January 18, 2025

China Launches Tianlu-1 Satellite to Explore Middle, Upper Atmosphere (Source: Xinhua)
An atmospheric sounding satellite, developed by China's private satellite manufacturer GalaxySpace, entered its preset orbit on Friday after the launch that also sent another two satellites into space. The satellite, named Tianlu-1, features high vertical resolution, multi-parameter detection and all-weather observation capabilities. It is designed for limb-sounding detection of the middle and upper atmosphere.

According to GalaxySpace, the satellite offers advanced tools and technologies for exploring the middle and upper atmosphere, enabling the systematic collection of spatial datasets that feature vertical profiles of the region. (1/17)

With Airbus and Maxar Deals, Dutch Double Up on Space-Based ISR Business (Source: Breaking Defense)
The Netherlands has committed to modernizing its space-based sensing and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities after signing two contracts this month with Europe’s Airbus and US-based Maxar. The new four-year partnership with Airbus, the value of which was not disclosed, covers access to the manufacturer’s OneAtlas satellite data platform that opens up an “extensive suite of capabilities including optical, radar, and elevation data,” according to a company statement. (1/17)

Transportation Secretary Nominee Vows to Review SpaceX Launch License Fines (Source: Space News)
President-elect Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Transportation (DOT) says he will reconsider fines levied by the Federal Aviation Administration against SpaceX for launch license violations. Sean Duffy, Trump’s nominee to serve as Secretary of Transportation, told members of the Senate Commerce Committee at a Jan. 15 confirmation hearing that he would “review” the fines against SpaceX as well as more broadly review the regulatory process for commercial launches. (1/17)

Thaicom Pushes Back Against Takeover Bid (Source: Space News)
Thaicom’s board is urging shareholders to reject a takeover bid for the Thai geostationary satellite operator if its stock remains above the 11 baht ($0.32) per share offer until the tender closes Feb. 6. The offer, from Thai billionaire Sarath Ratanavadi, power producer Gulf Energy Development and mobile operator Intouch Holdings, falls within an independent valuation range of 10.94–14.62 baht. (1/17)

Seattle-Area Firm Launches Program to Back Ideas for Space Ventures with Million-Dollar Bets (Source: Geekwire)
Seattle-area venture capital firm Fuse wants to light a spark for entrepreneurs focusing on the final frontier, and it’s willing to invest a million dollars to turn a good idea into a great startup. The Fuse Space Program will focus on the Seattle space ecosystem in particular, said Brendan Wales, founding partner at the Bellevue, Wash.-based firm.

Fuse has already been there with financial backing for a couple of space ventures: Redmond, Wash.-based Lumen Orbit, which aims to put data centers in Earth orbit; and Colorado-based Quindar, which markets spacecraft management software. Wales said the CEOs of Lumen and Quindar will serve as “venture scouts” for the Fuse Space Program. The basic idea is that Fuse will provide $1 million or more in pre-seed funding for promising space startups. Those investments will come in part from Fuse’s second venture fund, a $250 million chunk of capital that Fuse raised in 2023. (1/17)

FAA Requiring Mishap Investigations for Both Blue Origin and SpaceX (Source: Space Policy Online)
The FAA is requiring Blue Origin and SpaceX to perform mishap investigations for their separate launch-related anomalies yesterday. Blue Origin’s New Glenn-1 mission successfully reached orbit, but the first stage did not land on a barge in the Atlantic as planned. SpaceX’s Starship Integrated Flight Test-7 ended when the second stage, Starship, disintegrated over the Caribbean near Turks and Caicos Islands. (1/17)

SpaceForest Successfully Test-Fires Upgraded Hybrid Rocket Engine (Source: European Spaceflight)
Polish suborbital launch services company SpaceForest has successfully test-fired an enhanced version of its SF-1000 hybrid rocket engine. The project was supported by the European Space Agency through its Boost! Program. Founded in 2011, SpaceForest is developing PERUN, an 11.5-metre suborbital rocket designed to carry 50-kilogram payloads to altitudes of up to 150 kilometres. To date, the company has launched a pair of test flights. The flights, which were conducted in 2023, both suffered anomalies that forced them to be aborted before the rocket reached the 50-kilometre target. (1/18)

Another Canadian Spaceport Planned (Source: The Telegram)
If it gets approval, St. Lawrence could be home to Canada’s first commercial spaceport, making history as it launches the country’s own vehicles into space for the first time, according to town documents. Canadian aerospace organization NordSpace submitted a proposal to the town on the Burin Peninsula to develop the spaceport, a facility used to launch small space vehicles.

