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January 24, 2022
Atlas Lofts Two Military Satellites to Orbit From Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
The first United Launch Alliance mission of the year sent an Atlas V rocket with a payload for the U.S. Space Force into orbit today. The launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Launch Complex 41 hit its target of 2 p.m. liftoff, marking the 75th flight of an Atlas V from the Space Coast.
The USSF-8 mission aims to put two space surveillance satellites directly into geosynchronous orbit, the fifth and sixth satellites of the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program for more accurate tracking and identification of man-made orbiting objects. (1/21)
SpaceX On a Roll for 2022, Launches More Starlink Satellites from Cape Canaveral Spaceport (Source: Space News)
SpaceX launched more Starlink satellites Tuesday night, bringing the total number of such satellites launched to more than 2,000. A Falcon 9 lifted off from the Cape Canaveral Spaceport and deployed its payload of 49 Starlink satellites about 15 minutes later. The Falcon 9 first stage, making its tenth flight, landed on a droneship in the Atlantic. With this launch, SpaceX has launched 2,042 Starlink satellites to date, of which 1,879 are in orbit. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tweeted over the weekend that 1,469 satellites were active, with another 272 moving to operational orbits. (1/19)
Falcon 9 Booster Becomes Fourth to Launch and Land Ten Times (Source: Teslarati)
For the fourth time, a SpaceX Falcon 9 booster has successfully completed ten orbital-class launches and landings. The booster performed its job without issue, boosting the payload and second stage mostly free of Earth’s atmosphere and about a quarter of the way to orbital velocity (2.2 km/s or Mach 6.5). As is now routine, B1060 then separated from the upper stage, flipped around, coasted to an apogee of ~130 km (80 mi), reentered Earth’s atmosphere, and touched down on one of SpaceX’s drone ships.
Unlike most other SpaceX launches, that drone ship – named A Shortfall Of Gravitas (ASOG) – was stationed southeast of Kennedy Space Center and off the coast of the Bahamas, where the weather and warmer seas are calmer and more optimal for safe booster and fairing recovery. Starlink 4-6 is the second time SpaceX has significantly customized a Starlink launch trajectory to optimize for booster recovery after Starlink 4-5, a virtually identical mission that launched on January 6th. (1/18)
Air Force Awards SpaceX $102 Million for Point-to-Point Cargo Launch Program (Source: Space News)
The U.S. Air Force awarded SpaceX a $102 million contract for its "rocket cargo" program. The award, made with little fanfare last week, formalizes a government-industry partnership to help "determine exactly what a rocket can achieve when used for cargo transport, what is the true capacity, speed, and cost of the integrated system," the manager of the program said. The Air Force Research Lab will have access to data from SpaceX launches, while SpaceX will provide cargo bay designs that support rapid load and unload of intermodal containers used by U.S. Transportation Command. There is no timeline for a demonstration at this point. (1/20)
Lift of SpaceX Super Heavy Booster 4 Animation (Source: RyanHansen Space)
The first use of the SpaceX Starbase Starship Super Heavy launch tower's multipurpose "Mechazilla" arms is right around the corner with Super Heavy Booster 4 slated to be the first full-size vehicle prototype to be lifted by the tower systems to the orbital launch mount. This animation depicts what that operation may look like including all steps to lift, translate, and rotate the booster into position. The tower motions depicted in this animation are dramatized and I do not expect the real operation to be performed this quickly. Click here. (1/20)
SpaceX and NASA Lunar HLS - Uncrewed Demo 1 Flight (Source: #TeamSpace)
This is an animation of what it may look like when SpaceX and NASA test the planned Human Landing System for the Artemis program. From Starbase to the moon's surface, I try to show all the major milestones needed to make this a reality. I hope for this to be entertaining and somewhat educational. This is highly speculative and will have many inaccuracies, missing or incorrect hardware, and milestones that are wrong or missed. The development of SpaceX's Starship has been at such a fast pace I could never keep up with the changes. Click here. (1/17)
NASA Targeting Late March for Artemis I Launch (Source: Space Policy Online)
NASA is targeting the end of March for Artemis I, the first launch of the Space Launch System rocket with an uncrewed Orion spacecraft. The actual date is yet to be determined, but the agency is confident enough to open the process for media to apply to cover the launch at Kennedy Space Center. The agency official in charge of the initiative also laid out a tentative schedule for future Artemis missions showing the U.S. human return to the Moon in 2025. (1/18)
NASA Foresees Two Year Gap Between Artemis Lunar Landings (Source: Space News)
NASA foresees a gap of at least two years between the first crewed Artemis lunar landing and the second. In presentations at an advisory committee meeting this week, NASA said it's not planning a landing on the Artemis 4 mission, the first after the Artemis 3 mission lands astronauts on the moon. That mission will instead be used to deliver a habitation module for the lunar Gateway. Landing missions will resume with Artemis 5. Part of the reason for the gap is the transition from the Human Landing System program, which is developing the SpaceX Starship lander for Artemis 3, with a program to buy landing services for later missions. NASA has not set dates for Artemis 4 and 5, but NASA has discussed previously launching such missions at a pace of one a year. (1/20)
NASA Conducts Another RS-25 Engine Test for Artemis SLS Rocket (Source: NASA)
NASA conducted its first RS-25 engine hot fire test of the new year Jan. 19 on the Fred Haise Test Stand at Stennis Space Center. The test was the second hot fire in the latest series that began in mid-December. Each test in the series is providing data to NASA's lead contractor, Aerojet Rocketdyne, on a variety of new engine components manufactured with state-of-the-art fabrication techniques as the company begins production of new RS-25 engines.
