October 16, 2024

ESA Picks Kepler for LEO Optical Relay (Source: Space News)
The European Space Agency awarded a contract to a group led by Kepler Communications for a LEO optical relay network. The contract, announced Wednesday at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) and worth 36 million euros ($39 million), covers early design work for the LEO phase of ESA's High Throughput Optical Network (HydRON) program. HydRON is a multi-orbit, terabit-per-second transport system that would extend the reach of terrestrial fiber networks. Kepler previously served as a subcontractor in two competing groups that secured ESA contracts in 2022 to conduct feasibility studies for HydRON, one led by Airbus and the other by Thales Alenia Space, and later became the head of the Airbus team. (10/16)

AST SpaceMobile Details How Its Cellular Satellite Service Will Work (Source: PC Magazine)
Starlink rival AST SpaceMobile has revealed more details about how it could charge users to access its cellular satellite service, which is slated to roll out for AT&T and Verizon customers. In an updated investor presentation first spotted by Reddit users, AST SpaceMobile says it plans to offer satellite connectivity as a monthly add-on and through a "day pass" system, which consumers can opt into whenever needed. Customers would be notified about the day-pass option the moment their phone traveled outside a carrier’s ground-based network, according to the presentation. "Subscribers receive a text on their phone asking if they would like to turn on SpaceMobile service," the company says. (10/16)

Next-Generation Starlink Satellites Will Be 'So Big That Only Starship Can Launch Them (Source: Benzinga)
SpaceX‘s next generation of Starlink satellites will be so big that it can only be launched by the company’s bigger Starship launch vehicle, company CEO Elon Musk said on Monday. What Happened: SpaceX currently launches its Starlink satellites to the low-Earth orbit on its Falcon rocket. However, the next generation of Starlink satellites would be bigger and would need to be launched on Starship, Musk said, while adding that it would ensure better performance.

SpaceX requested the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Friday to modify the operational parameters of its next-generation satellite system. SpaceX requested authority to lower the altitude of its next-generation Starlink satellites, bringing them closer to Earth, and for permission to use authorized frequencies with more flexibility. (10/15)

Airbus to Cut up to 2,500 Jobs in Defense and Space (Source: Reuters)
Airbus announced plans on Wednesday to cut up to 2,500 jobs in its Defense and Space division, citing a "complex business environment" especially in loss-making satellites. The European aerospace group said it aims to carry out the cuts, which represent 7% of the workforce in its second-largest division, by the middle of 2026 after talks with unions.

Airbus builds satellites and transporters and has key shares in European missile, fighter, and space-launch programs. It has been hit by 1.5 billion euros ($1.63 billion) of charges in space systems in recent quarters, led by the high-tech OneSat project, and delays and rising costs in defense. The job cuts, first reported by French news agency AFP, come on top of a more than year-long efficiency review in the defense and space business, code-named ATOM. (10/16)

Prada and Axiom Space Unveil Spacesuit Designs for NASA’s Artemis III Moon Mission (Source: CNN)
Luxury fashion house Prada and commercial space company Axiom Space have unveiled the designs for a spacesuit that will be worn for NASA’s Artemis III moon mission. Unveiled during the International Astronautical Congress in Milan on Wednesday, the mostly white suits feature a cropped torso and stone-gray patches across the elbows and knees. Although conspicuously free of branding or logos, the designs do include red accent lines across the forearms, waist and “portable life system backpacks,” which nod to Prada’s sub-brand, Linea Rossa. (10/16)

Astrolab Plans Smaller Lunar Rover (Source: Space News)
Astrolab, one of the companies with a NASA award to design a rover for use on later Artemis missions, is planning to develop a smaller rover. The company announced Tuesday at IAC that it is working on a smaller version of its FLEX rover called FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform, or FLIP, that it will have ready to launch as soon as the end of next year. FLIP will test technologies like batteries and tires planned for FLEX and also accommodate 30-50 kilograms of payload. Astrolab says it is looking at options for landers to take FLIP to the moon. (10/16)

Inversion Gets FAA Reentry License (Source: Space News)
Inversion, a startup developing vehicles to return cargo from orbit, has received an FAA license for its first mission. The company announced Tuesday that it received the FAA reentry license for Ray, a tech demo mission slated to launch on SpaceX's Transporter-12 rideshare mission next month. Ray will spend at least a week in orbit before performing a deorbit burn and splashing down in the ocean off the California coast. Inversion is just the second company to get a reentry license from the FAA under a set of regulations called Part 450. (10/16)

