September 29, 2022

Soyuz Capsule Returns Three Cosmonauts From ISS (Source: SpaceFlight Now)
A Soyuz spacecraft carrying three Russian cosmonauts landed this morning in Kazakhstan. The Soyuz MS-21 spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station at 3:34 a.m. Eastern and landed safely in Kazakhstan at 6:57 a.m. Eastern. The spacecraft returned to Earth with Russian cosmonauts Oleg Artemyev, Denis Matveev and Sergey Korsakov after 195 days in space. Before the undocking, Artemyev handed over command of the ISS to ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti. (9/29)

NRO Picks Six Companies to Study RF Data Applications (Source: Space News)
The National Reconnaissance Office awarded study contracts for space-based radio frequency (RF) data to six companies Wednesday. Aurora Insight, HawkEye 360, Kleos Space, PredaSAR, Spire Global and Umbra Lab signed agreements giving the NRO access to their systems and business plans so the agency can decide what commercial data it might purchase for operational use. Such data can track ships, vehicles or devices emitting RF signals. The companies were selected under a broad NRO program rolled out in October called Strategic Commercial Enhancements, open to both U.S. companies and foreign-owned U.S. commercial providers. (9/29)

Lynk Global Satellite to Test 5G in Space (Source: Space News)
Lynk Global will test the ability to transmit 5G signals from a satellite launching in December. The company said the experimental 5G payload will be onboard its second commercial satellite, launching on a SpaceX rideshare mission. Lynk's initial satellites are designed to provide connectivity for its mobile network operator (MNO) partners' customers over 2G to 4G, but the company wants to test the ability to shift to 5G when its customers request it. Two other Lynk satellites are also due to fly on this mission to give the Virginia-based startup four commercial satellites in low Earth orbit. (9/29)

Space Force Reemphasizes Focus on Situational Awareness (Source: Space News)
The head of the Space Force's Space Systems Command said that improved space domain awareness is "foundational" to national security. Lt. Gen. Michael A. Guetlein said that space domain awareness is critical to ensuring the operations of other space systems that provide the "overmatch" for the U.S. military against adversaries. He said space domain awareness needs to be improved, though, to better identify objects and their intent, something he said requires collaboration with industry, academia and international partners. (9/29)

Biden Administration Offers Alternative to Space National Guard (Source: Space News)
A key congressional supporter for a Space National Guard said he would consider an alternative backed by the White House and Space Force leaders. Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) said Wednesday "there's merit" to a concept for creating a hybrid active-reserve component that provides full-time and part-time service options. Lamborn has pushed for creating a Space National Guard, including language establishing it in the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act. The Senate version of the bill does not contain a similar provision, and the Biden administration opposes it. (9/29)

NASA Seeks Alternative Launcher for TROPICS Satallites (Source: Space News)
NASA will find another way to launch a remaining set of Earth science cubesats after modifying its contract with Astra. The agency selected Astra last year for three launches of its Rocket 3.3 vehicle to deploy six TROPICS satellites to monitor tropical storms. However, the first of the three launches failed in June, and Astra announced in August it was retiring the Rocket 3.3 in favor of the larger Rocket 4 in development.

NASA said Wednesday it will seek a new launch provider for the remaining four TROPICS cubesats using the Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) program, with a goal of launching them in time for the 2023 hurricane season. NASA will instead use the Astra contract for launching "comparable scientific payloads" on Rocket 4. Astra said Wednesday it is still investigating the June launch failure but narrowed down the cause to a problem with the engine in the upper stage. (9/29)

Mixed Reactions for Space Industry Shift to Remote Work (Source: Space News)
Space companies are having mixed reactions to a shift to remote work. That shift, accelerated by the pandemic, is being embraced by some companies as a way to tap into larger talent pools and retain employees. Others, though, see problems with remote work and prefer to have employees together where they can more efficiently collaborate. Many are looking at hybrid approaches that require being on-site sometimes but with more flexibility to work remotely. (9/29)

ITU Gets New Chief (Source: AP)
Doreen Bogdan-Martin will be the next secretary general of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Member states voted overwhelmingly for Bogdan-Martin over the only other candidate, Russia's Rashid Ismailov, at a meeting Thursday in Bucharest. Bogdan-Martin is the first woman to lead the ITU and the first American to do so since the 1960s. The ITU handles a wide range of communications policy issues, including coordinating spectrum used by satellite systems. (9/29)

NASA Ingenuity Helicopter Flies 33rd Time on Mars (Source: NASA)
NASA's Ingenuity Mars helicopter made its 33rd flight last weekend. NASA said the helicopter flew 111 meters in the 55-second flight. Ingenuity has gradually ramped up flight operations after limiting activity during the Martian winter. (9/29)

ESA Opens Retail Store in Rome (Source: ESA)
The European Space Agency is opening its first retail store in a shopping district in Rome. The ESA Space Shop, which will open Oct. 1 for three months, will sell clothes, memorabilia and other items associated with the agency. The store will also feature information about the agency itself as part of its outreach efforts. (9/29)

NASA Awards Commercial Small Satellite Data Acquisition Agreement to GHGSat (Source: Parabolic Arc)
NASA has selected GHGSat, Inc., of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to provide commercial small constellation satellite products for evaluation to determine the utility for advancing NASA’s science and application goals. GHGSat will provide a comprehensive catalogue of Earth Observation data High Resolution Gas Detection Commercial Earth Observation Data products.

This is a fixed-price blanket purchase agreement and each call issued is not to exceed $7 million over a five-year period. The work will be performed at the contractor’s facilities in Montreal, Quebec. The contractor shall be responsible for delivery of a comprehensive catalogue of its commercial Earth Observation data High Resolution Gas Detection Commercial Earth Observation Data products indicating at a minimum: the data sets, associated metadata and ancillary information; data cadence; data latency; area coverage; and data usage policy. (9/29)

Congress Seeks to Tap Brakes on FCC Orbital Debris Rule (Source: Space News)
The leadership of the House Science Committee asked the FCC to defer consideration of a new orbital debris rule. FCC commissioners are set to meet this morning to vote on the proposed order that would direct operators of low Earth orbit satellites to deorbit them as soon as possible after the end of their mission and in no more than five years.

However, in a letter to the FCC this week, the bipartisan leadership of the House Science Committee said it had concerns about the FCC's authority to promulgate such regulations and worried that the commission's "unilateral" action could undermine its broader government coordination on the issue. In filings to the FCC this month, several companies expressed support for the proposed rule but requested minor changes, such as waivers to the five-year rule for satellites that suffer failures beyond their control. (9/29)

FCC Approves New Orbital Debris Rule (Source: Space News)
The Federal Communications Commission adopted a new rule Sept. 29 that will shorten the time for satellite operators to deorbit low Earth orbit satellites from 25 to 5 years. Commissioners voted 4-0 to adopt the draft rule, published earlier this month, intended to address growing debris in LEO.

Under the new rule, spacecraft that end their lives in orbits at altitudes of 2,000 kilometers or below will have to deorbit as soon as practicable and no more than five years after the end of their mission. The rule would apply to satellites launched two years after the order is adopted, and include both U.S.-licensed satellites as well as those licensed by other jurisdictions but seeking U.S. market access. (9/29)