October 17, 2025

Viasat Looks Toward Military Satellites (Source: Space News)
Viasat is considering making customized communications satellites for the U.S. military. The company is capitalizing on its commercial satellite portfolio to compete in the U.S. military and international satellite markets. Viasat has designed a dual-band geostationary satellite for the U.S. Space Force’s Protected Tactical Satcom-Global (PTS-G) program, aimed at deploying smaller, jam-resistant satellites built on commercial lines.

Viasat’s proposal centers on a dual-band X/Ka-band small geostationary satellite architecture that draws heavily from the company’s existing commercial technology. Viasat also plans to bid for contracts under a new U.S. Space Force procurement called Maneuverable Geosynchronous Orbit Commercial Satellite-Based Services program intended to tap commercial geostationary small satellites to bolster military communications. (10/17)

Grassroots Efforts Continue to Secure NASA Science Funding (Source: Space News)
Scientists and advocates remain focused on securing funding for NASA science programs. Last week, The Planetary Society organized an event where hundreds of people visited congressional offices seeking to overturn proposed cuts of nearly 50% to NASA science that jeopardized dozens of missions. House and Senate appropriations bills largely reject those cuts, but those bills have yet to pass and are on hold as a government shutdown puts the near-term focus on a continuing resolution to reopen the government.

At another event last week, astronomers said they had some reassurance that the cuts would not take effect as NASA instructed programs to follow spending levels in a House bill, but warned that even if a final appropriations bill fully funds science, they may have to go through the same process next fiscal year. (10/17)

Ariane 6 Kuiper Launch Moved to 2026 (Source: Space News)
The first launch of the more powerful version of the Ariane 6 won’t take place this year. Arianespace said Thursday that the fourth and final launch of the Ariane 6 this year will be of a pair of Galileo satellites using the Ariane 62, with two solid-rocket boosters. That is the same version used on earlier Ariane 6 launches as well as one scheduled for early November. The first Ariane 64 launch, carrying Amazon Project Kuiper satellites, was previously projected to take place this year but will now slip into early 2026. The Ariane 64 is critical to Arianespace’s plans to ramp up its flight rate as Amazon is the biggest commercial customer of the Ariane 6. (10/17)

iRocket Turns Toward Military Missiles (Source: Space News)
Launch startup iRocket says it is turning to missile development to support its plans for a reusable rocket. The company conducted a test last week of the IRX-100, a short-range missile using some of the technologies needed for its proposed Shockwave launcher. The company said IRX-100 could fill a niche for small, low-cost interceptors. The test comes as iRocket works toward a planned merger with BPGC Acquisition Corp., a publicly listed shell company backed by former U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. (10/17)

Cosmonauts Install Exterior Experiments on ISS (Source: Space.com)
Two cosmonauts conducted a spacewalk outside the International Space Station Thursday. Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky spent a little more than six hours outside the station in a spacewalk that started at 1:10 p.m. Eastern. The two installed a semiconductor materials experiment on the exterior of the Nauka module and jettisoned a camera that had been mounted on the Zvezda module. (10/17)

Orion Capsule Moved to VAB for Artemis 2 Stacking (Source: Spaceflight Now)
The Orion spacecraft for the Artemis 2 mission has arrived at the Vehicle Assembly Building. The spacecraft was moved from a processing facility where its launch abort system was installed to the VAB overnight, where it will be integrated on top of the Space Launch System rocket. The move took place without publicity amid the ongoing government shutdown. NASA officials said last month they were targeting an Artemis 2 launch as soon as early February. (10/17)

Starshield Satellites Use Uplink Band for Transmitting (Source: NPR)
SpaceX Starshield spacecraft appear to be transmitting data in a band reserved for satellite uplinks. An amateur satellite tracker in Canada accidentally detected the transmissions, in a band from 2025 to 2110 megahertz, that he traced to satellites for Starshield, a military version of Starlink satellites. That band is reserved for uplinks to satellites, and downlinks there run the risk of interfering with commands being sent to other satellites. It is unclear what Starshield satellites are using the band for, other than any transmissions would be at relatively low data rates. (10/17)

