November 4, 2025

Stilsat-1: A Russian-Owned and Chinese-Built Satellite Watching Ukraine (Source: Space Review)
A satellite, ostensibly produced by a Russian company, has been providing the Russian military with high-resolution images to support its war in Ukraine. Bart Hendrickx examines evidence that indicates the satellite, or satellites, were actually built and launched by China. Click here. (11/4)

The (Possibly) Great Lunar Lander Race (Source: Space Review)
Discussion about delays in the development of the lunar lander version of SpaceX’s Starship came to a head two weeks ago when NASA’s acting administrator announced he would open up that contract for competition. Jeff Foust reports on that debate and the potential competition to return humans to the Moon. Click here. (11/4)

Live, it’s the Big Bird! The HEXAGON Satellite and Near-Real-Time Reconnaissance (Source: Space Review)
In 1970, one company proposed to modify the HEXAGON reconnaissance satellite to include the ability perform near-real-time reconnaissance. Dwayne Day discusses that proposal that led, a decade later, to including such a capability on those satellites. Click here. (11/4)

Above Us, Always: Chronicling Humanity’s Home in Space, in Real Time (Source: Space Review)
Sunday marked the 25 years since the arrival of the first long-duration crews on the International Space Station, beginning a streak of continuous occupation. Emily Carney talks to the creators of a new website that chronicles the day-to-day history of the station. Click here. (11/4)
 
Why Mars is America’s Next Strategic Imperative (Source: Space Review)
The Moon has been at the center of many discussions about American space policy and competitiveness. Alexander Salter argues that the focus of a long-term strategy should instead be on Mars. Click here. (11/4)

Know Your Lunar Landing Site (Source: Space Geotech)
On Earth, we never build on ground we haven’t studied. We drill. We sample. We model. Because we learned that the cost of ignorance always exceeds the cost of preparation. In space, mission planners began to believe that ground data is optional; that we can land hundred-ton vehicles on unverified terrain and call it innovation. That speed and spectacle matter more than surface truth. They don’t. Ground data is a return on investment. It’s what turns uncertainty into confidence, and confidence into predictable cost, schedule, and safety. In space, as on Earth, progress without verification isn’t vision. It’s arrogance.

Lunar regolith is poorly constrained beyond the Apollo and Chang’e landing zones. There is no atmosphere, gravity is one-sixth of Earth’s, and temperature cycles reach extremes of ±250 °C. A thin surface veneer can abruptly transition into blocky megaregolith, fractured lava flows, or impact-shocked breccia. Orbital imagery and remote sensing provide broad context, but they cannot resolve the heterogeneity that governs excavation performance. Without in-situ subsurface sensing, contractors will face unacceptable exposure to delays, equipment failures, and cost escalation. (11/3)

Embry-Riddle Kicks Off NASA-Supported Air Mobility Effort (Source: ERAU)
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University hosted the official kickoff meeting for the NASA University Leadership Initiative (ULI) project: SALA4, an effort focused on advancing the safety, resilience and autonomy of next-generation Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) systems. The project brings together researchers from Embry-Riddle, Georgia Tech, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Southern California, Collins Aerospace and Argonne National Laboratory to develop intelligent autonomy and adaptive control technologies that will enable AAM vehicles to respond in real time to unexpected events and operational challenges. (11/3)

Lawmakers Warn UK Must Act Now to Get Space Ambitions Back on Track (Source: Space News)
The United Kingdom must move swiftly to turn ambition into action after falling short of a vision outlined three years ago to become a major global space power, a cross-party parliamentary committee warned Nov. 3. (11/3)

Latin America’s Space Momentum Takes Center Stage at LATSAT 2025 (Source: Space News)
The global space sector is evolving faster than ever, with new technologies, shifting geopolitics, and fresh investment cycles redefining what “doing space” means. Amid this transformation, Latin America is quietly but firmly finding its place. Across the region, new initiatives are reshaping the landscape: Mexico is redefining its national space entity, Brazil is expanding its launch and Earth observation capabilities, Colombia is pairing AI and satellite data to protect the Amazon, and Peru is preparing its first spaceport.
 