These engines will help power the agency's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket on future deep-space missions. During launch, four RS-25 engines will power the SLS, generating a combined 2 million pounds of thrust during ascent. The RS-25 engines for the first four SLS flights are upgraded space shuttle main engines and have completed certification testing. NASA will use the data from this test to enhance production of new RS-25 engines and components for use on subsequent SLS missions.
The testing is part of NASA's and Aerojet Rocketdyne's effort to use advanced manufacturing methods to reduce the cost and time needed to build new engines. (1/19)
Blue Origin Announces Personnel Assignments (Source: Blue Origin)
The Blue Origin team is delighted to welcome Tommy Sanford as our new Payload Sales Director. Tommy comes to us from an impactful run as the Executive Director of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, where he was a vocal advocate for the suborbital research community. Tommy takes the reins from Erika Wagner, who is moving over within Blue to help lead Orbital Reef, our new commercial space station. (1/21)
Astra Fires Up Rocket for First Time at Cape Canaveral Spaceport, Awaits Launch Date Approval (Source: SpaceFlight Now)
Astra, a company seeking to carve out a segment of the growing small satellite launch market, test-fired its two-stage rocket at Cape Canaveral on Saturday in preparation for an upcoming demonstration flight for NASA. The engine test-firing, called a static fire test, occurred at Space Florida's Launc Complex 46 at the Cape Canaveral Spaceport as Astra prepares to deliver four small CubeSat nano-satellites into orbit under contract to NASA’s Venture Class Launch Services program.
Chris Kemp, Astra’s founder and CEO, tweeted that the company will announce the target launch date and time for the mission after receiving a launch license from the Federal Aviation Administration. The static fire test was expected to be a prerequisite for Astra receiving an FAA launch license. (1/23)
Rocket Lab Sets Date for First 2022 Launch, Adds Another Mission (Source: Space Daily)
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. has announced the launch window for its first Electron mission in 2022, a dedicated mission for BlackSky through global launch services broker Spaceflight Inc. Electron is scheduled to launch the "Without Mission A Beat" mission from New Zealand during a launch window that opens February 4. This will be Rocket Lab's 24th Electron launch and first mission of 2022. Rocket Lab will not be attempting to recover Electron for this mission. Spaceflight has since commissioned an additional sixth launch for BlackSky on Electron to take place in 2022. That dedicated mission will continue BlackSky's rapid business expansion. (1/19)
ABL Space Systems Rocket Stage Destroyed in Test Accident at Mojave Spaceport (Source: Space News)
A "test anomaly" destroyed the upper stage of an ABL Space Systems rocket Wednesday. An explosion took place at Mojave Air and Space Port in California, creating a plume of black smoke visible for miles. ABL Space Systems said the incident at a test stand there destroyed the upper stage of the RS1 small launch vehicle it is developing. No one was injured. The company is one of many developing small launchers, and RS1 was expected to make its first launch in the near future before this accident.
ABL has yet to attempt a first launch of RS1. In an October interview, Piemont said the company was hoping to perform a launch from Kodiak Island, Alaska, before the end of 2021, but the company has not provided an update since then on its launch plans. While the company has yet to launch an RS1, it has been successful in raising money and signing customers. ABL raised $200 million in October, an extension of a $170 million Series B round it raised seven months earlier. (1/20)
Virgin Galactic Distances Itself From Chairman After Controversial Uyghur Comments (Source: City AM)
Virgin Galactic has distanced itself from comments made by its chairman yesterday, urging that his views do not reflect that of the company’s. Chairman Chamath Palihapitiya told the All-In Podcast audience that “nobody cares about what’s happening to the Uyghur Muslims.” Venture capitalist Palihapitiya, amidst a discussion of human rights, said “of all the things that I care about, (it) is below my line.” (1/18)
Radian Aerospace Comes Out of Stealth and Raises $27.5M for Orbital Spaceplane Development (Source: GeekWire)
More than five years after its founding, Renton, Wash.-based Radian Aerospace is emerging from stealth mode and reporting a $27.5 million seed funding round to support its plans to build an orbital space plane. The round was led by Boston-based Fine Structure Ventures, with additional funding from EXOR, The Venture Collective, Helios Capital, SpaceFund, Gaingels, The Private Shares Fund, Explorer 1 Fund, Type One Ventures and other investors.
Radian has previously brought in pre-seed investments, but the newly announced funding should accelerate its progress. One of the company’s investors and strategic advisers, former Lockheed Martin executive Doug Greenlaw, said Radian was going after the “Holy Grail” of space access with a fully reusable system that would provide for single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) launches.
