October 3, 2024

SpaceX Stand-Down Could Delay ESA Asteroid Mission (Source: Space News)
ESA is continuing to prepare for a launch next week of an asteroid mission despite the grounding of its Falcon 9 rocket. At a briefing Wednesday, project officials for the Hera mission said they were continuing final preparations for the launch, scheduled for Monday from Cape Canaveral. Those preparations continue even though the rocket remains grounded after an anomaly during the deorbit burn of the upper stage on a launch Saturday. ESA officials said they are making sure they will be ready to go once the FAA allows launches to resume, adding that they are willing to be the return-to-flight mission of the rocket. (10/3)

SAR Companies Tailor Offerings to DoD and Intelligence Customers (Source: Space News)
Companies developing synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging satellites are introducing new capabilities tailored for defense and intelligence customers. Finnish company Iceye announced Wednesday that its SAR satellites, designed to be able to see objects on the Earth's surface as small as 25 centimeters, can now identify specific types of military equipment and even detect targets hidden beneath tree cover or dense foliage.

The company says it has added new imaging features to meet the demands of defense and intelligence customers that need to monitor fast-moving geopolitical situations. Other SAR companies report growing interest from foreign governments in establishing their own sovereign SAR constellations. (10/3)

In-Orbit Aerospace Wins USAF Hypersonics Contract (Source: Space News)
Startup In-Orbit Aerospace won an Air Force contract to detect and manage anomalies in hypersonic flight. The $1.8 million contract from AFWERX covers work to create machine-learning algorithms to detect hypersonic vehicle anomalies as they happen and make "informed decisions" on ways to reduce risk to the vehicle and mission caused by those anomalies. The work supports the long-term plans of In-Orbit Aerospace to develop cargo transportation systems for in-space manufacturing and research. (10/3)

ESA Releases Earth Observation Strategy (Source: ESA)
ESA released a new Earth observation strategy this week. The "Earth Science in Action for Tomorrow's World" report outlines priorities for ESA's Earth science efforts through 2040. The strategy marks a shift from studying specific Earth system domains to understanding the interconnections and feedback mechanisms among them. That includes identifying critical knowledge gaps that could be filled with future missions. (10/3)

SKA Scales Back (Source: Nature)
A massive radio telescope array is slowing its expansion plans. The Square Kilometer Array (SKA) observatory includes, in its first phase, 197 medium-frequency dishes in South Africa and more than 130,000 low-frequency antennas in Australia. A second phase was to expand into eight African countries, installing 2,000 dishes. However, the head of SKA said that those plans have "evolved" because of limited funding, stalling the expansion in Africa, adding that those original plans are "probably just impractical" today. A handful of dishes will be added to the SKA in Africa in the near future, though. (10/3)

NASA Prepares for Lunar Terrain Vehicle Testing (Source: NASA)
When astronauts return to the Moon as part of NASA’s Artemis campaign, they will benefit from having a human-rated unpressurized LTV (Lunar Terrain Vehicle) that will allow them to explore more of the lunar surface, enabling diverse scientific discoveries. As crewed Artemis missions near, engineers at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston are designing an unpressurized rover prototype, known as the Ground Test Unit. The test unit will employ a flexible architecture to simulate and evaluate different rover concepts for use beginning with Artemis V.

In April 2024, as part of the Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services contract, NASA selected three vendors — Intuitive Machines, Lunar Outpost, and Venturi Astrolab — to supply rover capabilities for use by astronauts on the lunar surface. While the test unit will never go to the Moon, it will support the development of additional rover prototypes that will enable NASA and the three companies to continue making progress until one of the providers comes online. Additionally, data provided from GTU testing helps inform both NASA and the commercial companies as they continue evolving their rover designs. (10/2)

New Triple Star System Sets Shortest Orbital Period Record (Source: Phys.org)
Professional and amateur astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery with the help of artificial intelligence, identifying a unique triple star system named TIC 290061484. This stellar trio was uncovered through cosmic "strobe lights" observed by NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). TIC 290061484 features a pair of twin stars that orbit each other every 1.8 days, along with a third star that orbits the duo in just 25 days. This remarkable finding breaks the previous record for the shortest outer orbital period in such systems, which was established in 1956 with a third star orbiting an inner pair in 33 days. (10/2)

Scientists Find Evidence of ‘Negative Time’ (Source: Independent)
Scientists claim to have found evidence of “negative time” after observing photons exiting a material before entering it. A team of quantum physicists from the University of Toronto in Canada made the discovery after studying the behavior of photons – the wave particles of light – for seven years in order to better understand a phenomenon known as atomic excitation. This is where photons absorbed by a material experience a time delay – also known as a group delay – before exiting the material due to their interactions with atoms within it. (10/1)