Beyond the headlines, this reflects a broader ambition, to use space as a tool for sovereignty, development, and universal access. Connectivity in remote regions, environmental monitoring, and defense modernization are now integral parts of national strategies. (11/3)

Intuitive Machines Acquiring Lanteris (Source: Space News)
Intuitive Machines is acquiring satellite manufacturer Lanteris Space Systems, the former Maxar Space Systems. Intuitive Machines said it reached an agreement with Advent International, the private equity company that owns Lanteris, to purchase Lanteris for $800 million: $450 million in cash and $350 million in Intuitive Machines Class A stock. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026. Intuitive Machines is best known as a developer of lunar landers, and is also working on lunar communications satellites and a crewed lunar rover. Lanteris, which changed its name from Maxar Space Systems last month, is a satellite manufacturer that once primarily focused on commercial GEO communications satellites but has diversified into smaller LEO satellites and other missions. Intuitive said the deal would turn it from “a lunar company to a multi-domain space prime.” (11/4)

UK Parliament Warns of Slow Progress in Space (Source: Space News)
A report by a U.K. Parliament committee warns the country must move quickly if it wants to be a leading space nation. The report released Monday by a committee of the House of Lords found the United Kingdom has broadly struggled to convert policy ambitions into tangible outcomes, citing a lack of clear priorities, coordination and long-term funding. It warned that the country’s 5% share of the global space economy could erode without decisive leadership and delivery. It warned of dependence on SpaceX's Starlink services, requesting research on the potential impacts if those services were lost, while also seeking clarification from the government on goals for a sovereign launch capability. (11/4)

China Testing Inflatable Module for In-Space Manufacturing (Source: Space News)
A Chinese institute is testing an inflatable module that could be used for in-space manufacturing. The tests on a “core module” by the Institute of Mechanics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMCAS) represent a breakthrough in combining rigid structures with flexible modules. Images of the flexible platform suggest a diameter of around 2 meters. IMCAS did not provide details like a planned launch date, intended orbits, the mass and volume of a platform and more. The size of the test article suggests this is a technology demonstrator, rather than a full size model, with significant work and progress needed before flight. (11/4)

Astroscale Plans Two Satellite Servicing Missions in 2026 (Source: Space News)
Astroscale is gearing up for two key missions next year. The multinational company focused on satellite servicing has on the books one mission to grab a OneWeb broadband satellite to remove it from LEO, while another is scheduled to refuel two U.S. Space Force spacecraft in geostationary orbit. The company, based in Tokyo but with offices in several countries, said its international expansion was originally intended to attract more engineers, but now benefits the company as more countries seek sovereign capabilities. (11/4)

OHB to Fully Acquire MT Aerospace (Source: European Spaceflight)
German aerospace company OHB is buying the remaining part of MT Aerospace it did not already own. OHB said it acquired the 30% of MT Aerospace owned by Apollo Capital Partners. The value of the deal was not announced. MT Aerospace builds metal and composite structures for space and defense systems, and is one of the largest contractors for the Ariane 6. OHB said that by taking full ownership of MT Aerospace it can strengthen its position in the defense market. [European Spaceflight]

Brightest Flare Detected From Black Hole (Source: AP)
Astronomers have detected the brightest flare ever associated with a black hole. Astronomers said this week they linked the flare, detected in 2018 by a telescope at Palomar Observatory, with a supermassive black hole 10 billion light-years away. The flare, 10 trillion times as bright as the sun, likely was created when a star was ripped apart by the immense gravity of the black hole. (11/4)

Sidus Space Completes Design for FeatherEdge Processor (Source: Sidus Space)
Sidus Space announced the successful completion of the design phase for its FeatherEdge 248Vi edge computer, a modular Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) processor line that represents the next evolution in Sidus’ Orlaith AI Ecosystem and is purpose-built to support spaceborne, aerial, and autonomous missions. (11/4)

America is Upgrading GPS to Catch Up with Rivals (Sources: The Economist, Defense News)
The trouble with first-mover advantage is that it devalues quickly. Once the hard work of inventing a technology has been done, others are free to copy and improve it. Take the Global Positioning System (GPS). Designed for America’s armed forces in the 1970s, made available to civilians during the 1980s and declared fully operational in 1993, GPS was revolutionary: anyone with a receiver and a clear view of the sky could work out exactly where on Earth they were standing.