It’ll take much more than $27.5 million to grab the grail: In the late 1990s, NASA spent nearly a billion dollars on Lockheed Martin’s X-33 single-stage-to-orbit concept before the project was canceled in 2001. But Radian’s executives argue that technological advances have now brought the SSTO vision within reach. “What we are doing is hard, but it’s no longer impossible thanks to significant advancements in materials science, miniaturization and manufacturing technologies,” said Livingston Holder. (1/19)
World’s Largest Airplane Completes First Test Flight in Eight Months (Source: Flying)
Stratolaunch’s Roc—the biggest airplane in the world—returned to the sky Sunday, completing its first test flight in more than eight months. The four-hour and 23-minute mission expanded Roc’s proven test envelope, including a higher altitude, as well as retracting and extending one of Roc’s main landing gear in flight for the first time.
In addition to setting a Roc record for flight duration, the mission pushed its proven test envelope for altitude and speed. The behemoth reached a maximum altitude of 23,500 feet and a top speed of 180 kias, Stratolaunch said, making it Roc’s most productive test flight so far. During previous flights, the airplane climbed to about 17,000 feet and accelerated to 165 kias. Roc was designed to fly to altitudes around 35,000 feet, reaching a top speed of 500 keas. Eventually, owners expect the one-of-a-kind, six-engined, twin-fuselage jet to serve as a carrier to air-launch reusable hypersonic aircraft for testing and research. (1/16)
US Department of Interior Drops the Gauntlet on SpaceX and the FAA at Texas Starbase (Source: EGS Hound)
Are the environmental impacts of Starbase’s future plans below NEPA significance thresholds? FAA and SpaceX’s Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) is a stripped-down environmental review built on the assumption that all impacts are insignificant or can be mitigated after a Finding of Non-Significant Impact (FONSI) from the FAA. If any impacts are determined to be significant, a full-blown Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required; a multi-year process before any Heavy Booster static fires, Starship launches, or commitment to further launch infrastructure development can commence. So a lot is on the line here.
FAA seems pretty determined to let SpaceX have their way in South Texas, but they are required to follow federal rules separate from (but often parallel to) NEPA. One of these is the DOT Act. In particular, section 4(f) which regulates impacts on “Parks, Recreation Areas, Wildlife and Waterfowl Refuges, and Historic Sites.” Starbase is surrounded on all sides by hundreds of acres of this. Section 4(f) requires other agencies to agree in writing with FAA's findings. But the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service don’t concur with the FAA's preliminary determinations that SpaceX's actions at Boca Chica have no significant impact.
In November, the Department of Interior took the gloves off, rejecting nearly every FAA section 4(f) determination. A full section 4(f) Evaluation is a potential nightmare, requiring the identification of a “Feasible and Prudent" alternative site. If this alternative site has a lower section 4(f) impact, the FAA cannot give a Green Light to Starbase. So if, for example, the Cape Canaveral LC-49 that SpaceX is developing is determined to have a lower impact, Starbase is dead. (1/17)
What's Up with SpaceX's Ocean Launch Platforms? (Source: @SpaceOffshore)
Q: Any news on the oil platform they purchased? Not seen any updates for ages. A: Great question on the Starship rigs... There is no news. Deimos has not been touched in Brownsville. Phobos was stripped down to a clear platform in Pascagoula and has now been sitting there idle since. The last thing Elon said was "We're not thinking about the rigs right now" (1/23)
SpaceX: Boca Chica Beach Closure Set for Jan. 26 Flight Test (Source: ValleyCentral.com)
State Highway 4 will be closed from FM 1419, Oklahoma Avenue, up to the entrance of Boca Chica Beach. The closures are in place due to planned “space flight activity”, by SpaceX. The closures are set for Jan. 26 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. However, if SpaceX doesn’t complete its testing in that time frame, closures on Jan. 27 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. or Jan. 28 from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. can be arranged to accommodate SpaceX, Trevino said. (1/21)
Air Force Thunderbirds Training at Spaceport America (Source: KRQE)
The iconic ‘Thunderbirds’ have landed at Spaceport America for a training mission. The Air Force’s demonstration squadron made its first appearance at the facility near Truth or Consequences last week. The team has trained at their home base, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada in previous years. They will be at the Spaceport through next week. (1/18)
New Mexico Whistleblower Revises Lawsuit Against Spaceport America (Source: Santa Fe New Mexican)
A former New Mexico state official is revising his lawsuit against the state regarding issues at Spaceport America. Zach DeGregorio, the spaceport's former chief financial officer, originally filed the suit without legal representation, naming the state's governor and many other officials as defendants. He alleged that they conspired to ensure the New Mexico Finance Authority maintained the ability to refinance spaceport bonds rather than use private sector alternatives. DeGregorio has since hired two law firms to represent him, who are revising the suit to remove many of the original defendants, instead limiting the suit to the his direct employers. State officials have declined to comment on the suit. (1/17)
Spaceport Hearing Pits Georgia County Officials Against Residents (Source: The Current)
At stake, depending on whom you talk to, is the future of the Camden County Commissioners’ planned spaceport. The county manager and county commissioners say it will be a premier job creator for the county and many residents deride the project as a boondoggle or environmental catastrophe. But the tactics used in the debate over proper spending of taxpayer funds also illuminate a rarely used constitutional provision for Georgians to defy local government.
