June 29, 2024

ISRO to Launch Inaugural Satellite Aboard SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket in August (Source: Business Today)
ISRO Chairman S Somanath announced at the India Space Congress-2024 in New Delhi that the GSAT 20 satellite has been cleared. It will be shipped to the US and launched using the Falcon 9 rocket in the middle of August, he said. It will be a dedicated Falcon 9 launch. (6/27)

Missing Milky Way Black Holes are Bad News for This Dark Matter Theory (Source: Space.com)
Scientists have found that unusually massive black holes seem to be absent from the diffuse outer halo of the Milky Way. The discovery could spell bad news for theories that suggest the universe's most mysterious form of "stuff," dark matter, is composed of primordial black holes that formed in the first moments after the Big Bang. For every 1 gram of "everyday matter" that composes stars, planets, moons and humans, there are over 6 grams of dark matter. (6/27)

Did I Mention an Asteroid May Kill You? (Source: New Republic)
On Thursday afternoon a “planet-killer” asteroid roughly the size of Mount Everest passed within five million miles of Planet Earth. In cosmic terms, that’s really close—about 17 times the distance to the moon. Two days later, on June 29, a “city-killer” asteroid roughly the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza will pass within 180,000 miles of our planet. That’s actually closer than the moon. (6/28)

Prize Winner Wants to Detect Asteroids Coming From Sun's Direction (Source: Space News)
The inaugural Schweickart Prize was awarded June 28 to an astronomer proposing an international campaign to detect objects approaching Earth from the direction of the sun. Joseph DeMartini, a University of Maryland astronomy Ph.D. student, won a $10,000 grant from B612 Foundation’s prize named for Apollo astronaut Rusty Schweickart. The prize, to be awarded annually, recognizes graduate students with innovative ideas for planetary defense. (6/28)

NASA Awards Contract for Infrared Telescope Facility Operations (Source: NASA)
NASA has selected the University of Hawaii in Honolulu to maintain and operate the agency’s Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) on Mauna Kea in Hilo, Hawaii. The Management and Operations of NASA’s IRTF is a hybrid firm-fixed-price contract with an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity provision. The contract has a maximum potential value of approximately $85.5 million, with a base period of performance from Monday, July 1 to June 30, 2025. Nine optional periods, if exercised, would extend the contract through Dec. 31, 2033. (6/28)

Yes, That's a Lego Brick Made Out of Meteorite Dust (Source: Gizmodo)
In the 5th Avenue Lego store in Manhattan, in the back toward the stairs going to the second level, there’s a small gray brick spinning lethargically on a thin pedestal. According to the Danish brickmaker and European Space Agency, that Lego piece was crafted from meteorite dust. The agency claims it’s a small test to see how well Moondust might work for building mankind’s first real lunar structures. (6/28)

Space Force Working with SpaceX to Closely Watch Falling Starlinks (Source: Breaking Defense)
The Space Force now is collaborating directly with SpaceX to closely monitor the company’s thousands of Starlink satellites as they lower their orbits and subsequently reenter the Earth’s atmosphere at the end of their lives — hopefully burning up, rather than raining bits and pieces down into the ocean or the ground or somebody’s house. This is a “proactive” and “collaborative” effort to keep tabs on Starlink reentries as SpaceX begins to de-orbit some 100 early variants. (6/28)

Revolution at Mach 10: NASA-Backed Hypersonic Jets Poised to Transform Space Travel (Source: SciTech Daily)
What if the future of space travel were to look less like Space-X’s rocket-based Starship and more like NASA’s “Hyper-X,” the hypersonic jet plane that, 20 years ago this year, flew faster than any other aircraft before or since? In 2004, NASA’s final X-43A unmanned prototype tests were a milestone in the latest era of jet development — the leap from ramjets to faster, more efficient scramjets. The last test, in November of that year, clocked a world-record speed only a rocket could have achieved previously: Mach 10. The speed equates to 10 times the speed of sound.

As part of a new NASA-funded study, University of Virginia researchers published data in the June issue of the journal Aerospace Science and Technology that showed for the first time that airflow in supersonic combusting jet engines can be controlled by an optical sensor. The finding could lead to more efficient stabilization of hypersonic jet aircraft. In addition, the researchers achieved adaptive control of a scramjet engine, representing another first for hypersonic propulsion. (6/28)

DOD Completes Flight Test of Hypersonic Missile (Source: DoD)
The U.S. Navy and U.S. Army recently completed an end-to-end flight test of a hypersonic missile from the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, HI. The test provided data on the end-to-end performance of the Conventional Prompt Strike and Long Range Hypersonic Weapon All Up Round. (6/28)

Starlink is a Game Changer for Cruise Line (Source: Cruise Industry News)
Carnival Corporation is now using SpaceX’s Starlink high-speed internet on its entire fleet after completing the roll out across all ships in May. According to the company’s president and CEO, Josh Weinstein, the service is a game-changer for the company’s onboard connectivity. (6/27)

NASA Shares Two New Moon to Mars Architecture White Papers (Source: NASA)
NASA has released two white papers associated with the agency’s Moon to Mars architecture efforts. The papers, one on lunar mobility drivers and needs, and one on lunar surface cargo, detail NASA’s latest thinking on specific areas of its lunar exploration strategy. While NASA has established a yearly cadence of releasing new documents associated with its Moon to Mars architecture, the agency occasionally releases mid-cycle findings to share essential information in areas of interest for its stakeholders.

