December 26, 2024

Europe’s Future in Space: Vega Cadence to Increase, HyImpulse’s Hybrid Rocket (Source: NSF)
European companies in the space sector have been developing novel technology to find their unique place in the market, allowing them to thrive and innovate while stepping towards developing their orbital vehicles. Some are supported by the European Space Agency (ESA), such as HyImpulse, Isar Aerospace, and Orbex, while other independent private companies, such as PLD Space, are forging their ambitious paths to reusability.

Arianespace launched three European orbital missions in 2024 from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana. The first was the maiden launch of an Ariane 6 rocket in July, the successor to the Ariane 5 as Europe’s premier heavy-lift vehicle. Ariane 6’s first flight also marked the debut of the ELA-4 pad at the launch site. Two other missions placed Sentinel Earth observation satellites into Sun-synchronous orbits aboard Vega rockets, with the most recent of which being the return-to-flight of the troubled Vega C. Carrying the Sentinel-1C, which was originally intended to launch aboard a Soyuz vehicle, Vega C flew for the first time in almost two years. Click here. (12/24)

Russia Launches Imaging Satellite n 2000th Soyuz (Source: TASS)
Russia launched an imaging satellite on the 2000th flight of a venerable rocket family. A Soyuz-2.1b rocket lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 2:45 a.m. Eastern Wednesday and placed the Resurs-P No. 5 remote sensing satellite into orbit. The satellite can provide imagery at a resolution sharper than one meter per pixel, primarily for civilian applications. The launch was the 2000th for the R-7 series of rockets, dating back to 1957. (12/26)

Starbase City Incorporation Steps Closer to Reality (Source: New York Times)
The proposed city of Starbase, Texas, would have about 500 residents and be run by a SpaceX security manager. SpaceX is seeking to incorporate its Starbase facility at Boca Chica, Texas, into a town, with residents of the area filing a petition with county officials earlier this month. According to a copy of the petition, the proposed town would have an area of about four square kilometers and include 500 people, nearly all of whom are affiliated with SpaceX. Officials with Cameron County said earlier this month that they would review the petition and determine whether to hold a special election on the incorporation request. (12/26)

Kratsios to Lead OSTP Under Trump (Source: Science)
The incoming Trump administration has selected Michael Kratsios to be director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Kratsios worked at OSTP in the first Trump administration and was later the White House's chief technology officer, and spent the last three years as an executive at an AI company. The selection of Kratsios suggests OSTP, whose activities include some aspects of civil space activities, will be focused on AI and related issues in the new administration. (12/26)

Failed Senate Bill Would Have Sped ISS Transition (Source: Space News)
A Senate bill would have pushed NASA to move faster on transitioning from the International Space Station to commercial space stations. A NASA authorization bill introduced last week by the bipartisan leadership of the Senate Commerce Committee included provisions directing NASA to ensure there is no gap in U.S. human presence in low Earth orbit, including milestones for contracts to support commercial successors that are earlier than NASA's current plans.

The bill also addressed concerns about cost growth on NASA science missions, calling for studies on the compliance with cost caps as well as the use of fixed-price contracts for a revised Mars Sample Return program. The bill was introduced too late to have any chance of passage, but may signal the priorities of the Senate Commerce Committee in the next Congress. (12/26)

NASA Picks Four Companies for Near Space Network (Source: Space News)
NASA selected four companies to provide commercial communications services for spacecraft in Earth orbit and out to the moon. NASA issued task orders to Intuitive Machines, KSAT, SSC Space U.S. and Viasat to support the agency's Near Space Network, which handles communications for NASA missions out to two million kilometers from Earth. The contracts will provide additional capacity for the network and are part of NASA's efforts to rely more on commercial communications services, which include phasing out the TDRS satellite network over the next decade in favor of commercial systems. (12/26)

Scientists Await Signal From Spacecraft After Historic Close Encounter With the Sun (Source: NPR)
Icarus may be known in Greek mythology as the one who flew too close to the sun. But today, it's NASA's Parker Solar Probe that turned the daring journey into reality. On Christmas Eve, the car-sized spacecraft came within 3.8 million miles of the sun's surface — marking humanity's closest approach ever.

