June 13, 2024

Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast Welcomes Impulso.Space USA Corp. to Brevard County (Source: Space Coast Daily)
The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast (EDC) welcomes Impulso.Space USA Corp., an Italian corporation leading integrated end-to-end launch services, to its new facility in Melbourne, Florida. This strategic location near Cape Canaveral is part of Impulso.Space’s continued expansion and commitment to advancing its support of the global aerospace sector.

This new facility is poised to play a pivotal role in the ongoing development of the New Space Sector. With its state-of-the-art services and equipment, Impulso.Space stands ready to offer the most comprehensive end-to-end solution on the market. This facility provides dedicated storage spaces for clients and cleanrooms to conduct pre-launch operations, as well as area to provide services such as payload integration, launch vehicle processing, and mission management. (5/14)

Blue Origin Joins SpaceX, ULA in Winning Bids for $5.6 Billion Pentagon Rocket Program (Source: CNBC)
The Pentagon announced the first winning bidders in its rocket launch contract sweepstakes on Thursday, with Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin grabbing a spot for the first time.NBlue Origin’s winning bid came as part of contracts awarded under the Pentagon’s $5.6 billion National Security Space Launch program. SpaceX and ULA -- the joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing -- were also awarded contracts as part of the multi-year third phase of the NSSL program.

Under the program, known as NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1, the trio of companies will be eligible to compete for contracts through mid-2029. ULA and SpaceX have already been competing for contracts under the previous Phase 2 edition of NSSL: In total, over five years of Phase 2 launch orders, the military assigned ULA with 26 missions worth $3.1 billion, while SpaceX got 22 missions worth $2.5 billion. Blue Origin, as well as Northrop Grumman, missed out on Phase 2. (6/13)

Space Robotics Poised to See Explosive Growth (Source: GlobalData)
Five years ago, NASA launched a mission straight out of a sci-fi blockbuster by deploying its robotic system, Astrobees, on the International Space Station (ISS) to assist astronauts with repair and maintenance. Fast forward to today, and space robotics has taken a giant leap forward, becoming a hotbed of innovation and investment. This burgeoning field is now at a pivotal moment, poised for explosive growth. The past three years have seen over 40 pioneering companies enter the space robotics arena, attracting more than $200 million in venture capital, according to Technology Foresights, an innovation intelligence platform by GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Space robotics focuses on designing and manufacturing robots that operate in the challenging environment of outer space, playing essential roles in a wide range of space exploration missions. According to insights from Technology Foresights, companies in this rapidly advancing sector are developing a multitude of groundbreaking applications. These innovations include detailed spacecraft inspection, efficient servicing of satellites, precise component assembly, reliable refueling of spacecraft, and the critical task of collecting space debris. Each of these applications represents a significant step forward in ensuring the sustainability and advancement of space missions. (6/12)

Starliner Stuck at ISS as More Links Discovered (Source: Futurism)
When exactly Starliner will be able to undock and deliver its crew of two back to the surface remains to be seen. Teams have discovered an astonishing five different helium leaks so far, each representing yet another thorn in the spacecraft's already cursed development. The gas is "used in spacecraft thruster systems to allow the thrusters to fire" while navigating through space, according to Boeing. NASA is giving Boeing another four days, extending Wilmore and Williams' mission onboard the ISS from June 14 to no earlier than June 18, though it's unclear whether the leaks are to blame for the delay. (6/12)

Astronaut Kidneys Might Not Survive a Mission to Mars (Source: ZME Science)
As humanity prepares for manned missions to Mars, a new study led by University College London (UCL) reveals a new potential health risk for astronauts. Published in Nature Communications, the study highlights the damaging effects of space travel on kidney health, with implications that could jeopardize the success of long-duration space missions.

Scientists from over 40 institutions across five continents conducted the most extensive analysis of kidney health during space flight to date. The study included data and samples from over 40 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) space missions with humans and mice and 11 space simulations using rodents. The simulations exposed subjects to Galactic Cosmic Radiation (GCR) doses equivalent to 1.5-year and 2.5-year Mars missions, replicating conditions outside Earth’s magnetic field. (6/12)

Ed Stone, Who Led NASA's Iconic Voyager Project for 50 Years, Dies at 88 (Source: Space.com)
Ed Stone, who served as the project scientist for NASA's groundbreaking Voyager mission from 1972 to 2022, died on Sunday (June 9) at the age of 88. "Ed Stone was a trailblazer who dared mighty things in space. He was a dear friend to all who knew him, and a cherished mentor to me personally," said Nicola Fox, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters. (6/12)

NASA Cancels Spacewalk for Suit Issue (Source: Space.com)
NASA called off a spacewalk outside the International Space Station early this morning. NASA astronauts Tracy C. Dyson and Matt Dominick were scheduled to begin the spacewalk at about 8 a.m. Eastern this morning, but NASA announced about half an hour before the scheduled start that the spacewalk was called off. Commentary on NASA TV stated that a "suit discomfort issue" caused the postponement, but provide no other details.

