September 9, 2022

Space Compass and Skyloom Plan Optical Data Relay Services to the Earth Observation Market (Source: SkyPerfect JSAT)
Skyloom and Space Compass (a newly formed joint venture between NTT and SKY Perfect JSAT) signed a term sheet aimed to launch the first geostationary-based data relay service over Asia that will leverage Skyloom’s communication and networking systems for the purpose of serving the rapidly growing Earth-Observation market for real-time, high-capacity, direct-to-cloud data transfer. The companies plan to deploy the first network infrastructure node over Asia in 2024 and anticipate expanding the constellation to provide additional capacity and global coverage by 2026. (9/6)

Blue Canyon Delivers First Satellite Bus for DARPA’s Blackjack Constellation (Source: Space News)
Blue Canyon Technologies delivered the first of 10 satellite buses DARPA ordered in 2020 for its Blackjack experiment in low Earth orbit. SEAKR Engineering also announced Sept. 7 it has delivered the first two so-called Pit Boss mission data processing payloads that will fly on Blackjack satellites. The Pit Boss artificial-intelligence technology would allow the Blackjack constellation to operate autonomously. Both Blue Canyon and SEAKR are subsidiaries of Raytheon Technologies. (9/8)

Masten Space Approved For $4.5M Asset Sale In Ch. 11 (Source: Law360)
Bankrupt NASA contractor Masten Space Systems received approval Thursday in Delaware for a $4.5 million sale of its assets including valuable launch credits issued by private space venture SpaceX. During a virtual hearing, the debtor attorney said after an auction earlier this week stalking horse bidder Astrobotic Technology Inc. had emerged as the top offer among three proposals. The $4.5 million in cash will be supplemented by the payment of contract cure costs and the waiver of Astrobotic's claim against the bankruptcy estate. (9/8)

NASA Could Launch Artemis 1 Before October (Source: Space News)
NASA is working to make another Artemis 1 launch attempt as soon as Sept. 23, pending completion of liquid hydrogen leak repairs and approval from the Eastern Range. NASA officials said Thursday they are tentatively planning SLS launch attempts on Sept. 23 and 27. That schedule first depends on work to replace seals in two liquid hydrogen lines that connect to the rocket's core stage that suffered leaks in launch attempts last week.

That will be followed by a tanking test around Sept. 17 to confirm the seals are working. NASA is still in discussions with the Eastern Range about a waiver for the rocket's flight termination system to allow those launch attempts without having to roll back to the Vehicle Assembly Building and check that system's batteries. NASA didn't state when it needed a decision from the Eastern Range on that extension to maintain its current schedule. (9/9)

FCC Proposes Regulation to Speed Requirement for Deorbit (Source: Space News)
The FCC is proposing to require operators of LEO satellites to deorbit them within five years of the end of their missions. In a draft order released Thursday, the FCC announced its plans for a rule requiring satellites that end their lives in orbits at altitudes below 2,000 kilometers to deorbit within five years, rather than the current guideline of 25 years. The shorter timeframe for deorbiting is intended to reduce the production of orbital debris and address other space safety issues. The rule would go into effect two years after adoption and would apply to both satellites licensed by the FCC as well as those seeking U.S. market access. FCC commissioners are scheduled to vote on the proposed order at a meeting late this month. (9/9)

China's GalaxySpace Now Valued at Over $1.5 Billion After Recent Funding Round (Source: Space News)
Chinese satellite internet startup GalaxySpace has raised a new round of funding that values it at more than $1.5 billion. The new funding, the amount of which was not disclosed, will support research and development of satellite Internet-related technologies and their commercial applications as it seeks a major role in China's planned 13,000-satellite national satellite internet megaconstellation. That includes a "stackable" satellite bus with a phased array flat panel antenna and flexible solar array that will be flown next year. (9/9)

Adranos to Produce Solid Rocket Motors in Indiana (Source: Space News)
A startup working on solid rocket motors has opened a fuel production facility in Indiana. Adranos said the plant will produce an aluminum-lithium alloy solid rocket fuel called ALITEC to power solid rocket motors used in tactical missiles and space launch vehicles. The company, which raised $20 million in April, seeks to scale up production to compete with dominant providers Northrop Grumman and Aerojet Rocketdyne. (9/9)

Iridium to Launch Spares on Falcon 9 Rideshare Mission (Source: Space News)
Iridium will launch five spare satellites next year on a Falcon 9. Iridium announced Thursday a contract with SpaceX to launch those satellites on a rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California in mid-2023. Iridium deployed the 75 satellites of its current constellation on eight Falcon 9 launches over two years starting in early 2017. Iridium said in July it signed a $35 million contract for the launch but did not disclose the launch provider at the time. Iridium signed a contract with Relativity in 2020 for launching up to six spare satellites on the Terran 1 small launch vehicle. Iridium will consider using that contract for a single launch of the sixth and final spare satellite in storage. (9/9)

