October 19, 2024

California Governor Sides with SpaceX in Coastal Commission Spat (Source: Politico)
Gov. Gavin Newsom is backing Elon Musk in the billionaire’s dispute with a California agency that rejected a plan to increase SpaceX’s rocket launches off the Pacific coast. “I’m with Elon,” Newsom, a Democrat, said in an interview late Thursday, after campaigning for Vice President Kamala Harris in the battleground state of North Carolina. “I didn’t like that.” Musk sued the California Coastal Commission on Tuesday in federal court in Los Angeles, alleging it “engaged in naked political discrimination” when commissioners cited his support for former President Donald Trump in rejecting a DoD proposal to expand the number of SpaceX launches at Vandenberg Space Force Base.

“Look, I’m not helping the legal case,” Newsom acknowledged. He added, “You can’t bring up that explicit level of politics.” Newsom indicated he broadly agreed with the lawsuit and that the independent agency should have confined its debate to the merits of the permit rather than engage in a discussion of Musk’s political activities. (10/18)

The Rockets are Nifty, But it is Satellites That Make SpaceX Valuable (Source: The Economist)
Since it has never before been possible to build something like Starlink, no one is quite sure how big or profitable SpaceX’s internet service might end up becoming. The political pitfalls of Elon Musk’s firm make this even harder to judge. Click here. (10/17)

SpaceX Prevails Over ULA, Wins Military Launch Contracts Worth $733 Million (Source: Ars Technica)
The US Space Force's Space Systems Command announced Friday it has ordered eight launches from SpaceX in the first batch of dozens of missions the military will buy in a new phase of competition for lucrative national security launch contracts. The eight launches are divided into two fixed-price "task orders" that Space System Command opened up for bids earlier this year.

One covers seven launches with groups of spacecraft for the Space Development Agency's constellation of missile tracking and data relay satellites. The other task order is a single mission for the National Reconnaissance Office, the US government's spy satellite agency. The parameters of the competition limited the bidders to SpaceX and ULA. SpaceX won both task orders for a combined value of $733.5 million, or roughly $91.7 million per mission. All the missions will launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, beginning as soon as late 2025. (10/18)

The Growing Chorus to Cancel NASA’s Space Launch System (Source: New Space Economy)
The Space Launch System (SLS) has long stood as NASA’s flagship vehicle for deep space exploration, intended to ferry humans back to the Moon and eventually on to Mars under the Artemis program. However, recent times have witnessed a crescendo in calls for its cancelation. From its inception, the SLS was envisioned to leverage existing technology from the Space Shuttle program, promising a quick and cost-effective route back to lunar exploration. However, the SLS has been plagued by delays and significant exceedances of budget projections.

One of the primary arguments against the SLS is economic. Each launch of the SLS is estimated to cost upwards of $2 billion. SpaceX’s Starship aims for significantly lower costs with its reusable design. The technological landscape has shifted since SLS’s design. SpaceX has proven the viability of reusable rockets. SLS is criticized as serving more as a jobs program than advancing space travel, and falling victim to the Sunk Cost Fallacy: billions have already been invested, so it makes sense to keep spending.

Should legacy programs continue or should there be a shift towards new technologies? The growing calls for SLS’s cancellation reflect a community eager for progress and efficiency in space exploration. This pivotal moment challenges NASA and the global space community to either adapt to the new space race or risk obsolescence. The conversation on social media platforms shows a desire for a new chapter where innovation drives humanity further into the cosmos. (10/17)

In Space, No One Can Hear Musk's Rivals Scream (Source: Bloomberg)
Navigating space is hard. It’s expensive, complex, time-consuming and dangerous. And yet you have to hand it to Elon Musk: His SpaceX firm makes it look easy. SpaceX's reusable Falcon 9 is today the world’s most flown rocket, a milestone in bringing down the cost of space transportation. It gives SpaceX a “de facto” monopoly on launch missions slinging payload like satellites into orbit. And that dominance extends to its own Starlink satellites, 6,000 of which orbit the Earth, offering high-speed internet almost anywhere.

