August 19, 2024

Space Command Chief Supports Army's Space Expansion (Source: Space News)
The head of U.S. Space Command says he supports efforts by the Army to build up its space expertise. Gen. Stephen Whiting said at a conference last week that the expertise of the Army and the other services is "absolutely vital" to military operations in the space domain. His comments came after an op-ed by senior fellows at the Mitchell Institute criticized plans by the Army to develop a new space-focused career field for enlisted soldiers, claiming it duplicated what the Space Force does. Whiting noted that U.S. Space Command benefits from the capabilities of all the branches of the military, and pointed out that the Army needs space expertise for maneuver warfare. (8/19)

NASA ESCAPADE Smallsats Ready for Mars Mission (Source: Space News)
Two NASA smallsats set to launch to Mars on the first New Glenn flight have arrived in Florida. The twin ESCAPADE spacecraft are scheduled to launch in the fall on the Blue Origin rocket, although neither NASA nor the companies involved have announced a specific launch date or launch window. The spacecraft arrived from a Rocket Lab facility in California where they were assembled. Rocket Lab said that design constraints, like not knowing until a year and a half ago how the spacecraft would be launched, drove the design of the spacecraft with a focus on efficiencies. Rocket Lab is leveraging its expertise developing ESCAPADE for other spacecraft programs at the company. (8/19)

Sierra Nevada to Scale-Up RF Monitoring Satellite Fleet (Source: Space News)
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) plans to scale up a fleet of satellites for radio-frequency monitoring. The company launched its first four satellites last year using a cubesat design developed by Spire. SNC now plans to deploy 20 larger spacecraft over the next five years, starting with three built by Muon Space next June that will feature onboard AI processing capabilities. SNC sees a rising demand in the military sector for radio-frequency data, which can provide critical intelligence on activities like GPS jamming and enemy movements. (8/19)

Spectrum AMT Maps Space Expansion After Evolving From Medical Devices Industry (Source: Space News)
A space electronics company is making plans for further growth as its founding CEO retires. Spectrum AMT announced last week that Jeff Riggs, who co-founded the company 25 years ago, is retiring, and will be replaced by Jeff Gilbert, the company's former chief operating officer. The company started as a medical device specialist and later expanded into producing electronics for space systems. Spectrum AMT was sold last year to Ocutrx Technologies, a Californian medical manufacturing venture, but expects to see 40% annual growth in its space business thanks to strong government and commercial demand. (8/19)

Iran Looks to China for Space Expertise Development (Source: Washington Post)
Iran is seeking help from China to develop more advanced imaging satellites. Western officials said Iran has been in discussions with two Chinese companies, Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co. and MinoSpace Technology Co., about technical assistance to produce satellites with improved imaging resolution or other capabilities that Iran currently lacks. Those officials said the cooperation could give Iran improved targeting capabilities for its missiles or early warning of attacks. However, officials said China likely will be cautious about any work that could upset larger trade deals it has with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. (8/19)

Unpacking the Complexities of SpaceX's Starship Two-Stage Vision (Source: Space Daily)
SpaceX's Starship program stands as one of the most ambitious endeavors in the history of space exploration. Envisioned as a fully reusable spacecraft capable of carrying humans and cargo to destinations such as the Moon, Mars, and beyond, Starship represents a significant leap in space travel technology. However, the journey to achieving this vision is far from straightforward, and the technical challenges, economic considerations, and strategic decisions involved are as complex as they are critical. Click here. (8/16)

GE Aerospace Expanding Hub in North Texas (Source: WFAA)
GE Aerospace's maintenance arm is moving forward with expansion in Fort Worth. Fort Worth City Council voted Aug. 13 in favor of a tax abatement for the company to upgrade and expand its 84,344-square-foot facility at Carter Field. On Wing Support, a subsidiary of General Electric, must hire an additional 100 employees with an average salary of at least $70,000 by 2026, under the terms of the agreement. Currently, the company employs 65 in Fort Worth.

The company must also invest $50 million: $37.5 million on real property improvements and $12.5 million on equipment. The company will expand its footprint by 3.25 acres. Fort Worth agreed to a seven-year tax abatement of up to 60% of the incremental value of both the company’s real and business personal property, according to public documents. (8/15)

Starbase Update Video (Source: NSF)
SpaceX prepares for Starship's fifth flight with double-chopstick catch tests and major hardware moves at Starbase. Discover the latest updates on Ship 26, new tower modules, and the peculiar 'kettle-looking' methane header tank. Join us as we dive into the details of these developments in this comprehensive Starbase update. Click here. (8/19)

Senegal's First Satellite Successfully Launched (Source: Space Daily)
Senegal's first satellite has been successfully launched into orbit, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye said, adding the move marked a major step towards the West African country's "technological sovereignty". The GAINDESAT-1A satellite was launched from the Vandenberg base in California aboard a SpaceX rideshare mission. (8/17)

NASA Hosts Symposium on the Macroeconomic Impacts of Space Investments (Source: Space Daily)
NASA's Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy (OTPS) is set to host the "Macroeconomics of Space Symposium" on Thursday, September 5, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EDT at NASA Headquarters in the James Webb Auditorium. The symposium will gather government officials and leading economic researchers to discuss the broader economic effects of public research and development investments in space. (8/17)