April 3, 2024

DoD Publishes Commercial Space Tech Integration Strategy (Source: Space News)
The Defense Department published its strategy Tuesday on how to integrate commercial space technologies into its national security architecture. The strategy, developed and written by the office of John Plumb, the outgoing assistant secretary of defense for space policy, signals the Pentagon's intent to take advantage of private space sector investments rather than rely solely on custom-built government systems. The report outlines four key principles for using commercial space systems and 13 mission areas where commercial capabilities can be used to varying degrees. The Pentagon report, focused on policy issues, is separate from a Space Force report expected soon that will describe its own strategy for the use of commercial technologies and services. (4/3)

AST SpaceMobile Shares Tumble (Source: Space News)
AST SpaceMobile shares tumbled Tuesday after the company disclosed another delay in the launch of its first operational satellites. AST SpaceMobile said after the markets closed Monday that its five Block 1 BlueBird satellites will now be ready for launch no earlier than July, blaming the delay on issues with suppliers. The satellites were originally projected to launch last year but have suffered a series of delays that the company said were linked to supply chain problems. Shares in AST SpaceMobile fell more than 23% in trading Tuesday. (4/3)

Russia and China Catching Up to US in Key Space Capabilities (Source: Space News)
Russia and China are catching up to the United States in a number of key counterspace capabilities. A report released Tuesday by the Secure World Foundation found that Russia and China have made significant strides in developing space-based electronic warfare tools that can disrupt or disable enemy satellites. They have also caught up in the space domain awareness arena with advanced inspector satellites capable of maneuvering alongside orbiting spacecraft for up-close monitoring or attacks. The report noted that Russia in particular is spending heavily on counterspace systems to regain capabilities lost after the collapse of the Soviet Union. (4/3)

Lockheed Martin Invests in Space Fusion Startup (Source: Space News)
Lockheed Martin is investing in Helicity Space, a startup developing space fusion propulsion technologies. Lockheed Martin Ventures made an investment of undisclosed size in Helicity, the companies announced Tuesday. Helicity is developing technology to propel spacecraft with short bursts of fusion. The funding will allow the startup to continue tests of the technology to see if it is a viable approach for in-space propulsion. Lockheed Martin Ventures usually invests between $1 million and $5 million in early-stage companies developing "disruptive, cutting edge" technologies in the defense giant's current markets or new areas of interest. (4/3)

China Launches Military Reconnaissance Satellite (Source: Space News)
China launched a military reconnaissance satellite Tuesday. A Long March 2D rocket lifted off at 6:56 p.m. Eastern from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center and placed the Yaogan-42 01 satellite into orbit. Official Chinese news reports described the satellite as only a remote sensing spacecraft, but the Yaogan series of satellites often have military applications. (4/3)

ULA Picks Tuesday to Launch Last Delta Heavy (Source: Florida Today)
United Launch Alliance has rescheduled the final Delta 4 Heavy launch for next week. ULA said the launch of the NROL-70 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office is now set for Tuesday at 12:53 p.m. Eastern, pending range approval. The launch was scrubbed last week because of problems with a nitrogen gas line used in ground systems. (4/3)

Crewed Starliner Mission Set for May 6 (Source: NASA)
The crewed Starliner test flight has slipped a few days. NASA said Tuesday it is now targeting no earlier than May 6 for the Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission, five days later than previously planned. The delay, NASA said, is intended to accommodate activities at the International Space Station later this month, including a Dragon cargo spacecraft undocking and relocation of a Crew Dragon spacecraft from one docking port to another. Two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, will fly to the ISS on the CFT mission and spend about a week there, testing the Boeing-built Starliner before NASA certifies it for regular crew rotation missions to the station. (4/3)

Mega Constellations Create Long-Term Launch Demand (Source: Payload)
Mike French, vice president for space systems at the Aerospace Industries Association, says mega constellations will drive demand for the launch industry going forward, citing the "symbiotic relationship between the success of mega constellations and the overall launch market because the replenishment of constellations drives so much launch demand. Rocket Lab and Blue Origin are among major space sector companies developing launch and spacecraft capabilities as United Launch Alliance and Relativity Space focus on rockets and launch capabilities. (4/2)

Exploding Space Junk Puzzles California Sky Watchers (Source; BBC)
Mysterious, golden streaks lit up the sky across southern California early on Tuesday morning, leaving at least one viewer asking: "Dude, what was that?" Many thought it was a meteor shower or a comet or a SpaceX launch misfire, but analysts say it was a Chinese rocket re-entering Earth's atmosphere. Such space junk showers have become more common in recent years. (4/2)

