April 5, 2024

James Webb Space Telescope Has Solved a Lot of Puzzles, and Created a Few More (Source: Space.com)
In science, it’s often said that the data doesn’t care what you think. That is especially true when it comes to sophisticated new tools like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). So it hasn’t been a shock that some of the data from the JWST isn't quite what scientists expected. Click here. (4/4)

Opening the Moon for All with NASA's Lunar Terrain Vehicle (Source: Lockheed Martin)
NASA has selected the Lunar Dawn team to develop a next-generation lunar terrain vehicle under its LTV contract as part of the Artemis program. Led by Lunar Outpost, the Lunar Dawn team includes us, GM, Goodyear and MDA Space. The lunar terrain vehicle enables unprecedented exploration of the Moon with autonomous, telerobotic and manual operation, providing unmatched capabilities through the application of aerospace and automotive innovations in power systems, reliability and mission operations. Click here. (4/3)

How Satellites Help Put Breakfast on the Table (Source: TEDx)
As a commercial space industry expert, Caryn has found her passion in investigating the ways space can help us understand our own planet. Not many would immediately associate distant satellites with imminent problems, but Caryn knows that space-based Earth observation holds the key to answering many of humanity’s most complex questions, from food insecurity to ecosystem conservation. If to understand our planet is to observe it, then the sky is no longer the limit – it’s the start. Click here. (4/4)

Kratos Demos Satellite Broadband with Virtual Ground System (Source: Space News)
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has completed a demonstration of satellite-based broadband for the U.S. Army using a virtual ground system. The demonstration was performed as part of a contract awarded in 2022 by the Army as it seeks to modernize voice and data communications for its tactical units. Kratos showed how it could use a software-defined alternative to traditional hardware-based ground stations for controlling satellite constellations, linking an antenna to Telesat’s LEO 3 broadband demonstration satellite. (4/5)

Virgin Galactic Countersues Boeing (Source: Space News)
Virgin Galactic is countersuing Boeing over a project to develop a new mothership aircraft for its suborbital spaceplanes. Boeing filed suit against Virgin last month, claiming that Virgin refused to pay more than $25 million in invoices for the project and has misappropriated Boeing trade secrets. Virgin, in a suit filed Thursday, alleges that Boeing performed "shoddy and incomplete" work on initial phases of the project and that the trade secrets in question are intellectual property that either belongs to Virgin or which Virgin has a license to use under a master agreement between the companies. (4/5)

SpaceX Launches Pre-Dawn Starlink Mission From Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: Florida Today)
SpaceX launched a set of Starlink satellites early this morning. A Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral at 5:12 a.m. Eastern and placed 23 Starlink satellites into orbit. SpaceX is also preparing for another Falcon 9 launch of Starlink satellites Friday night from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and a rideshare mission, Bandwagon-1, Sunday from the Kennedy Space Center. (4/5)

Hydrosat Wins NOAA SBIR Contract (Source: Space News)
Geospatial analytics company Hydrosat has won its first NOAA contract. The company said it received a $175,000 Small Business Innovation Research contract to provide high-resolution measurements of Earth-surface temperatures and geotechnical analysis using thermal infrared imagery. The data is intended to offer insights for wildfire, drought, urban heat, agriculture and aquaculture monitoring. (4/5)

Astroscale Could Go Public (Source: Reuters)
Satellite servicing company Astroscale is considering going public. The Tokyo-based company has lined up financial managers for a public offering that could take place as soon as June on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Astroscale is developing technologies to refuel and service satellites and to remove orbital debris. If it does go public, it would follow ispace, a lunar lander company, and iQPS, a radar imaging company, that went public in Japan last year. (4/5)

Corrupted Memory Unit Blamed for Voyager 1 Glitches (Source: NASA)
NASA says it has identified the cause of a computer problem on the Voyager 1 spacecraft. NASA said Thursday that engineers believe a memory unit on the spacecraft, accounting for 3% of its overall memory, has been corrupted. That corruption could have been caused by a cosmic ray strike or simply because the unit has worn out on the spacecraft, launched in 1977. Engineers are working to rewrite flight software to avoid using the corrupted memory, a process that could take weeks or months. (4/5)

D-Orbit and Plan-S Forge Strategic Partnership for Satellite Deployment (Source: Space Daily)
D-Orbit has sealed a launch agreement with Turkish New Space pioneer, Plan-S. The partnership entails the deployment of eight 6U satellites across two missions scheduled between late 2024 and early 2025, utilizing D-Orbit's ION Satellite Carrier for effective constellation placement. (4/5)

DESI Achieves Unprecedented Measurement of Universe's Expansion (Source: Space Daily)
With 5,000 tiny robots in a mountaintop telescope, researchers can look 11 billion years into the past. The light from far-flung objects in space is just now reaching the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), enabling us to map our cosmos as it was in its youth and trace its growth to what we see today. Understanding how our universe has evolved is tied to how it ends, and to one of the biggest mysteries in physics: dark energy, the unknown ingredient causing our universe to expand faster and faster.

