June 1, 2024

Scanning the Dark Universe, Euclid Finds Scenes of Cosmic Light (Source: New York Times)
Euclid, a European Space Agency telescope launched into space last summer, finally showed off what it’s capable of with a batch of breathtaking images and early science results released Thursday. The telescope will help astronomers make sense of two of the universe’s greatest mysteries: dark matter, the invisible glue clumping galaxies together, and dark energy, the force pushing them apart.

The mysterious substance makes light bend and distort, an effect known as gravitational lensing. In extreme cases, lensing causes galaxies to appear warped, and can even produce mirror images of a single source. Euclid caught this effect while peering at Abell 2390, a cluster of galaxies located 2.7 billion light-years away. Ninety percent of the mass in this cluster is dark matter. (5/30)

SpaceX Aims to Launch Cellular Starlink Service This Fall (Source: PC Magazine)
SpaceX plans to launch its Starlink system for phones this fall, pending approval from the FCC. The company revealed the target launch date in a filing about the commission's new rules on supplying satellite connectivity to US carriers, also known as "supplemental coverage from space." “SpaceX supports nearly all of the Commission’s recent SCS Order and looks forward to launching commercial direct-to-cellular service in the United States this fall,” the company wrote. (5/31)

Sateliot Picks SpaceX to Launch Four Satellites (Source: Tech.EU)
Barcelona-based spacetech Sateliot has announced that it will partner with SpaceX to launch four Satellites in July to enter commercial phase. The company is deploying the first 5G-IoT satellite constellation and has secured €200 million in contracts. The launch, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, will take place from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. (5/31)

Space Force Eyes Advanced Tech, New Orbits for Narrowband SATCOM (Source: C4ISRnet)
The Space Force offered a glimpse this week of its vision for the future of narrowband satellite communications, a plan that could include a large number of spacecraft in multiple orbits with advanced capabilities. Today’s narrowband communication satellites, part of the Mobile User Objective System constellation, provide cellular voice and data capabilities to military forces around the world. Their location in the narrowband frequency range makes them less susceptible to bad weather or tricky terrain and allows for more secure communications. (5/31)

The Advisers Helping Blue Origin’s CEO Reach New Heights (Source: Wall Street Journal)
Dave Limp spent more than three decades working on consumer electronics, most recently heading up Amazon.com’s devices business where the executive brought blockbusters such as Echo speakers, Fire TV sticks and Fire tablets to market. But in December, the executive made a major departure from his comfort zone, starting as chief executive of space company Blue Origin. Click here. (5/31)

Blue Origin Probing Failure Of New Shepard Parachute (Source: Aviation Week)
An investigation into the failure of one of three main parachutes on Blue Origin’s New Shepard suborbital spaceship is underway, while any potential technical overlap with a similar system aboard Boeing’s upcoming CST-100 Starliner Crew Flight Test (CFT) has been cleared, NASA said on May 31. (5/31)

China's Secret Space Plane Has Released Another Unknown Object Over Earth (Source: Live Science)
At around 3 p.m. ET on May 24, China's mysterious Shenlong space plane released an unidentified flying object 372 miles (600 kilometers) above Earth's surface. Experts outside China don't know exactly what the object is, but they believe it may be a small satellite or a piece of hardware ejected before the craft is scheduled to deorbit. (6/1)

North Coast Resident Blasts Plan to Erect Antenna Park for Sutherland Spaceport (Source: John O'Groat Journal)
A North Coast resident has said the proposed installation of an antenna park for Sutherland Spaceport on the summit of Ben Tongue would be a “blatant abomination”. John Williams, a retired physics teacher who lives in Talmine, is objecting to a renewed application for planning permission for the spaceport along with a separate antenna park. (6/1)

Despite Space Debris Hurtling Earthward, Precautions are Slow to Follow (Source: The Mountaineer)
“So the key thing here is that all of this space law happened back in the ‘60s, when only superpowers were doing space,” McDowell explained. “And so all of space law is about the state, and not about a company. And so, if a company wants to launch something into space, it has to get a license from a country to say, ‘yes, you can do this under our jurisdiction.’ By doing that, the country giving the license is kind of signing up for (the pledge that) any damage that the company does within space objects is the country’s problem.”