The development includes two proposed sites: launchpads, hangars and fuel storage, located at Deep Cove; and a mission control centre near Middle Head Lighthouse to hold communications and tracking systems. The local town council is proposing to amend the municipal plan and development regulations to recognize spaceports as a land use and allow them in the rural land use designation and use zone, subject to approval by Transport Canada and provincial environmental review. (1/17)

Regulators are Investigating Reports of Property Damage From SpaceX Starship’s Explosion (Source: CNN)
US regulators and government officials in Turks and Caicos are looking into reports of property damage in the island nation caused by debris falling after a SpaceX Starship vehicle exploded over the ocean during a test mission Thursday, according to the FAA. Flights of the spacecraft and rocket system are now grounded pending an investigation into the mishap, the agency confirmed in a Friday statement. The FAA and Turks and Caicos officials both said Friday there were no reported injuries.

SpaceX and Turks and Caicos authorities are urging members of the public who may find a piece of debris not to handle the object, but to contact local authorities or the company. Some unverified social media reports have shown physical debris on the island. Early analysis “indicates a fire developed in the aft section of the ship, leading to a rapid unscheduled disassembly,” SpaceX said in a statement. (1/17)

Japanese Balloon Trips for ‘Space Sightseeing’ to Be Launched in April at Earliest; Space Tourists Can Fly to Stratosphere (Source: Yomiuri Shimbun)
Iwaya Inc., a Hokkaido-based startup, announced that it will begin offering balloon trips to the stratosphere for a view of near space sometime between April and June. The trip will involve a polyethylene balloon filled with gas flying to the stratosphere, more than 20 kilometers above ground, and those aboard will be able to see near space from a sphere-shaped air-tight cabin attached to the balloon. The cabin is 1.7 meters in diameter and can accommodate up to two people. (1/18)

Power Outages, Sonic Booms, Traffic Yie-Ups, Security Drones — the Challenges of Living with SpaceX (Source: San Antonio Express-News)
Keith Reynolds heard a bang, his TV blew out, the power went off and he knew whatever just happened was somehow related to his neighbor. He eventually found out that heavy equipment working along Texas 4 near SpaceX’s rocket launch facility struck power lines and knocked out electricity for more than 1,300 people — but the private space company, local utility and government officials stayed mum.

Reynolds knew this much: The surge fried his electric meter, leaving him without power for two days. “Nobody ever came to see if I might have been blown up or electrocuted or needed help,” he said. “It’s like, ‘Thanks a lot guys, I appreciate that.’” For Reynolds, the power surge in May was just another chapter in what he sees as the commercial space company’s indifference to its neighbors. “If SpaceX would acknowledge and respect the residents who are already there, it would go a long way,” he said. “But I get a strong feeling that they don’t want any of us there.” (1/18)

Trump Selects Controversial Former Official as Air Force Undersecretary (Source: Politico)
Donald Trump, in a late Friday Truth Social post, named a former Space Force official once fired for controversial comments as undersecretary of the Air Force. Matthew Lohmeier, who started his military career as a fighter pilot, was famously booted from the military for airing controversial political views. In 2021, Lohmeier, then a lieutenant colonel in the Space Force, was fired after appearing on a conservative podcast to promote his book that argued Marxism was spreading in the military. Active-duty service members are not supposed to openly air their political views. (1/17)

As Launches Increase, Space Florida Plans for Future Growth and Safety (Source: WESH)
We're halfway through January, and the Space Coast has already seen seven launches. The CEO of Space Florida is predicting 150 launches just in Florida this year. Last year, there were 145 rockets launched across the country. "At this point in time, when you have the busiest spaceport in the world, you know you're going to have to invest. We're no different than any other port, if you will," Space Florida CEO Robert Long said. With so much space travel and more on the way, there are concerns over the impact on airlines and public safety.