“Lunar Mobility Drivers and Needs” discusses the need to move cargo and assets on the lunar surface, from landing sites to areas of use, and some of the factors that will significantly impact mobility systems. “Lunar Surface Cargo” analyses some of the current projected needs and identifies current capability gaps for the transportation of cargo to the lunar surface. (6/28)

NASA's Juno Probe Gets a Close-Up Look at Lava Lakes on Jupiter's Moon Io (Source: Phys.org)
New findings from NASA's Juno probe provide a fuller picture of how widespread the lava lakes are on Jupiter's moon Io and include first-time insights into the volcanic processes at work there. These results come courtesy of Juno's Jovian Infrared Auroral Mapper (JIRAM) instrument, contributed by the Italian Space Agency, which "sees" in infrared light. (6/26)

How Will We Land Starship On The Moon? (Source: Ellie in Space)
Landing on the moon is difficult due to its uneven surface and the presence of #regolith, a layer of loose, fragmented material. Regolith is problematic because it can damage equipment and pose safety risks during landings. Using regolith to create bricks for building landing pads is a smart use of in situ resource utilization, reducing the need to transport materials from Earth. Astroport Space Technologies in San Antonio, Texas, is developing technology to manufacture these regolith bricks, aiming to create safe, durable landing sites on the moon. Click here. (6/27)

Brig. Gen. Kristin L. Panzenhagen, United States Space Force – Leading Women in Space (Source: Space News)
SpaceNews is shining a spotlight on some of the extraordinary women at the helm of space programs and organizations. We’re delving into their backgrounds, discussing their accomplishments and highlighting their ongoing work at prime contractors, startups, government agencies, and federally funded research and development centers. We’re speaking with women in key leadership roles. Click here. (6/27)

National Space Intelligence Center Welcomes New Commander (Source: Dayton Daily News)
The National Space Intelligence Center (NSIC) will welcome Col. Marcus D. Starks as its new commander Friday in the center’s first change of command ceremony. Starks will accept command of the the NSIC, also known as Space Delta 18, from its first commander, Col. Marqus D. Randall. (6/27)

SpaceX Launches 2nd Batch of Next-Gen US Spy Satellites (Source: Space.com)
A Falcon 9 rocket carrying payloads for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) lifted off from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base Friday night. The Falcon 9's first stage came back to Earth about 8 minutes after liftoff tonight as planned, landing on the SpaceX drone ship Of Course I Still Love You, which was stationed in the Pacific Ocean. It was the eighth launch and landing for this particular booster, according to a SpaceX mission description. (6/28)

What To Do If You Find SpaceX Debris (Source: Florida Today)
Your risk of being injured by falling space debris is less than 1 in 100 billion, according to the European Space Agency. But the chances are (slightly) increasing. NASA has a space debris hotline to call: 866-623-0234. The agency says if you find or spot a piece of space debris to contact authorities and avoid touching it. After the 2015 explosion, SpaceX established a recovery hotline and email address for anyone who found debris and that's still available. You can call the Debris Recovery Hotline at 866-392-0035 or email recovery@spaceX.com. (6/24)

Why China’s Space Party Doesn’t Include Washington (Source: Politico)
Beijing is making major advancements in space exploration — and while other countries stand to benefit from the progress, Washington isn’t getting in on the action. China worked with the European Space Agency, France, Italy and Pakistan on a mission that retrieved the first-ever samples from the far side of the moon this week. NASA wasn’t invited to take part in the moon probe.

One reason the U.S. wasn’t invited to the party is likely because of a law in Congress that hinders any potential galactic relationship with Beijing. Prompted by concerns over Beijing’s history of stealing intellectual property, using technology developed by other nations or companies to bolster its military and violating human rights, Congress in 2011 passed the 2011 Wolf Amendment, which requires NASA to seek a specific exception from the FBI if it wants to work with China. (6/28)

Florida Woman Readies for Second Suborbital Trip with Virgin Galactic (Source: Palm Beach Post)
Kellie Gerardi is preparing to launch into space in 2026, and it won’t be the first time the 35-year-old bioastronautics researcher, Jupiter native and mom takes the trek. Her first rocket flight into space was in November 2023 on a research mission with space tourism company Virgin Galactic. Gerardi performed experiments and represented the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences, a Boulder, Colorado, nonprofit which she directs, during the trip. (6/28)

UK Space Agency Participation in CASTOR Telescope Project Moves Forward (Source: SpaceQ)
In April of this year the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the UK Space Agency (UKSA) signed an Memorandum of Understanding that included potential partnerships through the UKSA’s Science & Exploration Bilateral Programme. Now, we know that one of those areas where the partnership is moving forward is with the Canadian led CASTOR Telescope project. The UKSA has been working towards new bilateral programs since January 2023.

