October 30, 2022

Space Force on Notice as Russia Warns Commercial Satellites May Be a 'Legitimate Target' (Source: Military.com)
Russia is warning it could target commercial satellites assisting U.S. military operations as its invasion of Ukraine drags on -- a threat that could prompt the Space Force and U.S. Space Command to see action if Moscow follows through.

Commercial satellites have been used to take aerial images that show deployments, damage and destruction of Russia's faltering, unprovoked campaign against its neighbor. Additionally, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's Starlink satellites have provided internet access to the people of Ukraine, and he lauded the technology as a "major battlefield advantage" in a tweet earlier this month.

"Apparently, these states do not realize that such actions in fact constitute indirect participation in military conflicts," Konstantin Vorontsov said "Quasi-civilian infrastructure may become a legitimate target for retaliation." Russia's warning marks some of the strongest language to date, and puts the newly created Space Force as well as the existing U.S. Space Command on notice to defend and protect those commercial assets in orbit. (10/27)

Investing in Space: Rockets are Only the Beginning (Source: CNBC)
Five U.S. rocket builders have successfully reached orbit in the past two decades. But the CEOs of these companies will tell you that tapping into the global launch market isn’t enough. “Launch is the keys to space … but once you have the keys to space, then you need to drive the car,” Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck said. “The big space companies of the future are not just a launch company on its own or a spacecraft manufacturer on its own. It’s a combined entity where you provide an end-to-end service.”

Breaking into the launch market may seem hard (and expensive) enough on its own. Yet all five companies are moving up and down the value chain into everything from building spacecraft and components, to satellite services, delivery vehicles, lunar landers and more.

Citing industry studies, Beck also said it’s “pretty obvious” where the total addressable market is most appealing between launch, satellites and space-based services: While the former two reach roughly $15 billion and $30 billion, respectively, the market for space applications is estimated to be upwards of $300 billion. (10/27)

Spaceport Camden Alternative Site Proposed (Source: Brunswick News)
Camden County commissioners will consider potential uses for the former Bayer CropScience property adjacent to the Union Carbide tract planned as the launch site for Spaceport Camden. During a Camden County Office of Planning and Development meeting Wednesday, board members heard six proposals for the property, two of which were recommended for consideration by commissioners at their meeting Tuesday.

A company called Organic Capital Fund is proposing to repurpose the property and market it as Kings Bay Research Campus to attract high-tech businesses to the site. Board members made no recommendation on special land use approval for electric power generation other than solar and wind. County resident Steve Weinkle attended the meeting and asked for more specifics since the alternatives include nuclear, natural gas and coal generated electricity.

"It was very nonspecific," Weinkle said. Weinkle said the presenter was "extremely argumentative" and very non specific. A second request to use the site for solar electric power generation by placing solar panels on the property was approved by the board. Weinkle said there was no objection to the proposal for a solar field at the site. (10/28)

Edible Toothpaste Made for Ailing Father Sent to Space Station (Source: Asahi Shimbun)
A waterless, edible toothpaste created by a businessman for his critically ill father was sent to the International Space Station (ISS) this month, fulfilling a long-held dream of the inventor. Daisuke Teshima, president of biotech company Trife Inc., started developing Oralpeace after his father was diagnosed with terminal cancer and got diarrhea by accidently swallowing a prescribed medicinal agent for Candidiasis fungal infection in his mouth.

Oralpeace is fashioned from extract of ume fruit and other natural ingredients. Free from chemical compositions, the product can be swallowed with no adverse health effects, Teshima said. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) picked Oralpeace for use by astronaut Koichi Wakata, who headed to the ISS on Oct. 6, mainly for its waterless quality. (10/28)

NASA Safety Panel Warns ISS Operating "At Risk" for Lack of Deorbit Plan (Source: Space Policy Online)
NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel is reopening a recommendation urging NASA to develop a controlled reentry plan for the International Space Station. The panel said today that technical and operational issues arose after a conceptual plan was adopted in 2020 and they now are reiterating concerns about the lack of an executable deorbit plan that could be needed at any time. ASAP also cautioned that operational flights of Boeing’s Starliner commercial crew system could be further delayed.

On the good news front, they are pleased with the progress NASA is making on the architecture and integrated planning for Artemis. Reporting on the results of ASAP’s third quarter 2022 review of NASA’s programs, panel member Sandy Magnus explained that in 2020 ASAP closed a 2012 recommendation it had made that NASA develop a timeline for the development of a controlled reentry capability to safely deorbit ISS in the event of unforeseen anomalies.

In 2020, NASA presented a conceptual deorbit plan on which agreement was imminently expected that satisfied the panel’s concerns and it closed the recommendation. Since then, however, “subsequent detailed discussions among the ISS partners have identified technical and operational issues which need further addressing,” Magnus said. (10/27)