Space Companies More Likely to Attract Investors if They Talk Less About Space (Source: Space News)
If space companies want to attract investors, they should talk less about space, some experts advise. At a session during IAC this week, panelists advised companies to talk less about space technologies but instead focus on their applications and markets. When investment in space-related capabilities can be understood in terms of well-established terrestrial markets, institutional investors are more likely to show interest, they advised. That is particularly true in regions like Europe where investors are more risk averse and less willing to invest in space companies. (10/16)

China Launches Megaconstellation Satellites, Earth Observation Satellite (Sources: Space News, Xinhua)
China launched the second set of satellites for its "Thousand Sails" broadband megaconstellation Tuesday. A Long March 6A rocket lifted off from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center at 7:06 a.m. Eastern and deployed 18 of the Qianfan satellites into low Earth orbit. This mission will be closely watched since the previous Long March 6A launch of Qianfan satellites in August led to the breakup of the rocket's upper stage, creating hundreds of pieces of hazardous debris.

China also launched an Earth observation satellite Tuesday. A Long March 4C rocket lifted off at 7:45 p.m. Eastern and placed the Gaofen-12 05 satellite into orbit. The satellite is the latest in a series that provides imagery for civil applications. (10/16)

More Warnings About Megaconstellation Debris (Source: Space News)
Orbital debris experts warn of growing challenges posed by megaconstellations. Perspectives on how to deal with debris vary wildly between governments and companies, as well as between operators of large constellations and individual satellites. For example, since there aren't general rules of the road, operators whose satellites transit through the orbital shell of a large constellation are forging agreements with the constellation operators. The topic is a focus area at IAC this week, with dozens of papers on debris detection, tracking and related legal, policy and economic considerations. (10/16)

Suborbital Spaceflight Insurance is Expensive (Source: Space News)
Insurance for suborbital spaceflight companies will be expensive, at least initially. A study by PwC Strategy& of the Netherlands and the Italian National Aviation Authority presented at IAC this week concluded liability insurance would be expensive given the lack of spaceflight experience by companies. It could cause ticket prices to rise by 30% to 60% if there are not protections in place like government indemnification. (10/16)

Sun Reaching Peak Activity (Source: Space.com)
The sun is reaching the peak of its 11-year activity cycle. Scientists said Tuesday that they conclude the sun is at the peak of "Cycle 25" and will remain there for another year or so before activity starts to subside. That peak of activity has resulted in brilliant auroral displays, but solar storms that produce auroras also threaten satellites and the electrical grid. (10/16)

Blue Origin Donates New Shepard Rocket to Smithsonian (Source: CollectSpace)
Blue Origin is donating a New Shepard vehicle to the National Air and Space Museum. The museum said Tuesday that Blue Origin will donate the New Shepard capsule called "RSS First Step" once that capsule, currently in active service, is retired. A Blue Origin booster called Propulsion Module 4-2, which is now retired, will also be donated, with a mockup of the capsule accompanying it until RSS First Step is no longer in service. That propulsion module will be displayed in the "missile pit" portion of the renovated museum alongside several missiles and rockets. (10/16)

NASA Discovers Sign of a Volcanic Moon Orbiting Exoplanet WASP-49 b (Source: Business Today)
New research from NASA JPL suggests signs of a volcanic moon orbiting the exoplanet WASP-49 b, located 635 light-years from Earth. The discovery is based on a sodium cloud near the planet that could be caused by volcanic activity on a moon. (10/15)

Dragon Receives Long-Planned Propulsive Landing Upgrade After Years of Development (Source: NSF)
SpaceX announced a new capability for the Dragon spacecraft on Sep. 27 in the unlikely event of a parachute failure. Dragon now has built-in redundancy to propulsively land using its SuperDraco thrusters, saving the vehicle and potential crew from a rough landing or imminent danger. (10/10)

China’s Bright Satellite Constellation Could Block Our View of Stars (Source: Interesting Engineering)
China’s new broadband constellation has become a significant threat to astronomical observations due to its exceptional brightness. The first batch of Qianfan megaconstellation satellites was launched in August. Early observations of the deployed satellites indicate that their luminosity far exceeds the guidelines established by astronomical authorities.

