July 9, 2025

France Opens First Military Space Air Base in Toulouse (Source: AeroTime)
France has officially inaugurated its first-ever military space air base, a landmark step in the country’s effort to assert sovereignty in an increasingly contested domain. Air Base 101 Toulouse, now reactivated as a Base Aérienne à Vocation Spatiale (BAVS), will serve as the operational hub of France’s military space activities. The ceremony took place on July 2, 2025, in Toulouse’s Place du Capitole, the symbolic heart of the city and the epicenter of French aerospace and space research. (7/6)

Space Force Publishes International Cooperation Strategy (Source: Space News)
The Space Force has published its first international cooperation strategy. The document, released Tuesday, is a blueprint for how America’s newest military branch intends to transition from sporadic global cooperation to a more deliberate and integrated space coalition with trusted allies. The 15-page document represents a shift from treating allies as customers of U.S. space tech to full partners in co-developing and co-operating systems from satellites to sensors to navigation tools.

The strategy was released the same day as the GAO published a report that concluded the Defense Department’s efforts at international cooperation in space operations are still hampered by bureaucracy, fragmentation and legacy classification systems. Among the problems cited by the GAO were overlapping roles among multiple DoD organizations involved in space security cooperation, which has left foreign partners confused and resulted in missed opportunities. (7/9)

Northrop Grumman Consolidating Golden Dome Efforts (Source: Space News)
Northrop Grumman is consolidating its efforts to win business for the Golden Dome missile defense system. With a sprawling portfolio of programs relevant to Golden Dome, including space sensors, interceptors and command systems, Northrop opted to consolidate its campaign in Huntsville, Alabama, where the company maintains deep ties with the Missile Defense Agency. That work will be led by Raymond Sharp, vice president of Northrop Grumman’s missile defense solutions business unit. (7/9)

Japan's Synspective Signs with Exolaunch for (Likely) SpaceX Transporter Rides (Source: Space News)
Japanese radar imaging company Synspective signed a contract with Exolaunch for launches of 10 satellites. The companies signed a launch agreement Wednesday at the Spacetide conference in Tokyo, with Exolaunch agreeing to launch 10 Synspective SAR satellites starting in 2027. Exolaunch arranges launch services with several vehicles, including on SpaceX Transporter rideshare missions. Synspective signed a contract last year for 10 Rocket Lab Electron launches, but the company said it needs additional launch capacity to build out its constellation. (7/9)

Neuraspace Developing AI-Assisted Satellite Navigation (Source: Space News)
Neuraspace is developing AI-powered software to allow satellite operators to make better use of navigation signals. A 12-month project funded by ESA aims to demonstrate a computationally efficient way to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of onboard GPS and other satellite navigation signals. The technology is intended to improve satellite tracking and collision avoidance capabilities. (7/9)

Change May Be Needed to Expand Europe's Space Programs (Source: Space News)
Europe’s distributed approach to space, spreading funding across multiple agencies and a wide range of companies, may need to change. European governments are showing a willingness to invest more in space, linked to growing defense needs as Europe notes the lessons of the war in Ukraine. The perception of weakening ties with the United States, including budget cuts at NASA that could hinder ESA programs, is also a factor. But if Europe is going to spend more, leaders said governments will need to cooperate more closely on space and that some companies may feel pressure to consolidate. (7/9)

Honda Has No Immediate Commercial Plans for Launch Tech It is Developing (Source: Space News)
While Honda performed a successful launch and landing test of a rocket, the company has yet to decide whether to commercialize the technology. In a test last month, a small rocket lifted off, flew to an altitude of nearly 300 meters and landed back on its launch pad. The test demonstrated key technologies that could be used for a future reusable rocket, a Honda executive said. However, the company says the technology is still in the “elemental research stage” with no decision on whether to develop a commercial vehicle. Honda plans additional tests, including a full suborbital flight by 2029. (7/9)

SpaceX Prepares Another Stock Sale, Valuing Company at $400 Billion (Source: Financial Times)
SpaceX is preparing a stock sale that would value the company at $400 billion. The company will offer $1 billion in shares in a tender offer, which allows company employees to sell their stock to outside investors, at a share price of $212. That would value SpaceX at $400 billion, up from $350 billion in a tender offer last December. (7/9)