You don’t need to believe in Musk’s visions of humanity on Mars or (not-very-autonomous) robot bartenders to see the power of vertical integration at work; especially after Sunday’s unprecedented “chopsticks” maneuver to recover the Starship rocket booster that’s heralding even cheaper launches ahead. (10/18)

New DoD Space Policy Directive Clarifies Space Force, Space Command Roles (Source: Breaking Defense)
The Defense Department today quietly published it’s newest update to the document that assigns roles and missions to both the Space Force chief and the commander of US Space Command, with language that should plump up each of their influence with respect to joint force activities. In particular, the new version of “DoD Directive 3100.10” — dated Oct. 15 and signed by DoD Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks — for the first time codifies into Pentagon policy the three primary missions for which Space Force Guardians must be organized, trained and equipped to fulfill: (1) Provide freedom of operation for the United States in, from, and to space. (2) Conduct space operations. (3) Protect U.S. interests in space. (10/18)

CSA Extends Cooperation With the Swedish and Italian Space Agencies (Source: SpaceQ)
During this years International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Milan, the Canadian Space Agency extended their memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Swedish National Space Agency and looked at a new collaboration with the Italian Space Agency. In extending their MOU with the Swedish National Space Agency the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) said the “partnership will support the Space for Climate Observatory and strengthen efforts to promote gender equality in the space sector, including raising awareness of UNOOSA’s Gender Mainstreaming Toolkit.”

Italy and Canada signed an MOU in 2021 and are now exploring a potential collaboration on CubeSats. This collaboration comes after the federal government released a statement July 15 on a new Italy–Canada Roadmap for Enhanced Cooperation. (10/18)

Invest Now in Vital Space Systems for Safety, Security and Economic Resiliency (Source: Space News)
Weather forecasters, Federal Emergency Management Agency employees, the National Guard and other U.S military personnel, state and local officials, first responders and those providing emergency services before, during and after Hurricanes Helene and Milton offer guidance and support in times of intense fear and loss. Utility linemen driving towards the storms to position themselves to immediately remove downed trees and restore electricity inspire awe. Volunteers and neighbors helping neighbors represent the best of us. These scenes offer glimmers of hope and resilience as we mourn lives lost and property and businesses devastated. (10/18)

NASA Selects Crew for 45-Day Simulated Mars Mission in Houston (Source; NAA)
NASA selected a crew of four research volunteers to participate in its last simulated mission to Mars in 2024 within a habitat at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. Obaid Alsuwaidi, Kristen Magas, Tiffany Snyder, and Anderson Wilder will step into the 650-square-foot HERA (Human Exploration Research Analog) facility on Friday, Nov. 1. Once inside, the team will live and work like astronauts for 45 days. The crew will exit the facility on Monday, Dec. 16, after simulating their return to Earth. Jordan Hundley and Robert Wilson also were named as alternate crew members. (10/18)

SpaceX Launches 20 Starlink Satellites on Falcon 9 Rocket from Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: SpaceFlight Now)
Against the backdrop of a pink and purple sunset, SpaceX launched its third batch of Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit since Monday morning. It was able to overcome a blustery evening that at times saw wind gusts of more than 26 miles per hour.. Liftoff of the Starlink 8-19 mission from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport happened on Friday, Oct. 18. This launch of Starlink satellites also brought the total number of orbital launches from Florida this year to 71, one shy from tying the total launched in 2023. (10/18)

125 Lawmakers Urge Limits to Air Force’s Plan to Transfer National Guard Space Troops (Source: Stars & Stripes)
A bipartisan group of 125 lawmakers is urging the leaders of the Senate and House Armed Services committees to maintain the authority of governors over their state’s National Guard forces as the Air Force proposes moving some of them into the Space Force. The lawmakers, including 86 House members and 39 senators, want to permit the one-time transfer of certain Air National Guard units into the Space Force but preserve governor control of National Guard units as negotiators draft the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act, an annual defense policy bill.

The Air Force is asking to unilaterally fold hundreds of Air National Guard members who work in space-related career fields into the Space Force as an alternative to the creation of a Space National Guard. (10/17)

King Charles To Prepare Nation And The World For First Contact (Source: Simon Holland)
Professor Simon Holland has just issued a statement that scientists from Mark Zuckerberg's Breakthrough Listen group have found evidence of intelligent transmissions from within our galaxy. The scientists from Oxford are currently analyzing and checking the data before announcing it to the world. Film-maker and leading UFOlogist Mark Christopher Lee's latest film The King Of UFOs - deals with the role that King Charles would have to play should we have first contact. As head of state and head of the Anglican Church he would have an important role to play and one which Lee is convinced he is ready for. (10/18)

US and China Will Need to Discuss Moon Mission Plans, NASA Chief Predicts (Source: Space.com)
NASA and China will need to discuss exchanges of data and mission plans as the two sides move to build sustainable presences on the moon, according to the NASA administrator. NASA chief Bill Nelson met with the press at the 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) here on Tuesday (Oct. 15), addressing questions related to the agency's Artemis program.

