January 3, 2025

Future of Space Travel: Could Robots Really Replace Human Astronauts? (Source: BBC)
Robotic probes have been sent across the solar system for the last six decades, reaching destinations impossible for humans. During its 10-day flyby, the Parker Solar Probe experienced temperatures of 1000C. But the success of these autonomous spacecraft – coupled with the rise of new advanced artificial intelligence – raises the question of what role humans might play in future space exploration. Some scientists question whether human astronauts are going to be needed at all.

"Robots are developing fast, and the case for sending humans is getting weaker all the time," says Lord Martin Rees, the UK's Astronomer Royal. "I don't think any taxpayer's money should be used to send humans into space." He also points to the risk to humans. "The only case for sending humans [there] is as an adventure, an experience for wealthy people, and that should be funded privately," he argues. (12/31)

Pentagon Opens $984M Loan Program for Tech Firms (Source: Defense Scoop)
The Defense Department's Office of Strategic Capital has begun accepting applications for its credit program, aiming to distribute up to $984 million in direct loans to finance equipment. Loans of up to $150 million will target 31 critical technology categories, including advanced manufacturing and quantum computing. (1/2)

Ambitious Global Space Missions Set for 2025 (Source: Jerusalem Post)
Space agencies and private companies in the US, China, Japan and Europe are gearing up for significant missions in 2025. NASA will advance the Artemis program and launch the Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer -- aka SPHEREx -- observatory, while China aims to return asteroid samples with Tianwen-2. The European Space Agency will test the Space Rider and continue the BepiColombo mission, in conjunction with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, to Mercury. (1/2)

Starfighters Advances Key Objectives in 2024 (Source: Starfighters Space)
Starfighters Space, which operates the world’s only commercial fleet of aircraft capable of sustained MACH 2 flight and airborne supersonic payload launch, concluded 2024 with a series of milestones underscoring its growth and resounding aerospace industry impact. Key highlights included: expanded operations from its Kennedy Space Center hub to a second facility at the Midland International Air & Space Port in Texas; and progress on key hypersonic testing and Star Launch platform initiatives.

The Midland International Air & Space Port has announced that it will host at least $78 million in capital assets and equipment at Starfighters Space’s location in a new construction hangar to be built and owned by Midland Development Corporation. Additionally, the Company continued to expand its partnerships, moving to the second phase of the HyCAT initiative, which is a hypersonic and high-cadence operational testing program for the Defense Innovation Unit (DUI).

Starfighters made significant progress on its two Star Launch programs. The Company successfully completed its captive-carry testing and is moving forward with its Star Launch I Program, scheduling two drop tests for 2025. These drop tests represent a major physical test hurdle for the Star Launch I program’s development and are scheduled to be followed by a review and authorization to launch. The Starfighters team also initiated development of its Star Launch II program, which is designed to expand payload capacity. (1/3)

SpaceCom Panel to Focus on Government Acquisition Forecasts (Source: SpaceCom)
SpaceCom | Space Congress announced a long-term strategic agreement with AFCEA Space Coast Chapter to expedite procurement acquisition lead times. The first joint initiative will be an inaugural two-part Acquisition Panel Series at SpaceCom | Space Congress 2025. The panel series–presented by the AFCEA Space Coast Chapter–will accelerate the understanding of civilian and defense agencies' future acquisition needs, or Long-Range Acquisition Forecast (LRAF), to aid the industry in delivering solutions to support Space programs. (1/3)

Study to Examine Environmental Impacts of Increased SpaceX Launches from Vandenberg (Source: Space News)
A new environmental study is intended to support the continued increase of SpaceX launches from a California spaceport, but that growth faces potential obstacles. The Department of the Air Force announced Dec. 13 it would carry out an environmental impact statement (EIS) covering both an increase in SpaceX launches at Vandenberg as well as use of a second launch pad. The EIS will examine the environmental impacts from the redevelopment of Space Launch Complex (SLC) 6 for use by SpaceX for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches. (12/30)

India Eyes Record Year for Space with 10 Planned Launches (Source: Space News)
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) chairman S. Somanath told Indian media that 10 orbital launches are planned across the year, including four Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) launches, an LVM-3 and a human-rated LVM-3 launch for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program, as well as three Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) missions and a launch of the SSLV solid rocket. (1/3)