To put it in perspective, NASA's probe was about 10-times closer to the home star than the orbit of the innermost planet, Mercury. As it flew around the sun, Parker also set a record for the fastest human-made object, reaching an incredible speed of 430,000 mph — which is fast enough to travel from New York to Tokyo in under a minute. (12/25)

Has CNES Opened the Door for a European Space Station? (Source: European Spaceflight)
French space agency CNES has announced that it intends to be an anchor customer for a new commercial microgravity service. In a 19 December call for proposals, CNES revealed that it intended to explore purchasing microgravity services for its payloads aboard platforms from up to three industrial partners. The proposed platforms must support payloads ranging from 1 to 30 kilograms, with volumes from 1U (a 10-centimetre cube) to one cubic meter, in both pressurized and non-pressurized environments, for mission durations of one week to six months.

The platforms will also be required to offer Earth return services. In addition to the baseline requirements, the agency has outlined a specific test case that involves a five-kilogram experiment housed in a 3U-sized volume, operating under microgravity conditions for three months. This technical outline seems to favor a capsule or Space Rider-like spacecraft rather than a full space station. However, if it serves as an agency-backed commercial stepping stone for microgravity services, it could lay the groundwork for a future European space station program. (12/26)

ESA Enlists Portuguese Navy Submarine to Prepare for Deep Space (Source: European Spaceflight)
To better understand the effects of deep-space missions on crews, the European Space Agency, the Portuguese Space Agency, and the Portuguese Navy are conducting a high-fidelity isolation and confinement study aboard a submarine. The first scientific mission of the Isolation and Standard Measures for ESA Submarine Missions (Subsea ISM) initiative is currently underway aboard one of the Portuguese Navy’s two diesel-electric Tridente-class submarines.

During the 60-day mission, scientists will use questionnaires and collect hair and saliva samples. This will allow them to track stress markers like cortisol and monitor changes in the crew’s immune health to see how the body adapts throughout the mission. (12/25)

Buy SpaceX Stock With Ease, But Beware The Risks (Source: Forbes)
SpaceX has become synonymous with innovation. From reusable rockets to the Starlink satellite internet network, SpaceX is transforming industries and cementing its place as a leader in space exploration. Unsurprisingly, it has also become one of the most sought-after investment opportunities globally. However, as a privately held company, SpaceX’s stock is not directly available to the public, creating challenges for investors eager to participate in its growth. Despite this limitation, several indirect paths allow individuals and institutions to gain exposure to SpaceX. These options come with varying levels of accessibility, costs, and risks. Click here. (12/25)

The Rocket is Too Round: What's Behind PSLV's Round Design (Source: India Today)
In a humorous nod to the challenges of space engineering, one might recall the dialogue from "The Dictator": "The missile is too round; it needs to be pointy," when the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) rolled out the PSLV-C60 with Spadex mission. The PSLV, a workhorse for Isro, has undergone significant modifications aimed at enhancing its performance and efficiency. This redesign is particularly crucial as Isro ramps up its launch capabilities, targeting 15+ launches per year.

During transit to the First Launch Pad, the PSLV's Stage 4 (PS4) was seen covered with a protective round hood, instead of the traditional payload fairing covering the satellite, which serves as a crucial safeguard during its journey. (12/25)

Candidates Needed for the Earth System Science Advisory Committee (Source: SpaceQ)
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) posted to its website that it is seeking candidates for the Earth System Science Advisory Committee. Members of the Earth System Science Advisory Committee will provide independent advice to the CSA. The CSA describes the Committee as follows. ESSAC “is one of several science advisory committees responsible for providing independent advice to the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) on its scientific disciplines, their associated programs and applications.

The committee concerns itself with the scientific discipline known as Earth system science, a multidisciplinary approach to studying Earth as a system. This approach involves studying the processes and interactions among the hydrosphere, cryosphere, biosphere, geosphere and the interactions of these spheres with the atmosphere that connects them. The impact of human activities is implicitly included in all spheres.” (12/24)

Why Intuitive Machines, Rocket Lab are top space picks for 2025 (Source: Yahoo! Finance)
Chanin emphasizes Trump's commitment to the space sector, citing past decisions like establishing the Space Force and appointing space industry experts as advisors. These are "pretty big signals that space is going to be something on the forefront of his mind in his next term."

Regarding Intuitive Machines (LUNR), Chanin notes, "This is a company that has really tried to plant its flag with a focus on space" through its lunar mission initiatives. While acknowledging the significant investments and challenges of lunar missions, he points out that "they have clearly shown their confidence in this growing cislunar economy." He references China's projections that the cislunar economy could generate multi-trillion dollars annually by 2050.

Discussing Rocket Lab (RKLB), Chanin states it has been "a major contributor" to the space sector. "They're setting some tremendous milestones for themselves," he says, highlighting the company's global operations, strategic partnerships, and innovative rocket development. He notes that "they've been doing a very good job" at capturing market share in the space industry. (12/23)