July 2, 2023

Space Force Should Follow a Naval Model (Source: US Naval Institute)
They called him Captain Kirk, not Colonel Kirk. Science fiction is littered with spacefaring personnel who follow the naval model—Admiral William Adama (Battlestar Galactica), Captain Ed Mercer (The Orville), and Captain Malcolm Reynolds (Firefly). These are only a few examples of characters retaining naval structure when moving beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

Within these stories, there is good reason for adopting a naval model that goes beyond calling spacecraft ships. The naval model has implications for ship design and resupply, given that crews will be away from their home ports for weeks or months at a time. The fictional crews adopted the naval premise of operations—and fleet structures—because their spacecraft also would need to be largely self-sufficient during long exploration missions. (7/1)

Virgin Galactic's Debut Launch Lands Safely, But SPCE Stock Crashes (Source: Investor's Business Daily)
The first commercial spaceflight for Virgin Galactic blasted off early Thursday, a long-awaited milestone for the space tourism company founded by billionaire Richard Branson in 2004. SPCE stock continued its fall Friday and dove Thursday following the successful mission. Shares rocketed Wednesday prior to launch. (6/30)

New Glenn Testing Hardware at the Cape (Source: NSF)
Recently, Blue Origin has completed several milestones in its programs, as it inches closer to a debut flight of its New Glenn rocket. The successful BE-4 firings below the Vulcan rocket, modifications on pad and infrastructure, and winning the contract for the Artemis V lander have put Blue Origin in a better position than their previous situation, with a delayed rocket and a struggle to secure contracts. Ongoing efforts also include the possibility of a fully-reusable New Glenn. (6/30)

Defense Innovation Unit Solicits Proposals for Cargo Delivery To and From Space (Source: Space News)
The Defense Innovation Unit is seeking proposals from commercial launch companies that can provide “responsive and precise point-to-point delivery of cargo to, from, and through space.” The solicitation, published June 30, asks companies to submit proposals by July 17.

DIU, a DoD agency created to bring commercially developed technology into military programs, is looking for commercial options to use space launch vehicles to move a “wide variety of cargo where it is needed, when it is needed.” Companies selected for this project will have to demonstrate autonomous cargo delivery in at least one of three modes: from Earth to a designated orbit, return from space to Earth to a precise point of recovery, and through space from one orbit to another. (6/30)

Details on Tallahassee Space Monument (Source: Tallahassee Democrat)
The Florida Space Exploration Monument, created by HB 1189 and approved by the governor, will be led and funded by the Florida Department of Management Services. The goal is to develop a design plan, location within the Capitol Plaza and cost projections. The next major move will be creating a committee and selecting members to serve for it.

"Just like the legislature and the governor signed it right away, I know there's like a tremendous amount of momentum for them to be able to select the committee," said Eddie Gonzalez Loumiet, CEO of Ruvos in Tallahassee who's spearheading Launch Tally, a local effort to bolster more awareness of the city's technology-based sector. Separate from the bill, residents backing the Launch Tally push were brainstorming ways to bring a space-themed image to Tallahassee when the legislative measure surfaced. (7/1)

Astronaut Jeremy Hansen Sees Great Potential for Canada (Source: CTV News)
Jeremy Hansen, the Ontario-born astronaut, is thinking about the ways Canada could help tackle some of the world's most pressing problems. The 47-year-old colonel and CF-18 pilot is to become the first Canadian to travel to the moon as part of the Artemis II mission, which could launch as early as November next year.

For Hansen, being a part of the mission underscores the value Canada can bring to international partnerships, especially as the planet grapples with the urgent issues of climate change and food insecurity, among others. "If we can send a Canadian to the moon, imagine what we can do next," Hansen said. (6/30)

World View Prioritizing Safety Over Launch Date for Space Tourism Excursions (Source: KOLD)
World View is working towards launching space excursions that are quite literally out-of-this-world. Some would call it a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the price of 50,000 dollars a person. Ryan Hartman, President and CEO of World View, said the company is doing its part now to make sure its space tourism excursions stand out for all the right reasons.

“Our experience is all about viewing the Earth, not leaving the Earth,” said Hartman. “We’ve been working on our space tourism solution for about two years now. One of the things we’re working on is the regulatory environment. We really want to make sure the FAA provides clear direction on what’s going to make this the safest possible way to see space.”

Eight people and two crew members will have a chance to see all seven wonders of the world guided by a large helium-filled balloon and pressurized space capsule. The unique experience takes place at 100,000 feet. “I want the ride itself to be a non-event. What I want for our customers is for them to be able to look out the window and see something that’s life-changing. Not be nervous, not be scared, not have any wonder in their mind about what’s happening around them. I just want them to be focused on the window and viewing our Earth from up high,” said Hartman. (7/1)

Spaceport Nova Scotia First Suborbital Rocket Launch Scheduled for July 5 (Source: SpaceQ)
Maritime Launch Services (MLS) has a present for Canada. Spaceport Nova Scotia will host its first rocket launch attempt on July 5. A NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions) was posted to NAV Canada (NAVCAN) that shows a launch window on July 5, 6 and 7 between 13:00 – 16:00 Atlantic time. MLS had said that a York University small launch vehicle would be the first to launch from a newly constructed launch pad for small rockets. The York University rocket will reach a height of no more than 25km. (6/30)

NASA Chief to Visit Blue Origin for Summit Recognizing Seattle’s Place in Space (Source: GeekWire)
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson will visit Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space venture in Kent, Wash., to get a firsthand look at the Seattle area’s growing space industry. Next Wednesday’s Washington State Space Summit will feature a trade show with nearly 20 regional space companies, plus a panel discussion that will focus on the economic opportunities opening up on the space frontier over the coming decade. The summit will be hosted by Sen. Maria Cantwell, the Washington Democrat who chairs the Senate committee that oversees NASA. (6/30)