ESA to Grow in Spain (Source: ESA)
The European Space Agency plans to increase its presence in Spain. ESA announced Thursday it signed a letter of intent with the Spanish space agency AEE to study potential new areas of development at the European Space Astronomy Centre, an ESA facility near Madrid. ESA also signed several contracts with Spanish companies, while AEE signed the ESA-led Zero-Debris Charter. (10/17)

KBR Secures $98.7 Million Space Force Contract to Advance Digital Engineering Ecosystem (Source: KBR)
KBR been awarded a cost-plus-incentive-fee task order by the United States Space Force (USSF), building on the work under the previously awarded Advanced Solutions for Collaborative Engineering and Digital Development (ASCEND2) contract. The Design Implementation for Collaborative Environment (DICE) task order will focus on establishing a state-of-the-art testing and training environment for the USSF in Colorado Springs and will have a ceiling value of $98.7 million over a three-year period of performance. (10/16)

New Blue Origin Facility To Boost Space Force Launch Cadence (Source: Air and Space Forces)
A new Space Force partnership with Blue Origin aims to expand payload processing capacity at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fla., enabling the base to support as many as 16 more missions per year.  That includes seven to eight national security launches, a spokesperson for Space Systems Command’s Assured Access to Space directorate told Air & Space Forces Magazine Oct. 9. (10/15)

Bad News About Starlink Launch in South Africa (Source: MyBroadband)
South Africa’s communications department aims to finalize an Equity Equivalent Investment Program (EEIP) policy for the Information and Technology (ICT) sector by the end of March 2026. However, Starlink’s rollout may still only be possible years after that date, due to the time it will take to incorporate the policy into regulations and potential legal challenges. (10/15)

Are Falling Starlink Satellites Really Poisoning the Stratosphere? (Source: National Interest)
“Experts are increasingly alarmed about the potential effects of satellite reentries on Earth’s upper atmosphere. When satellites burn up, they release fine particles of metals such as aluminum oxide, which could interfere with the ozone chemistry and reflect sunlight.” These experts are demanding increased legislation and regulations to prevent what they believe is an environmental catastrophe waiting to happen. A recent analysis in the academic journal, Science, dives deeper into the matter.

While certainly concerning, much of what has been provided as evidence is fairly circumstantial—and based on models that are incomplete. The scientific community is understandably concerned about environmental sustainability. Yet its attempt at a solution is opposite the entire point of Starlink: to create systems in orbit that can essentially maintain satellites and extend their lifespans so that they do not have to be so readily discarded. And there are NASA programs and private companies that are investigating the creation of things like on-orbit repair drones and what amounts to orbital workstations to keep satellites functioning. (10/15)

Federal Workers at Colorado Base Work Unpaid Amid Government Shutdown 'Stalemate' (Source: 9News)
Some federal employees at Buckley Space Force Base are working without paychecks as the government shutdown enters its third week, with workers calling themselves "pawns" in a political stalemate beyond their control. An employee at the base, who requested anonymity for fear of retribution, said he and his colleagues received their last paycheck covering only through the end of September, with no October pay received. The employee is among those exempt from furlough but still affected by the funding lapse. (10/15)

Military Approves Second Site at Vandenberg to Increase SpaceX Launches (Source: Noozhawk)
The SpaceX rocket launch cadence at Vandenberg Space Force Base is about to get a big boost with the addition of a second site to conduct Falcon 9 missions after the military approved the firm’s expansion plans. The Department of the Air Force released its Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision regarding the proposal for Falcon 9 rockets to blast off from Space Launch Complex-6. (10/15)

Thailand Spaceport Study Underway (Source: The Nation)
Thailand's space agency, GISTDA, has initiated a feasibility study in collaboration with KPMG to establish a national spaceport. The project aims to position Thailand as a key player in the growing global space economy by creating opportunities in space transport, manufacturing, and tourism. (10/15)

Korea Announces Strategies to Reach Moon by 2032 and Mars by 2045 (Source: Chosun)
Administrator Yoon Young-bin of the Korea AeroSpace Administration said, “Since its launch, the Korea AeroSpace Administration has laid the groundwork to leap into the world’s top five in space and aviation, and achieved meaningful results in areas such as budget expansion, talent development, and international cooperation.”

