August 16, 2024

Lockheed Martin to Acquire Terran Orbital (Source: Space News)
Lockheed Martin will acquire small satellite manufacturer Terran Orbital. The companies announced Thursday a deal where Lockheed will pay $0.25 per share and retire Terran's debt. Lockheed, which already owns one-third of Terran, had offered $1 a share for the company in March but withdrew the offer two months later. The companies said that Terran Orbital will continue to be a "commercial merchant supplier to industry" of smallsats, although Lockheed makes up more than 90% of Terran's funded backlog today. Terran Orbital said earlier in the week it was considering a range of strategic options that included a sale of the company as its cash reserves dried up. (8/16)

AST SpaceMobile Building Larger Satellites (Source: Space News)
AST SpaceMobile is starting work on a new set of larger direct-to-device satellites. The company said it is building 17 Block 2 BlueBird satellites, the first of which would be ready as soon as the first quarter of 2025. The Block 2 satellites will have antennas with an area of 223 square meters, compared to the 64-square-meter antennas on its Block 1 satellites. The company expects to launch the five Block 1 satellites on a Falcon 9 next month. The company bolstered its balance sheet in the quarter thanks to an investment from Verizon and a sale of stock, taking advantage of the company's higher share price. (8/16)

China Considers Lunar Relay Satellites (Source: Space News)
China is considering communications relay systems in both Earth and lunar orbits to support a future lunar base. China operates the Queqiao ("Magpie Bridge") relay system in lunar orbit to facilitate communications between the Earth and moon and would expand it to support its International Lunar Research Station program. Those satellites would communicate directly to Earth, but rely on ground stations located outside China that officials note bring with them geopolitical risks. Chinese researchers have proposed linking the Queqiao with Earth orbit satellites, like the Tianlian data relay system, to provide improved coverage without needing ground stations outside China. (8/16)

India Launches Earth Observation Satellite on SSLV (Source: Space News)
India launched an Earth observation satellite on a small launch vehicle late Thursday. The Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 11:47 p.m. Eastern. It placed into orbit the EOS-08 satellite for the Indian space agency ISRO as well as the SR-0 DEMOSAT picosatellite for Space Kidz India. EOS-08 carries payloads for Earth imaging and atmospheric monitoring as well as a radiation sensor that will provide data for the Gananyaan human spaceflight program. The launch was the third and final development flight of the SSLV, which failed in its first launch two years ago but reached orbit on the second flight in early 2023. (8/16)

China Launches Reconnaissance Satellites (Source: Space News)
China launched a set of reconnaissance satellites early Friday. A Long March 4B rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 3:35 a.m. Eastern carrying a payload designated as Yaogan-43 (01). The payload appears to feature up to nine satellites that the Chinese government said will be used "to carry out new technology experiments for the low-orbit constellation system." Yaogan satellites are typically linked to military programs, and it was not clear what constellation the government statement referred to. (8/16)

Russia Launch Rate Lowest in Decades (Source: Ars Technica)
Russia is on track for is lowest number of annual launches in more than six decades. A Soyuz launch of a Progress cargo spacecraft Wednesday night was just the ninth launch of the year by Russia, a pace that would lead to the lowest annual total of launches since 1961. Andrei Yelchaninov, a deputy director of Roscosmos, told Russian media that Russia's space program is still working to emerge from a financial crisis he said was triggered by cancellations of commercial launch contracts after Russia's invasion of Ukraine two and a half years ago. He said Russia is continuing to work on new projects, like a space station and reusable launch vehicles, but it uncertain when, or if, they will fly. (8/16)

Where the Dinosaur Killer Came From (Source: Science)
The asteroid that killed off the dinosaurs came from beyond Jupiter. Scientists published Thursday a chemical analysis of rocks at the Chicxulub impact site in Mexico, where a large asteroid struck the Earth 66 million years ago and wiped out the dinosaurs and many other species. That analysis concluded that the asteroid was likely a carbonaceous chondrite, a type of asteroid that formed in the outer solar system. Other researchers said the object was likely perturbed into the inner solar system by gravitational interactions with the planets. (8/16)

USPACE and Egypts's Space Agency Partner to Establish Aerospace Joint Venture in Cairo (Source: Space Daily)
USPACE Technology Group announced that it has signed the strategic partnership agreement with the Egyptian Space Agency (EgSA) for satellite manufacturing and testing, launch, education, and training, greatly expanding its business presence in the fast-growing African space market.

