June 27, 2025

During a Town Hall NASA Officials on Stage Looked Like Hostages (Source: Ars Technica)
The four people at the helm of America's space agency held a town hall meeting with employees Wednesday, fielding questions about downsizing, layoffs, and proposed budget cuts that threaten to undermine NASA's mission and prestige. Janet Petro, NASA's acting administrator, addressed questions from an auditorium at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC. She was joined by Brian Hughes, the agency's chief of staff, a political appointee who was formerly a Florida-based consultant active in city politics and in Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.

Two other senior career managers, Vanessa Wyche and Casey Swails, were also on the stage. They tried to put a positive spin on the situation at NASA. Petro, Wyche, and Swails are civil servants, not Trump loyalists. None of them looked like they wanted to be there. The town hall was not publicized outside of NASA ahead of time, but live video of the event was available—unadvertised—on an obscure NASA streaming website. The video has since been removed. (6/26)

UF Research: Muscle in Space Sheds Light on Ageing-Related Muscle Loss (Source: ISSCR)
Spaceflight with the associated absence of gravity and limited strain on muscles causes muscle weakness, a prominent feature of sarcopenia, within a short period of time, providing a time lapse view on age-related atrophy-associated changes in the muscle. This relatively short window of time in space provides a microgravity model for muscular aging and opens opportunities for studying sarcopenia, which normally takes decades to develop in patients on earth.

To understand the changes of muscle in microgravity, a team from the University of Florida engineered skeletal muscle microtissues from donor biopsies and launched them to the ISS aboard SpaceX CRS-25. The microtissues were taken from both young, active donors and from aged, sedentary donors and cultured in an automated mini lab, which besides regular feeding and monitoring of cultures also enabled electrical stimulation to simulate exercise.

On earth, the contraction strength of microtissues from young, active individuals was almost twice as much as the strength of tissues from older, sedentary individuals. After only two weeks in space, muscle strength trended to decline in the young tissues and was now more comparable to the strength of old tissues. A similar trend was seen for the muscle protein content. (6/26)

Latitude Commits €8M to Launch Facility in French Guiana (Source: European Spaceflight)
French launch services provider Latitude has announced that it will conduct the inaugural flight of its Zephyr rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana. The company has committed €8 million to developing its section of a new commercial launch facility being constructed by the French space agency CNES on the grounds of the former Diamant launch complex.

The new commercial launch site at the Guiana Space Centre will accommodate up to five launch companies, with a combined maximum of 40 launches per year. The facility will offer shared resources as part of a €50 million development project led by CNES under the France 2030 program, alongside dedicated facilities for each launch company. Development of these dedicated facilities will be the responsibility of the individual companies. (6/26)

Starlink Satellite Antennae Plan Divides Swiss Village (Source: Swissinfo)
Starlink announced at the beginning of June its plans to build 40 antennae in Leuk. The facilities are to be erected on a site above the village, where several large satellite dishes are already installed. The German company Signalhorn submitted a corresponding application for commercial communications services in May.

In Leuk, people are skeptical about this plan, as an information event organized by Signalhorn clearly demonstrated. Over 100 people attended on Wednesday. “We were shocked when we learned about the planning application,” explained Hanna Schnyder from Leuk after the public discussion.

The doctor is primarily concerned about health and refers to a WHO study from May 2025. “This study concluded that there is no all-clear when it comes to high-frequency electromagnetic radiation. We don’t want to become the most irradiated area in Switzerland.” (6/26)

China Just Refueled a Satellite in Space. America Should Be Worried (Source: National Interest)
By demonstrating an on-orbit refueling capability, the Chinese are extending the reach and longevity of their dangerous co-orbital satellites. Private space trackers have detected a bizarre movement of Chinese satellites in geosynchronous orbit (GEO), the farthest orbit above the Earth. Speculation in the space community has been rampant, but the majority view—though unconfirmed—is that the Chinese have achieved a stunning feat.

