May 18, 2024

SpaceX Booster Flies for 21st Time in Cape Canaveral Launch (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
SpaceX lined up and knocked out another Starlink launch from the Space Coast on Friday night using a first-stage booster for a fleet-leading 21st time. A Falcon 9 rocket on the Starlink 6-59 mission carrying 23 Starlink satellites launched from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. The first stage was recovered downrange. (5/17)

Aerospacelab Breaks Ground on Satellite Megafactory in Belgium (Source: European Spaceflight)
Belgian-based Aerospacelab has broken ground on a satellite manufacturing megafactory that, once operational, will be capable of producing up to 500 satellites a year. The new facility is being built in Charleroi, 70 kilometers south of Brussels and 40 kilometers from the company’s existing factory in Ottignies-Louvain-La-Neuve. It will feature 7,000 square meters of office space, 7,000 square meters of production area, and 4,000 square meters of clean room. The factory will also offset its energy consumption with renewable energy through 700 solar panels. (5/17)

Blue Origin is About to Fly People to Space for the First Time in 2 Years. Here's Why it Took So Long (Source: Business Insider)
Blue Origin was on a roll in 2021 and the first half of 2022, completing about one New Shepard launch every two months — the most in the company's history. But then one of its uncrewed rockets failed on September 12, 2022. About one minute into the flight, Blue Origin lost the first-stage booster due to a faulty nozzle in the booster's engine. The first-stage fell from the skies and crash-landed in a Texas desert.

No people, buildings, or other properties were harmed. What was damaged, however, was the space company's momentum. Afterward, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded New Shepard until Blue Origin addressed 21 corrective actions, including redesigning some engine and nozzle components to prevent a similar mishap. (5/16)

China’s CAS Space Aims For 2028 Space Tourism Launch (Sources: Aviation Week, Reuters)
Chinese commercial space company CAS Space plans to introduce suborbital space tourism by 2028, unveiling a "space traveler" capsule that will seat seven passengers. If it comes to fruition, this would be China's first commercial space tourism venture. Tickets will cost 2 million to 3 million yuan ($415,127) per person per trip, state media said. The company plans to arrange a launch every 100 hours from a newly-built aerospace theme park, with ten vehicles available to take tourists to the edge of space in shifts. (5/17)

SpaceX’s Court Challenge to Labor Board Sent Again to California (Sources: Bloomberg, Quartz)
SpaceX’s lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the National Labor Relations Board is headed back to California after a federal judge in Texas refused to reconsider his earlier ruling that the case belongs there. Judge Rolando Olvera, an Obama appointee to the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas, stood by his original February order that the case be transferred to the Central District of California.

SpaceX in January sued the board in Texas, just a day after the NLRB general counsel issued a complaint — which is pending before an administrative judge in Los Angeles — alleging that eight engineers had been illegally fired for distributing a letter that criticized Musk. SpaceX last month filed a second lawsuit — this time in federal court in Waco, Texas — after a separate NLRB complaint accused it of forcing workers to sign illegal severance agreements. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has temporarily blocked that case. (5/17)

China Launches New Mystery Shiyan Satellitek (Source: Space.com)
China launched the latest in its secretive Shiyan satellite series over the weekend. A Long March 4C rocket lifted off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center to launch Shiyan-23. The launch was declared to be successful. Chinese authorities provided no images of the satellite. The only description of the spacecraft states that Shiyan-23 will be used for space environment monitoring. (5/17)

India's Ambitious 2nd Mars Mission to Include a Rover, Helicopter, Sky Crane and a Supersonic Parachute (Source: Space.com)
India is preparing to launch a family of seemingly sci-fi robots to Mars, perhaps as soon as late 2024. The Mars Orbiter Mission-2 (MOM-2), or Mangalyaan-2 (Hindi for "Mars Craft"), is set to include a rover and a helicopter, like a robotic NASA duo already on Mars — the Perseverance rover and now-grounded Ingenuity. A supersonic parachute and a sky crane that will lower the rover onto the Martian surface will also be part of Mangalyaan-2, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) officials said.

NASA pioneered the use of a Mars sky crane in 2012 with its Curiosity rover and employed it again in 2021 to get Perseverance down. The Ingenuity helicopter was attached to Perseverance's underbelly during the journey to Mars and later deployed onto the surface for its history-making mission.

