November 20, 2024

Space-Based 3D Cell Culture Research Paves the Way for New Cancer Therapies (Source: CASIS)
In October, we think pink, and for a good reason—one out of every eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime, and each year, 2 million women are given this frightening diagnosis. Biotechnology startup MicroQuin leveraged the ISS National Laboratory to grow 3D breast and prostate cancer cell cultures to learn more about how these cancers develop and grow. However, the research team found something incredible that could lead to a way to treat not just breast and prostate cancers but all cancers.

Through MicroQuin’s ISS National Lab-sponsored research, the team identified microgravity-induced changes in cancer cell signaling that revealed something critical to cancer cell survival. Cancer cells’ survival depends on their ability to regulate changes in their intracellular environment (the environment within the cells). As part of MicroQuin’s research, the team crystallized a protein called TMBIM6 that plays a key role in regulating cells’ intracellular environment and determined its structure. (11/19)

The One Agency That Might have the Muscle to Oppose Elon Musk (Source: Politico)
One of the most cautious, rules-bound arms of the federal government is on a collision course with possibly its most dangerous opponent yet: “first buddy” Elon Musk.

The Federal Aviation Administration has spent years tangling with Musk’s SpaceX for violations related to its operations, including multiple incidents when the company launched rockets without approval. During the past year, the agency proposed fining SpaceX $633,009 for twice using plans the agency had not green-lighted, and forced the company to idle its launch pads in Texas for months because of a pending Fish and Wildlife Service review.

And go-fast-break-things Musk has responded with scorched earth. He’s used his social media megaphone to threaten to sue the agency for “regulatory overreach,” accused it of “politically motivated behavior,” taunted the FAA with crude humor and poked at the agency’s rules, which he says move too slowly to meet his goal of getting human civilization to Mars. He has also called for the resignation of FAA leader Mike Whitaker — who has four years left on the job, assuming he serves out his term. (11/18)

Could Sale of Boeing's Space Business Benefit the Space Coast? (Source: Florida Today)
Boeing space-business sale would end Space Coast era. But could it create a strong competitor? By ditching its space division, industry experts said Boeing could re-focus on fixing safety and manufacturing issues with its core airplane business. A sale of Boeing’s key space assets could lead to the creation of more jobs on the Space Coast, experts said, but there’s also the risk a deal would eliminate competition. (11/18)

Can the Trump-Musk 'Bromance' Last? (Source: Space Daily)
The world's richest man, Elon Musk, has been an ever-present sidekick for President-elect Donald Trump since the US election at the start of the month. "I can't get him out of here," Trump joked about Musk at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida last Thursday. "I like having him here as well. He's done a fantastic job, an incredible mind."

But can the bromance between the world's wealthiest man and the soon-to-be US president survive some major policy differences and their own combustible personalities? Click here. (11/18)

Navigating the Digital Skies: How Adtech is Revolutionizing Space Tourism Marketing (Source: Space Daily)
Imagine you're scrolling through social media when an ad appears: "Book your ticket to orbit - limited spots for 2025!" Adtech is making it possible to reach niche audiences dreaming of the ultimate journey. Space tourism isn't just about selling seats on a spacecraft - it's about weaving the narrative of exploration, luxury, and cutting-edge technology into a brand experience.

Advanced data analytics, programmatic advertising, and precision targeting enable space tourism companies to identify and engage their ideal customers. As Epom, the provider of adtech solutions, aptly demonstrates, robust adtech platforms streamline this process, ensuring campaigns deliver impact without wasting resources. (11/19)

Starship Launches Again at Texas Site (Source: Space News)
SpaceX launched its Starship vehicle on its sixth test flight but called off an attempt to "catch" the booster back at the launch site. Starship/Super Heavy lifted off from Boca Chica, Texas, at 5 p.m. Eastern, with President-elect Trump among those in attendance. SpaceX planned to have the Super Heavy booster return to the launch site to be caught by the launch tower as on the previous test flight in October, but controllers aborted that attempt and directed the booster to make a landing in the Gulf of Mexico just offshore.