However, there are no laws for damage that ‘could’ve happened’, or close calls like the debris that fell smack on Sunset Summit Trail last week. SpaceX did reach out to the farmer in Canada. “I saw the letter that they sent the farmer. They’re gonna come get it from him. And they’re gonna pay him $5,000, which, I don’t know, it doesn’t seem like that’s very much for such an error,” Lawler said. “I’m trying really hard to get other people in the government to care, because this is gonna happen again. In Southern Canada, we are under the highest density band of satellites. We will have American space junk fall on us again. This will happen. There needs to be a plan.” (5/31)

SpaceX Launches Friday Starlink Mission at Florida Spaceport (Source: WFTV)
On Friday night, SpaceX launched another batch of Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. Following the launch, the booster rocket successfully landed aboard A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship in the Atlantic Ocean. (6/1)

Brewing Co. Selling Boeing Starliner-Themed Beer Ahead of Historic Space Launch (Source: Florida Today)
When NASA's Boeing Starliner spacecraft soared into orbit on its May 2022 test flight, the uncrewed capsule contained a test dummy, 800 pounds of cargo ... and five pounds of Heidelberg pilsner malt for Titusville-based Playalinda Brewing Co. After circling Earth 94 times and covering more than 2.4 million miles, Starliner and the out-of-this-world malt grains returned to terra firma via parachutes to the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. (5/31)

China Launches Communication Satellite for Pakistan (Source: Xinhua)
China successfully launched a multi-mission communication satellite for Pakistan using a Long March-3B rocket, with the launch taking place at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan on Thursday. The satellite has entered its planned orbit. The launch was the 524th mission of the Long March rocket series. (5/31)

Harris Calls on Air Force Academy Graduates to Extend U.S. Air, Space Power (Source: DoD)
The United States' air and space supremacy is critical to maintaining global peace and security as the nation faces evolving national security challenges, Vice President Kamala Harris said. A person speaks at a podium with the Air Force Academy logo behind them. In her address to this year's U.S. Air Force Academy graduating class, the vice president called on the cadets to continue the legacy of innovation that has served as the foundation for the nation's dominance in the skies. (5/30)

Sen. Rick Scott: Florida Critical to U.S. Leadership in Modern Space Race (Source: Daytona Beach News-Journal)
Since the birth of our nation’s space program, the eyes of the world have turned to Florida’s Space Coast to watch America’s brightest minds reach for the stars. While today’s space race does not evoke the drama and national attention it did decades ago, American dominance in space, which is critical to U.S. national security, is as important as ever and still firmly rooted in the Sunshine State.

When Congress considers the authorizations of missions and programs within NASA, I am committed to making sure the U.S. prioritizes innovation and excellence in space and ensure Florida is well-positioned to continue to lead. During the Obama administration, NASA was left on the back burner and its funding reached an all-time low as a percentage of the federal budget. (5/30)

Farmer Says He's Not the Only One to Find Space Junk in His Part of Saskatchewan (Source: CBC)
Barry Sawchuk is not alone in the space junk universe. The Saskatchewan farmer who made headlines earlier this month when he reported a giant piece of space debris had slammed into his field now says his neighbours are also reporting close encounters with debris that have fallen from orbit.

"There's other pieces here," said Sawchuk, for farms near Ituna, northeast of Regina. "There are neighbours that have them, too. There's seven pieces that I know of right now, and there could be more any day. (5/30)

Space Exploration: A Thriving Industry With Tangible Earthly Rewards (Source: Forbes)
In an era of rapid technological change, space exploration promises profound scientific insights and groundbreaking opportunities. As I discussed in my talk "What's Space Got To Do With It?", space exploration is deeply interconnected with our everyday lives.

Debates on space exploration's merits span across business, academia and government circles. While some stress the urgency of Earth's conservation, emphasizing it as our primary residence, others advocate for space ventures as a strategic solution to Earth's challenges. This discussion opens broader perspectives on the economic development, scientific progress and educational inspiration that space exploration can foster. Click here. (5/30)

Can Satellites Combat Wildfires? Inside the Booming ‘Space Race’ to Fight the Flames (Source: LA Times)
As the threat of wildfire worsens in California and across the world, a growing number of federal agencies, nonprofit organizations and tech companies are racing to deploy new technology that will help combat flames from a whole new vantage point: outer space. New satellite missions backed by NASA, Google, SpaceX, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and other groups were announced this week and promise to advance early wildfire detection and help reduce fire damage by monitoring Earth from above.

Collectively, the roster of big names, billionaires, government groups and nongovernmental organizations reflects a considerable interest in using new technology to solve some of humanity’s biggest problems. Among them is the Earth Fire Alliance, a global nonprofit coalition that recently unveiled its vision for a constellation of more than 50 satellites that will focus specifically on wildfires and their ecological effects. (5/30)

Will France Opt In or Out of the U.S. Space Command’s Operation Olympic Defender? (Source: Space News)
On April 9, U.S. Space Force Gen. Stephen Whiting announced that the U.S. Space Command has invited France, Germany and New Zealand to join Operation Olympic Defender. On May 14, France’s head of space operations commented that, while the French government has not yet reached a decision, the invitation itself offers a “message of strategic solidarity.”

France has proven to be not only an abiding but an advancing force in the realm of space, especially militarily. When — or if — France decides to give a firm response to this invitation, it will drive the near future of space alliances for both the U.S. and China. The U.S.-led Operation Olympic Defender (OOD), initially formed by the U.S. military in 2013 to protect satellites in space, evolved in 2018 into an international effort between the closest allies of the U.S. “to deter hostile actions in space.”