What was being discussed in court on Jan. 11 was a petition. Namely, the fact that the seven residents, all in their 60s or 70s, had signed a petition more than once over the course of two years with the intent of stopping the Spaceport Camden project. The petition in question was filed in probate court last month seeking to repeal County Commission resolutions to purchase 4,000 acres of land from Union Carbide. The county wants the land for a spaceport, though the petition never uses the word “spaceport” or even alludes to the project. Click here. (1/15)
Judge Denies "11th Hour" Citizens' Petition to Block Georgia Spaceport Land Purchase (Source: Brunswick News)
A judge has denied an effort by opponents of a Georgia spaceport to block the purchase of land for the site. A judge concluded that opponents of Spaceport Camden waited until the “11th hour” to file their suit seeking to block Camden County from acquiring the land for the spaceport, noting that they could have filed objections months or even years earlier. Opponents want to stop the purchase until a referendum about the project is held in the county. A court is reviewing whether a petition seeking that referendum is valid. (1/21)
Denied Georgia Spaceport Injunction Heads to Court of Appeals (Source: The Current)
Anti-spaceport petitioners filed an appeal late Friday in an attempt to keep alive an effort to block the purchase of land from Union Carbide for the county-led commercial spaceport project. The plaintiffs’ move will send the case to the Georgia Court of Appeals. Superior Court Judge Stephen Scarlett on Thursday denied the injunction, which was needed to prevent the purchase of the property until the citizens could vote on the measure. Scarlett wrote that the plaintiffs should have brought their case sooner.
Camden residents James Goodman and Paul Harris are appealing the denial on behalf of themselves and about 3,850 other Camden residents who signed a petition to force a referendum on the land purchase. Without the land, the spaceport project cannot advance. The petition, filed in Camden County Probate Court, is under review to determine if the required 10% of registered voters signed it. The Georgia Constitution gives the court 60 days from the petition’s Dec. 14 filing to vet signatures and another 30 days to hold a referendum if the signatures reach the 10% threshold. (1/21)
With Spaceport Camden in Limbo, Here Are the 12 Other US Launch Sites (Source: Savannah Morning News)
The proposed Spaceport Camden would make Georgia the ninth U.S. state home to an orbital launch facility. Most Americans are familiar with the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, the longtime home of NASA and now the base for Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin commercial ventures. But there are 12 other spaceports scattered across the country. Here’s a look at those other launch facilities. (1/19)
Stennis Expects Active 2022 (Source: NASA)
As the new year begins, seven of the nine test stands at Stennis Space Center (SSC) are being used for testing. Four stands are being operated by NASA directly, one is under a Reimbursable Space Act Agreement with Aerojet Rocketdyne, and two have been turned over to Relativity Space Inc. for operation under a Commercial Space Launch Act. The outlook for 2022 activity is a carry-over from 2021, when rocket engine testing featured 11 test campaigns, including seven NASA-led projects, on eight test stands.
The year’s activity totaled 434 tests and 7,341 seconds of cumulative firing time. On the commercial front, SSC partnered with seven companies on rocket engine and component testing projects during the recent year – Aerojet Rocketdyne, Relativity Space, Virgin Orbit, Blue Origin, Ursa Major, Launcher, and Firehawk.
Aerojet Rocketdyne conducted the final scheduled RS-68 hot fire acceptance test on the B-1 Test Stand in April. However, several of the other companies are continuing testing projects into 2022. There also is the possibility of participating in partnerships with additional companies in the new year. (1/18)
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Florida Defense Industry Economic Impact Analysis (Source: Enterprise Florida)
During 2020, the state experienced a 12% nominal increase in direct defense spending – growing from $44 billion in 2018 to $49.3 billion in 2020. As the $49.3 billion rippled through the economy, it supported nearly 860,200 jobs and generated over $96.6 billion in value-added economic impacts, or 8.5% of the Florida economy. The total economic impact increased nominally by 1.7% to $96.6 billion, or 8.5% of Florida’s 2020 Gross State Product (GSP)
Defense-related spending accounted for a just over 860,200 direct, indirect, and induced jobs. Although defense spending increased by 12%, or $5.3 billion nominally, the number of total jobs supported declined from 2018 by 6%, or 55,000, as in-person household spending was temporally restricted due to COVID-19 safety protocols. Click here. (1/20)
Congressional Budget Delay Could Delay Space Force Launches (Source: Space News)
The lack of a fiscal year 2022 appropriations bill could delay some Space Force launches. Gen. John Raymond, head of the Space Force, said Tuesday that its 2022 budget request included funding for five national security launches, and if Congress passes a spending bill next month, the service will proceed with those five. However, he said that if Congress instead passed a continuing resolution for the rest of the fiscal year, two of those missions would be delayed to 2023 or later. He did not state which launches would be delayed other than they are “really important launches for us as we compete to win against Russia and China.” (1/19)
Space Force Submitting 'Bold' Budget Request for 2023 (Source: National Defense)
The Space Force's upcoming budget request will be "bold" and advance the Pentagon's pursuit of an improved satellite architecture that would be more resilient against enemy attacks or other disruptions, the service's top officer said Jan. 18. Defense observers are eagerly awaiting the release of President Joe Biden’s fiscal year 2023 budget blueprint. Annual presidential budget submissions to Congress typically come in February, but the next one could be delayed until March, according to reports.