Meet SpaceHopper, a Three-Legged Hopping Asteroid Explorer (Source: CNN)
Today, robots are playing a leading role in space exploration. SpaceHopper is a three-legged robot designed for exploring microgravity environments, like the surface of asteroids. Developed by university students at ETH Zurich, in Switzerland, it bends its legs to propel itself off the ground. As it careens through the air, it flails its limbs like a falling cat trying to right itself, to stabilize itself in midair and land on its feet. (10/2)

Oman Spaceport’s Maiden Space Launch Likely in December (Source: Zawya)
The first launch of a space rocket from Oman’s Etlaq spaceport in Duqm is expected to take place this December, according to Dr Saoud al Shoaili, Director-General and Head of the National Space Program at the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology (MTCIT). Oman’s geographical location, being close to the equator, gives it a distinct advantage. This makes Oman a highly attractive option for satellite launches, says Dr. al Shoaili. Additionally, he emphasized the economic potential of the spaceport.

The spaceport will provide rocket and satellite launch services for research and commercial purposes and rocket assembly and testing facilities. Furthermore, it will include multiple research and development centers. The project is one of Oman’s most notable private initiatives in the space sector. "As more companies realize the economic benefits of launching from Oman — such as lower costs and the security offered by our political neutrality—they may choose Oman over other locations for their launches. Our neutrality ensures that no foreign entity can interfere with or control their assets.” (10/3)

SpaceX’s Mission to Improve Starlink Gets Pushback From Europe (Source: Teslarati)
SpaceX’s mission to improve Starlink Cellular (aka Starlink Direct-to-Cell) by operating beyond normal radio frequency parameters gets pushback from Europe. Several phone network operators and service providers in Europe wrote to the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) dissuading the regulatory agency from supporting any requests regarding the relaxation of “safeguards to protect licensed terrestrial mobile network operators and their users from harmful interference.” (10/2)

Unique NASA Partnerships Spark STEM Learning on Global Scale (Source: NASA)
NASA offers a world of experiences and opportunities to engage young explorers around the globe in the excitement of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement collaborates with experts throughout the agency, the U.S. government, and a variety of global partners to spark inspiration in Artemis Generation students everywhere. Click here. (10/2)

Facility Managers, Assemble: Protecting Johnson Space Center’s People and Places (Source: NASA)
Not all heroes wear capes (or blue flight suits). At Johnson Space Center in Houston, the heroes might train their colleagues how to safely respond and evacuate their office in an emergency. They might investigate office accidents and remove potential hazards. Or they might help fix a leaky bathroom sink or a broken coffee maker.

Those heroes are approximately 135 on-site facility managers who ensure the safety and health of every building and its occupants. Established in 2009, the Facility Manager program encompasses buildings at Johnson Space Center, Sonny Carter Training Facility, and Ellington Field. These individuals develop emergency action plans and serve as facility fire wardens. They post safety alerts, notices of renovation and construction work, and share information about impending interruptions to building access or utilities. (10/2)

Moonwalker Neil Armstrong's Speech Notes Posted Online by Purdue (Source: CollectSpace)
Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong is perhaps best known for saying 11 words on July 20, 1969 (12, if you count the "a"): "That's one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind." But there is much, much more to his oral record, as his alma mater can now confirm — and everyone can access. The Archives and Special Collections (ASC) division of Purdue University Libraries in West Lafayette, Indiana, has completed scanning the transcripts used by the first moonwalker for his public addresses and some of his speeches. (10/2)

GPS Jamming? No Problem, LEO Satellites Hold the Key to Resilient, Interference-Free Navigation (Source: NewsHub)
Increasingly occurring GPS jamming in Finland disrupts the daily civilian activities, posing major navigational challenges. A new patented method using Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites and massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antennas addresses these location vulnerability issues, presenting means for precise navigation even where traditional global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) fail. This breakthrough was verified in a recent doctoral dissertation by Mahmoud Elsanhoury, from the University of Vaasa. (9/26)

Flyby Anomaly: The Unexplained Phenomenon Affecting Several NASA Spacecraft (Source: IFL Science)
On December 8, 1990, the NASA Galileo spacecraft experienced what has been dubbed a "flyby anomaly" as it flew past the Earth on its way to Jupiter and its moons. The anomaly, seen in several other spacecraft since then, remains an unexplained mystery to this day.

In missions to visit objects in the faraway Solar System, NASA has regularly employed "gravity assists". As spacecraft approach a large body (planets or a star), momentum is transferred from the planet to the craft, slowing the orbit of the object a tiny amount in exchange for a significant increase in velocity. In essence, you steal a bit of kinetic energy from the planet or star.