To study dark energy's effects over the past 11 billion years, DESI has created the largest 3D map of our cosmos ever constructed, with the most precise measurements to date. This is the first time scientists have measured the expansion history of the young universe with a precision better than 1%, giving us our best view yet of how the universe evolved. (4/5)

Muon Space Launches Muon Halo, Securing Over $60M for LEO Satellite Missions (Source: Space Daily)
Muon Space, a leader in space systems, unveiled Muon Halo, a solution to enhance the deployment and performance of low Earth orbit (LEO) small satellite constellations. This integrated hardware and software suite aims to streamline mission processes, from design to operation, ensuring quicker launches and improved functionality in space. The company also disclosed securing contracts worth over $60 million to develop, manufacture, and manage a fleet of 10 satellites slated for launch in 2025 and 2026. (4/5)

Tyvak International Wins EDA Contract to Develop VLEO Satellite Technology (Source: Space Daily)
Tyvak International, a subsidiary of Terran Orbital located in Torino, Italy, announced its role in a major European Defense Agency (EDA) initiative. As a leading European nano and microsatellite provider, Tyvak International has been awarded a service subcontract for the EDA's Hub for EU Defense Innovation (HEDI) proof-of-concept prototype for 2023. This project focuses on exploring the capabilities of Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) satellites, representing a major advancement in military space technology. (4/5)

China Putting Finishing Touches on Seaside Spaceport for Commercial Launches (Source: Space.com)
China is making progress on two new pads for commercial space launches from the island of Hainan. Launch Pad Number 1 at Hainan International Commercial Space Launch Center was completed late last year, while progress on a second pad has entered the equipment-installation phase and will be completed by the end of May. The first pad will support high-frequency launches of the Long March 8 rocket. The second is designed to facilitate the launches of 19 different rockets operated by nine companies. At least 9 companies plan to use the two new coastal launch pads. (4/4)

SpaceX’s Historic Polaris Dawn Mission This Summer First-Ever Commercial Extravehicular Activity (Source: Satnews)
No earlier than summer 2024, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Polaris Dawn mission from historic Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Dragon and the Polaris Dawn crew will spend up to five days in orbit. This Dragon mission will take advantage of Falcon 9 and Dragon’s maximum performance, flying higher than any Dragon mission to date and endeavoring to reach the highest Earth orbit ever flown.

Orbiting through portions of the Van Allen radiation belt, Polaris Dawn will conduct research with the aim of better understanding the effects of spaceflight and space radiation on human health. Research partners include the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH), BioServe Space Technologies at the University of Colorado Boulder, Space Technologies Lab at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Weill Cornell Medicine, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

At approximately 700 kilometers above the Earth, the crew will attempt the first-ever commercial extravehicular activity (EVA) with SpaceX-designed extravehicular activity (EVA) spacesuits, upgraded from the current intravehicular (IVA) suit. The Polaris Dawn crew will be the first crew to test Starlink laser-based communications in space. (4/4)

One Win Changes Everything: Sidus Space on their 3D Printed Satellite’s Successful Launch (Source: 3Dprint.com)
Sidus recently saw its first satellite, LizzieSat-1, reach orbit, after launching aboard the SpaceX Transporter-10. A few weeks after that, Sidus announced it had established two-way communications with LizzieSat-1 — a satellite largely produced via the Markforged additive manufacturing (AM) ecosystem — fully validating the launch as a success.

“Something like 80 percent of the satellite is printed,” Tony Boschi noted. “So making it without [additive manufacturing] just wouldn’t have been an option. One of the biggest benefits that everyone sees most immediately is the rail design. The shape of the vertical rail on our satellite is almost impossible to machine." (4/1)

Why the Moon Needs its Own Time (Source: The Economist)
At 17 minutes and 40 seconds past eight in the evening, Greenwich Mean Time, on July 20 it will be exactly 55 years since Neil Armstrong landed on the Moon. Those 55 years add up to 20,089 days. Of those, 20,062 were 86,400 seconds long and 27 one second longer thanks to the addition of leap seconds, a practice begun in 1972. So those 55 years will add up to 1,735,689,627 seconds. Unless, that is, the clock by which you do the measuring is on the Moon. For a Moon clock those 55 years will have lasted 1,735,689,628 seconds: one second more. This offset is significant enough to justify a look at the options for a global agreement defining Co-ordinated Lunar Time (LTC).