The Cosmological Advanced Survey Telescope for Optical and uv Research (CASTOR) telescope is a proposed “1-meter class space telescope concept on a small satellite platform that would make a unique contribution to astrophysics by providing wide field, high-resolution imaging in the UV and optical spectral region, surpassing any ground-based optical telescope in image sharpness.” (6/28)

Mars Gets Hit by Hundreds of Basketball-Size Space Rocks Every Year (Source: CNN)
Hundreds of basketball-size space rocks slam into Mars each year, leaving behind impact craters and causing rumblings across the red planet, according to new research. Mission planners could use the revelations, recorded in data collected by a now-retired NASA mission, as they determine where to land future robotic missions as well as astronaut crews on the red planet. (6/29)

Tiny Bright Objects Discovered at Dawn of Universe Baffle Scientists (Source: Phys.org)
A recent discovery by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) confirmed that luminous, very red objects previously detected in the early universe upend conventional thinking about the origins and evolution of galaxies and their supermassive black holes. Using the NIRSpec instrument aboard JWST as part of the RUBIES survey scientists identified three mysterious objects in the early universe, about 600–800 million years after the Big Bang, when the universe was only 5% of its current age.

They were also surprised to discover signatures of huge supermassive black holes in the same objects, estimating that they are 100 to 1,000 times more massive than the supermassive black hole in our own Milky Way. Neither of these are expected in current models of galaxy growth and supermassive black hole formation, which expect galaxies and their black holes to grow together over billions of years of cosmic history.

"We have confirmed that these appear to be packed with ancient stars—hundreds of millions of years old—in a universe that is only 600–800 million years old... The standard models of cosmology and galaxy formation have been incredibly successful, yet, these luminous objects do not quite fit comfortably into those theories." (6/28)

Space Force Faces ‘Bellicose’ PLA Willing to Risk Escalation (Source: Breaking Defense)
A new study by RAND finds that China’s military over the past decade has become more willing to use risky, provocative behavior in space to forward its political objectives, and less willing to communicate with the US Defense Department and the Space Force even during a crisis. (6/27)

Space Force No Longer Has the Luxury of Time. It Needs Industry Help to Stay Ahead (Source: Space News)
"Outpacing the [foreign space] threat requires agility and adaptability — the timeline from concept to operational capability must be condensed. The government must find ways to quickly frame new requirements, accelerate new technologies and understand the best solutions available from the commercial industry. To do this, government leaders need help — urgently — from current Space Force prime contractors, like the one I lead.

"Making use of innovation from industry doesn’t just mean finding best-in-class data capabilities in Silicon Valley or hardening commercial technology for space. It also means adopting a new mindset for traditional space contractors. Cooperation from current primes will be critical in ensuring that new solutions can be fielded as agency and Space Force requirements rapidly evolve. We must work to establish an understanding of technology, at speed and at scale, and find innovative pathways to deliver the best capabilities to the government in areas like space domain awareness and positioning, navigation and timing." (6/28)

White House Signals Potential Veto for DoD Funding Bill (Source: White House)
The White House issued a Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) expressing the President's strong opposition to the DOD Appropriations Act for FY25, stating that he would veto the bill if presented.

"Rather than respecting their agreement and taking the opportunity to engage in a productive, bipartisan appropriations process to build on last year’s bills, House Republicans are again wasting time with partisan bills that would result in deep cuts to law enforcement, education, housing, healthcare, consumer safety, energy programs that lower utility bills and combat climate change, and essential nutrition services." (6/24)

GAO Sees Improvements in NASA Cost Management (Source: GAO)
Since 2023, NASA's cumulative cost and schedule performance has improved. Cost overruns decreased from $7.6 billion in 2023 to $4.4 billion in 2024. Schedule overruns decreased from a total of 20.9 years in 2023 to 14.5 years in 2024. These decreases are primarily because two projects, the Space Launch System and Exploration Ground Systems, demonstrated their initial capability and left the portfolio. Previously, these projects accounted for $3.6 billion in cost overruns and each experienced delays of 4 years. (6/20)

Bill Would Create Celestial Time Standard (Source: Rep. Jennifer McClellan)
Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA) introduced H.R. 8837, the Celestial Time Standardization Act, directing NASA to establish a time standard for the Moon and other celestial bodies. (6/26)

Iran Plans Two Launches Before July 21 (Source: MEHR)
Iran is set to conduct two significant satellite launches in the coming weeks, according to Hassan Salariyeh, the head of the Iranian Space Agency (ISA). Salariyeh announced on Saturday that the launches are scheduled to occur before July 21. Salariyeh noted that the ISA is currently performing compatibility tests between the satellites and the launch rockets. (6/23)