China’s planned Qianfan network is designed to rival SpaceX’s Starlink in providing high-speed internet service. According to Reuters, this constellation includes 15,000 satellites, which will be deployed into orbit by 2030. The problem is that these satellites are so bright, they can interfere with astronomical observations, particularly those of faint celestial objects. The light from these satellites can completely overwhelm the scientific data and imagery. (10/15)

ESA Launches Moonlight Program to Build Lunar Communications and Navigation Network (Source: Space Daily)
The European Space Agency (ESA) has officially launched its Moonlight program, aimed at creating a satellite constellation around the Moon to provide vital communications and navigation services. With over 400 lunar missions expected from both space agencies and private companies in the next two decades, Moonlight represents a major step towards sustainable lunar exploration and the broader development of a lunar economy.

The Moonlight Lunar Communications and Navigation Services (LCNS) programme will support precise landings, surface operations, and seamless communication between Earth and the Moon. This infrastructure is key to ensuring a lasting human presence on the Moon while optimizing costs and increasing operational efficiency. (10/15)

Mathematics Behind AI-Powered Space Travel Risk Assessment Models (Source: Space Daily)
As space travel evolves from governmental projects to commercial enterprises, the safety of astronauts and spacecraft becomes a top priority. But with increasing complexity comes a pressing need for advanced risk assessment models. Traditional calculations can fall short in predicting space travel risks, as conditions in space are exceptionally unpredictable. Enter Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is now paired with powerful mathematical models to estimate, reduce, and respond to potential hazards in space.

The integration of AI technologies has transformed these models from simple probability estimations into highly sophisticated, predictive frameworks. There are both AI for math problems of any complexity, and automated predictive programs based on machine learning. Both AI solvers and more complex systems are built on mathematics. Both technologies are necessary. AI helpers help calculate any formulas and achieve greater accuracy, while predictive systems can take into account more factors. (10/15)

‘SuperLimbs’ Could Help Astronauts Recover From Falls (Source: CNN)
Humans haven’t traveled to the moon since NASA’s Apollo program ended in 1972, but the Artemis program will soon return humans to the lunar surface, with the first crewed landing currently slated for 2026. Artemis astronauts will aspire to do things humans haven’t done before, like building a habitable base to allow for long-term visits and exploring the heavily cratered lunar south pole.

Innovators across the world are working on solutions to help them achieve their goals, and to keep them safe. That includes researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), who are developing a set of wearable robotic limbs to help astronauts recover from falls. (10/13)

China Showcases Lunar Reach as Space Powers Meet Without Russia (Source: Reuters)
China unveiled a rock sample from the moon's far side to a space summit overshadowed by shifting political and commercial rivalries on Monday, with traditional space power Russia absent from the Milan gathering amid tensions with the West. The International Astronautical Congress (IAC) has been a venue since 1950 for scientists, engineers, companies and politicians of space-faring nations to discuss cooperation, even during the Cold War.

At the latest edition in Milan, the China National Space Administration showcased a rock sample that its Chang’e 6 rover fetched from the moon’s far side - the first such exploit and widely seen as evidence of Beijing’s rising space-power status. Talks were expected to touch heavily on lunar exploration, NASA's growing coalition under its Artemis moon program and Europe's pressing need for more sovereign access to space. A record 7,197 technical abstracts have been submitted. Russia's space agency Roscosmos, a storied power now isolated from the West after Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, has no official presence at this year's event, however. (10/14)

XDLINX Space Labs Secures $7 Million in Seed Funding (Source: Space Daily)
XDLINX Space Labs, a key player in India's space technology sector, has successfully raised $7 million in seed funding. The round was led by Ashish Kacholia of Lucky Investments, with additional support from E2MC, Mana Ventures, and a prominent family office. The funds will be used to drive XDLINX's mission of advancing satellite technology and innovating affordable space solutions.

Founded in 2022 in Hyderabad, XDLINX Space Labs set out to redefine space missions by making satellite technology more accessible. Their first significant achievement was the launch of JANUS-1, a software-defined 6U nanosatellite demonstrating multi-tenancy payload capabilities. Developed in just 10 months, JANUS-1 was launched aboard ISRO's SSLV-D2 rocket on February 10, 2023, significantly reducing both the cost and time for space missions compared to traditional satellite models. (10/10)

VISIMO to Test Autonomous AI System for Spacecraft Decision Support (Source: Space Daily)
VISIMO, a technology company based in Pittsburgh, PA, will test its autonomous AI system designed for decision support on an upcoming mission conducted by ABOVE Space Development Corporation, a company known for developing adaptable space platforms for commercial and defense sectors.