Meanwhile, lawmakers have yet to enact a full-year appropriations bill for fiscal year 2022, and federal agencies are currently operating under a continuing resolution which is slated to last through Feb. 18. The Space Force has requested $17.4 billion for 2022, a 13.1 percent increase in funding compared to 2021. The ongoing CR, which generally freezes program funding at 2021 levels, is already having a detrimental effect on the Space Force, which recently celebrated its second birthday in December, Raymond noted. (1/18)
Space Force Wants Funding for a New Mission — Tracking Ground Targets (Source: C4ISRnet)
The U.S. Space Force wants to take on a new mission — tracking ground targets with space-based sensors — and the service expects to wrap up a review and requesting funding for the effort in fiscal 2024, according to the service’s top official. Chief of Space Operations Gen. John Raymond said last February the service was “thinking through” its role in the tactical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) mission and in May he revealed a previously classified effort to develop a space-based ground moving target indicator, or GMTI, capability. (1/19)
Space Force Foresees Need for Cislunar Space Domain Awareness Within Decade (Source: Air Force Magazine)
The Space Force’s top officer thinks the U.S. needs to be able to surveil cislunar space as soon as five years from now to defend U.S. interests on and around the moon. Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond explained his estimate—the need for cislunar space domain awareness in the next five to 10 years—during a webinar Jan. 19. NASA, with its mission of exploration and science, has said it plans to go back to the moon “hopefully here in the not-too-distant-future,” Raymond said. “I think for them to do their job, they have to have a domain that’s safe, and secure, and stable.”
NASA hopes to land astronauts on the moon’s surface by 2025 but will first send its vehicles on two test-flights to cislunar space and back—the first of those flights uncrewed, the second crewed but without a landing. Meanwhile, NASA and companies are planning a number of robotic missions.
Raymond said he views the Space Force’s role as “providing capabilities for our country’s way of life, and our way of war, and making sure that [space] is safe and stable so all can operate in it.” He said the Space Force already has the job, through the monitoring of objects in orbit, of protecting astronauts on the International Space Station. He alluded to dangers such as debris like that caused by Russia’s test of an anti-satellite weapon in November. (1/19)
Kendall: Space Force to Remain "Tightly Coupled" with Air Force (Source: Space News)
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said the Space Force will remain "tightly coupled" to the Air Force. Because of its small size, the Space Force needs significant support from the Department of the Air Force to perform its activities, Kendall said in a speech Wednesday. Kendall said his office is still reviewing the Space Force organization, its dependence on the Air Force, and where it might need additional help. He said while the Space Force serves an important role, "in order for it to be successful, it's going to need a lot of support from the Air Force."
The continued development of the Space Force is just one of several key issues for national security space this year. Administration officials say a top concern going forward is keeping space safe for military, civilian and commercial operations in light of threats from China and Russia. Other key developments will include an increased focus on low Earth orbit as the Space Development Agency launches its first satellites and progress on new launch systems like ULA's Vulcan Centaur. (1/20)
Space Force Turns Focus to Future Space Architecture (Source: Space News)
Raymond said 2022 will be “even more consequential” for the Space Force than its first two years. He said the Space Force will turn more attention in the coming year to designing the military’s future space architecture. Raymond established a Space Warfighting Analysis Center to manage the architecture designs using digital models and simulations, and it has completed its first study on the future mix of missile warning and missile tracking satellites. Future work will focus on space communications and the design of a so-called tactical ISR architecture, short for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. (1/19)
AFRL Official to Develop Space Force Satellites Architecture (Source: Space News)
The head of the Air Force Research Lab's Space Vehicles Directorate is taking a new job at the Pentagon. Col. Eric Felt will be moving to a new post this summer as deputy executive director of the Space Force's architecture, science and technology directorate at the Pentagon. At AFRL, Felt has focused on space science and technology efforts, maturing the components of satellites and then demonstrating new capabilities on orbit with flight experiments and then transitioning those into operational capabilities. He will be replaced by Col. Jeremy Raley, who currently runs the Space Rapid Capabilities Office, a Space Force procurement organization also located at Kirtland. (1/19)
Blustaq Developing Enterprise Data System for Space Force (Source: Space News)
Blustaq, a technology startup that is developing an enterprise data system for the U.S. Space Force, has lined up a new investor. The O'Neil Group, a real estate and asset management company based in Colorado Springs, said Tuesday it is making a strategic but undisclosed investment in Blustaq. That company, also based in Colorado Springs, won a $280 million contract from the Space Force last year to develop a cloud-based data repository known as the unified data library, or UDL. Blustaq says the new investment is critical to meet the growing demand from DoD customers as the company plans to double in size over the next 18 months. (1/18)
Space Force’s Data Transport Layer is Linchpin of JADC2 (Source: Breaking Defense)
Military commanders across the board need two key capabilities to fulfill their missions — awareness of their respective domains, and the ability to command and control their forces — both of which rely heavily on space systems, Space Force chief Gen Jay Raymond said. “If you look at JADC2, Joint All Domain Command and Control, space is one of the domains that puts the ‘all domain’ into that definition,” Raymond said. “I’ve been saying, kind of tongue in cheek, we’ve been JADC2 before it was cool.”
