry day on Oct. 25 and 26 to solicit industry comments on the planned acquisition of spacecraft for science and technology experiments. The Innovation and Prototyping Acquisition Delta in New Mexico will host the event to discuss the forthcoming Space Test Experiment Platform 2.0 contract vehicle for the development of a spacecraft and integration of payload and launch vehicle. The government anticipates awarding STEP 2.0 as an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with cascading set-asides to support the Space Test Program’s spacecraft requirements. (8/23)

Firefly Launch Scheduled from Vandenberg in September, One Year After Last Failed Attempt (Source: KEYT)
One year after its Alpha rocket dramatically exploded in mid-air after launching from Vandenberg Space Force Base in September of 2021, Firefly will be attempting to launch the Alpha Flight 2: To the Black rocket from the Space Force Base again on Sept. 11. The Alpha rocket took off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Sept. 2, 2021, but shortly after the rocket ascended into the atmosphere an explosion could be seen in the sky, ending its mission.

Firefly will be attempting its second technology demonstration flight on Sept. 11 which will attempt to launch multiple satellites to low Earth Orbit from the Vandenberg Space Force Base. Alpha will first insert into an elliptical transfer orbit, coast to apogee, and perform a circularization burn, according to Firefly officials. (8/22)

Virgin Galactic’s 1st Space Trips Pushed Back to ’23 (Source: Orange County Business Journal)
Would-be space riders on a Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc. spacecraft will now have to wait until at least mid-2023 for their suborbital flights. The Tustin-based space tourism company said earlier this month the company’s inaugural commercial flights are expected to launch sometime between April and June of next year. An earlier delay had pushed them to the first three months of 2023 from the end of this year.  The company’s market cap soared to $15 billion after it went public in 2019, but was closer to $2 billion as of last week. It relocated its headquarters from New Mexico to Tustin earlier this year; it also designs its spacecraft in its Orange County offices.

Virgin Galactic chalked up the latest postponement to “extended completion dates’’ for refurbishing the “mothership”—the twin fuselage plane called VMS Eve that carries the spaceship skyward. Back in the spring, Colglazier said the company plans to work up to about 400 space flights a year as it moves to its fourth-generation Delta class of spaceships, or an average of a little more than once a day. Virgin Galactic says it has sold more than 800 tickets for the flights that cost $450,000 per ticket with a $150,000 deposit. (8/22)

UAE’s Space Exploration to Reach New Heights in 2023 (Source: The National)
From landing a rover on the Moon to sending an Emirati astronaut for a six-month trip to the space station, 2023 is set to be the UAE’s busiest year for space exploration. The Emirates will etch its name in history books many times next year if its space missions go as planned. Astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi will take on the Arab world’s first long-duration mission, while the Rashid rover could become the first Arab spacecraft to reach the Moon. The impending missions follow a string of achievements by the UAE, including reaching Mars with its Hope probe in 2021 and launching Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Emirati astronaut, into space in 2019. (8/23)

Assessing The Health And Vitality Of NASA’s Research Communities (Source: SpaceRef)
Over one-third of NASA’s budget is devoted to space science, and the agency currently operates over 50 space missions in the fields of astrophysics, Earth science, solar and space physics, planetary science, and the biological and physical sciences. The strength of NASA science lies with its people, both those who work directly for the agency and the thousands of researchers and professionals who are funded by NASA grants and contracts.

The committee concluded that to meet the larger outcome that SMD set forth, the research communities have to have clear scientific goals; a workforce illustrating diversity of backgrounds and skills; an environment open to the society writ large; funding for advancing the research agenda; capacity to adjust to change; and shared standards for comportment. (8/23)

Why Has NASA Built a Giant New Rocket? (Source: Economist)
he Space Launch System (SLS), will soon embark on its maiden journey to lunar orbit. The launcher is designed to send humans back to the Moon, but was built on old technology, and is years late and shockingly over budget. Does NASA even need a successor to the Space Shuttle, when Elon Musk’s SpaceX is developing a cheaper, more powerful alternative? Host Alok Jha examines the politics behind the SLS and the role of NASA against the backdrop of a now-flourishing, innovative, private-sector space industry. Click here. (8/23)

Surprising Details Leap Out in Webb Telescope Jupiter Images (Source: Space Daily)
The latest images of Jupiter from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) are stunners. Captured on July 27, the infrared images - artificially colored to make specific features stand out - show fine filigree along the edges of the colored bands and around the Great Red Spot and also provide an unprecedented view of the auroras over the north and south poles. One wide-field image presents a unique lineup of the planet, its faint rings and two of Jupiter's smaller satellites - Amalthea and Adrastea - against a background of galaxies. (8/23)