Most experts believe that private space monitoring firms tracked and photographed one Chinese satellite in GEO refueling another satellite, marking a world first. This is a significant event, even though it has gotten very little coverage outside of a few trade publications. It appeared that the two satellites conducted a crucial and never-before-tried mid-orbit refueling. (6/26)

How China is Winning the Military Space Race (Source: Telegraph)
China is developing space-based military technology “breathtakingly fast”, the United States has warned. Gen Stephen Whiting, the top commander of the US Space Force (USSF), said China’s use of space to complete its “kill chain” – the process of identifying, tracking and attacking a target – had become “very concerning”. Space warfare capabilities are increasingly critical to the defense strategies of major powers.

Gen Anthony Mastalir said that China’s long-range weapons, including those specifically aimed at targeting the US and its allies, “depend on space”. He added that space tech was how China “closes its kill chain” and strikes its targets with precision. By the end of last year, China had more than 500 satellites capable of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), according to the USSF. In the last decade, Beijing has deployed nearly 900 satellites into orbit. Of the 260 launched last year, 67 were capable of ISR. (6/26)

Starbase Zoning Rules Could Affect Land Not Owned by SpaceX (Source: Houston Chronicle)
Louis Balderas’ YouTube channel depends on a small piece of land in South Texas where his cameras watch SpaceX build and launch its Starship rocket. He’s leased this property for years – bringing in a steady stream of revenue with his channel – but this week said a new zoning ordinance could upend his business. His LabPadre Space YouTube channel has roughly 250,000 subscribers. “We feel that they could possibly try and make us remove our equipment.”

SpaceX and its employees own most of the land in Starbase. But some lots have other owners, and many of these are on an undeveloped swath of land that’s decently close to the launch pad – meaning the area must be evacuated for each liftoff – and is now designated as an open space. Texas law protects pre-existing land uses, but Starbase City Attorney Andy Messer, with municipal law firm Messer Fort, said Monday that zoning issues would be addressed on a “case-by-case basis.” (6/26)

Senate Budget Bill Would Boost Space Force to $40 Billion (Source: Space News)
A budget reconciliation bill in the Senate could boost Space Force spending to nearly $40 billion in 2026. The unprecedented budget structure, which defense officials describe as "one budget, two bills," would give the Space Force $26.1 billion in traditional discretionary funding while adding another $13.8 billion through the sweeping reconciliation package. The reconciliation bill also includes $25 billion for Golden Dome. The total $39.9 billion request would represent the most dramatic year-over-year increase for the military's newest service branch. However, the Pentagon said it has no backup plan for increasing defense spending if the bill fails. (6/27)

Space Force Pauses LEO Comsat Procurement, May Use SpaceX (Source: Space News)
The Space Force is pausing the procurement of the next set of low Earth orbit communications satellites as it studies whether to turn to SpaceX. The Trump administration's proposed 2026 budget would suspend procurement of data-transport satellites for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). The Space Development Agency had planned to procure up to 140 Tranche 3 satellites for that system in 2026 for launch in 2028.

The Space Force is instead considering using SpaceX's Starshield program, a militarized version of the company's commercial Starlink broadband satellites. Under that plan, the Tranche 3 satellites would be replaced with 480 Starshield satellites being procured for the "Milnet" program. That approach has raised concerns in industry about the health of satellite manufacturers and supply chains who built up their capabilities to support a steady stream of procurements for the PWSA constellations. (6/27)

Chinese Astronauts Perform TSS Spacewalk (Source: Space News)
Two Chinese astronauts performed a spacewalk outside the Tiangong space station Thursday. Chen Zhongrui and Chen Dong spent nearly six and a half hours outside the station on a spacewalk that concluded at 9:29 a.m. Eastern. The two installed debris shields on the exterior of the station and performed inspections of equipment. This was the second spacewalk for the two astronauts since they arrived at the station two months ago on the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft. The mission's third astronaut, Wang Jie, supported the spacewalk from inside the station. (6/27)

Rocket Lab Launches Four HawkEye 360 Satellites From New Zealand (Source: Space News)
Rocket Lab launched four satellites for HawkEye 360 Thursday in the first of back-to-back launches. An Electron rocket lifted off from the company's Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 1:28 p.m. Eastern, deploying its payload nearly an hour later. The rocket carried three Cluster 12 satellites HawkEye 360 will use for radio-frequency intelligence as well as a tech demo satellite, Kestrel-0A. Rocket Lab said after the launch it had rescheduled another Electron launch for a confidential customer, postponed from last week, to early Saturday. The two launches within 48 hours would be the shortest turnaround between Electron missions from Launch Complex 1. (6/27)