"We report here on results from a recent study involving the data analysis and interpretation of radio Doppler data from all six flybys. We find that there is indeed an anomalous energy change during Earth flybys on the order of 10-6 , although we have been unable to find a physical cause or systematic error source for the anomaly," the team who spotted the anomaly wrote in 2008. (9/25)

Space Force Awards $25 Million Contract for Satellite Data Integration (Source: Space News)
Outside Analytics, a software and data processing specialist, was awarded a $25 million contract to integrate data from missile-warning satellites and other sensors at the U.S. Space Force’s Tools, Applications, and Processing (TAP) Laboratory, the service announced Sep. 25.

The $25 million award is the first task order under a larger five-year, $215 million Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract that Outside Analytics secured in June under the Small Business Innovation Research program. The IDIQ framework allows defense organizations to issue additional task orders over the contract’s duration, simplifying the procurement process by removing the need to negotiate new contracts for each request. (10/2)

Las Vegas Spaceport Seeks FAA Permit for ‘Horizontal Launch Facility’ (Source: KLAS)
A pivotal step in the development of a civilian space training facility — the Las Vegas Spaceport — was announced Tuesday as the company requested a federal license for an airstrip for spaceplanes. The “horizontal launch facility” requires approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and is expected to take about two years for approval.

Permits for construction of the airstrip were approved by Clark County in May. At the time, Spaceport officials expected the FAA approval process to move faster, but an airstrip is a necessary step in the project’s development with a long-term goal of a launch facility. (10/1)

A Look at New Glenn (Source: Astronomy Magazine)
The first stage is powered by seven BE-4 engines (which use liquid oxygen and methane for propellant), while the second stage utilizes two smaller BE-3U engines (powered by liquid oxygen and hydrogen). If all goes as planned, New Glenn will be able to place a 100,000-pound payload into Earth orbit and a 15,000-pound payload on a trajectory to the Moon.

New Glenn’s first stage, unlike Falcon 9, is outfitted with four movable, aerodynamic control surfaces referred to as fins, which allow for attitude adjustment during the descent and landing of the first stage. Below these fins, the first stage is also adorned with two strakes. Strakes are long, winglike projections that control airflow and provide stabilization. The strakes on New Glenn will provide some lift during flight of the first stage, and strakes in general are used to increase the stability of both rockets and aircraft in flight. The fins and strakes give New Glenn a very different profile than the streamlined Falcon 9. Click here. (9/30)

Some of Uranus' Moons Might be Able to Support Life. Here's What a Mission Might Reveal (Source: Space.com)
Increasingly, the astrobiology community has been looking beyond the Jupiter and Saturn systems. They're calling for a mission to Uranus and its moons, as a number of Uranus' moons have displayed telltale signs of having internal liquid oceans and chemical compositions that could be favorable to life. Indeed, sending a spacecraft to these far-off moons could reveal clues about their habitability and the mechanisms behind the formation and evolution of these worlds, planetary scientists explained in a recent paper. (10/1)

Chinese Scientists Analyze Lunar Farside Samples Collected by Chang'e-6 (Source: Space Daily)
A team of Chinese scientists has conducted a detailed study of the first lunar samples retrieved from the Moon's farside by the Chang'e-6 mission. These groundbreaking samples mark a key achievement in lunar exploration, offering new insights into the Moon's geological history. The research was published in the 'National Science Review' on September 17, 2024. (9/27)

Veteran Ventures Capital Invests in Agile Space Industries (Source: Space Daily)
Veteran Ventures Capital (VVC), a firm focused on investing in dual-use national security technology companies led by veterans, announced a strategic investment in Agile Space Industries. Agile specializes in developing advanced chemical propulsion systems for satellites and spacecraft, including thrusters and rocket engines, which are designed, 3D printed, and tested in-house. This investment is the first from Veteran Ventures Capital's 2nd Fund and complements their prior investment in Phase Four, a company focused on electric and multi-mode propulsion systems.

Agile's propulsion technologies offer fast response times and high thrust efficiency, which are essential for missions like maneuvering, orbit adjustments, and deep-space exploration. As the space propulsion market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) exceeding 30% by 2030, VVC's investment in Agile strengthens its portfolio, complementing Phase Four's electric solutions to address the growing demand for both chemical and electric propulsion systems in commercial and national security sectors. (9/27)

Breaking Down Elon Musk's Big Beef With The FAA (Source: Forbes)
The latest salvo in an escalating battle between Elon Musk and the FAA is about launch dates and fines related to alleged SpaceX launch violations over unauthorized plans. SpaceX sent a letter to the heads of both Senate and House committees overseeing commercial space regulation, aiming to rebut each penalty. When SpaceX posted the letter on X, the company noted that it has been voicing concerns against the FAA for nearly two years for its “inability to keep pace with the commercial spaceflight industry.”