Raymond explained that Space Force has been “working really hard” on developing these two baseline JADC2 capabilities over the past two years of its existence. “We made some really good progress in some capabilities that we’ve built on the space side of the house that better integrate with other domains, specifically the air domain,” he said. (1/21)
Lawmakers Support Declassification of Some DoD Space Capabilities (Source: Space News)
Lawmakers say they support efforts to declassify some national security space activities. A provision of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act directs the Defense Department to examine every Space Force program to determine if its classification level should be lowered or declassified entirely. That effort, members of Congress said, could support initiatives like FireGuard, which uses imagery collected by U.S. military satellites and drones to produce maps that help detect and monitor wildfires. "Sometimes when you keep things classified that don't need to be, you breed a lot of public conspiratorial thinking that may be at odds with the facts," added Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. (1/21)
NRO to Work with Five Companies for SAR Data (Source: Space News)
The National Reconnaissance Office has signed agreements with five companies for commercial synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data. The agreements with Airbus U.S., Capella Space, Iceye U.S., PredaSAR and Umbra are study contracts that give the NRO access to the data collected by these companies' SAR satellites and are intended to help the agency better understand the quality of commercially available imagery. The NRO for years has purchased traditional optical satellite imagery from commercial suppliers but is new to the commercial SAR market. An NRO official said the agency is not yet committing to any long-term purchasing agreements for SAR data. (1/21)
Hypersonic Weapons Can’t Hide from New Eyes in Space (Source: Scientific American)
China’s test flight of a long-range hypersonic glide vehicle late last year was described in the media as close to a “Sputnik moment” in the race to develop new ultrafast maneuvering weapons. But even as senior U.S. military officials publicly fretted about missiles that are, for the moment at least, effectively invincible, the Pentagon was quietly making strides on an entirely novel way to help shoot down these weapons.
Late last December the U.S. Department of Defense’s Missile Defense Agency (MDA) gave the green light to a pair of contractors—L3Harris and Northrop Grumman—to pivot from design to prototype fabrication of a Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) system. This technology is intended to solve one of the Pentagon’s most vexing technical challenges: how to detect and track the hypersonic glide vehicles that exploit blind spots in today’s radar networks. (1/18)
$10M From DoD Elevates UArizona Hypersonics Facilities to National Prominence (Source: Space Daily)
University of Arizona aerospace and mechanical engineering researchers have received $3.5 million in funding from the state of Arizona's investment in the New Economy Initiative and $6.5 million in federal support through the Department of Defense's Test Resource Management Center to upgrade hypersonic facilities and related research infrastructure. The funding positions the university as a leading educational institution in the hypersonics field, said Alex Craig, an assistant professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering. (1/14)
NATO Releases Space Policy (Source: Breaking Defense)
NATO has released its first space policy, a document focused on space support and space domain awareness. The policy, published Monday, says NATO members will “fulfill and sustain requirements for space support in NATO operations, missions and other activities” in various areas. NATO has no plans to develop its own space capabilities but instead will rely on those of its 30 members. The document, in development for years, comes as European Union takes steps to develop a space security strategy independent of NATO. (1/19)
As Earth Orbit Becomes More Congested and Contested, Critical Satellites are at Risk (Source: Washington Examiner)
Last November, Russia launched a PL19 Nudol interceptor missile targeting a long out-of-service Soviet-era Cosmos 1408 satellite orbiting 300 miles above the Earth and blew it to smithereens. The resulting 1,500 pieces of trackable space junk threatened the seven-member crew of the International Space Station, including two Russian cosmonauts, who had to shelter in their transport spacecraft as the station passed perilously close to the debris field.
“This is our wake-up call because that test was not illegal. It was not against any law. We can argue all day long that it did not show ‘due regard’ for the activities of others in space, but we don't know what ‘due regard’ means,” said Michelle Hanlon, an instructor of space law at the University of Mississippi, in a recent BBC interview. “This is the wake-up call for the international community to really start getting those rules together.”