South Korea's LG Considering Space and Launch Business (Source: JoongAng Daily)
Korean conglomerate LG Group is looking to get into the space industry. Company executives met with officials from South Korea's space agency, KASA, on Friday to discuss cooperation on space activities. That included unspecified support for upcoming launches of South Korea's Naro rocket and work with a Korean startup on a small lunar rover. (6/27)

Former ISRO Chief Advising Skyroot Launcher (Source: Economic Times)
A former head of the Indian space agency ISRO is advising a launch startup in the country. Skyroot Aerospace said it named former ISRO chairman S Somanath as its honorary chief technical adviser. He will provide technical support as the company works on its Vikram small launch vehicle. Skyroot separately announced Thursday a memorandum of understanding with Axiom Space to examine how Skyroot could assist Axiom's commercial space station and other plans. (6/27)

Northrop Grumman Gifts $10M to Air and Space Museum (Source: WTOP)
Northrop Grumman has given $10 million to Washington, D.C.'s Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, which will rename its planetarium the Northrop Grumman Planetarium. The donation aids the museum's $285 million renovation goal of renovating the building and enhancing planetarium shows and exhibitions. (6/26)

Sierra Space Announces Opening of New “Power Station” Technology Center in Colorado as Defense Operations Grow (Source: Sierra Space)
Sierra Space, a leading commercial space company and defense tech prime that is building a platform in space to benefit and protect life on Earth, announced today a technology center expansion aimed at scaling up the production and delivery of the company’s groundbreaking Surface Mount Technology (SMT) solar power systems, including production for national defense applications.

Earlier this month, Sierra Space announced a new operation dedicated to supporting the national security space as a prime contractor — Sierra Space Defense — as well as unveiled their “Victory Works” manufacturing facility for defense satellites. (6/26)

Colorado University Expecting Cuts to its Space Program and Partnerships with NASA (Source: KKTV)
Officials at CU Boulder’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) say many of their projects that they partner with NASA on could be cut, as well as millions in funding across Colorado. The cuts are part of the “Big Beautiful Bill” being considered in Congress, which could make significant cuts to the federal budget in 2026.

CU representatives also say the cuts slash their funding by $54 million, with their total budget being about $200 million. But, they also expect cuts to many other jobs supported through NASA contracts in Colorado. (6/26)

NASA Tested a New SLS Booster That May Never Fly, and the End of it Blew Off (Source: Ars Technica)
NASA's Space Launch System appears to have a finite shelf life. The Trump administration wants to cancel it after just three launches, while the preliminary text of a bill making its way through Congress would extend it to five flights. But chances are low the Space Launch System will make it to nine flights, and if it does, it's questionable that it would reach that point before 2040.

For the second time in less than a week, NASA test-fired new propulsion hardware Thursday that the agency would need to keep SLS alive. Last Friday, a new liquid-fueled RS-25 engine ignited on a test stand at NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. Then, on Thursday of this week, NASA and Northrop Grumman test-fired a new solid rocket booster in Utah. This booster features a new design that NASA would use to power SLS rockets beginning with the ninth mission, or Artemis IX.

While the engine test in Mississippi apparently went according to plan, the ground firing of the new solid rocket booster didn't go quite as smoothly. Less than two minutes into the burn, the motor's exhaust nozzle violently shattered into countless shards of debris. Northrop Grumman has had a tough time with rocket nozzles in recent years. In 2019, a test motor for the company's now-canceled Omega rocket lost its nozzle during a test-firing in Utah. Then, last year, a smaller Northrop-made booster flying on United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket lost its nozzle in flight. (6/26)

Utahns Build, Test Largest NASA Rocket Ever Produced in Promontory (Source: FOX 13)
NASA and Northrop Grumman successfully tested the most powerful segmented solid rocket motor ever created at Promontory Point in Box Elder County on Thursday. Hundreds gathered to witness the historic test of the Booster Obsolescence and Life Extension (BOLE) booster, where FOX 13 News cameras captured incredible footage of the powerful demonstration.