The U.S. is actively upgrading all major parts of its GPS enterprise — satellites and ground systems — with resilience-oriented augmentations to counter foreign GNSS competition and harden the system against modern threats. The current generation, GPS-III, delivers 3× better accuracy and up to 8× improved resistance to jamming compared to legacy satellites. The follow-on program, GPS-IIIF, includes further enhancements like laser retroreflectors, digital navigation payloads, advanced search-and-rescue, and regional military protection. (10/29)

Australian Driver's Windshield Possibly Struck Space Object (Source: Science Alert)
An object that struck an Australian man's Tesla as he was traveling along a highway may have been a meteorite. Andrew Melville-Smith, a veterinarian from Whyalla in South Australia, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that the object hit his windscreen with such force that the glass appeared to soften and partially melt, and cracks spidered out from the point of impact. Other explanations may be more likely, including space junk, something falling from a passing aircraft, or even just an ordinary Earth rock. (11/3)

"Athena" Plan for NASA: Isaacman Roadmap or Duffy Smear Campaign? (Source: Ars Technica)
In recent weeks, copies of an intriguing policy document have started to spread among space lobbyists on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The document bears the title “Athena,” and it purports to summarize the actions that private astronaut Jared Isaacman would have taken, were his nomination to become NASA administrator confirmed. The 62-page plan is notable both for the ideas to remake NASA that it espouses as well as the manner in which it has been leaked to the space community.

This leak appears to be part of a campaign by interim NASA Administrator Sean Duffy to either hold onto the high-profile job or, at the very least, prejudice the re-nomination of Isaacman to lead the space agency. Additionally, it is also being spread by legacy aerospace contractors who seek to protect their interests from the Trump administration’s goal of controlling spending and leaning into commercial space. Two sources indicated that Duffy shared the plan with traditional space contractors as part of an effort to build support for his remaining time at NASA, perhaps permanently, as administrator.

After they received a copy of the Athena plan, the Alabama delegation—which represents Marshall Space Flight Center and strongly favors continuation of the Space Launch System rocket—generally came to favor Duffy’s candidacy. They, along with traditional space contractors and Duffy himself, have been suggesting that re-nominating Isaacman would be a “giveaway” to SpaceX. Click here. (11/3)

With Space Florida Support, Aerospace Engine Project Breaks Ground in Northwest Florida (Source: Great Northwest)
Williams International has officially broken ground on its new aviation gas turbine engine manufacturing facility in Crestview. This $1 billion investment—one of the largest in Northwest Florida history—features a 1 million sq. ft. complex that will bring over 330 high-wage jobs, paying more than 115% of the county average, and create new opportunities for the 5,200 military members transitioning from six local bases each year. Partners include One Okaloosa EDC, Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc., CareerSource Okaloosa-Walton, FloridaCommerce, Space Florida, and SelectFlorida. (11/3)

Instruments Built by Embry‑Riddle Ready for Liftoff on NASA’s ESCAPADE Mars Mission (Source: ERAU)
When the ESCAPADE mission blasts off toward Mars, instruments designed and built by Embry‑Riddle students will be on board — ready to probe the red planet’s atmosphere and uncover how solar storms and space weather impact it, thus helping to unravel Mars’ planetary evolution history and possibly paving the way for the first human explorers. The instruments developed at Embry‑Riddle, called the ESCAPADE Langmuir Probe suite, will contribute to measuring a variety of plasma properties, said Ph.D. candidate Nathan Graves. (10/31)