The collaboration between USPACE and EgSA will establish a joint venture in Cairo, Egypt, poised to be one of the first commercial aerospace companies in the country. This venture represents a major milestone in the Group's expansion within the African market. The partnership includes the creation of satellite manufacturing and payload design centers, component and precision manufacturing facilities, all of which will be located at the Egyptian Space City in Cairo. (8/16)

Non-Geostationary Constellations Set to Dominate High Throughput Satellites Market (Source: Space Daily)
The High Throughput Satellites (HTS) market is undergoing significant transformation, as highlighted in the latest edition of the 'High Throughput Satellites' report from Novaspace, a prominent space consulting and market intelligence firm formed through the merger of Euroconsult and SpaceTec Partners. The report emphasizes the growing influence of Non-Geostationary Orbit (NGSO) constellations, which are poised to become the primary force driving the satellite connectivity sector in the years ahead. According to Novaspace's findings, nearly three-quarters of the over 50 active satellite operators have already invested in HTS systems, with most HTS satellites currently positioned in Geostationary Orbit (GEO). (8/14)

Hughes Ships Over 5,000 Electronically Steerable Antennas for OneWeb (Source: Space Daily)
Hughes Network Systems, an EchoStar company, has announced the shipment of more than 5,000 HL1120W electronically steerable antenna (ESA) terminals for the OneWeb Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) network. This achievement reinforces Hughes' position as a major supplier of OneWeb's enterprise-grade LEO terminals. (8/14)

Republican Former NASA Administrator Endorses Harris for President (Source: Space News)
A Republican former NASA administrator is endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, for president. Appearing at an online fundraising event Aug. 15, Sean O’Keefe, who served as NASA administrator from late 2001 through 2004 under President George W. Bush, said he was supporting Harris for president in part because of her work on space issues but also because of what he considered to be a lack of a traditional Republican opponent.

“Months ago, it was apparent to me that there would not be a Republican in the 2024 race for the presidency, certainly not a candidate with the principles and policies I ever associated with Republicans,” said O’Keefe, referring to the Republican nominee, former president Donald Trump. “But no matter. Vice President Harris is a very active candidate for president who supports space objectives to the benefit of all humankind.” He cited Harris’s role as chair of the National Space Council and work in an administration that has largely maintained continuity in space policy, such as the Artemis lunar exploration campaign. (8/16)

Science in Space to Cure Disease on Earth—New ISS Funding Opportunity (Source: CASIS)
The ISS National Laboratory is collaborating with NASA on a $4 million solicitation for space-based research addressing some of the most significant diseases of our time—such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disease. ISS National Lab Research Announcement (NLRA) 2024-09: Igniting Innovation: Science in Space to Cure Disease on Earth, released in partnership with NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences division, is aimed at overcoming challenges hindering progress in disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. (8/15)

Polish Companies Collaborate on In-Orbit satellite Refueling Technology (Source: Space Daily)
The development of in-orbit refueling capabilities is expected to play a crucial role in the future of space exploration. This technology is poised to significantly reduce costs by minimizing the need to replace satellites and supporting more sustainable mission designs, ultimately decreasing the number of satellites requiring deorbiting. Applicable to both new satellite generations and current models not originally designed for in-orbit refueling, this technology will be vital for the continued sustainability of space operations.

Currently, Europe lacks a standardized approach to refueling satellites in orbit. The ongoing project aims to create a detailed roadmap for an in-orbit refueling service, which encompasses the development of necessary technologies and components. These include proximity operations, docking systems, servicing operations, and disconnection mechanisms. PIAP Space, a leader in this initiative, is developing systems for docking with non-responsive objects, service grippers, and robotic arm control systems to enhance precision in space operations. Furthermore, advancements in in-orbit manipulation and fuel transfer technologies are expected to significantly boost the capabilities of satellite servicing. (8/14)

China Implements Mitigation Measures Following Long March 6A Rocket Breakup (Source: Space Daily)
China has initiated necessary measures and is closely observing the affected orbital area following the breakup of a Chinese rocket, according to a Foreign Ministry spokesman. Reports indicate that a Long March 6A rocket, which was launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center on August 6, disintegrated in low-Earth orbit last week, creating a debris cloud consisting of hundreds of fragments.

"We've made it a rule to always take space debris mitigation measures after satellites and carrier rockets complete their missions, in order to help protect the environment of the outer space and ensure the long-term sustainability of outer space activities," Lin Jian said. (8/15)

Stoke Space’s Initial Launch Plans at Cape Canaveral Take Shape (Source: Tech Crunch)
Stoke Space is nothing if not ambitious. The five-year-old launch startup has generated a lot of hype due to its bold plans to develop the first fully reusable rocket, with both the booster and second stage vertically returning to Earth. Those plans got a major boost a year ago, when the U.S. Space Force awarded Stoke and three other startups valuable launch pad real estate at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport. Stoke plans on redeveloping the historic Launch Complex 14, which was home to John Glenn’s historic mission and other NASA programs, in time for its first launch in 2025.