Of the 4,550 satellites circling the Earth, almost 400 are U.S. government or military satellites that provide everything from the GPS signals for civilian navigation to early warnings of a nuclear attack. By comparison, China has 431 and Russia has 167 satellites in orbit. The Defense Intelligence Agency has estimated that China will likely field a ground-based laser weapon that could destroy low Earth orbit space sensors by the end of this decade. (1/21)
Another Close Call with Russian Orbital Debris (Source: Space News)
A Chinese satellite had a close call with a piece of debris from November's Russian ASAT test. China's Space Debris Monitoring and Application Center issued a warning Tuesday of an extremely dangerous encounter between the Tsinghua Science satellite and one of more than 1,000 pieces of trackable debris from the ASAT test. Chinese officials claimed the debris came as close as 14.5 meters to the satellite, although the actual distance of the close approach is likely far more uncertain. The small, spherical Tsinghua Science satellite was launched in August 2020 on a Long March 2D rocket to make atmospheric density and gravitational field measurements. (1/21)
NASA Confirms Russian ASAT Test Doubled Debris Risk to ISS (Source: Space Policy Online)
NASA confirmed today that the risk of orbital debris penetrating the International Space Station has doubled because of Russia’s recent antisatellite test. Shards from the destroyed Russian satellite careened towards the ISS, forcing the seven crewmembers, including two Russians, to secure in place for a day until the immediate threat passed. But the long-term threat remains from the increase in the background debris field. U.S. officials and other experts are calling for an end to debris-generating ASAT tests. (1/18)
New AI Navigation Prevents Crashes (Source: Space Daily)
A new collision-avoidance system developed by students at the University of Cincinnati is getting engineers closer to developing robots that can fix broken satellites or spacecraft in orbit. UC College of Engineering and Applied Science doctoral students Daegyun Choi and Anirudh Chhabra presented their project at the Science and Technology Forum and Exposition in January in San Diego, California. Hosted by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, it's the world's largest aerospace engineering conference. (1/19)
Watchmaker Omega Joins ClearSpace to Clean Up Space (Source: Space Daily)
ClearSpace SA is working to rid space of dangerous debris comprising left-over rockets and defunct satellites. Now, Swiss watchmaker OMEGA, manufacturer of the first watch worn on the Moon, is joining with the Lausanne start-up as the first partner for the upcoming debris removal mission. In 2019, ClearSpace was selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) to fly the ClearSpace-1 mission to remove from orbit part of a European Vega rocket in 2025. It will be the world's first in-orbit clean-up mission, according to ESA, and now OMEGA will support ClearSpace's pioneering endeavor. (1/14)
Space Traffic Management Conference Planned at UT Austin (Source: UT Austin)
The Space Security, Safety, and Sustainability (SSSS) Program at the University of Texas at Austin, in partnership with the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), will hold the 8th annual Space Traffic Management conference, “Anthropogenic Environmental Impact and Assessment of Space Traffic on Space Operations and Implications for Climate Change Monitoring”. The conference will take place on March 2-33 at the University of Texas at Austin and via Zoom Webinar. Click here. (1/18)
Brevard County High School JROTC Program Converts From Air Force to Space Force (Source: WFTV)
On Friday, the Space Coast Junior/Senior High School in Cocoa is converting its JROTC program from the Air Force to Space Force. Officials say the school is one of 10 nationally in JROTC to agree to make the change. The formal changeover is scheduled for Friday afternoon. Retired Lt. Col. Joseph Stevens and retired Senior Master Sgt. John Werner lead Space Coast’s JROTC program. Stevens said coming under the Space Force, which was created in December 2019, has been a smooth transition for the program’s 123 students. (1/21)
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One Year into the Biden Administration, NASA Looks to Future (Source: NASA)
Over the past year, NASA has made valuable contributions to Biden-Harris Administration’s goals – leading on the global stage, addressing the urgent issue of climate change, creating high paying jobs, and inspiring future generations. Click here for highlights of NASA's efforts. (1/19)
NASA Needs a Lead Program Office for Artemis (Source: Space News)
he U.S. once again has the opportunity to lead the world back to the surface of the moon to establish the first permanent human presence. The piece-parts of a program seem to be falling into place, but what is lacking is a Lead Program Office with the responsibilities and commensurate authorities to make and shoulder the risk of the architectural and technical decisions, control requirements, integrate schedules across multiple teams, and foster the necessary urgency and attention to detail needed to control cost which is primarily done by meeting promised schedules.
Just getting humans to the surface of the moon and returning them safely to Earth is a tremendous challenge. Across the country and spread amongst myriad contractors, the Saturn 5, Apollo capsule, Command Service Module and Lunar Excursion Module (LEM) all had to be designed and built, and — just as importantly — had to work together with a new Vehicle Assembly Building, crawler and launchpad. That the U.S. accomplished this in less than a decade still amazes.