India Tests Propulsion System for Crewed Spacecraft (Source: PTI)
India has tested the propulsion system for its Gaganyaan crewed spacecraft. The Indian space agency ISRO said ground tests confirmed the performance of thrusters used for attitude control and adjusting its orbit. ISRO is continuing such tests ahead of uncrewed orbital flights of the vehicle set to begin later this year. (7/9)

Radar Leakage at Airports May Reveal Humanity's Presence Light-Years Away (Source: Space.com)
Airport radars may be giving our presence away to any interstellar neighbors. A study presented Tuesday at the U.K.’s National Astronomy Meeting found that emissions that “leak” from radars used at civilian and military airports could be detected as far as 200 light-years away by a radio telescope similar to the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia, one of the largest such telescopes. The emissions, astronomers said, would be distinct from natural phenomena. The lack of such detections from nearby stars suggests they are not home to intelligent life — or just have better air traffic control technologies. (7/9)

Canadian Companies Pursue Commercial Rocket Production (Source: Space.com)
At a coastal site on the southeastern tip of Newfoundland, a brand-new rocket is nearly ready for flight. It was built entirely in Canada, fueled by kerosene and ambition, and spearheaded by a startup with its eyes on orbit. NordSpace is on track to conduct the first commercial liquid-fueled rocket launch in Canadian history — a suborbital shot scheduled for mid-August.

Rooting for the company behind the scenes is ProtoSpace, an aerospace manufacturing arm of Canadian firm Protocase, boasting "high-velocity" production and delivery of specialized space-grade components within two to three days, compared to industry norms of weeks or months. Together, NordSpace and ProtoSpace represent a growing push to establish a domestic space industry in Canada that supports its own launch infrastructure, source manufacturing and orbital launch capability. (7/8)

Spaceport Municipal Financing Provision Tucked Into Big Beautiful Bill (Source: Political Wire)
“Private space companies, including SpaceX and Blue Origin, stand to benefit from a preferential tax treatment tucked into Donald Trump’s signature spending plan,” the Financial Times reports. “The bill, which Trump signed last week, includes a provision that will allow spaceports to be financed in the municipal debt market through so-called private activity bonds, which fund non-governmental projects that have some public benefit.”

Editor's Note: This appears to be language long sought by Space Florida and other spaceport proponents to enable tax-exempt financing for spaceport infrastructure. (7/8)

CSA Invests $3.9 Million in Five smartEarth Proposals (Source: SpaceQ)
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has selected five proposals in the next stage of its smartEarth program awarding each company $780k. The CSA said that the proposals selected focus “on advancing projects that monitor the Arctic, improve wildfire response, and protect marine life and sensitive coastal ecosystems.”

The proposals include: C-CORE – Mitigating Arctic challenges through the use of multi-mission satellite data and artificial intelligence; Mission Control – Demonstrating a machine learning application for use onboard satellites to deliver wildfire detection products for wildfire managers in near real time; Hatfield Consultants – Developing an eelgrass mapping system to support aquatic biodiversity; AltaML – Leveraging generative artificial intelligence to improve systems that detect and protect North Atlantic right whales; and Fluvial Systems Research – Detecting and monitoring North Atlantic right whales through satellite data to inform and strengthen protection measures. (7/7)

China Jumps Ahead in the Race to Achieve a New kind of Reuse in Space (Source: Ars Technica)
Two Chinese satellites have rendezvoused with one another more than 20,000 miles above the Earth in what analysts believe is the first high-altitude attempt at orbital refueling. China's Shijian-21 and Shijian-25 satellites, known as SJ-21 and SJ-25 for short, likely docked together in geosynchronous orbit sometime last week. This is the conclusion of multiple civilian satellite trackers using open source imagery showing the two satellites coming together, then becoming indistinguishable as a single object. (7/8)

Embry‑Riddle Student Team Earns First Place in NASA Human Lander Challenge (Source: ERAU)
An Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University student team took first place in the NASA 2025 Human Lander Challenge (HuLC) for developing an innovative spacecraft fuel gauge system to tackle a propellant issue critical to the success of space exploration missions.