"Public safety has always been the number one thing," Long said. "Whether it's the DOD, NASA, or the FAA, they are ultimately responsible for it, and I have full confidence they will continue that focus." There will need to be investments in infrastructure, roads, power, and wastewater. It's all part of Space Florida's push to work with state and federal partners to increase the space economy. "A lot of that is done by being more efficient — streamlining processes. There's a lot of capacity to gain, but we still have to be smart about it and invest in our future," Long said. (1/17)

Why Space Movies Struggle to Take Off in Korea (Source: WikiTree)
The recently premiered tvN drama When the Stars Gossip has failed to meet expectations, shedding light once again on the inherent challenges faced by Korean sci-fi productions. While Korean entertainment thrives globally across music, drama, and film, the sci-fi genre—particularly space-themed works—remains underwhelming both at home and abroad. The 2023 film The Moon, despite a hefty 28 billion KRW budget, attracted just 510,000 viewers. Similarly, Netflix dramas like The Silent Sea and Space Sweepers garnered attention for their visuals but faced criticism for weak narratives and overly sentimental execution. (1/17)

Japan's Space Agency to Develop Program That Estimates Quake Damage (Source: Kyodo News)
Japan's space agency signed an agreement on Friday with Kumamoto Prefecture to realize the practical application of a program that can estimate the extent of damage to buildings caused by earthquakes using satellite images. Under the agreement, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency will receive around 200,000 pieces of data on buildings damaged in the earthquake that hit Kumamoto Prefecture in 2016 to enhance the accuracy of the program it seeks to introduce nationwide. (1/17)

A Musk-Shaped Question Hangs Over the National Space Council (Source: Politico)
As President-elect Donald Trump readies for a second administration, the space industry is watching for one tiny but key development: if he’ll bring back the influential National Space Council. In theory, the council is the illuminati of American space policy, formed of a maximum of seven staff and a leader who reports directly to the vice-president.

Looming over the whole space conversation in 2025 is the figure of Elon Musk — the most successful space entrepreneur in history, a close confidant of Trump, and also the head of a new advisory body charged with slashing government red tape. Will Musk’s enthusiasm for space usher the council back into existence — or does he see it as exactly the kind of government nuisance (and personal obstacle) that needs to be swept out of the way? (1/16)

Norway and U.S. Sign Agreement to Enable Satellite Launches From Andøya Spaceport (Source: Defence Industry Europe)
Norway and the United States have signed a Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA) to facilitate the launch of U.S. satellites and launch vehicles from Andøya Spaceport. The agreement marks a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral cooperation in space technology and security. The TSA will ensure the protection of U.S. technology, enabling the transfer of commercial launchers to Norway. Similar agreements have been established between the U.S. and other allied nations, including Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. (1/16)

'Clearly a Sham': Hawaiians, Texans Unite Against Elon Musk Company (Source: SFGate)
Hawaii and Texas residents united during a virtual meeting Monday hosted by the Federal Aviation Administration to overwhelmingly oppose SpaceX’s latest plans for rocket launches. SpaceX asked the FAA to increase the number of rocket landings from five a year to 25. The company, owned by Elon Musk, also asked the FAA to expand the landing zone to around 20 times its current size. The rockets take off from Boca Chica in Texas and land in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii or the Indian Ocean near Australia.

Native Hawaiians and Hawaii residents joined the public meeting to express outrage, often saying the FAA has not made an environmental impact statement to determine what effects the landings would have on marine life. SpaceX designated Pacific waters for the landing near UNESCO World Heritage site Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, according to Hawaii News Now, and the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument, according to an op-ed by Lynda Williams, a physicist and environmental activist based in Hilo, published in Honolulu Civil Beat. (1/16)

Residents Sound Off on SpaceX Sonic Booms at Public Meeting in Santa Barbara (Source: Santa Barbara Independent)
If anything was clear from the U.S. Air Force’s public meeting about rocket launches on Wednesday, it’s that no one wants to lose sleep to sonic booms — except for one guy who loudly proclaimed that they “sound like freedom,” but he was an outlier. The booms are the sonic byproduct of a joint project between the Air Force and SpaceX, Elon Musk’s private spaceship company, to deliver communication satellites into orbit.

“Two rocket launches ago, it shook my house so bad my front door opened,” said Nancy Eldridge, a Montecito resident. The bigger booms are what worry her the most. “My house was built in 1947, and I’m afraid one of these shakes might just shake my house down,” she said. “It survived the Thomas Fire. It survived the mudflow. So I hope it survives rocket launches.” Currently, SpaceX and the Air Force are contracted to send 50 Falcon 9 rockets into space from Vandenberg Space Force Base each year. (1/16)