India aims to accomplish similar milestones, and if successful, would become the third country to land a spacecraft on Mars, after the United States and China. Media reports from late last year suggest that Mangalyaan-2 will have at least four science instruments designed to study the early history of Mars, analyze its leaking atmosphere, and look for a hypothesized dust ring around the planet generated by its two moons, Phobos and Deimos. (5/17)

India Enters Troubled Space Insurance Market (Source: Space News)
Indian insurance specialist Tata AIG is expanding into space as the global market reels from a string of heavy losses. Tata AIG said May 13 it has started providing satellite in-orbit third-party liability insurance covering bodily injury and property damage, building on the 22-year-old company’s expertise in the aviation market. (5/17)

Artemis 2 Astronauts Unfazed by Moon Mission Delays (Source: Space.com)
When you're developing a new type of space mission, expect to wait. That was the message from three Artemis 2 astronauts who are now expected to fly to the moon no earlier than September 2025, about a year later than initial expectations. A previous uncrewed mission, Artemis 1, encountered unexpected eroding of the Orion spacecraft's heat shield during re-entry in Earth's atmosphere. That was one of the key reasons behind an Artemis 2 schedule change in January, although the problem has been worked on since Orion's splashdown in December 2022. (5/17)

It’s Time to Figure Out Global Space Traffic Management (Source: Space News)
The recent acquisition of geospatial intelligence firm Orbital Insight, which has a satellite imagery search engine platform, by Privateer, the Steve Wozniak startup that came out of stealth to raise $56 million in Series A funding, may have important consequences for how we manage space traffic.. It stresses end-to-end vertical integration, cross-functionality, and newfound alignment between the Earth observation segment thanks to the two companies’ focus on imagery and analytics aggregation, space traffic management and situational awareness. Click here. (5/17)

Kill the Zombie Space National Guard Idea (Source: Government Executive)
Zombies may be fiction in movies and books, but in politics they are real. Bad ideas in Washington don’t always stay dead—you often have to keep killing them. The latest zombie to roam the halls of Congress is a proposal to create a Space National Guard. The idea was considered last year and ultimately killed in the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA. But apparently, this zombie idea wasn’t dead enough because the National Guard Bureau, governors, and a collection of special-interest groups brought the issue back to the forefront in this year’s NDAA. (5/17)

How Will EU Space Law Impact US National, Strategic, and Commercial Interests (Source: Modern Diplomacy)
The framework aims to systematize existing guidelines and avoid possible legal fragmentation stemming from EU member states’ discrete domestic laws regarding space. At present, there are eleven EU countries with national space laws, which cover a broad spectrum of activities ranging from satellite launches and operations to space debris management and international cooperation agreements.

A more unified EU approach may prospectively limit market access and investment opportunities for US commercial space actors on the continent and pose significant threats to US economic and strategic interests. The establishment of new regulatory frameworks by the EU could create excessively bureaucratic barriers to entry for US firms, leading to a competitive disadvantage and erosion of US leadership in technological innovation. (5/18)

Canadian Space Agency to Host Second Artemis Accords Workshop (Source: SpaceQ)
It was a little less than a year and half ago that the first Artemis Accords signatories meeting was held in Paris. Next week, the Canadian Space Agency will host the second workshop at its headquarters between May 21-23. While 40 countries have signed the Artemis Accords, with Lithuania having just signed this week, 25 signatories will be represented next week.

The hosts of this workshop are Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities Sameer Zuberi, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) President Lisa Campbell and NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. (5/17)

On Atlas’ Shoulders: Remembering the Monkeys, Men and Malfunctions of Project Mercury’s Orbital Booster (Source: America Space)
Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will become the fifth and sixth humans in history to ride a “Mighty Atlas” and the first to do so in more than six decades. And as outlined in AmericaSpace’s stories on Thursday and yesterday, their achievement will stand upon the shoulders of “Original Seven” Project Mercury astronauts John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, Wally Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Click here. (5/18)

How Far Has the Project to Launch Satellites From Uruguay Progressed? (Source: Ambito)
Uruguay continues to advance in the space race, with the project of a space port to launch rockets and satellites in Rocha as the most promising private initiative in this regard. Ámbito consulted with Tlon Space SA , the Argentine company in charge of the project, to know the status of its progress.

“This is our first project in Uruguay and the objective is to build a set of facilities prepared for the launch, arrival or technical assistance of our launch vehicles or space rockets,” Luis Monsegur, director of operations (COO) , had explained in this regard. of Tlon and the person in charge of the company's development in Uruguay, to Ámbito, in December of last year.

Currently, the immediate objective is the final presentation before the National Directorate of Quality and Environmental Evaluation (Dinacea) to obtain the authorization of the space port on the assigned property, which belongs to the Ministry of Defense . “Our intention is to deliver the document in the coming weeks,” Monsegur confirmed. The company's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) consultants are working on the document. (5/14)

How Intuitive Machines 'Totally Disrupted' the Economics of Flying to the Moon (Source: Yahoo! Finance)
Intuitive Machines CEO and co-founder Steve Altemus said the company’s cost structure and ability to streamline lunar missions ultimately place it in the driver’s seat in a global race to develop the moon. “We designed and developed a mission to the moon at a price point that was roughly $118 million and did it in about four years,” Altemus said. “We have totally disrupted the industry in terms of the economics of flying to the moon.”

Intuitive Machines is among a handful of private startups developing a low-cost transportation system to the moon with funding from NASA. The agency’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program set aside $2.6 billion for more than a dozen companies to carry NASA’s research to the lunar surface along with payloads for commercial customers. (5/13)

How Starship Boosts the Space Economy (Source: Greater Zurich Area)
The Starship represents a monumental leap in space technology, not only because of its sheer size and capabilities but also due to its potential to dramatically lower the cost of accessing space. Its ability to carry up to 150 tons of cargo to orbit and its full reusability can open the doors to the space economy for smaller companies and countries by reducing costs by an estimated twentyfold. With the starship, transportation to low Earth orbit could cost hardly more than an overseas express shipment one day.