Successful SpaceX Starship Engine Test Causes Brush Fire Near Pad (Source: Space.com)
SpaceX conducted a static-fire test of its latest Starship prototype Thursday. The company fired all six engines in the Starship vehicle called Ship 24 for several seconds Thursday afternoon. The test appeared to be a success, but it also triggered a grass fire near the launch pad that burned for several hours but did not appear to cause damage to the launch facility. (9/9)

DoD Policy Board Examines China's Potential Space Weapon Programs (Source: Defense News)
A Pentagon advisory group discussed China's growing use of space in a classified meeting this week. Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl said that this week's meeting of the Defense Policy Board examined both China's potential development of space weapons and China's growing dependence on space capabilities. Kahl said those Chinese capabilities emphasize the importance of new U.S. efforts to develop missile tracking satellite systems. (9/9)

Legal Manual Proposes 52 Rules for Space Behavior (Source: Breaking Defense)
A legal manual may help guide the development of norms of behavior in space. The McGill Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflict in Space (MILAMOS) features 52 rules developed by experts regarding constraints international law places on military space activities. The manual has no legal standing but is modeled on similar ones developed for armed conflict at sea and in the air. The advocates of MILAMOS hope it can support discussions on norms of behavior in space, including at a meeting of a U.N. working group next week in Geneva. (9/9)

Not Good: Boom Overture Left Without Engines (Source: One Mile At A Time)
Boom Technology is a Colorado-based aeronautics company that has been working on bringing back supersonic passenger air travel. Specifically, the Boom Overture is supposed to become the new Concorde, and both American Airlines and United Airlines have already placed orders for the jet. Things aren’t looking so good at the moment for this to become a reality.

In 2020, Boom and Rolls-Royce launched a partnership, intended to advance the Boom Overture’s engine program design, and to “work together to identify a propulsion system that would complement Overture’s airframe.” After working together for over two years, Rolls-Royce isn’t interested in this concept anymore. Rolls-Royce will no longer pursue working on the Boom Overture. "After careful consideration, Rolls-Royce has determined that the commercial aviation supersonic market is not currently a priority for us and, therefore, will not pursue further work on the program at this time."

Boom executives have been saying that the plane could be flying passengers by 2029. That’s seven years from now. That’s despite the fact that the plane’s design was completely overhauled just a couple of months ago (in July 2022). We’re not just talking minor differences, but the design went from three engines to four engines, and the plane’s speed was reduced from Mach 2.1 to Mach 1.7. On top of that, while Boom was collaborating with Rolls-Royce, there was no indication that the two companies had reached an agreement for an engine, beyond just exploring the concept together. (9/8)

Virgin Galactic Expanding at the Mojave Air and Space Port (Source: AeroTech News)
While Virgin Galactic continues to expand its operations at Space Port America in New Mexico, and in Mesa, Ariz., the company has not turned its back on the Mojave Air and Space Port. At the Aug. 2 meeting of the MASP Board, the board voted to approve a lease amendment for Faith Hangar. The proposed amendment, presented by then CEO Todd Lindner, called for combining three existing leases into one, as well as adding additional acreage. As part of the new lease, the company will be adding additional office space and employee parking. (

In July of 2022, the company announced that it has signed a long-term lease for a new final assembly manufacturing facility for its next-generation Delta class of spaceships. The facility will be located in Mesa, Arizona. Virgin Galactic’s production vehicle is designed to fly weekly, supporting the Company’s target of 400 flights per year from Spaceport America. Based on current schedules, the first of these ships is expected to commence revenue-generating payload flights in late 2025, progressing to private astronaut flights in 2026.

And on Aug. 1, the company announced it had acquired land in Sierra County, New Mexico, to build a new astronaut campus and training facility. The master plan for the campus will include training facilities, purposeful accommodations, and tailored experiences as well as an observatory, wellness center, recreation activities, and unique dining options. Situated near Spaceport America, the campus will sit atop a mesa overlooking the New Mexico landscape. (9/8)

To Protect and Maybe Defend: NRO, SPACECOM Ponder Commercial Satellite Defense Options (Source: Breaking Defense)
As commercial satellite systems are increasingly taking on national security missions for government and military customers, they’re also likely creeping up the target list for adversary nations. In anticipation, US Space Command and the National Reconnaissance Office are mulling their responsibilities to safeguard their industry partners in orbit, according to government and industry officials.

In particular, SPACECOM and the NRO are actively “talking about” extending their year-old strategic “protect and defend” framework agreement on everything from acquisition to crisis procedures to commercial systems, according to Pete Muend, NRO’s head of commercial operations. This includes “really considering from a government-wide perspective what are the limitations, importantly, and potential obligations in terms of considering commercial as part of that larger enterprise,” he said. “How far does that work go, especially, for example, just thinking about it from a freedom of navigation standpoint, but up in space?” (9/1)