NASA experts who judged the competing teams’ presentations selected the team of student researchers from Embry‑Riddle’s Prescott, Arizona, campus as the overall winner among 12 finalists, awarding the team the challenge’s grand prize of $10,000. Old Dominion University placed second, receiving a $5,000 prize. MIT came in third, receiving $3,000. The final competition was held in Huntsville, Alabama, near NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, from June 24 to 26. (7/2)

Embry‑Riddle Professor, Undergrads Unlock Secrets of Cosmic Dust With the Webb Telescope (Source: ERAU)
Cosmic dust does far more than float through space. It’s the raw material from which stars, planets and possibly even life emerge. Yet astronomers have long puzzled over where this vast amount of dust comes from and what it’s made of. Dr. Noel Richardson, an associate professor of Physics and Astronomy at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University, and his students are answering these questions by studying an unusual class of aging stars known as Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars.

“Wolf-Rayet stars are essentially highly evolved massive stars that don’t show hydrogen at all,” said Richardson. “They’ve lost their hydrogen in the outer part of the star, fusing helium in their core, which means they are nearing the end of their life cycle.” (7/7)

Scientists Behind Threatened NASA Missions Explain What’s at Stake (Source: Planetary Society)
The Planetary Society interviewed some of the scientists behind these missions and their discoveries. These are world-class experts who are speaking from personal experience. In many cases, they have devoted decades of their lives to these missions. Here is what they have to say, in their own words. (7/7)

Space Force Cancels SATCOM Program (Source: Air & Space Forces)
The US Space Force has decided to cancel the $2 billion Protected Tactical SATCOM-Resilient (PTS-R) competition, which was initially intended to build on the Wideband Global SATCOM constellation. Instead, the focus will shift to rapidly operationalizing two existing PTS-P prototypes, aiming to bring new, jam-resistant tactical communications capabilities into service sooner. This move is aligned with a broader strategy to implement faster and more robust SATCOM solutions while controlling costs and reducing technical risks. (7/7)

Skynopy and SpaceLocker Team to Make Space More Accessible, Sustainable and Connected (Source: Skynopy)
One offers an “Airbnb” for ground stations, the other makes orbital hosting plug-and-play. Startups Skynopy and SpaceLocker are joining forces to simplify and accelerate access to space and space data. During the Assises du NewSpace, SpaceLocker officially announces it has selected Skynopy to provide ground connectivity for its “Out of the Box” mission—its third mission and the first satellite fully operated by the company, set to launch into low Earth orbit in February 2026. (7/8)

Manly Bands Launches Collection of NASA Inspired Wedding Rings (Source: CollectSpace)
A custom ring maker that has infused millions of men's wedding bands with super heroes, the Second Age and fine spirits has taken a new leap ... with NASA. Manly Bands has launched its NASA Collection with three ring designs inspired by different aspects of spaceflight. The NASA bands join the company's other rings inspired by DC comic book characters, Lord of the Rings and Jack Daniels, among others like Jeep and Fender. (7/7)

Air Force Stops Study of Using a Wildlife Refuge for SpaceX Tests (Source: E&E News)
The Air Force has stopped evaluating a unique wildlife refuge in the Pacific Ocean for possible use by Elon Musk’s SpaceX in testing cargo-carrying rockets. In a move welcomed by conservationists, the Air Force now says it will consider locations other than the Johnston Atoll National Wildlife Refuge for a facility capable of handling up to 10 rockets a year.

“The Department of the Air Force has elected to hold the preparation of the Johnston Atoll Environmental Assessment for a proposed rocket cargo landing demonstration on Johnston Atoll in abeyance while the service explores alternative options for implementation of the rocket cargo Vanguard program at a location other than Johnston Atoll,” Air Force spokesperson Laurel Falls said in an email statement. (7/7)

Floating to Space a Giant Leap Closer as Zero 2 Infinity Opens South Korea (Source: JoongAng Daily)
Space tourism could become a reality in Korea within the next two years, with the cost per flight priced at 80 million won ($58,300) — part of Spain-based aerospace company Zero 2 Infinity’s vision to make space travel accessible beyond just the ultra-wealthy. Headquartered in Barcelona, Zero 2 Infinity is a privately-held company founded in 2009 by aerospace engineer José Mariano that develops high-altitude balloons that can travel to near space and low Earth orbit.

Zero 2 Infinity Korea’s CEO, Lee Jong-ho commemorated the establishment of the company’s Korean entity at Incheon on Monday. “I believe that if the launch were to take place in Korea, we could potentially cut that cost by half.” Bloon, still in the development phase, is a near-space tourism experience that uses a high-altitude helium balloon to carry a pressurized capsule and passengers to the stratosphere. (7/7)