The University of Central Florida, proudly recognized as America’s Space University, will host UCF Space Week Nov. 3 -7, a weeklong celebration of space innovation, exploration, and industry leadership. Founded to fuel the U.S. space program, UCF continues to power Florida’s rise as the nation’s launchpad for discovery, connecting world-leading research, talent, and industry partnerships that shape the future of the space economy.
With 70,000 students and globally recognized programs in planetary science, optics, hypersonic propulsion, and robotics, UCF is the nation’s top workforce supplier to the aerospace and defense industries. Strategically located just 35 miles from the Space Coast, UCF serves as a vital hub for research and collaboration with NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and leading aerospace partners. (10/31)
UCF Hosts Space Economy Summit (Source: Economist)
From the promise of a “golden dome” orbital shield for space defense to the race for sustainable growth, the space economy is fast becoming a backbone of global industries. Economist Impact’s 3rd annual Space Economy Summit will unite space agencies, enterprises, investors, and technology pioneers to debate how to unlock new opportunities and maximize economic and environmental returns to Earth.
As the sector accelerates, leaders will explore in-space manufacturing, resilient architectures, funding strategies, regulatory hurdles, and the evolving economics of lunar and cislunar activity. How can Earth observation drive sustainability? What are the risks and rewards of in-orbit servicing? And how do we balance expansion with responsible governance? This international summit, held Nov. 5-6 in Orlando, Florida, at the University of Central Florida, is a nexus for collaboration, insight, and action to shape the future of the space economy. Click here. (10/31)
Space Prep and Exolaunch Complete Payload Processing Ahead of Multi-Satellite Launch from Cape Canaveral (Source: Space Coast Daily)
Space Prep, the launch support services division of All Points Logistics, has completed payload processing for three spacecraft set to launch next month from Cape Canaveral, marking another milestone in its partnership with Exolaunch. Space Prep managed fueling, packaging, and delivery of the spacecraft to the integration facility. (10/31)
Bulgaria's EnduroSat Raises $104 Million for Satellite Manufacturing (Source: Space News)
Bulgarian smallsat manufacturer EnduroSat has raised $104 million. The company announced Thursday it raised the new round, bringing its total investment to more than $150 million. The extra funds will help ramp up production at a recently opened 17,500-square-meter facility in Sofia, Bulgaria. EnduroSat leaders said the expansion will support growing demand for small- to mid-sized satellite constellations, ranging from dozens to hundreds of spacecraft. Early-stage investors Riot Ventures, Google Ventures, Lux Capital and Shrug Capital participated in the latest funding round, alongside the European Innovation Council Fund. (10/31)
Interest Rate Cut Could Fuel Space Investment (Source: Space News)
A recent interest-rate cut could fuel further investment in the space industry. Investors said there is a “fervor” in the markets unlike any seen recently, making it a great time for companies to raise money. That renewed interest could also mean a return to special purpose acquisition companies, or SPACs, “blank-check” public companies that merge with private firms. Many space companies went public through SPACs several years ago, with mixed results. (10/31)
SpaceX Likely Winner of $2 Billion DoD Satellite Constellation (Source: Wall Street Journal)
SpaceX is expected to win a $2 billion Pentagon satellite contract. The award would be for a constellation of “air moving target indicator” satellites whose funding was included in the budget reconciliation bill passed in July. The satellites, designed to track missiles and aircraft in flight, could be incorporated into the Golden Dome missile defense system. The expected contract shows the greater role SpaceX is playing in military programs, one apparently not hurt by the falling out between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump earlier this year. (10/31)
Companies Decry Lack of Info on Golden Dome (Source: Space News)
Companies interested in participating in Golden Dome are struggling with a lack of information about the program. Executives said Thursday that they still have no information on the overall architecture for Golden Dome and thus aren’t sure how they fit into it. The information vacuum comes at a particularly challenging time, as the ongoing government shutdown has frozen funding allocations and disrupted program timelines, adding another layer of complexity to companies’ investment decisions. Companies are also considering whether Golden Dome would continue beyond the Trump administration. (10/31)
Space Force Plans GOCO Model for Some Satellite Systems (Source: Space News)
The Space Force is adopting a business model for satellite systems that would be owned by the government but operated by contractors. The move toward so-called GOCO, or government-owned, commercially-operated, arrangements has been shaped by developments such as Russia declaring that Western commercial satellites could be legitimate military targets if they support Ukraine. The GOCO model allows the government to leverage private sector technology and operational expertise while retaining ownership and control over critical infrastructure deemed essential for national security. For companies, the model offers crucial protection from the financial devastation that could result from having their assets targeted in a conflict. (10/31)
SpaceX Develops Simplified Lunar Architecture (Source: Space News)