Sidus Space Signs MOU with Exo-Space to Support Edge Computing Technology (Source: Sidus Space)
Cape Canaveral-based Sidus Space signed a memorandum of understanding with Exo-Space to further commercialize its satellite edge computing technology. With this partnership, Sidus Space will integrate Exo-Space’s FeatherEdge Data Processing Platform into its hybrid 3D printed satellite, LizzieSat. Through collaboration on data processing and storage technology in space, on-orbit testing of the device in a space environment will provide proof-of-concept data, increase the product’s overall Technology Readiness Level, and establish integration processes for future collaborative missions.

This collaborative technology implementation will provide near-real-time intelligence derived from Earth Observation data while onboard the satellite, enabling both commercial and government customers to take more effective action in time-sensitive operations. (8/23)

Leanspace and Valispace to Demonstrate Digital Continuity for Space Mission Management (Source: Space Daily)
Numerous software tools are typically required throughout a space mission; from the mission conceptualization and satellite design, to testing the hardware, to running operations. Still today, this technology stack consists of independent systems that don't talk to each other, requiring manual movement of data, limiting automation and forcing engineering teams to work with different data sets.

In the current context of commercialization of the space industry, where every organization strives to become more agile, reduce costs and increase efficiency, this is an ever increasing problem. The solution is digital continuity. Digital continuity breaks down information silos by eliminating the interfaces between various tools. It allows faster design iterations by expediting feedback cycles, and enables better collaboration between teams by ensuring everyone is working on the most up-to-date information. (8/23)

The Origins and Evolution of the Defense Support Program (Source: Space Review)
The US military has operated satellites for decades designed to provide early warnings of ballistic missile launches. Dwayne Day, in the first of a multi-part series, examines the origins of the first such missile-warning satellite effort, the Defense Support Program. Click here. (8/23)
 
The Time Has Finally Come for Artemis 1 (Source: Space Review)
NASA is now less than a week away from the long-awaited, and long-delayed, first launch attempt of the Space Launch System. Jeff Foust reports on final preparations for the launch and what the uncrewed Artemis 1 mission seeks to achieve. Click here. (8/23)
 
War in Ukraine Highlights the Growing Strategic Importance of Private Satellite Companies (Source: Space Review)
A major element of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been the role commercial satellites have played in monitoring the invasion and aiding the Ukrainian government. Mariel Borowitz explains how this could reshape the future of the commercial remote sensing industry. Click here. (8/23)

New Water Map of Mars will Prove Invaluable for Future Exploration (Source: Space Daily)
A new map of Mars is changing the way we think about the planet's watery past, and showing where we should land in the future. The map shows mineral deposits across the planet and has been painstakingly created over the last decade using data from ESA's Mars Express Observatoire pour la Mineralogie, l'Eau, les Glaces et l'Activite (OMEGA) instrument and NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) instrument. (8/23)

Ingenuity Flies Again on Mars (Source: NASA JPL)
NASA's Ingenuity made its first flight in more than two months over the weekend. The helicopter performed a "short hop" planned to last about 30 seconds, going up five meters and traveling two meters before landing. The helicopter had been grounded since early June because of limited sunlight to power the helicopter during winter in Jezero Crater. The short flight was intended to confirm Ingenuity was still in good condition and could resume longer flights soon as spring approaches. (8/23)

SpaceX Plans Mixed Fleet Deployment for Next Generation Starlink Satellites (Source: Space News)
SpaceX is now planning to use a mix of Falcon 9 and Starship launches for its second-generation Starlink constellation. In an FCC filing last week, the company said it would use the "tested and dependable Falcon 9" to accelerate deployment of the 30,000-satellite constellation after previously stating it would rely on Starship. The Gen 2 satellites launched on Falcon 9 will be "technically identical" to those launched on Starship, but "the physical structures will be tailored" to fit into the smaller Falcon 9. The second-generation Starlink system is still pending FCC approval. (8/23)

Space Command Component Gets New Commander (Source: Space News)
U.S. Space Command's Combined Force Space Component Command has a new commander. Space Force Maj. Gen. Douglas Schiess took over the command in a ceremony Monday at Vandenberg Space Force Base, where the command is based. The command oversees U.S. and allied space operations and coordinates space traffic management. It also ensures space capabilities such as GPS navigation and satellite-based communications are available to U.S. commanders and allied nations. He replaces Maj. Gen. DeAnna Burt, who will be taking a senior post at Space Force headquarters at the Pentagon. (8/23)