MDA Space Makes a $10 Million Investment in Maritime Launch - Becoming an Equity Owner and a Strategic Partner (Source: Satellite Evolution)
MDA Space and Maritime Launch Services Inc. have announced a $10 million equity investment by MDA Space in Maritime Launch Services Inc. at a price of $0.223 per share. The MDA Space investment in Maritime Launch Services marks a key milestone in advancing Canada’s sovereign launch capability, strengthening the country’s domestic space value chain, with complete capability from ground to orbit. (11/3)

US Scientists Driven to Europe for Research Funding (Source: Financial Times)
The EU has seen a surge in interest from American academics applying for grants, as US researchers increasingly look for options abroad in response to President Donald Trump’s attacks on higher education. The EU received a record number of applications for its top research and innovation grants this year, including a tripling of US bids for a key fund compared with 2024. Trump administration attacks on higher education have included cuts in funding and restrictions on academic freedom, leading to initiatives from other countries to lure researchers abroad. (11/3)

‘End of an Era’: Experts Warn Research Executive Order Could Stifle Scientific Innovation (Source: Higher Ed Drive)
An executive order that gives political appointees new oversight for the types of federal grants that are approved could undercut the foundation of scientific research in the U.S., research and higher education experts say. President Donald Trump’s order, signed Aug. 7, directs political appointees at federal agencies to review grant awards to ensure they align with the administration’s “priorities and the national interest.”

These appointees are to avoid giving funding to several types of projects, including those that recognize sex beyond a male-female binary or initiatives that promote “anti-American values,” though the order doesn’t define what those values are. (11/3)

Solar Foods to Develop Solein Production Technology for Testing on ISS (Source: Solar Foods)
Solar Foods has signed a contract with OHB System AG toward the development of a small-scale Solein gas fermentation technology pilot with the aim of eventually testing the technology onboard the ISS. The project is funded by ESA under its Terrae Novae Exploration Program. The company aims for its technology to become integral to human space habitats. (11/3)

Radiation Tolerant S-A2300 AI Supercomputer Completes LEO Mission Testing (Source: Space Daily)
Aitech Systems has conducted radiation testing for the S-A2300 AI supercomputer to determine its suitability for low Earth orbit missions. The device underwent gamma irradiation using cobalt-60 at a specialized facility. The S-A2300 enables onboard AI processing for applications such as real-time image analysis, autonomous navigation, climate and environmental monitoring, space debris tracking, and defense satellite situational awareness. In-orbit AI allows satellites to perform immediate data evaluation and autonomous decision-making, reducing reliance on ground transmission and processing. (11/1)

Orbital Data and Energy Collaboration Accelerates Space-Based Assembly (Source: Space Daily)
Rendezvous Robotics and Starcloud have initiated a formal partnership to integrate autonomous modular assembly systems with orbital power and cooling infrastructure for gigawatt-scale datacenter capabilities in space. The MoU outlines joint exploration of advanced orbital architectures, assessing Rendezvous Robotics' self-assembling solar array and thermal radiator solutions for future integration with Starcloud's satellite platform. The partnership targets the development of scalable, high-performance computing and energy systems intended for deployment in orbit. (10/31)

Mississippi Offers Incentives for Aerospace Industry (Source: Mississippi Development Authority)
The Mississippi Aerospace Initiative Incentives Program provides tax incentives to companies that locate or expand in the state and manufacture or assemble components for the aerospace industry or provide research, development or training services for the sector. These incentives include a 10-year exemption from state income and franchise taxes, as well as a sales and use tax exemption for the purchase of component building materials and equipment related to the start-up or expansion of the facility.

To qualify, companies must invest at least $25 million and create at least 25 full-time jobs paying at least 110% of the state or county average annual salary. Eligible aerospace businesses must be certified by the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) to take advantage of these incentives. (11/3)