Currently, the OOD membership roster holds five names: the U.S., the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia — four of the five members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance — with the fifth invited OOD member being New Zealand. The timing of this invitation to France is unsurprising. Beginning March 20, the governments of the U.S. and France held the second meeting of the U.S.-France Comprehensive Dialogue on Space, which was quickly followed by the release of a joint statement listing space security, scientific and lunar exploration, international space law, climate science and private sector involvement. (5/30)

European Defense Fund Invests in ‘Bodyguard’ Satellite Development to ‘Counteract’ Orbital Threats (Source: Breaking Defense)
While Western military leaders for the past decade have been ringing alarm bells at efforts by Russia and China to develop anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons, the European Defense Fund (EDF) is pursuing what it describes as a defensive capability that could nonetheless target adversary satellites.

The EDF’s latest funding round, based on bids gathered in 2023 and announced on May 16, includes nearly €6.5 million ($7 million) to develop an “Autonomous SSA Bodyguard Onboard Satellite,” nicknamed Bodyguard, that can track threatening enemy birds and, the spare announcement suggests, disable and/or destroy them. (5/30)

Are Dusty Quasars Masquerading as Dyson Sphere Candidates? (Source: Physics World)
Seven candidate Dyson spheres found from their excess infrared radiation could be a case of mistaken identity, with evidence for dusty background galaxies spotted close to three of them. The seven candidates were discovered by Project Hephaistos, which is coordinated by astronomers at Uppsala University in Sweden and Penn State University in the US.

A Dyson sphere is a hypothetical construct: a swarm of energy collectors capturing all of a star’s radiant energy to provide huge amounts of power for its builders. As these energy collectors – basically huge arrays of solar panels – absorb sunlight, they must emit waste heat as infrared radiation to avoid overheating. While a complete Dyson swarm would hide a star from view, this waste heat would still be detectable. (5/30)

NASA's X-59 'Quiet' Supersonic Jet Passes Key Safety Review Ahead of 1st Test Flight (Source: Space.com)
NASA's new X-59 supersonic jet has successfully completed its Flight Readiness Review, marking a pivotal step towards its first flight. The review, conducted by independent experts from across NASA, evaluated the project team's approach to safety for the public and staff during ground and flight testing, as well as the team's analysis of hazards that may arise. In turn, the review provides valuable insights and recommendations to the X-59 team as they prepare for further analysis ahead of the jet's maiden flight. (5/31)

Study Suggests Dark Matter May Have Collisional Properties After All (Source: Phys.org)
Contrary to what is established by the standard model, dark matter may indeed be self-interacting. This was the conclusion of a piece of research published in Astronomy & Astrophysics and conducted by Riccardo Valdarnini of SISSA's Astrophysics and Cosmology group. Using numerical simulations, the study analyzed what happens inside "El Gordo" (literally "The Fat One" in Spanish), a giant cluster merger seven billion light years away from us. (5/31)

All Points Picks Haskell to Build Payload Processing Complex at Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: All Points Logistics)
All Points Logistics and its Space Prep division have engaged Haskell as the architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) contractor to lead a collaborative effort to design and build the Space Prep payload processing complex at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. The complex will be located near NASA’s iconic Vehicle Assembly Building on a 170-acre site with 60 acres of site improvements.

The Space Prep complex will comprise a 276,000-square-foot, 200-foot-tall payload processing facility for spacecraft processing, fueling, and encapsulation in fairings up to 10 meters in diameter and a 266,000-square-foot logistics building, offering extensive storage space, clean processing areas for small spacecraft, control rooms, and customized customer areas. (5/29)

Port Canaveral Plans for New Cruise Terminal to Displace Space Industry Users (Source: SPACErePORT)
Port Canaveral's cruise ship business is going gangbusters and the port authority has announced plans to develop a new cruise terminal in an area currently used by SpaceX. The port authority supports plans advocated by the spaceport authority (Space Florida) to cut a new basin that would be dedicated to space industry fleets, but those plans are currently unfunded. (5/31)

An Outlandish Molecule May Be Lurking Inside Uranus and Neptune, Affecting Their Magnetic Fields (Source: Phys.org)
Researchers have determined the conditions that enable the existence of a very peculiar ion. Dubbed aquodiium, it can be conceptualized as an ordinary neutral molecule of water with two additional protons stuck to it, resulting in a net double positive charge. The team suggests that the ion could be stable in the interior of the ice giants Uranus and Neptune, and if so, it must play a part in the mechanism that gives rise to these planets' unusual magnetic fields. (5/31)

Powerful New NOAA Weather Satellite Set for June Launch Atop SpaceX Falcon Heavy (Source: Space.com)
The countdown clock now reads less than a month until NOAA's GOES-U satellite is slated to soar into space on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket. At the beginning of the year, the fourth satellite in NOAA's GOES-R series made the journey from its home in Colorado at Lockheed Martin to Florida to undergo processing ahead of the launch at the end of June. The mission's two-hour launch window opens on Tuesday, June 25. (5/31)