“Going forward, we will pursue the realization of a space and aviation powerhouse around seven key tasks, including securing sustainable space transportation capabilities, developing advanced satellites, deep space exploration, and developing future aircraft.” (10/16)

Seiko Relaunches NASA-Approved, Shuttle-Era 'Astronaut' Watch (Source: Collect Space)
A digital watch that was chosen by many astronauts to wear on the space shuttle is getting a relaunch. Seiko has announced the return of its A829 Sports 100 "Rotocall," a timepiece worn by 40 astronauts on their NASA missions (more than 85 if including a similar version with a circular, rather than octagonal, bezel). First introduced in 1982, the 2025 edition ships in November. (10/16)

Once Unthinkable, NASA and Lockheed Now Consider Launching Orion on Other Rockets (Source: Ars Technica)
The Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System rocket have been attached at the hip for the better part of two decades. The big rocket lifts, the smaller spacecraft flies, and Congress keeps the money rolling in. But now there are signs that the twain may, in the not too distant future, split. This is because Lockheed Martin has begun to pivot toward a future in which the Orion spacecraft—thanks to increasing reusability, a focus on cost, and openness to flying on different rockets—fits into commercial space applications.

If the spacecraft is going to be competitive on price, it needs a rocket that does not cost in excess of $2 billion per launch.

Orion has a launch mass, including its abort system, of 35 metric tons. The company has looked at rockets that could launch that much mass and boost it to the Moon, as well as alternatives that might see one rocket launch Orion, and another provide a tug vehicle to push it out to the Moon. So far, the company has not advanced to performing detailed studies of vibrations, acoustics, thermal loads, and other assessments of compatibility, said Kirk Shireman, Lockheed Martin’s vice president and program manager for Orion. (10/15)

China's Latest Launch Marks 600th Flight of Long March Rockets (Source: Xinhua)
China's Long March rocket series achieved its 600th space launch on Thursday, with a Long March-8A successfully deploying internet satellites into orbit. Serving as China's backbone launch vehicles, the Long March rockets have delivered nearly 1,400 spacecraft into orbits and conducted over 86 percent of the country's space launch missions to date, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, China's major space contractor. (10/16)

New Space Debris Shield? Satellites and Astronauts Could Suit Up in 'Space Armor' (Source: Space.com)
Humanity has a new tool in the fight against space junk — "Space Armor," a multi-functional composite that could protect both spacecraft and astronauts. Space Armor is made via a proprietary fiber-to-resin manufacturing method courtesy of the company Atomic-6, based in Georgia. Space Armor's fiber-to-resin manufacturing method also provides another benefit: An enclosure using the tiles not only can protect communication gear, it also offers communications transparency. That means the system can safeguard mission-critical radio communications to and from the satellite as well. (10/15)

Aerospace Startup Rendezvous Robotics Opens Headquarters in Colorado (Source: Denver Post)
An aerospace startup that aims to provide a method to build living and industrial structures in space, communications systems and solar arrays to beam energy to Earth has opened its headquarters in Golden. Rendezvous Robotics formally started in November 2024 after about eight years of developing and testing technology that uses programmed tiles that autonomously assemble themselves to form modular structures and reconfigure when needed. Strong magnets help the tiles click in place. The tiles can be stacked in a rocket and released at their destination to start forming a structure. (10/16)

RGNext Laying Off 500 After Range Contract Loss (Source: BizJournals)
RGNext is laying off over 500 employees, including 228 at Patrick Space Force Base, 255 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and 22 at Kennedy Space Center, after losing a major Space Force contract to Amentum. The layoffs are expected to occur by November 30, although many impacted employees may have the opportunity to work for the incoming contractor, Amentum. (10/15)

Former North Carolina NASA Campus For Sale, Listed for $30M (Source: WLOS)
The former satellite tracking facility for NASA in Rosman, North Carolina, is now up for sale. The Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) is a 192-acre site, built in 1963, that features more than 30 buildings, including a welcome center, library, exhibits, dorms and staff housing, and dining facilities. The site is selling for $30 million. (10/16)

Rule-Breaking Black Hole Destroys Star in Puzzling Way (Source: Space.com)
The death of a star at the hands of a massive black hole in a galaxy 650 million light-years away has surprised astronomers, for not only taking place outside the center of the galaxy, where massive black holes usually lurk, but also for launching two high-energy outflows months after the star's destruction. The optical flare of the TDE was spotted in 2024 by the Zwicky Transient Facility on the 48-inch Samuel Oschin Telescope at Palomar Observatory in California. (10/16)