Space, ABMS, JADC2, NGAD Among SECAF Kendall's Top Priorities (Source: Naval Institute News)
Space architectures, Advanced Battle Management Systems, Joint All-Domain Command and Control and Next Generation Air Dominance are among US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall's top priorities, citing the importance of "operational paradigms, which are capabilities that need to be enhanced for the Air Force and Space Force. (8/19)

China Moving Forward on Two Heavy-Lift Rockets (Source: Space News)
China is making progress on two heavy-lift vehicles that would support future human lunar missions. One, informally called the CZ5DY, is based on the Long March 5 and would be used for launching crewed vehicles to the moon, with test launches to low Earth orbit scheduled for as soon as 2026. The Larger Long March 9 would launch payloads such as components of the proposed International Lunar Research Station jointly planned by China and Russia. Though China's government has not formally approved a crewed lunar landing, work on the necessary elements of such a program is underway, and the country's space actors and state media are openly talking of its lunar ambitions. (8/23)

China's Long March Breaks Launch Record (Source: Space Daily)
The Long March carrier rocket family, China's backbone launch vehicle fleet, has set a new record for successful consecutive launches after a Long March 2D launch over the weekend, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, the country's leading space contractor. Since May 5, 2020, the Long March rocket series has achieved 103 consecutive successful launches in just 27 months, transporting 200 spacecraft into orbit, including space station modules, a lunar probe, a Mars probe and manned spaceships, the space conglomerate noted. (8/23)

China Launches Small Satellite on Small Rocket (Source: Xinhua)
A Chinese rocket launched a small satellite Monday night. The Kuaizhou-1A small launch vehicle lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 10:36 p.m. Eastern and placed the Chuangxin-16 satellite into orbit. Chinese media described the spacecraft as one that would conduct scientific experiments and technology demonstrations but did not disclose additional details. (8/23)

Braun Making Long-Term Plans for APL (Source: Space News)
The new director of the space division of the Applied Physics Lab (APL) is making a long-term plan for the lab. In an interview, Bobby Braun said APL's space exploration sector is undertaking "something like a decadal survey" to see where the lab wants to be in 10 years and how to get there. APL is involved in both civil and national security space projects, such as NASA's DART mission that will collide with an asteroid next month. Among the areas of most interest, he said, are space weather, astrobiology, cislunar space operations and planetary defense. (8/23)

Orbital Reef Space Station Passes NASA Review (Source: Space News)
A proposed commercial space station has passed a NASA review. Blue Origin and Sierra Space, the lead partners on the Orbital Reef station, said Monday they completed a system definition review with NASA as part of a Commercial LEO Destinations award it received from the agency last year. The review allows the companies to move into the next phase of designing the station, which they hope to start launching late this decade. Orbital Reef is one of three commercial station concepts that won Commercial LEO Destinations awards last year to support early development. (8/23)

SpaceLink to Work with DARPA on Communication Protocols (Source: Space News)
SpaceLink, a company developing a data relay constellation, said Monday it would work with DARPA on protocols for how commercial communications constellations will connect with defense and military systems. As part of DARPA's Space-BACN project to develop low-cost optical links, SpaceLink will develop a technical approach and interfaces for intersatellite laser links that support multiple optical standards. SpaceLink is partnering with Parsons Corp. and will use Parsons' satellite scheduling and tasking software Optimyz, a tool that DARPA also selected to control its own Blackjack satellites. (8/23)

Skyrora Completes Second Stage Static Fire Engine Test (Source: Space Daily)
The first vertical rocket launch from British soil moved a vital step closer this month as UK rocket company Skyrora successfully completed the static fire test of the second stage of its flagship Skyrora XL orbital vehicle. The monumental event, at Discover Space UK at Machrihanish Airbase on the Mull of Kintyre, was the largest integrated stage test in the UK for 50 years, since the days of the Black Arrow and Blue Streak rockets which were cancelled in the seventies without ever going into production.

The test at the Scottish base was made possible as a result of funding received by Skyrora as part of the European Space Agency's Commercial Space Transportation Programme as well as support from the UK Space Agency. (8/23)

Boeing's Internship Program Leads Top 100 Ranking (Source: Flying Magazine)
Boeing has taken the top spot on Yello's annual ranking of internship programs. Yello graded programs on diversity, equity and inclusion among other factors, with Spirit Aerosystems also making the list of 100 programs covering all industries. (8/20)