Deep-space missions present significant challenges, requiring spacecraft to handle unforeseen issues and system failures without relying on Earth-based communication. Effective decision support systems are crucial to help crews manage missions and respond to unexpected failures, reducing the need for extensive ground crew involvement and streamlining problem-solving processes. (10/11)

Microsatellite Project to Track Space Objects Over Canada and Antarctica (Source: Space Daily)
A new collaboration between the University of Manitoba (UM) and Magellan Aerospace, alongside Canada's Department of National Defence (DND) and the UK's Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), is spearheading a microsatellite project aimed at safeguarding Earth's orbital environment. This project will develop space monitoring systems to protect orbital infrastructure and reduce risks from space debris. Magellan Aerospace and UM, both located in Winnipeg, are partnering on the DND-funded Redwing microsatellite project, valued at $15.8 million. Redwing, designed and built in Canada, aims to monitor objects orbiting Earth, helping to prevent threats to Canada's space infrastructure. (10/11)

Musk's Mars Mission Math: 'Building A Self-Sustaining City Would Require At Least A Million Tons Of Equipment' — The Price Tag: A Mind-Boggling $1000 Trillion (Source: Benzinga)
In a recent post on X, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk outlined his vision for making life multiplanetary, emphasizing the need for a significant leap in rocket technology to reduce costs. On Monday, Musk responded to a post about the cost of launching to low earth orbit. He explained that to make life multiplanetary, rocket and spacecraft technology needs to improve by 1000X. He pointed out that recent US Mars missions have cost about $1B per ton of useful load to the surface of Mars, a figure that has been increasing over time.

Building a self-sustaining city on Mars would require at least a million tons of equipment, amounting to a cost of over $1,000 trillion. Musk highlighted the impracticality of this figure, pointing out that it far exceeds the current U.S. GDP of $29 trillion. However, Musk expressed confidence that advancements in rocket technology could bring this cost down by 1,000 times, potentially making the total cost for colonization around $1 trillion. (10/14)

Taiwan to Have Satellite Internet Service as Protection in Case of Chinese Attack (Source: The Guardian)
Taiwan is expected to have access to low earth orbit satellite internet service by the end of the month, a step the government says is crucial in case a Chinese attack cripples the island’s communications. The forthcoming service is via a contract between Taiwan’s main telecoms company, Chunghwa, and a UK-European company, Eutelsat OneWeb, signed last year, and marks a new milestone in Taiwan’s efforts to address technological vulnerabilities, particularly its internet access, after attempts to get access to Elon Musk’s Starlink service collapsed.

Chunghwa co-president Alex Chien said 24-hour coverage was expected by the end of the month, with commercial access as soon as sufficient bandwidth was reached. (10/15)

An Odd Form of Dark Energy Might Solve a Pesky Cosmic Puzzle (Source: Scientific American)
One possibility is that the Hubble tension is telling us the baby universe was expanding faster than we think. Early dark energy posits that this extra expansion might have resulted from an additional repulsive force that was pushing against space at the time and has since died out.

This suggestion is finally facing real-world tests, as experiments are just now becoming capable of measuring the kinds of signals early dark energy might have produced. So far the results are mixed. But as new data come in over the next few years, we should learn more about whether the expansion of the cosmos is diverging from our predictions and possibly why. Click here. (10/15)

When Is Virgin Galactic’s Next Launch? (Source: Forbes)
As the company moves toward a new phase of business, production has already begun on the vehicles that will replace Unity, which Virgin Galactic is calling Delta class spaceships. It announced both supplier agreements in 2022 and testing had begun earlier this year... but when will the next Virgin Galactic launch take place?

Per the company, Delta vehicles are scheduled to be ready to resume commercial spaceflight by 2026, though there will undoubtedly be test flights between now and then. As the company moves toward this new class of flight hardware, I’ll be sure to provide updates on when and where Virgin Galactic’s next launch will be — whether it’s a glide, test or commercial flight. (10/15)

Boeing to Issue Layoff Notices to Thousands Next Month (Source: Reuters)
Boeing will send 60-day notices in mid-November to staff being made redundant as part of a plan announced last week to cut 17,000 jobs at the debt-laden planemaker, an engineering union spokesperson and one industry source said on Monday. The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifications, which give workers 60 days notice prior to ending their employment, will be issued to thousands of employees in Boeing’s commercial aviation division, who will then leave the company in mid-January, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. (10/15)