December 23, 2024

Scientists Claim Dark Energy Does Not Exist, and Accelerated Expansion of Universe is an Illusion Caused by Gravity Slowing Down Time (Source; LBV)
Researchers at the University of Canterbury offer an alternative explanation that removes the need for dark energy altogether. Their timescape model proposes that the appearance of an accelerating Universe is an illusion caused by the uneven effects of gravity on time. The theory hinges on a key principle of Einstein’s general relativity: gravity can distort the flow of time. In regions of space with strong gravitational fields, such as galaxies, time runs more slowly compared to vast, empty voids in the cosmos. These differences in time dilation mean that clocks in galactic regions would measure billions of years less than clocks in cosmic voids. (12/20)

STARCOM Activates Space Force’s First Cyber Range Squadron (Source: USSF)
Space Training and Readiness Command officially stood up the Space Force’s first cyber range squadron, the 33rd Range Squadron (RGS), during an activation ceremony on Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, Dec. 16, 2024. The new squadron, which falls under Space Delta 11, marks a critical milestone in advancing the Space Force’s ability to test, train, and prepare for cyber threats in the contested space domain. (12/20)

KSAT to Provide Near-Space Networking, Including Lunar Service (Source: KSAT)
Kongsberg Satellite Services (KSAT) has been selected by NASA to provide critical space-to-ground communication services in the Near Space Network (NSN) – including direct-to-Earth Lunar services. The Near Space Network plays a crucial role in NASA’s space communications infrastructure, providing reliable and secure data transmission for spacecraft operating in near-Earth orbits, including missions to the Moon. (12/23)

NASA Delays IMAP Launch (Source: Space News)
NASA is postponing the launch of three heliophysics missions by several months because of delays with the primary payload. NASA announced late Friday it was rescheduling the launch of the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) spacecraft from spring 2025 to no earlier than September, citing the need for more time to complete "flight systems preparations" with the spacecraft. IMAP, once planned for launch in 2024, has suffered several delays. It will operate at the Earth-sun L-1 point, studying the heliosphere and solar wind. NASA is flying two other spacecraft on the IMAP launch, the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory and NOAA's Space Weather Follow-On L-1 spacecraft, which also will be delayed. (12/23)

Turion Wins $32.6 Million From Space Force for In-Space Tracking Sats (Source: Space News)
Turion Space has been awarded a $32.6 million contract by the U.S. Space Force to launch three small satellites designed to monitor and track objects in orbit. The contract is part of a Strategic Financing Initiative (STRATFI) agreement from SpaceWERX, the Space Force's technology innovation arm, that matches government funds with private investment to accelerate the development and deployment of commercial space systems.  The satellites, scheduled for launch in 2026 and 2027, will carry payloads for space surveillance and debris tracking in LEO and GEO. The company launched its first satellite in 2023 to collect space situational awareness data. (12/23)

UK Government Funds In-Orbit Servicing Companies (Source: Space News)
Three in-orbit servicing companies won a U.K. government contract to help develop regulations for their planned missions. The British subsidiaries of Japan-based Astroscale, Switzerland's ClearSpace, and D-Orbit of Italy said Monday they jointly secured £690,000 ($869,000) from the U.K. Department for Science, Innovation and Technology for an initial "regulatory sandbox" phase. The companies will prepare a report in the next three months discussing various types of rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO) and make recommendations for licensing and regulation of them. A year-long second phase would likely follow to help flesh out a broad regulatory framework for RPO missions in partnership with the British government. (12/23)

Liechtenstein Signs Artemis Accords (Source: Space News)
Liechtenstein signed the Artemis Accords on Friday. The small European country signed the Accords in a ceremony at NASA Headquarters. Liechtenstein is the 52nd country to sign the Accords, which means the number of signatories is now more than half of the membership of the U.N.'s Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), which debates space issues. The growth of the Accords, advocates argue, helps create a "true global consensus" on topics ranging from interoperability to use of space resources. (12/23)

Rocket Lab Closes 2024 with 16 Launches (Source: Space News)
Rocket Lab closed out its busiest year to date with an Electron launch Saturday. The rocket lifted off from the company's New Zealand spaceport and placed a StriX radar imaging satellite into orbit for Japanese company Synspective. The launch was the 16th this year for the Electron, including two orbital launches. That broke the annual record of 10 set last year, but fell short of earlier predictions of as many as 22 launches. The launch took place days after Synspective made its debut on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, raising money to build out a constellation of 30 satellites by the end of the decade. Shares in the company shot up on the first day of trading last Thursday before falling back and stabilizing. (12/23)

SpaceX Launches Starlink Mission at Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: Florida Today)
SpaceX launched a set of Starlink satellites early Monday. A Falcon 9 lifted off at 12:35 a.m. Eastern from Cape Canaveral and deployed 21 Starlink satellites, 13 with direct-to-cell payloads. The launch took place a day after a rare last-second scrub of another Falcon 9 launch of four Astranis satellites. That launch has yet to be rescheduled. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said last week that the company hopes to finish the year with 136 Falcon launches, with a goal of 175 to 180 in 2025. (12/23)

China Launches Experimental Comsat (Source: Xinhua)
China launched an experimental communications satellite Friday. A Long March 3B deployed the TJS-12 satellite into a geostationary transfer orbit. The satellite will be used for testing communications technologies, but the Chinese government provided few details. (12/23)

SpaceX Teaming with Palantir, Anduril, OpenAI to Disrupt Defense Business (Source: Financial Times)
SpaceX is reportedly teaming up with several other companies to bid on defense contracts. The consortium is led by defense technology companies Palantir and Anduril and includes SpaceX, OpenAI and others. The group plans to formally announce their plans in January to compete against established prime contractors like Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, proposing higher performance at lower prices. The companies have not disclosed details about exactly what capabilities they will offer to the Defense Department. (12/23)