Blame Einstein. The curvature of spacetime caused by the mass of the Earth makes time pass more slowly close to the planet than farther away. Earth time is defined by UTC, or coordinated universal time (much the same as Greenwich Mean Time). The ultimate guarantor of UTC is a weighted average of readings of hundreds of earthbound atomic clocks, a data product known as International Atomic Time (TAI). To keep UTC coordinated with more parochial Earth-specific measures of time, the International Telecommunication Union adds occasional leap seconds to TAI to make up for variations in the Earth’s rotation and orbit.

Keeping satellites used for navigating the Earth in step with UTC makes sense. If there is going to be a lot of travel to the Moon, though, a system of mission-specific hacks which allow positions and timings to be measured with respect to Earth will be cumbersome. Precision for spacecraft docking or landing will require greater accuracy. Also some science needs highly accurate timing. Hence the attraction of a system which reflects the fact that lunar time really does pass slightly quicker. In the long run this may require a network of atomic clocks on the Moon. (4/3)

Video Flyover Shows Progress Among Launchers at Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: NSF)
Here's an aerial tour capturing the dramatic transformations and feverish activities at the world’s premier spaceport during March 2024. Dive deep into SpaceX’s unexpected maneuvers at LC-39A's Starship launch facility, witness the relentless launch cadence of Falcon 9, get a sneak peek into Blue Origin's New Glenn preparations, and marvel at Relativity's ambitious expansion for Terran R at LC-16. Click here. (4/4)

NOAA Seeks Comments on Orbital Debris and Satellite Disposal (Source: NOAA)
To avoid duplicative regulation for remote sensing systems, NOAA defers to FCC rules on orbital debris & satellite disposal. Given the evolving regulatory and international business environment, should NOAA instead develop its own rules? Click here. (4/4)

Unlocking the Secrets of Lunar Soil for Future Moon Construction (Source: Space Daily)
Artemis necessitates a deep dive into the composition of lunar soil, a task undertaken by Northwestern University's mineralogist Steven Jacobsen with funding from NASA. The collaboration between NASA and ICON Technology seeks to pioneer construction methods on the moon using indigenous resources. This initiative marks a shift toward sustainability in space exploration, as the prohibitive cost of transporting materials from Earth demands innovative solutions. Understanding the moon's soil is the first step in this process, with Jacobsen and his team embarking on a mission to analyze its variability and composition.

The study delves into the hazardous nature of lunar dust, which poses significant risks to both equipment and human habitats due to its abrasive qualities. NASA's strategy includes developing a reliable landing pad to mitigate these dangers, with ICON's advanced 3D-printing technology playing a major role. The project, supported by a $57.2 million grant from NASA, builds upon ICON's expertise in terrestrial construction to adapt these techniques for lunar environments. (4/4)

Kayhan Space Welcomes Mark Mueller to Spearhead Government Growth in Space Traffic Management (Source: Space Daily)
Kayhan Space, a frontrunner in space automation and flight safety software, has appointed Mark Mueller as Vice President of Government Growth. Mueller, a distinguished veteran with over 35 years of experience in the U.S. Intelligence Community, Air Force, and Space Force, will lead Kayhan Space's efforts in delivering comprehensive Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and space control solutions tailored for both classified and unclassified government operations. (4/4)

Lack of Funding Pushes Back Space Force Satellite Plan (Source: Defense News)
The US Space Force has postponed the Mobile User Objective System satellite program due to a reallocation of funds to higher priority programs and contract delays. Edgar Nava, a spokesman for the Space Systems Command, explained that the delay is a "fact of life change." (4/3)

The Future of Space and Tech Exploration in Colorado Springs (Source: CPR)
Colorado Springs is set to become the hub of the international space community on April 8 when 12,000 people from more than 40 countries arrive to hear the latest about what’s ahead for the industry. They’ll be talking about what is, by the latest count, a $546 billion global economy that is set to grow to $1 trillion over the next several years, according to Heather Pringle, who heads the Colorado Springs-based non-profit Space Foundation, which sponsors the annual Space Symposium. “It is the only event that brings together the diversity of space leadership around the globe,” including the military, scientists, major corporate players, and small start-ups, she said. (4/3)

Mitsubishi Corporation Joins Starlab Space as Strategic Partner, Equity Owner in Joint Venture (Source; Starlab)
Starlab Space, the joint venture between Voyager Space and Airbus, today welcomed Mitsubishi Corporation as a strategic partner and equity owner in Starlab Space. This partnership expands Starlab Space's reach beyond a transatlantic partnership and transforms the joint venture into a global organization. Mitsubishi is expected to leverage its capabilities to significantly increase the value of Starlab, using space research to enhance and accelerate terrestrial product development in multiple industries and expand access to space-based technologies globally. (4/4)

Texas Beach Closed Due to Anticipated Testing Activity at SpaceX (Source: My San Antonio)
Launch after launch, SpaceX's productivity has increased over the past year. Its test site is once again closing a South Texas beach for anticipated activity ahead of a May launch. Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr. issued a temporary closure to Boca Chica Beach and State Highway 4 from Oklahoma Avenue to the beach entrance on Tuesday, April 2. (4/3)

‘Military Force’ Could Be Directed to Protect Private Sector Orbital Assets, DOD Strategy Says (Source: NextGov)
The Department of Defense released a new strategy on Tuesday outlining its intent to tie critical private sector space technologies with national security interests, including using military force when necessary to protect satellites and other orbital capabilities.