SpaceX says it has a “simplified” plan for getting humans to the moon on Starship while defending its current approach. In a statement Thursday, the company said it responded to “the latest calls” for changes by offering a “simplified mission architecture and concept of operations” that would be faster and safer. SpaceX did not reveal any details of that alternative architecture. SpaceX has been the subject of criticism, including from NASA Acting Administrator Sean Duffy, about delays in Starship’s development. Duffy has also suggested he would “open up” SpaceX’s existing Artemis 3 landing contract. SpaceX, in the statement, said Starship is “the fastest path” to getting humans back on the moon in a sustainable way, and noted it has achieved most of its 49 contract milestones to date on or ahead of schedule. (10/31)
Russia Swaps Soyuz Capsule for Next ISS Mission (Source: Russian Space Web)
Russia has replaced the Soyuz spacecraft for the next mission to the International Space Station. A Soyuz spacecraft with the serial number 759 was built for the Soyuz MS-28 mission launching in late November. However, the spacecraft reportedly suffered damage to its thermal protection system during testing, and Roscosmos elected to replace it with another Soyuz, number 753, that was built for tourist missions and is in storage. (10/31)
China's StarDetect Raises $14 Million for Space Domain Awareness (Source: Space News)
A Chinese startup raised funding to develop space domain awareness and other services. StarDetect raised about $14 million in Series A1 and A2 rounds in late September. The company claims to have over 20 payloads in stable operation in orbit, with its products serving multiple commercial satellite constellations. The company says it will work with industry partners to verify new space-based intelligent application scenarios, including satellite communication optimization, onboard mission planning, space domain awareness and space computing. (10/31)
Might SpaceX Buy Globalstar? (Source: Reuters)
Shares in Globalstar surged on reports that SpaceX is interested in buying the company. The satellite operator is exploring a potential sale, which reportedly attracted attention from SpaceX. Shares in the company closed up more than 22% Thursday on the reports. Globalstar currently operates satellites whose capacity is primarily used by Apple to provide emergency connectivity services for iPhones. Globalstar is working on a new generation of satellites using funding provided by Apple. (10/31)
DPhi to Fly a Hosted Payload on Momentus Vigoride Mission (Source: Space News)
A startup will fly a hosted payload on a Momentus spacecraft next year. DPhi Space’s Clustergate-2 payload will be on the Vigoride 7 mission launching early next year, the companies announced Thursday. The payload is designed to support computing applications linked to sensors on Vigoride. (10/31)
AIA Calls Out Shutdown's Strain on US Defense (Source: AIA)
The Aerospace Industries Association is pressing for the US federal government to reopen, citing the ongoing shutdown's threat to national security programs. "After years of budgetary uncertainty, defense companies have developed strategies to temporarily manage the most immediate impacts of a government shutdown -- including, in many cases, continuing work and deliveries to the warfighter without guaranteed payment," said Margaret Boatner, AIA vice president of national security policy.
"However, as this shutdown extends beyond a month, the strain is becoming more pronounced -- especially given that we are still operating under outdated funding through a full-year continuing resolution. Our member companies are now experiencing growing challenges, including delayed payments, stalled contract awards, and slower approval processes due to reduced availability of federal personnel." (10/30)
Shipbuilding Funds Redirected to Pay Troops (Source: Breaking Defense)
The Trump administration plans to redirect $5.3 billion in War Department funds to cover troop pay and housing allowances, with $2.8 billion coming from US Navy shipbuilding and research accounts. The move aims to mitigate the shutdown's impact on military personnel, but has raised concerns among lawmakers about the adherence to congressional intent for defense funding. (10/30)
Thales to Develop LEO Radar System for French Military (Source: Air Force Technology)
Thales has secured a contract from the The French Defense Procurement Agency to develop the Aurore ground-based radar system for monitoring low-Earth orbit. The system will provide continuous surveillance and multi-tracking of space objects as part of the Action and Space Resilience program. (10/29)
GMV and Real Betis Install Satellite Tracking Station in Spain for Space Surveillance and Sustainability (Source: Space Daily)
GMV and the Real Betis professional soccer team have inaugurated a satellite tracking and collision prediction station at the Rafael Gordillo Sports Complex near Seville. This facility enhances Europe's space monitoring capabilities and positions Real Betis as the first soccer club with dedicated infrastructure for space sustainability. (10/31)
Hyderabad’s Skyroot Aerospace to Launch India’s First Private, Commercial Rocket (Source: Siasat Daily)
Propelling rockets to the skies has been the domain of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Not anymore! A Hyderabad-based startup, Skyroot Aerospace, is preparing to launch India’s first privately built commercial rocket within the next three months. The company, founded by two former ISRO scientists, plans to send its first full-scale satellite mission into space by January 2026. Its entry marks the beginning of private participation in India’s space launch sector. (10/29)
The Unavoidable Politicization in Modern Space Exploration (Source: Miami Student)
Just as SpaceX was beginning to test Starship, it became difficult to support. By watching and talking about SpaceX, people began to assume I liked the other things that Elon Musk came to represent. He turned the dream of space, that apolitical calling that so many people have shared for decades, into a divisive right-wing ideology.