SpaceX later said that "automated health checks of critical hardware on the launch and catch tower" triggered the abort. The Starship upper stage flew on a suborbital trajectory, testing the ability relight a Raptor engine in flight, before reentering and making a soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean. (11/20)

IRIS² Approved - Too Little Too Late? (Source: Space News)
While Europe is moving ahead with the IRIS² satellite constellation, some believe the program could be too little, too late. A panel at Space Tech Expo Europe reached that conclusion Tuesday, noting the constellation is not scheduled to enter service in 2030, lagging Starlink and other Western and Chinese competitors. While IRIS² will have military and civil government applications for Europe, it is unclear if it can compete on price and scale with commercial alternatives. Europe also faces hurdles in standardizing satellite and ground systems, which can slow down progress.  (11/20)

Supply Chain Issues Delay SDA LEO Constellation (Source: Space News)
The Space Development Agency (SDA) is pushing back the first launches of the next phase of its LEO satellite constellation because of supply chain issues. The first launch of Tranche 1 of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture was originally scheduled for September 2024, but is now expected in March or April 2025. SDA Director Derek Tournear said Tuesday that his agency has encountered significant hurdles in its supply chain, particularly in optical terminals and specialized encryption devices requiring National Security Agency certification. The deployment of Tranche 1 will require 11 launches, scheduled on a monthly cadence, to deploy 126 communications satellites and 28 missile-tracking sensor satellites. (11/20)

Commission Urges Focus on Countering China's Space Advances (Source: Space News)
A congressional advisory body is calling for urgent measures to counter China's rapid advancements in space and other advanced technologies. The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission released its annual report Tuesday, highlighting how China has integrated cutting-edge technologies into its economic and military strategies. It noted the growth of Chinese space-based surveillance capabilities and anti-satellite weapons. Among its 32 recommendations, the commission urges Congress to prioritize space as a vital arena of competition and conduct a comprehensive review of the U.S. commercial space industry. (11/20)

ISS Maneuvers to Avoid Debris After Progress Cargo Departure (Sources: NASA, TASS)
The International Space Station had to maneuver Tuesday to avoid a close approach with space debris. A Progress spacecraft docked to the station fired its thrusters for five and a half minutes to raise the station's orbit slightly, giving the station greater clearance with a piece of debris from a U.S. military weather satellite that broke up in 2015. NASA said the maneuver won't affect a planned launch Thursday of a new Progress spacecraft.

The maneuver took pace hours after another Progress undocked from the station. The Progress MS-27 undocked from the station at 7:53 a.m. Eastern and reentered hours later over the South Pacific. Its departure freed up a docking port for Thursday's launch of the Progress MS-29 spacecraft. (11/20)

SEOPS Buys Falcon 9 Mission to GEO (Source: Space News)
Rideshare company SEOPS has purchased a Falcon 9 for a dedicated mission to geostationary transfer orbit. SEOPS announced Tuesday at Space Tech Expo Europe that it purchased a Falcon 9 for a launch in late 2028 to GTO. SEOPS had not identified specific customers for the mission but says it is seeing strong interest from government and commercial customers looking for options to get spacecraft to geosynchronous or other high orbits. (11/20)

Exotrail to Launch Spacevan to GTO on Ariane 6 (Source: Space News)
Exotrail will launch an orbital transfer vehicle to GTO on an Ariane 6. Exotrail and Arianespace announced Tuesday that Exotrail's spacevan vehicle will fly as a secondary payload on an Ariane 6 launch in the second half of 2026. That spacevan vehicle is a version of an orbital transfer vehicle Exotrail launched a year ago and deployed a satellite into low Earth orbit in February. (11/20)

Latitude Signs with Atmos for Multi-Launch Package (Source: Space News)
Latitude signed a multi-launch deal with Atmos Space Cargo. The contract, announced at Space Tech Expo Europe Tuesday, includes a minimum of five launches of Latitude's Zephyr small launch vehicle annually from 2028 to 2032. Each launch will place a Phoenix spacecraft from Atmos into very low Earth orbit to perform microgravity research before returning to Earth. Latitude says it remains on track to conduct a first launch of Zephyr in late 2025. (11/20)