At the center of Stoke’s plans is Nova, a two-stage rocket that is designed so that both the booster and the second stage return to Earth and land vertically. Before any of this can take place, the Space Force must complete its “environmental assessment” of the company’s plans at LC-14, in order to evaluate how repeat launches will affect local flora and fauna. These assessments are mandatory under federal law, and they can often take months — but the upside is that they provide a closer look at a company’s operational plans.

The environmental assessment does not consider reusable operations at all, but only missions with the 132-foot-tall Nova flying in a fully expendable configuration. The document, released last month, calls this Stoke’s “phased program approach.” Phase 1 involves operating a totally expendable vehicle at a relatively low launch cadence. Phase 2, which would require a supplemental environmental analysis and is not considered in this draft document, would involve the fully reusable rocket. (8/14)

Launch Vehicle Operator Signs MOU with Maritime Launch Services (Source: SpaceQ)
Maritime Launch Services (MLS) says an international launch vehicle operator has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the company to facilitate orbital launches from Spaceport Nova Scotia for a small-class launch vehicle.

The unnamed company had previously signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with MLS in 2023. The agreement comes shortly after the news that the Canadian government said it had completed “substantive negotiations” towards a Technology Safeguards Agreement with the United States. That agreement opens the door for U.S. space launch technology related companies to do business in Canada including the ability to launch U.S. payloads from a Canadian spaceport. (8/14)

NASA Evaluating Plan to Restructure OSAM-1 Satellite Servicing Mission (Source: Space News)
NASA is assessing a plan developed at the request of Congress to continue a satellite servicing mission but has made no decisions about rescinding earlier plans to cancel it. NASA announced in March it would cancel the On-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (OSAM) 1 mission, citing extensive cost overruns and delays as well as a “lack of a committed partner” to use the satellite servicing technology the mission would demonstrate. The agency said at the time it would begin work to wind down the mission, supporting a project workforce of about 450 people through the end of the 2024 fiscal year. (8/15)

Despite Conventional Wisdom, Space Arms Control Verification Possible (Source: Breaking Defense)
For decades, US policymakers and diplomats have been extremely skeptical of space arms control, arguing that verification of compliance with such accords would be all but impossible due to the inability to discern weapons from non-weapons and attribute on-orbit violations to the perpetrators. A new study, released Tuesday by The Aerospace Corporation’s Center for Space Policy and Strategy, begs to differ.

“This study indicates that verification can be a surmountable obstacle thanks to developments in modern technologies, new stakeholders, and more robust information-sharing processes related to space, as well as new approaches for defining the systems and behaviors that could be limited in space arms control,” argues author Mick Gleason, a national security senior projects engineer at Aerospace and a retired US Air Force colonel. (8/14)

Concerns Over SpaceX's Planned Rocket Launch Expansion at Vandenberg Fall on Deaf and Absent Ears (Source; Santa Barbara Independent)
Musk did not show up at last Thursday’s Coastal Commission hearing. No one from his staff did either. They never do, despite multiple entreaties from the Coastal Commissioners themselves. (Musk’s lobbyists, however, have met privately with some of the commissioners before the meeting, it was revealed. Sonic booms, they said in those encounters, were not such a big deal; only 12 people so far, they said, have complained about them. That number, by the way, was refuted by Coastal Commission planner Cassidy Teufel.)

Representing the Space Force in the flesh was Deputy Vice Commander Dorian Hatcher. He reiterated his department’s long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship, noting that the base employs 40 professional staff to make sure the endangered species living on his base are afforded every possible protection. The base, he insisted, has already been doing all the environmental monitoring that the federal government requires. In the kabuki theater of government meetings, this was a genuine drop-the-mic moment. It was a middle finger salute accompanied by the theme song from Star Wars played full volume.

One audience member fumed, “I’m beyond pissed and everyone in this room should be pissed too.” Another added, “The Space Force comes here today and intentionally disrespects us." Yes, it is true that a lot of monitoring is already done. But thanks to a massive data crash last year, more than half the video data gathered by filming snowy plover nests — one of five endangered species that may be impacted by the blasts — disappeared. The batteries used to power a similar study about sea otters flat out crapped out. And it turns out the  motion-activation  mechanism for a video study of another endangered bird did not work. (8/14)