Both NASA, with Artemis, and China, with its International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), are working to get astronauts to the moon and to build lunar infrastructure to support repeated and long-term missions. China and NASA are planning landings at the lunar south pole, where permanently shadowed craters are thought to harbor lots of water ice. The precious resource could be used to make rocket fuel or provide life support for astronauts. (10/16)

Game-Changing UK Tech to Reach the Public Faster as Dedicated New Unit Launched to Curb Red Tape (Source: Gov.UK)
New technologies, like AI for better treatments in our NHS and drones delivering emergency supplies to all corners of the UK, could reach the public faster through a dedicated new office that will reduce the burden of red tape on innovation and help kickstart economic growth. The RIO’s mission will initially support the growth of four fast-growing areas of technology making a difference to people’s lives before backing further technologies and sectors as the Office evolves. This includes UK's fast-growing space industry. (10/8)

Potential Microbial Habitats in Martian Ice (Source: Space Daily)
Martian ice deposits may hold conditions suitable for photosynthetic life, according to a recent study published in 'Communications Earth and Environment'. The research suggests that regions of exposed ice in the mid-latitudes of Mars could offer a protective environment for microbial life, shielding it from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation while still allowing enough light for photosynthesis to occur.

Mars' surface is exposed to high levels of UV radiation, making it nearly impossible for life to survive on the planet's surface. However, researchers propose that life might exist beneath a layer of ice thick enough to block UV rays but thin enough to permit visible light needed for photosynthesis. This balance could create what is termed a "radiative habitable zone" just below the surface. (10/18)

UK's Goonhilly Site Expands Deep Space Communications Services (Source: Space Daily)
Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd (Goonhilly) has secured a new contract to provide deep space communications services for the UK Space Agency and international partners from its Cornwall-based Earth station. The agreement, announced at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan on October 16, aims to enhance the global network used for space mission communications as the demand for lunar and deep space support continues to grow. (10/17)

Researchers Date Moon's Oldest Impact Basin, Revealing Ancient Lunar History (Source: Space Daily)
Scientists believe they could have pinpointed the age of the Moon's largest and oldest impact basin to over 4.32 billion years ago.
Like Earth, the Moon has been struck by numerous asteroids and comets, creating craters and basins. However, determining the exact timing of these impacts, especially the age of the Moon's oldest and largest basin, has been challenging - until now.

A team of researchers from The University of Manchester, studying a lunar meteorite named Northwest Africa 2995, has suggested that the Moon's massive South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin was formed over 4.32 billion years ago. This enormous basin, located on the Moon's far side, spans more than 2,000 kilometers, making it the Moon's oldest confirmed impact site. (10/18)

Accelerated Muscle Loss Model in Space May Lead to Sarcopenia Treatments (Source: Space Daily)
More than 50 million people worldwide suffer from sarcopenia, an age-related condition that causes muscle loss, weakened strength, and reduced functionality, increasing the likelihood of falls and fractures, according to the World Health Organization. Currently, exercise is the only known treatment. However, researchers at the University of Florida, through a study sponsored by the ISS National Lab, have successfully modeled age-related muscle deterioration using tissue chips in the microgravity environment of space. This model allows for the testing of new therapies and a deeper study of sarcopenia beyond what is possible on Earth. (10/17)

NJIT Secures $5M NASA Grant to Create AI-Based Solar Eruption Research Center (Source: Space Daily)
NJIT's Institute for Space Weather Sciences (ISWS) has received a $5 million grant from NASA to establish a new research center focused on advancing solar eruption prediction using artificial intelligence. The AI-Powered Solar Eruption Center of Excellence in Research and Education (SEC) will collaborate with NASA, New York University, and IBM to develop AI and machine learning tools aimed at improving the prediction of solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These efforts will enhance understanding of these solar events and advance forecasting capabilities. (10/17)

Astroport and Orbit Fab Team Up to Drive Lunar Exploration Efforts (Source: Space Daily)
Astroport Space Technologies, Inc., a leader in space exploration technologies, and Orbit Fab, Inc., a specialist in in-space refueling, have announced a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the development of lunar infrastructure to support sustainable space exploration. The announcement took place at the 75th International Aeronautical Congress (IAC), attended by over 8,000 experts and representatives from 73 countries under the theme "Responsible Space for Sustainability." (10/17)