For Next Test, SpaceX Plans Tower Catch of Starship Upper Stage (Source: Teslarati)
Elon Musk has revealed the tentative timeframe for Starship’s next milestone that would push the spacecraft’s reusability to a whole new level. Following Flight 11’s flawless mission, Musk noted on X that SpaceX will be aiming to catch the Starship Upper Stage with its launch tower as early as spring 2026. This should pave the way for SpaceX to start optimizing Starship for maximum reusability. (10/15)

4,000 Gone: Inside NASA’s Brain Drain (Source: Planetary Society)
Roughly 4,000 NASA employees — over 20% of the agency — have left in the past six months. Some were fired or retired early. Many took voluntary buyouts. In all cases, the root cause was the same: orders from on high to prepare for devastating budget cuts. Now, many of NASA’s most experienced workers are gone. This means that they are, for the first time, able to speak out about the brain drain and its impact on the agency. Click here. (10/15)

Radical Plan to Beam 'Sunlight on Demand' at Night Sparks Concerns (Source: Science Alert)
A proposed constellation of satellites has astronomers very worried. Unlike satellites that reflect sunlight and produce light pollution as an unfortunate byproduct, the ones by US startup Reflect Orbital would produce light pollution by design. The company promises to produce "sunlight on demand" with mirrors that beam sunlight down to Earth so solar farms can operate after sunset.

That vast constellation would deliver 20% of the midday Sun to no more than 80 locations at once, based on our calculations. In practice, even fewer locations would be illuminated due to cloudy weather. Additionally, given their altitude, the satellites could only deliver illumination to most locations near dusk and dawn, when the mirrors in low Earth orbit would be bathed in sunlight.

It remains to be seen whether Reflect Orbital's project will get off the ground. The company may launch a test satellite, but it's a long way from that to getting 250,000 enormous mirrors constantly circling Earth to keep some solar farms ticking over for a few extra hours a day. Still, it's a project to watch. The consequences of success for astronomers – and anyone else who likes the night sky dark – would be dire. (10/10)

Why NASA's Safety Award Features Snoopy (Source: BoingBoing)
When NASA astronauts want to honor someone who helped keep them alive, they hand out a silver pin depicting Snoopy in a spacesuit. The Silver Snoopy Award is one of the space agency's highest honors, and each sterling silver pin has flown in space before being presented. Following the deadly Apollo 1 fire in 1967, NASA wanted to create a symbol to remind its workforce that lives depended on their work. Charles M. Schulz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip, donated his artwork for free, drawing the astronaut Snoopy that appears on each pin. (10/16)

Lawmakers Press Pentagon on Cuts to Oversight of Key Missile Defense Programs (Source: Breaking Defense)
Two democratic lawmakers are raising concerns that the Pentagon’s weapons testing office has reduced the number of programs under its remit and will no longer provide oversight of several space and missile defense efforts that could potentially be linked to Golden Dome. The Defense Department has cut 94 programs overseen by its office of the director of operational test and evaluation (DOT&E) — a 37 percent reduction of the 251 programs previously on the list. (10/16)

SpaceX Has Big, Destructive Plans for its Big Rocket in Florida (Source: Florida Phoenix)
This is such a breakable age. Things we thought would last are, to our surprise, now in danger of shattering. You think our state parks will always be preserved? Nope, we’re going to try to put golf courses in them. Think the Everglades will be protected forever? Sorry, we’re building a prison camp there. Think our system for buying environmental land will be free of political influence? Too bad, here’s a shady campaign contributor getting $83 million for four acres in Destin.

Last week I heard about another target for breakage, one that I thought would never see a crack: The natural lands serving as a buffer around Cape Canaveral. Space X, the aerospace company owned by Elon Musk, wants to make big changes at the Cape. It wants to boost the number of rockets it launches and lands there, as well as boosting the size of the rocket involved.

The proposal has drawn opposition from residents and officials from Titusville, Cape Canaveral, and Brevard County, as well as environmental groups worried about the potential harm to nesting sea turtles, manatees, and endangered right whales. They’re also concerned about increased pollution, rampant water waste, a huge loss of public access, lots more sonic booms and — not to be rude — the tendency of Space X rockets to blow up. There have been four explosions so far this year. (10/16)