June 8, 2025

NASA, Pentagon Push for SpaceX Alternatives Amid Trump’s Feud with Musk (Source: Washington Post)
NASA and Pentagon officials moved swiftly this past week to urge competitors to Elon Musk’s SpaceX to more quickly develop alternative rockets and spacecraft after President Donald Trump threatened to cancel Space X’s contracts and Musk’s defiant response. Government officials were especially stunned after Musk responded to Trump with a salvo of his own: SpaceX would stop flying its Dragon spacecraft, a move that would leave the space agency with no way to transport its astronauts to the International Space Station.

The worried reaction within space and national security agencies highlights the risks of the government’s heavy dependence on SpaceX for crucial tasks, including classified missions. SpaceX, with billions of dollars in government contracts, flies people and cargo to the ISS, launches satellites for the Pentagon and develops satellites used by intelligence agencies. The concerns are compounded by the fact that its competitors have been slow to catch up, leaving SpaceX’s dominance largely unchallenged and the government with few options. (6/7)

We May Have Discovered the First-Ever Stars Powered by Dark Matter (Source: New Scientist)
Astronomers have found the strongest evidence yet for the existence of dark stars, a type of enormous star in the early universe that is partially powered by dark matter. If confirmed, these hypothesized stars could help explain why we see mysteriously large black holes in the early universe – but not all astronomers are convinced by the discovery. (6/6)

NASA, ISRO Research Aboard Fourth Private Astronaut Mission to ISS (Source: Phys.org)
NASA and ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) are collaborating to launch scientific investigations aboard Axiom Mission 4, the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. These studies include examining muscle regeneration, growth of sprouts and edible microalgae, survival of tiny aquatic organisms, and human interaction with electronic displays in microgravity. (6/5)

White House Asked Joint Chiefs Chairman for Candidates to Lead NASA, Worrying Experts (Source: Military.com)
The White House made the unusual move of reaching out Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for advice on who should serve as the next NASA administrator, causing experts to worry about military influence on the civilian space agency. President Donald Trump said that "Gen. Caine is going to be picking somebody" for the top role in NASA, and that somebody "will be checking them out." It was unclear who Trump was referring to in regards to checking candidates, or if any other military officials were consulted. (6/7)

Pentagon Removes Outspoken Space Force Officer From Post as Trans Ban Takes Effect (Source: Stars and Stripes)
A Space Force officer has been placed on administrative leave, pending separation, under DoD’s new ban on transgender service members, ending her more than 22-year military career. Col. Bree Fram, one of the highest-ranking openly transgender officers in the U.S. military, wrote that her removal would take effect the following day. “In my last official act, I was able to pin medals on three of my folks,” she wrote. “The last salute broke my heart in two and the tears flowed freely even as I have so much to be thankful for and so many amazing memories.” (6/8)

Commerce Dept. Paves Way for Expanded Funding to Starlink (Source: CNET)
The Commerce Department is making it easier for satellite-internet providers such as Elon Musk’s Starlink and Project Kuiper, an Amazon.com service, to tap in to the country’s $42.5 billion internet-access fund. New rules for the program, released Friday, are expected to delay the timeline for deploying funds. All states must reapply for their funding and solicit new bids from internet-service providers. Starlink is projected to receive as much as $20 billion in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program money under the new rules -- up from the $4.1 billion it was slated to get previously. (6/7)

The British Military Base Preparing for War in Space (Source: The Telegraph)
In a fake village in Buckinghamshire, several members of Space Command are huddled around a computer screen watching a foreign missile approach a Ministry of Defense communications satellite. It is just an exercise, but it is a scenario that is increasingly worrying military chiefs, who fear space is now the most important theatre of war. In recognition of this new orbital battlefield, Space Command was established at RAF High Wycombe in 2021, to “protect and defend” UK interests in space. It is now home to the UK Space Operations Center. (6/7)

White House Security Staff Warned Musk’s Starlink is a Security Risk (Source: Washington Post)
Elon Musk’s team at the U.S. DOGE Service and allies in the Trump administration ignored White House communications experts worried about potential security breaches when DOGE personnel installed Musk’s Starlink internet service in the complex this year. Those who were managing White House communications systems were not informed in advance when DOGE representatives went to the roof in February to install a Starlink terminal.

The people said those managing the systems weren’t able to monitor such connections to stop sensitive information from leaving the complex or hackers from breaking in. A “Starlink Guest” WiFi network appeared on White House phones in February, prompting users only for a password, not a username or a second form of authentication, according to the people. That WiFi network was still appearing on White House visitors’ phones this week.

“We ... did not consider this matter a security incident or security breach,” said a Secret Service spokesman. Traditionally at the White House, personal phones on guest WiFi networks need names and passwords that are tracked and expire after a week. Work computers are locked down with security programs and staffers’ interactions with the outside world are “very thoroughly tracked,” with the device identifiers and times of all transmissions recorded. “Starlink doesn’t require anything. It allows you to transmit data without any kind of record or tracking.” (6/7)