SpaceX’s approach, which can be summarized as 'fly, fail, fix, and fly again', diverges significantly from the linear phase models traditionally used by agencies like NASA and ESA. This iterative integrative prototyping, coupled with extensive data analysis from each launch, has allowed SpaceX to rapidly improve and evolve its designs. This has proven effective, as evidenced by the steep learning curve and the decreasing number of corrective measures needed after each test flight. Click here. (5/13)

Canso Spaceport Getting Government Money, Planning Smaller Facility (Source: Saltwire)
The Nova Scotia and federal governments are offering to cover about half the cost of building a proposed spaceport for Canso. Maritime Launch Services has been approved for $12.9 million from the feds through their Strategic Innovation Fund. Last September, the provincial government approved the spaceport under the Nova Scotia Tax Credit Program, which would be worth about $13.2 million.

The government financial support comes following public statements by both Premier Tim Houston and a bevy of federal ministers and Canadian space industry leaders championing what would be, if built, Canada’s only operating rocket launch facility. It all comes as the company has scaled back the size of its proposed project. Stephen Matier, president of Maritime Launch, said Tuesday that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has made it less feasible to access larger rockets manufactured in that country.

Anticipated construction costs for the facility have been scaled back to a bit north of $50 million and it would now be built to accommodate rockets capable of carrying payloads of up to 1,250 kilograms into orbit (about a quarter the capacity of the originally proposed Ukrainian Cyclone rockets). (5/16)

Portugal In Talks to Join Artemis Accords (Source: US Dept. of State)
The delegations took note that the Portuguese Space Agency, along with the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs, are hosting the Management and Sustainability of Outer Space Activities Conference in Lisbon May 14-15. The U.S. and Portuguese governments intend to begin discussions for Portugal to sign the Artemis Accords. (5/15)

Kenya Space Agency Strategic Plan Launch 2023 - 2027 (Source: Kenya Space Agency)
The Kenya Space Agency has released its 2023-2027 Strategic Plan. Click here. (5/13) 

Space Force Gets Vote on IC Commercial Space Council (Source: Breaking Defense)
As of this year, the Space Force can vote on issues brought before the Intelligence Community’s Commercial Space Council, according to a top IC official — a status change that should give the service a bit more clout in the ongoing debate about acquisition of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) data from commercial satellite operators. (5/6)

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Creating Space Intel Hub (Source: C4ISRnet)
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is creating a hub for space intelligence collection and decision-making that its director hopes will improve collaboration among government agencies. NGA Director Vice Adm. Frank Whitworth said May 6 the Joint Mission Management Center will integrate data collected from the Defense Department, various intelligence agencies and international partners. While the center, dubbed JMMC, is still in the concept phase, he said the agency is working quickly to get it up and running. (5/6)

SpaceX, Blue Origin Vie To Expand Mars-Earth Interplanetary Internet (Source: Forbes)
Elon Musk’s SpaceX and its nemesis Blue Origin - already poised to compete over rocketing astronauts to the Moon - are now extending their face-off to another celestial sphere: Mars. SpaceX, which has skyrocketed to become the globe’s superpower in terms of rocket launches and satellites lofted into orbit, and its would-be challenger are set to contend to build out the Interplanetary Internet linking Mars and Earth.

After winning NASA contracts to fly Artemis spacefarers to the South Pole of the Moon in the late 2020s, the rival space outfits could also joust in the heavens above Mars, tens of millions of kilometers from their terrestrial rocket bases. Their twin-planet matchup was set in motion when NASA issued simultaneous awards, to Blue Origin and to SpaceX, to sketch out prototype designs for spacecraft to orbit Mars as part of its burgeoning Mars Exploration Program. (5/14)

UCF Lab Hosts NASA Challenge, but ‘Lunar Knights’ Robotics Club has Rough Go (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
UCF’s robot looked the part but couldn’t do the job in the end. The Lunar Knights robotics club was one of 43 university teams taking part in NASA’s 2024 Lunabotics Challenge on Tuesday on the final day of the first round of competition at the UCF’s Exolith Lab near the Orlando campus.

The goal for each team was to have its robotic rover navigate the obstacles of simulated moon terrain cooked up by the lab and create a berm of lunar regolith. In other words, dig up moon dirt and build a pile. Its rover, about the size of push lawn mower and equipped with bulldozer plow up front, wasn’t budging once placed in the test chamber. It’s the first time the school has competed in the national challenge in years and the first experience for each of the club’s teammates. (5/14)

FAA Reauthorization Receives Biden's Signature (Source: CNN)
On Thursday, President Joe Biden signed a $105 billion, five-year bill reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration that intensifies scrutiny of aircraft production while adding consumer protections for air travelers. A provision in the legislation will enable continued domestic production of the Boeing 767 freighter through 2033. (5/16)