Kepler Seeks Permission for Larger Satellites (Source: Space News)
Kepler Communications is seeking permission to operate larger but significantly fewer satellites for a data relay constellation. The Canadian company is asking the FCC to approve a modified constellation of 18 satellites, 10 with optical payloads, slated to launch late next year. Its original license granted in 2018 covering 140 radio frequency spacecraft about 12 kilograms in size. The company is moving to a smaller number of bigger satellites to accommodate optical terminals that Kepler believes are now sufficiently mature to use in their system. The larger satellites will also accommodate propulsion systems to meet FCC rules that require satellites to deorbit within five years of the end of their lives. (11/20)

NASA to Assign Cargo Missions to SpaceX and Blue Origin for Artemis (Source: Space Daily)
NASA is set to deepen its Artemis campaign, targeting long-term lunar exploration, by assigning key cargo missions to SpaceX and Blue Origin under their current contracts. This move supports NASA's goal of fostering scientific advancement and sustainable operations on the Moon. Following successful design certification reviews, NASA plans to award demonstration missions to SpaceX and Blue Origin to further develop and test their large cargo landers. This initiative stems from a 2023 request for the development of cargo variants of the human landing systems being prepared for Artemis III, IV, and V. (11/20)

Orion Space Solutions Set to Enhance On-Orbit Refueling for U.S. Space Force (Source: Space Daily)
Orion Space Solutions (Orion), a subsidiary of Arcfield, has secured an additional contract from the U.S. Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) to extend its work on the Tetra-6 mission. This four-year award builds upon Orion's existing Tetra-5 prime contract, focusing on advancing refueling technologies in space. The Tetra-6 mission aims to showcase a distinct refueling approach compared to the one utilized by the Tetra-5 spacecraft. Currently, the Tetra-6 SmallSat prototype is in development with a planned launch in 2027, following the Tetra-5 mission by two years. Both missions will be stationed in geostationary orbit (GEO) and are expected to operate for at least two years. (11/20)

Fort Detrick Maryland Chosen as Permanent Site for Wideband Military SATCOM Training (Source: Space Daily)
Fort Detrick, Maryland, has been designated as the permanent home of the Wideband Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Operations Center (WSOC), which will host the Wideband Transmission Controller Operator Course (WTCOC). This course trains Guardians in managing satellite transmissions across the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) and Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) constellations. This move consolidates training efforts under the U.S. Space Force (USSF), enabling the incorporation of the active Wideband SATCOM Operational Management System (WSOMS) node maintained at Fort Detrick. (11/16)

Morpheus Space Announces Collaboration with D-Orbit for GO-2 In-Orbit Test Mission (Source: Space Daily)
Morpheus Space, a leading innovator in in-space mobility solutions, has revealed a partnership with D-Orbit, a prominent space logistics provider, to conduct an in-orbit demonstration mission aboard the ION Satellite Carrier, D-Orbit's orbital transfer vehicle. This mission will showcase the cutting-edge performance of Morpheus' GO-2 electric propulsion system in an operational space environment. (11/20)

SDA Plans Proliferated Warfighter Solicitation (Sources: Federal News Network, WFED-AM)
The Space Development Agency is working to release its solicitation for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture in January, with Tranche 1 set for launch from March to April and Tranche 2 production underway. Tranche 3 will feature position, navigation and timing services and enhanced missile tracking. (11/19)

Aerospace Firms Call for European defense, Space Unity (Sources: Daily Mail, Reuters)
European aerospace companies, including Airbus and Saab, are calling for increased collaboration among European nations to strengthen the continent's defense and space industries. This push comes amid concerns over the potential policy changes with the re-election of Donald Trump as US president, which could affect European security commitments, and to better compete with companies like SpaceX. (11/19)