July 11, 2025

Recipients of a NOAA Climate Science Fellowship Are Put on Unpaid Leave (Source: New York Times)
A program that supports the nation’s most promising climate scientists faces delayed funding, furloughs and a canceled year of grants, according to participants in the program. It’s the latest hit climate science has taken from the Trump administration, which has been limiting funds for climate research across a number of federal agencies. (7/0)

Bryan Bedford Confirmed as New FAA Chief (Source: Politico)
The Senate has confirmed Republic Airways CEO Bryan Bedford as administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. Bedford's leadership is crucial as the administration attempts to overhaul air traffic control, says Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. (7/9)

Space Force Opposes Cuts to Commerce Department Space Tracking Program (Source: Air & Space Forces)
The US Space Force opposes a current plan to shut down the Commerce Department Traffic Coordination System for Space program. The White House has eliminated funding for the program for 2026, with the Aerospace Industries Association and other leading groups publicly supporting the restoration of TracCSS funding. (7/9)

SATIM and Ursa Partner for Advanced Object Detection and Classification Capabilities for SAR Imagery (Source: SATIM)
SATIM has entered into a strategic collaboration with Ursa Space Systems, operator of the world’s largest virtual SAR constellation. Through this partnership, SATIM’s cutting-edge object detection and classification software will be made available via Ursa Space’s platform, enhancing the analytical capabilities accessible to Ursa Space’s global user base. (7/10)

Whiplash: Big Bill Reverses Some Trump Space Direction (Source: El Pais)
Buried in the 870 pages of the One Big Beautiful Bill, there is a concession to Republican representatives from states closely linked to the manned space exploration program, which was facing massive layoffs and unprecedented cuts. Another victim of this concession is the tycoon Elon Musk, as Trump’s decision takes away lucrative contracts for his space rockets. Europe, on the other hand, is breathing a sigh of relief.

The law recently approved by Congress revives Gateway, the future space station that will orbit the Moon. The federal government will spend $2.6 billion on this manned base, the construction of which also involves the European Space Agency (ESA) along with Canada, Japan and the United Arab Emirates. The measure is a sharp U-turn from what Trump was proposing just over a month ago: to completely cancel the project and leave all its international partners in the lurch.

Something similar is happening with the Space Launch System (SLS), with which the U.S. government aims to send the first woman astronaut to the Moon in 2027. The BBB will ultimately include more than $4 billion to fund at least two additional flights with this launch vehicle, beyond those already planned for the Artemis 2 and 3 missions. Trump’s original idea was to eliminate it after these two flights and perhaps resort to the Starship being developed by SpaceX. (7/9)

Trump Puts Reality Star Turned Fox Host (and Musk Foe) in Charge of Space (Source: Daily Beast)
Donald Trump has assigned Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy a second job as caretaker of NASA after the president dumped his original choice to lead the space agency. Duffy, who rose to fame on the reality shows The Real World and Road Rules before stints in Congress and hosting on Fox Business, has been locked in a war of words this year with Trump’s former space buddy, Elon Musk. (7/11)

CSA Accepting Space Science and Technology Applications Including for Gateway and Artemis (Source: SpaceQ)
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is accepting applications for the Research Opportunities in Space Science program, 2025 Cycle 4, and is providing up to $1.5 million. For Cycle 4 the CSA intends to fund up to six projects in two areas, including Gateway/Artemis Science and Technology Utilization; and Planetary Exploration and Space Astronomy. (7/8)

GomSpace Refinances €18M European Investment Bank Loan (Source: European Spaceflight)
Danish satellite manufacturer GomSpace has announced the refinancing of a SEK 200 million (€18 million) credit facility originally provided by the European Investment Bank (EIB). Under the new agreement, the company’s major shareholder, British billionaire investor Peter Hargreaves, will effectively take over as the lender. (7/10)

Sizing Up the 5 Companies Selected for Europe’s Launcher Challenge (Source: Ars Technica)
he European Space Agency has selected five launch startups to become eligible for up to 169 million euros ($198 million) in funding to develop alternatives to Arianespace, the continent's incumbent launch service provider.

The five companies ESA selected are Isar Aerospace, MaiaSpace, Rocket Factory Augsburg, PLD Space, and Orbex. Only one of these companies, Isar Aerospace, has attempted to launch a rocket into orbit. Isar's Spectrum rocket failed moments after liftoff from Norway on a test flight in March. Click here. (7/9)