May 3, 2024

NASA Awards Studies for Commercial Mars Missions (Source: Space News)
NASA has selected nine companies to perform feasibility studies of commercial approaches to deliver spacecraft to Mars and provide services there. The agency announced May 1 the selection of the companies for its “Exploring Mars Together: Commercial Services Studies” program. The nine companies received 12 awards; three of the companies received two each while the other six received a single award.

The contracts, valued at between $200,000 and $300,000 per company, are for 12-week studies to explore four topic areas where commercial services could augment NASA’s broader Mars exploration program: delivery of small spacecraft or hosted payloads to Mars orbit, delivery of large spacecraft or hosted payloads to Mars orbit, Mars imaging services and Mars communication relay services. Click here. (5/3)

NASA Doubles Down, Advances 6 Innovative Tech Concepts to New Phase (Source: Space Daily)
One of the 'science fiction-like' concepts - for a lunar railway system to provide payload transport on the Moon - is being developed at NASA JPL. NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts program (NIAC) has selected six visionary concept studies for additional funding and development. Each study has already completed the initial NIAC phase, showing their futuristic ideas - like a lunar railway system and fluid-based telescopes - may provide fresh perspectives and approaches as NASA explores the unknown in space.

The NIAC Phase II conceptual studies will receive up to $600,000 to continue working over the next two years to address key remaining technical and budget hurdles and pave their development path forward. When Phase II is complete, these studies could advance to the final NIAC phase, earning additional funding and development consideration toward becoming a future aerospace mission. Click here. (5/3)

Vega-C Slated to Launch ESA's Solar Wind Explorer Mission (Source: Space Daily)
ESA has secured a Vega-C rocket for the launch of its Smile mission, a collaborative venture with the Chinese Academy of Sciences aimed at exploring solar wind dynamics. The SMILE mission, standing for 'Solar wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer', is designed to enhance our understanding of solar and terrestrial interactions, representing a significant European contribution to this scientific endeavor. A formal agreement ensures SMILE's launch via Vega-C from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana, anticipated for late 2025. (5/1)

China Launches Mission to Lunar Farside (Source: Space News)
China launched a mission Friday to return samples from the far side of the moon. A Long March 5 rocket lifted off from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center at 5:30 a.m. Eastern, carrying the Chang'e-6 spacecraft. Chang'e-6 will land on the lunar farside and collect up to two kilograms of samples to return to Earth nearly two months later. If successful, it will be the first mission to return samples from the moon's far side, and only the second spacecraft to land there after Chang'e-4. (5/3)

Virgin Galactic Plans June Suborbital Flight at Spaceport America (Source: Virgin Galactic)
The next Virgin Galactic suborbital flight is scheduled for next month. The company announced this week that the Galactic 07 mission will launch no earlier than June 8 from Spaceport America in New Mexico. The flight of the VSS Unity suborbital spaceplane will carry three private astronauts, two from the U.S. and one from Italy, and a researcher affiliated with Axiom Space. The flight will be the last for Unity, which Virgin Galactic is retiring to focus on developing its new Delta class of vehicles. (5/3)

SpaceX on Thursday Launches WorldView from California, Starlink From Florida (Sources: Space News, Space.com)
One Falcon 9 launched the first WorldView Legion satellites for Maxar Intelligence Thursday. The rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 2:36 p.m. Eastern and placed the two satellites into orbit. The spacecraft are the first in a six-satellite constellation that will provide images at a resolution of 30 centimeters and triple Maxar's imagery capacity. Supply chain problems and other pandemic-related delays have extensively delayed the development of the WorldView Legion satellites.

Another Falcon 9 launched a set of Starlink satellites Thursday evening. The Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral at 10:37 p.m. Eastern and placed 23 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. The launch was the 19th for this Falcon 9 booster, while the launch earlier in the day from California features a booster making its 20th flight. (5/3)

Pulsed Plasma Rocket Development Accelerates Human Missions to Mars (Source: Space Daily)
Advancements in space technology may soon allow humans and cargo to travel to Mars efficiently and quickly. Existing spacecraft require significant velocities due to the vast distances in space, necessitating propulsion systems with both high thrust and high specific impulse. Current technologies fall short of these requirements. Howe Industries is developing a propulsion system capable of achieving up to 100,000 N of thrust and a specific impulse of 5,000 seconds. The Pulsed Plasma Rocket (PPR), an evolution of the Pulsed Fission Fusion concept, offers simplicity, affordability, and exceptional performance. (5/2)

Lockheed Martin Withdraws Terran Orbital Acquisition Bid (Source: Space News)
Lockheed Martin has withdrawn its bid to acquire smallsat manufacturer Terran Orbital. In an SEC filing late Thursday, Lockheed said it was withdrawing an offer made two months earlier to purchase the two-thirds of Terran Orbital it did not already own for $1 a share. The total value of the deal, including assuming or repaying Terran Orbital debt, was more than $500 million. Lockheed did not give a reason for withdrawing the deal but said it would continue to work with Terran, a supplier of smallsat buses for several Lockheed programs. Terran Orbital said it was continuing a strategic review started late last year to explore all options for the company. Shares in Terran Orbital fell 17% in after-hours trading. (5/3)