"This booster is a totally new booster. It's the first tip to tail new booster that NASA has tested since about 1975," said Dave Reynolds at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. The test produced a spectacular light show and ground-shaking power that could be heard "miles and miles around," according to Reynolds. The booster performed perfectly for about 100 seconds before experiencing two explosions related to the nozzle. (6/27)

Fireball in the Sky as Suspected Meteor Rattles Southeast US, Crashes Through Roof (Source: Guardian)
A “fireball” that may have been a meteor burned through the sky on Tuesday just after noon in north Georgia, with a meteorite fragment crashing through the roof of a house in metro Atlanta. “It pierced through the roof all the way through and cracked through the laminate flooring to the concrete,” said Ryan Morrison, director of emergency management for Henry county, a suburban area south-east of Atlanta.

The homeowner requested the homeland security office refrain from identifying them, because they have a small child. The fireball resembled a lightning strike on the service’s global lightning mapper, he said. The Atlanta area has had a spate of strong lightning storms over the last day, which led many to dismiss the boom as more lightning. (6/26)

SSC and Firefly Progress Toward Orbital Launch from Esrange (Source: Firefly)
Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) and Firefly Aerospace are moving closer to a historic first satellite launch from Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, Sweden, following a Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA) that was signed between Sweden and the United States on June 20. Infrastructure development at SSC’s Esrange Space Center is progressing for Launch Complex 3C where Firefly’s Alpha rocket will launch. The tracking and control systems, security and depot facilities, and the Launch Control Center have already been stood up. (6/25)

Is Eutelsat Europe’s Answer to Musk’s Starlink? (Source: France24)
With around 650 satellites in orbit, Eutelsat is the only other largescale LEO satellite provider in the world, but still lags far behind Starlink’s 7,500 units. Closing the gap between the two companies is more than a matter of financial investment.
“Although Europe is trying to catch up, it's a way behind in terms of the technology,” says Barry Evans.

In the US, Starlink is already providing a service that beams internet direct to handheld devices – a capability that does not yet exist in Europe. While Eutelsat provides a more reliable service as its terminals must be professionally installed, Starlink’s satellites are located at lower altitudes, thereby reducing latency. (6/25)

Starlink’s South African Dream May Face a Two-Year Delay (Source: TechNext)
South Africa’s quest for high-speed satellite internet via Starlink has hit a significant roadblock. According to ICT regulatory expert Dominic Cull, it may take at least two years for Starlink to secure a license to operate in South Africa owing to the country’s complex Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) regulations. Speaking at the Wapaloza 2025 conference, Cull highlighted the slow pace of regulatory reform, dashing hopes for a swift Starlink South Africa rollout. (6/25)

Starbase Lockdown: SpaceX City Blocks Public Roads, Raising Legal Questions (Source: San Antonio Express News)
Citing safety and security issues, city officials approved four gates to limit public access to the community’s residential areas. At least three are already in place, raising questions about the legality of blocking public roads and the private space company’s long-term plans. While the barriers don’t impact the public’s access to nearby Boca Chica Beach, some property owners and residents are decrying the move as another step in SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s creeping takeover of the area. (6/25)

UCF Student Explores Bridges Between Health in Space and Health on Earth (Source: UCF)
In the lead-up to a conversation with Luis Jimenez-Chavez ’22, it might be a good idea to prepare the brain for a serious workout. He’ll be talking about his research, which spans microgravity, mitochondria, galactic cosmic radiation, biophysics, bone density and the complexities of DNA.

At some point, the conversation will turn to his collaboration with NASA, the impact of his research on astronaut immunology, its potential implications for cancer patients and his presentation to a Nobel Prize winning cancer researcher. It will eventually land on an amazing family background that puts all of the above into proper perspective.

“The dreams of my uncles rubbed off on me, but mostly it was my dad,” he says. “His dream was to be a scientist at NASA and find cures for illnesses. He didn’t personally live his NASA dream, but 50% of me — Luis — is my dad’s DNA. So, whenever I’m at NASA, it’s like he’s there, too. That’s why I enjoy conversations like this — because everything I discuss is an accomplishment for my entire family.” (6/25)

UCF Scientists Process Axiom-4 Astronaut Health Samples for Space Medicine Research (Source: WESH)
Several weeks before this historic flight, which aims to take humans in orbit across the Earth's North and South poles for the first time, UCF College of Medicine scientists collected blood, saliva, and urine samples from four astronauts. Dr. Michal Masternak, an anti-aging and cancer researcher, leads the College of Medicine program conducting the before-flight processing.