To put it lightly, the man is divisive. Between throwing his weight into anti-transgender advocacy, buying X, formerly known as Twitter, backing President Donald Trump and then doing full-on Nazi salutes on stage, he has become a lot of things – a lot of things I don’t agree with, and a lot of things I find disgusting. It’s hard to separate the art from the artist, and this is no different. My enthusiasm may be tempered by the knowledge of what else is happening, what horrible things Musk is doing, but I am not going to let my happiness fade. (10/30)
SpaceX Is Stepping Up Starship Production And Launch Pace In Texas (Source: Aviation Week)
On a narrow spit of land just north of the Rio Grande River at the southern tip of Texas, SpaceX is building and testing technologies to transform space travel and development radically. The FAA has approved up to 25 orbital launches per year at the site. To support this, SpaceX is retooling its Starbase facility and building a second launch tower. (10/30)
Blue Origin Conducts Prelaunch Static Fire For Second New Glenn Mission (Source: Aviation Week)
A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket has reached its Cape Canaveral Spaceport launchpad in preparation for a static hot-fire ahead of the company's second orbital launch. New Glenn debuted on Jan. 16, with plans for as many as eight-10 more launches in 2025. The second launch, however, has been repeatedly delayed.
Blue Origin conducted a static-fire test on Thursday night, igniting the seven BE-4 engines in the rocket’s first stage on the pad at Cape Canaveral. The test, lasting 38 seconds, also simulated aspects of the booster’s landing burn to test interaction among propellant lines. The test is one of the final milestones before the rocket’s launch, scheduled for as soon as Nov. 9. It will carry NASA’s ESCAPADE Mars mission. (10/29)
Shipbuilding Revival in Louisiana Showcases Hi-Tech Capabilities (Source: Supply Chain Brain)
Michael Hecht hails what he identifies as a revival of shipbuilding in Louisiana. “What you’re seeing right now in Louisiana is a coming together of our historical expertise in shipbuilding combined with new needs in defense, aerospace and energy,” he says. He points to the announcement October 10 that Bollinger Shipyards had landed a $6 billion contract to build four new Arctic icebreakers for the U.S. Coast Guard.
And in July, Bollinger announced its latest project in the commercial spaceflight industry: converting a barge into a landing platform for Rocket Lab. Bollinger has also supported ventures like United Launch Alliance and Space Perspective, demonstrating how Louisiana shipyards are now building “ships for spaceships.” (10/29)
Patrick Space Force Base Hosts Technology Expo on Nov. 6 (Source: PSFB)
PSFB will host a Federal Direct Access Exposition to bring technology vendors together with military and government personnel. The event will be held at the PSFB Tides Club on Highway A1A. Enjoy complimentary refreshments and a flexible drop-in format while discovering defense technologies and networking with dozens of industry experts. Pre-register at https://lnkd.in/gAnq4UKi. On-site registration is also available. (10/28)
Ecuador Space Society Plans Galapagos Expedition (Source: ESS)
Future of Space (FoS) and Ecuador Space Society (ESS), two visionary organizations united by a passion for exploration and innovation, announced a collaboration to advance space-inspired discovery and education, featuring an immersive expedition to the Galapagos Islands, a living laboratory of evolution, biodiversity, and planetary wonders, where participants will delve into the intersections of space exploration, conservation, and human potential. At the heart of this initiative is FoS's invitation to four outstanding Ecuadorian students, selected for their curiosity about space and their commitment to science, to join the expedition.
ESS, an advocate for Ecuador's role in space arena since joining NASA's Artemis Accords in 2023, welcomes this collaboration as a catalyst for national participation and innovation. ESS President Nelson Guim emphasized the expedition as amplifying the country's connections with relevant space and innovation actors around the world. "By linking access to space with our tourism heritage and sustainable industries, we are creating opportunities that will benefit our nation, demonstrating that space exploration at home drives progress on earth." (10/29)
Miami-Based Underwater Habitat Aims to Allow Researchers to Make Weeklong Dives (Source: Space Daily)
To someday allow scientists to stay underwater conducting research for days on end, the UK-based company DEEP has designed Vanguard, a "subsea human habitat." The company unveiled its prototype Wednesday at a hangar in Miami, Florida, hoping that oceanographers and other researchers can use it to stay underwater in the ocean for at least a week, instead of only a few hours like most expeditions.