Adding another layer to the spat: Musk could hypothetically become a regulator himself. Donald Trump has floated the idea of tapping Musk to run a new committee on government efficiency. The body would perform internal performance and financial audits on the federal government. SpaceX’s feud with the FAA may be core to Musk’s interest in government efficiency. “Unfortunately, we continue to be stuck in a reality where it takes longer to do the government paperwork to license a rocket launch than it does to design and build the actual hardware,” the company wrote in a blog post that slammed the FAA for the launch delay. “This should never happen and directly threatens America’s position as the leader in space.”

Musk’s accusations contrast from past criticism of the agency, which has been called out for lax regulation of the aircraft industry. The FAA seems to be taking a different tack with SpaceX, which is a welcome change, said Jim Hall, a former NTSB chairman. “We don’t need another bully like Boeing,” he said. “It’s time for the FAA to do its job. It hasn’t in the past, particularly as it has pertained to Boeing.”  (10/1)

NASA Contractor Beats Maintenance Worker's California Wage Case (Source: Bloomberg Law)
Jacobs Technology Inc. defeated claims that it failed to comply with California wage laws for maintenance workers placed at a NASA facility because the research center is part of an exempt federal enclave, a judge said. (10/1)

Boosting SpaceForest Suborbital Rocket (Source: ESA)
ESA and SpaceForest just signed a ‘Boost!’ contract to further develop and commercialise the Perun suborbital launch service. Based in Poland, SpaceForest is developing a new commercial single-stage European sounding rocket offering almost four minutes of microgravity experimentation time. The 11.5-m tall rocket will be able to launch 50 kg up to 150 km in altitude while also stabilising the payload for high-quality microgravity periods of flight. (10/1)

The Politically Incorrect Guide to Saving NASA’s Floundering Artemis Program (Source: Ars Technica)
Regardless of the outcome of this year’s election, the United States will have a new president in a few months. Although there are myriad issues of greater importance than spaceflight to most Americans, a new leader of the country will inevitably take a fresh look at the nation’s space policy. Among the highest priorities for the next administration should be shoring up NASA’s Artemis plan to return humans to the Moon.

This ambitious and important program is now half a decade old, and while the overall aims remain well supported in Congress and the space community, there are some worrying cracks in the foundation. The fundamental problem with Artemis, therefore, is that NASA is trying to do too much with its deep space program with too few resources. We have already seen evidence of NASA cannibalizing its science programs—including significant cuts to the Chandra space telescope and the cancellation of the VIPER mission—to support Artemis' ballooning costs.

If the agency continues down this path, like a frog in boiling water, the Artemis Program is likely to end in failure. With that context, here are the principal policy choices I believe should be made to shore up the Artemis Program both in the near and long term: a) Cancel the Lunar Gateway; b) Cancel the Block 1B upgrade of the SLS rocket; and c) Designate Centaur V as the new upper stage for the SLS rocket. (10/1)

NASA Needs a ‘Lunar Marathon’ to Match China on the Moon (Source: Scientific American)
The moon is our closest celestial neighbor—and a prize to be won. It has already served as a battleground for one of history’s most epic technological triumphs, the race between the U.S. and the Soviets that put footprints and flags on the lunar surface. In 1969 the U.S. won that battle with NASA’s Apollo program and its “giant leap for mankind,” emerging as the clear leader in human space exploration.

Now a new race for lunar dominance is taking flight. This time the race is not a sprint toward a single goal—landing humans on the moon—but a marathon that requires a sustained long-term presence on the lunar surface. And this time, the competitors are different: the top contenders are the U.S. and China, but a few other spacefaring nations and commercial companies are also in the game. The U.S. lunar exploration program has often twisted in the political winds, inconsistent and unfocused, struggling to deliver its key elements and meet goals. Its outlines emerged in 2004, with the goal of using the moon as a stepping stone toward sending humans to Mars.

In 2009 this vision abruptly changed, and new targets—an asteroid and Mars—were in. In 2017, however, NASA’s Artemis program shifted the focus back to the moon, both for sustainable exploration with commercial and international partners, and with the goal of advancing human exploration of Mars. Yet recent decisions and budget prioritizations for Artemis reflect an overfocus on its Space Launch System (SLS), a multibillion-dollar-per-launch rocket program, at the considerable expense of broader science and technology imperatives. (10/1)