DOD’s commercial space integration strategy — the first such document released by the department — emphasized the growing importance of commercial space solutions to the U.S. government and military, as well as the need to better safeguard these capabilities from adversaries who could target them to disrupt key services. (4/3)

Russia Lauds India's Space Sector (Source: NDTV)
Russian Deputy Chief of Mission Roman Babushkin hailed India's remarkable achievements in space exploration and underscored Russia's unwavering support for its space endeavors. On the 40th Anniversary of the spaceflight of the first Indian cosmonaut, Rakesh Sharma, aboard the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz T-11 in 1984, Babushkin emphasized the enduring partnership between Russia and India in the space sector. Babushkin's remarks also highlight the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission and the collaborative efforts in the Gaganyan project. (4/4)

Thailand Joins China's Lunar Effort (Source: The Nation)
Thailand's foray into space research will reach a new level after the Cabinet approved cooperation with China, aimed at extending Thai capabilities to go beyond the Earth's atmosphere by jointly developing a moon research station and astronauts. Deputy government spokeswoman Rudklao Inthawong Suwankiri revealed that the recent Cabinet meeting had approved two agreements to promote Thai exploration beyond the Earth's atmosphere. (4/4)

Michelin Tires to Support Next Lunar Rovers (Source: Michelin)
Michelin is humbled and excited to share that Michelin tires will be outfitting the NASA lunar terrain vehicle! Michelin is part of a global team of partners including, Intuitive Machines’ Moon Reusable Autonomous Crewed Exploration Rover (RACER), AVL, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman Corporation. Collaboratively, this group will provide the architecture, power management, autonomous driving, communications and navigation systems for lunar exploration. (4/4)

Rocket at the Ready as Gilmour Space Launches Bowen Spaceport (Source: The National Tribune)
The site of Australia’s first orbital rocket launch has officially opened in another significant milestone for Queensland’s burgeoning space industry. Located within the Abbot Point State Development Area in North Queensland, the Bowen Orbital Spaceport is operated by Gold Coast based Gilmour Space Technologies. Gilmour’s 23-meter, 35-tonne Eris rocket is capable of launching small satellites into low earth orbits and is now assembled on site in anticipation of its maiden launch in the coming weeks. (4/4)

Australia's Koonibba Test Range Spaceport Prepares for HyImpulse Launch (Source; PS News)
A project to build a rocket launch facility in remote outback South Australia is nearing completion and is preparing for its first launch. The Koonibba Test Range (KTR) spaceport facility northwest of Ceduna has been built as a partnership between Southern Launch and the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation, and will be the largest commercial testing range in the Southern Hemisphere when complete.

Subject to regulatory approval by the Australian Space Agency (ASA), the first launch from KTR is scheduled for the end of April or early May, and will also be the first launch of a German-made HyImpulse’s SR75 rocket. (4/4)

Lakshmi Machine Works Hands Over Major Component of Launch Vehicle to ISRO (Source: The Economic Times)
The Advanced Technology Centre of Lakshmi Machine Works (LMW) has delivered an indigenously developed component, the ogive payload fairing, to ISRO. This fairing, the uppermost structure of a launch vehicle, carries satellites into orbit. LMW, a leading manufacturer headquartered in Coimbatore, established the LMW Advanced Technology Center in 2010 to produce composite structural products for the space and aviation sectors. (4/3)

NASA Astronaut Turned Quilt Artist Opens New Exhibit in Paducah KY (Source: WKMS)
A former NASA astronaut is sharing her work at the National Quilt Museum in Paducah inspired by her time in outer space, including some works she stitched while floating miles above the earth’s surface. In the exhibit “The Stars are Aligned,” which opened last week, former NASA astronaut and engineer Karen Nyberg is sharing some quilts she’s made over the years depicting both terrestrial and extra-terrestrial subject matter. (4/3)

New Names for the Gateway (Source: ESA)
The Gateway will support the most distant human space missions ever attempted. Whereas the International Space Station orbits Earth, the Gateway will orbit the Moon, acting as a base for scientific research of the deep space environment, a host for technology development and demonstration experiments, as well as a staging post supporting exploration missions to the lunar surface and beyond. ESA is contributing three key elements to the Gateway; these were previously known as I-Hab, ESPRIT Refuelling Module (ERM) and ESPRIT HALO-Lunar Communication System (HLCS). Now they have been renamed: Lunar I-Hab, Lunar View and Lunar Link. (4/3)