Satellite Connectivity in Google Messaging Service May Work for More Than Just Emergencies (Source: Android Police)
Google is developing satellite connectivity for its Messages app, and new evidence suggests that the functionality could be used in non-emergency situations, allowing you to text normally via satellite, with some restrictions. Users will need clear skies to use the satellite signal, and can only send text messages at a slower rate, not photos or videos. Satellite connectivity could be coming with Android 15, with Google possibly working with T-Mobile or Starlink for implementation. (4/2)

Astrobotic and AFRL Collaborate on Rocket R&D (Source: Astrobotic)
Astrobotic and the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Rocket Propulsion Division at Edwards Air Force Base have entered into a Cooperative Research & Development Agreement (CRADA) to enhance both organizations’ capabilities and collaborate in the development of advanced liquid rocket engine, rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE) technologies, and on-base rocket flight testing capabilities using Astrobotic reusable rockets.  (4/3)

China Plans to Catch its Reusable Rockets with Constricting Wires (Source: Space.com)
China wants to start reusing its rockets for space missions and aims to catch them using wires. A video released by state media China Central Television (CCTV) shows a human-rated rocket, the Long March 10, with the tell-tale, cross-shaped crew escape system on top, lifting off. Its core stage then demonstrates a reentry burn and guidance using grid fins. Finally, the rocket stage guides itself, using retropropulsion, to a sea landing stage, where it is caught by the tightening wires as it descends. Click here. (4/3)

Direct-to-Device Startup AST SpaceMobile Delays Next Launch (Source: Space Intel Report)
Startup satellite broadband direct-to-device service provider AST SpaceMobile has delayed the launch of its first five commercial satellites by at least six months following component delays by outside suppliers and hurdles in AST’s development of the satellites’ core antenna element. The five satellites are scheduled for launch together on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, previously scheduled to occur by the end of March. (4/2)

Terran Orbital Grows Revenue 44%, Considers Buyout Options (Source: Via Satellite)
Terran Orbital grew revenue in 2023 by 44% compared to 2022, but the company posted a net loss larger than its revenue. Terran Orbital issued its full year results on Monday as it is going through a “strategic review” after receiving a takeover offer from Lockheed Martin. Separately, the company regained compliance with the minimum stock price for the New York Stock Exchange. Terran Orbital reported $135.9 million in revenue in 2023, compared to $94 million in 2022. Net loss was $151.8 million.

Terran Orbital previously slashed its 2023 outlook, revising the amount it expected from customer Rivada Space Networks. A substantial portion of Terran Orbital’s backlog is due to the Rivada contract — $2.4 billion of the $2.7 billion backlog. The company ended 2023 with $71.7 million in cash on hand. In the fourth quarter of 2023, Terran Orbital brought in $31.6 million in revenue and reported a net loss of $42.8 million. The company ended the year with approximately $313.8 million in debt obligations.

Lockheed Martin submitted a proposal on March 1 to acquire Terran Orbital for $1 in cash for each share of outstanding common stock, more than $70 million in cash for outstanding warrants, and to assume or repay the company’s debt. Terran Orbital responded by adopting a limited duration stockholder rights plan, which is also known as a “poison pill.” The company said the rights plan is “intended to encourage anyone seeking to acquire the company, including Lockheed Martin, to negotiate with the board prior to attempting to impose a transaction. (4/2)

Liability for Space Debris Damage to Florida Home (Source: Ars Technica)
"If the object is owned by NASA, Otero or his insurance company could make a claim against the federal government under the Federal Tort Claims Act, according to Michelle Hanlon, executive director of the Center for Air and Space Law at the University of Mississippi.

"It gets more interesting if this material is discovered to be not originally from the United States," she told Ars. "If it is a human-made space object which was launched into space by another country, which caused damage on Earth, that country would be absolutely liable to the homeowner for the damage caused." (4/2)

What Time is it on the Moon? OSTP Wants to Know (Source: Space Policy Online)
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy wants to establish standards for determining what time it is elsewhere in the solar system. A White House policy issued today starts with the Moon, directing NASA and other government agencies to develop a lunar timing standard it calls Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC) by the end of 2026 to support operations on and around the Moon. They also are to work with the international community to make it the international cislunar standard.

The time standard on Earth is Universal Coordinated Time (UTC), also called Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or Zulu. LTC will be tied to UTC as will time standards for other celestial bodies in the future. OSTP Deputy Director for National Security Steve Welby explained the need for time standards as routine space operations move into the area between the Earth and the Moon — cislunar space — and beyond. (4/2)