"When they collect the samples, they had to be processed within two hours from the flight, so I got this opportunity, and I didn't think twice. I said I want to be part of this project," Dr. Masternak said. (6/25)

Oman's Duqm Spaceport Plans Five Launches in 2025 (Source: Times Aerospace)
Oman’s new spaceport at Etlaq is aiming for five experimental launches by the end of this year. First announced in 2023, the spaceport in Duqm successfully launched its first experimental rocket in December 2024. A 6.5-meter tall rocket, named Duqm-1, rose to an altitude of 140km above sea level, crossing the Karman line.

Chief commercial officer, Julanda al Riyami, said the next rocket launch, called Unity-1, is expected in April and will be facilitated by UK-based launch company Advanced Propulsion Technologies. The second will be the launch of the Duqm-2 rocket in June, facilitated by New Zealand-based Stellar Kinetics, in partnership with Etlaq’s parent company, NASCOM.

Al Riyami said a more complex launch, utilising different parameters and operational procedures, is scheduled for October for rocket Duqm-3. The fourth launch, scheduled for November, is Kuwait Space Rocket’s Ambition-3. The last launch of this year, currently scheduled for December, is once again for Duqm-3. Etlaq’s full-scale commercial operations are scheduled for 2027. (6/25)

UN and JAXA Open Opportunity for ISS Cubesats (Source: UNOOSA)
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), has opened the ninth round of applications for the United Nations/Japan Cooperation Programme on CubeSat Deployment from the International Space Station (ISS) Japanese Experiment Module "KiboCUBE".

KiboCUBE provides teams from government organizations, research institutes, universities and other public organizations from developing countries the opportunity to develop, build, and ultimately deploy a One Unit (1U) Cube Satellite (CubeSat) from the Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo” on the International Space Station (ISS). (6/25)

How Do Scientists Calculate the Probability That an Asteroid Could Hit Earth? (Source: The Conversation)
When scientists spot an asteroid whose trajectory might take it close to Earth, they monitor it frequently and calculate the probability that it might collide with our planet. As they receive more observational data, they get a better picture of what could happen. Just having more data points early doesn’t make scientists’ predictions better. They need to keep following the asteroid as it moves through space to better understand its trajectory.

The impact probability describes how likely a hazardous asteroid is to hit Earth. For example, if the impact probability is 1%, it means that in 1 of 100 cases, it hits Earth. One in 100 is kind of rare, but still too close for comfort if you’re talking about the odds of a collision that could devastate Earth.

Any uncertainty in the calculation of the object’s orbit causes variations in the predicted solution. Instead of one precise orbit, the calculation usually gives scientists a cloud of its possible orbits. The ellipse enclosing these locations is called an error ellipse. The impact probability describes how many orbital predictions in this ellipse hit the Earth. (6/25)

Senate Panel Approves Bedford FAA Nomination (Source: AIN)
The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee today narrowly approved the nomination of Bryan Bedford to serve as FAA administrator, clearing the way for Senate floor consideration. The 15-to-13 vote in the committee came as the nomination has drawn opposition from the Democrat leadership and others, such as famed pilot Sully Sullenberger, over his stance on the 1,500-hour rule. (6/25)

NASA's Been Pulling Out of Major Astronomy Meetings — and Scientists are Feeling the Effects (Source: Space.com)
Something was missing at the American Astronomical Society's 246th meeting this year, a conference sometimes referred to as the "Superbowl of Astronomy." It's a meeting that brings many of the country's most renowned scientists into the same room to share what they've been working on and thinking about lately; as you can imagine, that tends to organically foster brand new ideas for exploring the universe.

Being at these events, you can almost feel study blueprints sprouting up all around you in real-time. It's electric. But this summer, NASA wasn't there. And in fact, the National Science Foundation cancelled its planned talk at the meeting, too. Scientists I spoke with found it pretty conspicuous for both NASA and NSF to pull out. It's also pertinent that this is the first AAS meeting to occur since the Trump administration took office and began implementing some hefty, controversial changes across these organizations. (6/26)