Vanguard also will include a floating structure on the surface of the water to transport compressed air, power the vessel, and allow for communication with the outside world. In addition to its Florida expansion, DEEP is broadening its U.S. manufacturing presence with the launch of a state-of-the-art facility in Houston, Texas. (10/30)
ESA's Henon CubeSat to Pioneer Distant Retrograde Orbit with Early Solar Storm Warnings (Source: Space Daily)
ESA will launch the Henon CubeSat on a mission scheduled for late 2026, utilizing the launch capacity of a larger spacecraft. The CubeSat will be transported to the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 2, about 1.5 million kilometers from Earth on the Sun's far side. After arrival, the CubeSat will use an electric propulsion system to achieve a Distant Retrograde Orbit (DRO) around the Sun. (10/30)
UF Study Shows Men Suffer Significant Ocular Changes After Space Travel (Source: Space Daily)
A new study at the University of Florida's Astraeus Space Institute examined how factors such as sex, age, and body metrics relate to brain and eye changes in astronauts after space travel. The research is among the first to detail sex-related physiological responses to spaceflight. Data showed that female astronauts exhibited a greater reduction in fluid around the top of the brain compared to males, but eye changes were most consistently observed in men.
Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome, especially globe flattening - a compression at the back of the eyeball - was the leading ocular change. This phenomenon, which was more common in male astronauts, poses concerns for maintaining long-term vision during extended missions. (10/30)
Lunar Lander Testing Campaign Builds Confidence for Griffin-1 Moon Landing (Source: Space Daily)
Astrobotic is preparing for the Griffin-1 lunar landing by applying a rigorous "test like you fly" methodology designed to validate every aspect of its Guidance, Navigation, and Control system. Each subsystem, including sensors and flight software, undergoes evaluation in conditions closely mirroring those anticipated during descent and landing on the Moon.
The Griffin-1 GNC integrates Terrain Relative Navigation, LiDAR-based Hazard Detection and Avoidance, and Navigation Doppler LiDAR. All technologies must operate together to achieve a successful touchdown. Astrobotic runs over 1,500 automated tests on its Software-in-the-Loop platform during every mission code update, covering terrain features, light conditions, spacecraft dynamics, and sensor performance. End-to-end simulations recently measured system robustness under varied lunar conditions. (10/30)
China to Send Youngest Astronaut, Mice on TSS Space Mission (Source: Space Daily)
The crew for China's next manned flight to its space station will include the country's youngest astronaut to undertake a space mission, authorities said Thursday, as well as four lab mice. The Tiangong Space Station (TSS) -- crewed by teams of three astronauts that are exchanged every six months -- is the crown jewel of China's space program, into which billions of dollars have been poured in a bid to catch up with the United States and Russia. (10/30)
Venus Loses its Last Active Spacecraft, as Japan declares Akatsuki Orbiter Dead (Source: Space.com)
Humanity's last active mission at Venus is no more. The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) declared its Akatsuki spacecraft dead on Tuesday (Oct. 28), more than a year after the Venus climate probe failed to respond to calls from mission control. (10/29)
The Exploration Company Opens New HQ in Germany (Source: European Spaceflight)
In-space logistics startup The Exploration Company has opened its new headquarters in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, with operations at the facility expected to begin in December. Founded in 2021, The Exploration Company is developing a modular, reusable spacecraft called Nyx, which will initially be used to transport cargo to and from the International Space Station. Planned future variants of the spacecraft include versions capable of transporting cargo to lunar orbit and the surface of the Moon, as well as a variant designed to ferry astronauts to and from orbit. (10/30)
In-Space Construction Firm Says it Can Help Build Massive Data Centers in Orbit (Source: Ars Technica)
There has been much discussion in the space community recently about building large data centers in orbit to avoid the environmental consequences of sprawling computing facilities on Earth. These space-based data centers could take advantage of the always-on, free fusion reactor at the center of the Solar System.
“Our mission is to build things that are going to be useful in space,” said Phil Frank, chief executive of Rendezvous Robotics. “It could be large, flat surfaces like a Solar array. Ostensibly, the size is not the limit anymore, because we can additively assemble things and then reconfigure them in orbit. And that’s the core thesis of our company that led to us talking to the Starcloud team.” (10/30)
Europe is Working to Develop Reusable Rockets by the Early 2030s (Source: Space.com)
Europe's ArianeGroup is set to fly a series of demonstrators in a bid to develop sovereign reusable launch capabilities. "Callisto, Themis and Skyhopper are different demonstration programs contributing to the development of a European reusable launch vehicle," Franck Koebel of France-based ArianeGroup said. The effort is built around Prometheus, described as a reusable, high-thrust, low-cost methane-liquid oxygen rocket engine that will power the demonstrators. Testing has already begun with early systems trials in France, while current and upcoming campaigns are being run in Kiruna, Sweden, near the Arctic Circle. (10/30)
No comments:
Post a Comment