AST Networks Acquires Reygar to Enhance Maritime IoT Capabilities (Source: Space Daily)
AST Networks has expanded its technology portfolio with the acquisition of Reygar Ltd., integrating advanced performance monitoring systems for both crewed and un-crewed maritime vessels. This move strengthens AST Networks' position in the global maritime communication and connectivity sphere. The acquisition aims to harness Reygar's expertise, particularly its leading platform, BareFLEET, and integrate it into AST Networks' operations, promising enhanced efficiency and customer value. Reygar's addition will allow AST Networks to offer a broader range of tailored solutions to meet the diverse needs of modern maritime fleets. (4/26)

Hughes Launches New Manufacturing Hub and Private 5G Center in Maryland (Source: Space Daily)
Hughes Network Systems, an EchoStar company, has opened a new manufacturing facility and private 5G incubation center in Germantown, Maryland, emphasizing the company's commitment to innovation and local development. The facility, named the Hughes Manufacturing Facility (EXM), is responsible for producing U.S.-made hardware essential for various networks, including the Hughes HT3000W JUPITER System satellite modem and the Hughes HL1120W Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite terminal. The EXM, staffed by approximately 400 engineers, technicians, and manufacturing personnel, employs advanced robotics to produce satellite modems and terminals. (4/26)

Space Force Continues to Grow Orbital Monitoring Program (Source: Breaking Defense)
The US Space Force is currently monitoring approximately 1,000 priority satellite targets, including both adversary-owned and US satellites at risk, according to Maj. Gen. Gregory Gagnon, deputy chief of space operations for intelligence. Since its inception in December 2019, the US Space Command's space domain awareness capabilities have expanded from a few dozen sensors to a sophisticated setup of hundreds of apertures worldwide. (5/2)

Space a Critical Enabler for DoD (Source: Space News)
Space capabilities are becoming a critical enabler for the Pentagon. Brig. Gen. Robert Hutt, director of plans and programs for the U.S. Space Force, said Thursday that it was clear that space has become the central nervous system of joint operations and a "critical part of the kill chains" for the Defense Department. "Kill chain" is a military term that describes the sequential steps involved in successfully targeting and eliminating an enemy threat. Hutt noted that the Space Force's budget has nearly doubled since the service's inception in late 2019. (5/3)

Dragon Relocated on ISS (Source: NASA)
A Crew Dragon spacecraft switched docking ports at the International Space Station Thursday. The Dragon, launched earlier this year on the Crew-8 mission, undocked from the forward docking port of the Harmony module at 8:57 a.m. Eastern and redocked to the module's zenith port nearly 50 minutes later. The maneuver frees up the forward port for Boeing's CST-100 Starliner, currently approved to use only the forward docking port. Starliner is scheduled to launch Monday night on its first crewed test flight. (5/3)

Building a Rocket Engine from Scratch (Source: ABL)
The E2 Engine is a simple, robust, resilient machine. It starts up. It burns smooth. It shuts down. It’s tolerant to a variety of startup sequences and inlet conditions. Recently, a qualification E2 engine achieved a 4x life on total duration and starts. After 28 starts and 1300 seconds of run time, this fleet leader shows no signs of performance degradation. E2 wants to run, and it wants to run for a long time. 

It wasn’t always like this though; engine development is unforgiving. Thousands of decisions go into designing an engine, into architecting its sequences, and into building its test stands. When you go to start it up, they all need to be right. Otherwise, you’re likely to be exercising the test stand’s fire suppression system. Click here. (5/2)

All-Girls Team Headed to Rocketry Challenge Finals (Source: KTTV)
An all-girls team from Notre Dame Academy in Los Angeles has qualified for the national finals of the American Rocketry Challenge this month. (5/1)

State and Federal Space Stakeholders Release Florida Spaceport System Maritime Intermodal Transportation Report (Source: Space Florida)
Space Florida announces the completion of the feasibility phase of the Florida Spaceport System Maritime Intermodal Transportation Study. This study marks preliminary steps in enhancing maritime support for the rapidly growing commercial space transportation sector with the overall objective to assess options to enhance and optimize maritime transportation and infrastructure to support Florida’s spaceport system’s growing needs.

This first-in-the-nation study included extensive engineering and stakeholder analyses. The study was initiated in response to requests from federal stakeholders to assess the feasibility of various maritime support options for spaceport operations in Florida. Among the key findings: Current facilities at Port Canaveral and surrounding areas are insufficient to meet the projected demand for maritime operations related to space launches, necessitating over 9,000 linear feet of dedicated wharf space.