Dyson and Dominick were to remove an electronics box so it could be returned to Earth for refurbishment and also swab parts of the station's exterior to see any microorganisms are living there. The postponed spacewalk is not related to an incident yesterday where audio from a simulation was accidentally piped in the ISS live feed, making it appear for a time there was a medical emergency on the station. (6/13)

Spire Partners with Thales and ESSP on Air Traffic Satellite Constellation (Source: Space News)
Spire Global is partnering with Thales and European Satellite Services Provider (ESSP) for a satellite constellation that would provide air traffic surveillance services. The constellation of more than 100 satellites will collect aircraft Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) messages and quickly relay them to ground stations. The goal of the system is to provide updates on aircraft positions every eight seconds with a latency of 1.5 seconds.

The partners aim to begin providing commercial services from the new constellation in 2027. Spire will develop the space segment and Thales will deliver the air traffic management system. ESSP, formed by regional air navigation service providers, will manage the certification and delivery of air traffic surveillance services and perform round-the-clock operations. (6/13)

AI Not a 'Magic' Solution for Imaging (Source: Space News)
Artificial intelligence is a powerful tool for satellite imaging but it is not "magic," one company says. At an event Wednesday, executives with Planet said they are aggressively exploiting AI to turn its trove of pictures into actionable intelligence. However, there are limits to AI's ability to analyze imagery, with the need for more expertise and knowledge to turn imagery into insights desired by customers. Planet's next phase of AI in Earth observation will be on-orbit computing, with an upcoming Planet satellite outfitted with Nvidia's Jetson edge AI platform. (6/13)

Albedo Plans to Launch Very-High-Resolution Imaging Satellites in 2025 (Source: Space News)
Albedo plans to launch the first of its very-high-resolution imaging satellites next year. The company announced Wednesday its Clarity satellite is scheduled to launch on SpaceX's Transporter-13 rideshare mission in early 2025. Clarity will operate in a low orbit enabling it to take images with resolutions as sharp as 10 centimeters in optical wavelengths and 2 meters in thermal infrared. Customers have reserved much of Clarity's capacity for its first two years of operation. Albedo plans to operate a constellation of up to 24 satellites, based on customer demand. (6/13)

Effort Afoot to Restore Chandra Funding (Source: Space News)
Nine members of Congress have asked NASA to reconsider proposed cuts in the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. In the letter to administrator Bill Nelson, the members said the proposed 40% cut in Chandra's budget for 2025 could lead to a "premature termination" of the 25-year-old space telescope, echoing concerns raised by astronomers. They asked NASA to maintain Chandra operations at current levels while the appropriations process plays out. NASA is wrapping up a review of operations of Chandra and Hubble seeking ways to reduce their operating costs, with an announcement on any changes planned for later this summer. (6/13)

ESA Says No Plans for China Lunar Cooperation (Source: Space News)
European cooperation on China's lunar exploration program may be coming to an end. ESA provided a payload for China's Chang'e-6 complex lunar far side sample return mission, an instrument developed by the Swedish Institute of Space Physics. While that instrument worked well, ESA says there are no plans now to cooperation on future Chinese lunar missions. ESA also does not plan to participate in the China-led International Lunar Research Station. (6/13)

Armenia Signs Artemis Accords (Source: Space News)
Armenia is the latest country to sign the Artemis Accords. The country's minister of high-tech industry signed the Accords Wednesday in a ceremony at NASA Headquarters. Armenia is the 43rd country overall to sign the document, which outlines best practices for responsible space exploration, and the 10th so far this year. (6/13)

Raytheon to Build Landsat Instruments (Source: NASA)
Raytheon won a contract to build instruments for the Landsat Next series of Earth science spacecraft. NASA announced Wednesday it awarded Raytheon a $506.7 million contract to build three instruments, with an option for a fourth, for Landsat Next. That program will feature three spacecraft to provide improved temporal resolution in observations of the Earth, using a camera with 26 spectral bands. (6/13)

SpaceX and Musk Sued for Wrongful Terminations (Source: New York Times)
Former employees have sued SpaceX and CEO Elon Musk for wrongful termination. The eight employees were fired two years ago after circulating an open letter criticizing Musk's comments on social media. The former employees claim that there was an "Animal House" atmosphere within the company, with crude and sexually suggestive language and behavior. The employees had previously filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB); SpaceX has countered that the NLRB itself is unconstitutional. (6/13)

Next-Gen Galileo Satellites Pass Critical Design Reviews (Source: ESA)
The next generation of Galileo navigation satellites have passed key reviews. ESA said this week that separate designs for the Galileo Second Generation satellites by Airbus Defence and Space and by Thales Alenia Space has passed their critical design reviews. The reviews allow the companies to move into full production of the satellites, with the first launches planned before the end of the decade. (6/13)

Space Force Turning to Commercial Sats to Enhance In-Space Monitoring (Source: Breaking Defense)
Following its success at tapping hundreds of ground-based commercial sensors to keep eyes on the heavens, the Space Force now wants to replicate that model for space-to-space imagery, according to the service’s head of intelligence. For example, the service has been working with the Pentagon’s far-future research unit, DARPA, on its Space-domain Wide Area Tracking and Characterization, or Space-WATCH, effort designed to incentivize commercial operators of large constellations for other missions to also equip their satellites for neighborhood watch duties. (6/12)