Also, the study recommends short- and mid-term expansions in Port Canaveral's West and Middle Turning Basins, with a long-term expansion northward to support the industry’s growth trajectory. The financial analysis presented in the study outlines a viable business case for the recommended expansions, suggesting a blend of federal grants and revised usage fees to fund the development without imposing undue financial burdens on launch service providers. (5/2)

L3Harris Scores Payload Contract for Millennium’s Foo Fighter Missile Tracking Satellites (Source: Space News)
L3Harris secured a contract to supply critical sensor technology to Millennium Space Systems for a constellation of eight satellites to be produced for the Space Force’s Space Development Agency. SDA announced April 30 it awarded Boeing’s subsidiary Millennium Space a $414 million contract  to build eight satellites equipped with advanced infrared and optical sensors. The satellites are for a program called Fire-control On Orbit-support-to-the-war Fighter (Foo Fighter), which seeks to demonstrate technologies in support of a network of low-orbit satellites being developed by SDA known as the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture. (5/2)

Australian Government Backs Space Machines Company in Joint India Mission to Combat Space Debris (Source: Space Daily)
Space Machines Company announced Space MAITRI, a joint industry-led Australian-Indian mission to demonstrate progress towards space debris management and a sustainable space future. The Space MAITRI project, funded by an $8.5 million grant from the Australian Government through the Australian Space Agency, is part of the International Space Investment India Projects (ISI India Projects) program. This program, delivered by the ASA and Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) Grants Delivery and Business Services, builds upon the concept of a broader 2018 ISI initiative. (4/30)

NASA Uses Small Engine to Enhance Sustainable Jet Research (Source: Space Daily)
Located inside a high-tech NASA laboratory in Cleveland is something you could almost miss at first glance: a small-scale, fully operational jet engine to test new technology that could make aviation more sustainable. The engine's smaller size and modestly equipped test stand means researchers and engineers can try out newly designed engine components less expensively compared to using a more costly full-scale jet engine test rig. (4/29)

Spire Global to Supply AI-Enhanced Weather Predictions to Financial Sector (Source: Space Daily)
Spire Global has finalized a significant agreement with a financial firm to deliver advanced weather forecasting solutions. The deal involves supplying a high-resolution weather forecast model with a six-day outlook, enhanced by unique data sourced from space, and the development of an AI-driven model for extended-range forecasts.

The collaboration will extend Spire's recent partnership with NVIDIA, utilizing the Earth-2 platform designed for weather and climate change modeling. This initiative will enable the training and operation of AI-driven weather models, expected to significantly enhance forecast accuracy and speed, and provide long-range probabilistic forecasts. (4/30)

Intelsat and CNH to Enhance Brazilian Agriculture with Satellite Connectivity (Source: Space Daily)
Intelsat, a major provider in integrated satellite and terrestrial networks, alongside CNH, have committed to implementing advanced satellite terminals on CNH farm equipment across Brazil's remote farmlands using Intelsat's extensive global network. "As the first satellite communications company to provide multi-orbit connectivity to farmers around the world, Intelsat's collaboration with CNH will unlock new capabilities in the most remote locations through our global communications platform." (4/29)

NASA Study Reveals Comprehensive Global River Water Accounting (Source: Space Daily)
NASA has spearheaded a significant study that recalibrates our understanding of global river water volumes, offering new estimates on river flow and storage vital for managing the Earth's freshwater resources. The research, detailed in Nature Geoscience, employs an innovative methodology merging traditional stream-gauge readings with advanced computer simulations across approximately 3 million river segments worldwide.

Researchers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California have determined that the average global river water volume from 1980 to 2009 was about 539 cubic miles. This volume is roughly equivalent to half of Lake Michigan's water capacity and represents a mere 0.006% of all freshwater, which totals 2.5% of the Earth's water volume. Despite their small percentage, rivers are critical to human civilization from the earliest times. (4/26)

Major Advancements in US Space Domain Awareness Through Space Systems Command (Source: Space Daily)
Space Systems Command (SSC) has made significant strides in space domain awareness (SDA) with its Tools Applications and Processing (TAP) Lab, recently achieving mission success in collaboration with both commercial and academic partners for the Apollo Accelerator Cohort 2 on March 4, 2024. The SDA TAP Lab orchestrates structured programs like the Apollo Accelerator, which foster collaboration and innovation among U.S. entities including companies, academia, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), industry experts, and Guardians to address key challenges. (4/26)

Finnair Suspends Flights to Estonian City Over Russian GPS Interference (Source: Space Daily)
Finnair said Monday it was suspending flights to the Estonian city of Tartu for one month due to GPS interference that the Estonian foreign minister labelled a Russian "hybrid attack". All flights to Tartu were suspended between April 29 and May 31 while "an alternative approach solution that doesn't require a GPS signal can be put in place at Tartu Airport," the Finnish carrier said in a statement. (4/29)