It’s time to take the best lessons from our past and meld them with the promises of today’s technologies and innovative industrial base. It’s time to stand up an Artemis Program Office, modeled after the Apollo Program Office, with the long-term strategic vision for human exploration of Mars as its guiding star, but with a near-term laser focus on getting us back to the moon to stay — safely, on schedule, and within budget. If successful America will once again reap the benefits of our Human Exploration Program. (1/20)
NASA Offers $1 Million for Innovative Systems to Feed Tomorrow's Astronauts (Source: Space Daily)
As NASA prepares to send astronauts further into the cosmos than ever before, the agency aims to upgrade production of a critical fuel source: food. Giving future explorers the technology to produce nutritious, tasty, and satisfying meals on long-duration space missions will give them the energy required to uncover the great unknown.
In coordination with the Canadian Space Agency, NASA is calling on the public to help develop innovative and sustainable food production technologies or systems that require minimal resources and produce minimal waste. Dubbed the Deep Space Food Challenge, the competition calls on teams to design, build, and demonstrate prototypes of food production technologies that provide tangible nutritional products - or food. (1/21)
Wanted: Recycling Methods to Keep Astronauts Alive (Source: Space Daily)
It took a crop of potatoes to keep Matt Damon alive on the red planet in The Martian. And in future, real life astronauts on the Moon and Mars will have to be gardeners, farmers and expert recyclers as well as explorers. Do you have promising ideas that might help them to get by in space on next to no resources?
The fundamentals of living in space are already clear. To make such plans sustainable over the long term, settlers will have to recycle their air, water and nutrients as much as possible, to minimize their reliance on long, costly supply lines back to their distant home planet. So ESA and the European Innovation Council - the new body guiding the commercialization of high-risk, high-impact technologies in Europe - are teaming up to crowd source ideas for implementing 'circular economy' technologies and sustainable processes in space.
The aim is to seek out concepts targeting the reuse and recycling of water, food, oxygen, nitrogen and other scarce resources from apparent waste material. And further to their use in space, these solutions should also have wider uses on Earth, creating synergies with terrestrial moves towards a circular economy. The underlying idea is not new. The ISS already recycles all the water it can, including crew urine, sweat, moisture from wet towels, even the humidity from astronauts' breathing. (1/20)
NASA Solar Sail Mission to Chase Tiny Asteroid After Artemis I Launch (Source: Space Daily)
NEA Scout will visit an asteroid estimated to be smaller than a school bus - the smallest asteroid ever to be studied by a spacecraft. Launching with the Artemis I uncrewed test flight, NASA's shoebox-size Near-Earth Asteroid Scout will chase down what will become the smallest asteroid ever to be visited by a spacecraft. It will get there by unfurling a solar sail to harness solar radiation for propulsion, making this the agency's first deep space mission of its kind.
The target is 2020 GE, a near-Earth asteroid (NEA) that is less than 60 feet in size. Asteroids smaller than 330 feet across have never been explored up close before. The spacecraft will use its science camera to get a closer look, measuring the object's size, shape, rotation, and surface properties while looking for any dust and debris that might surround 2020 GE. (1/21)
NASA Gives a Boost to 57 High-Flying Student Experiments (Source: GeekWire)
NASA has chosen 57 winning teams to receive funding to build and fly experiments focusing on subjects ranging from lunar dust mitigation to inkjet printing in zero gravity. The prizes were awarded through NASA’s first-ever TechRise Student Challenge, which aims to give students in grades 6 through 12 an opportunity for real-world experience in designing and executing autonomously operated experiments. The program, administered by Future Engineers, attracted entries from nearly 600 teams representing 5,000 students nationwide. (1/21)
JWST Mirrors All Deployed (Source: Space.com)
All 18 mirrors on the James Webb Space Telescope have deployed from their launch configurations. NASA said Wednesday that controllers had completed work to slowly move the hexagonal mirror segments into place. Months of work still lie ahead to fine-tune the mirrors so they provide a single image. JWST is scheduled to perform a maneuver this weekend to enter into a halo orbit around the Earth-sun L-2 Lagrange point. (1/20)
Axiom Commercial ISS Mission Delayed One Month to March 31 (Source: NASA)
The launch of a commercial mission to the International Space Station has slipped a month. NASA said Tuesday that Axiom Space's Ax-1 mission, previously scheduled to launch Feb. 28, is now scheduled for March 31. NASA said "additional spacecraft preparations and space station traffic" was the reason for the delay. Ax-1 will send four people to the station on a SpaceX Crew Dragon for an eight-day stay. (1/19)
Tom Cruise Space Movie Producers Sign Deal with Axiom to Build Studio in Orbit (Source: CNBC)
The producers of Tom Cruise’s future space movie on Thursday announced plans to attach a studio to the International Space Station in development by Houston-based company Axiom. U.K.-based studio Space Entertainment Enterprise, co-founded by producers Elena and Dmitry Lesnevsky, contracted Axiom to build the module. Called SEE-1, the module would be “the world’s first content and entertainment studios and multipurpose arena in space.”
SEE-1 is scheduled to launch in December 2024. It will attach to Axiom’s first module that the company plans to connect to its space station in September 2024. Financial details of the studio’s contract with Axiom were not disclosed, and little is known about Cruise’s unnamed project — including how much it will cost. (1/20)
Space Race Comes to Hollywood: Second Film Studio to Be Built in Space (Source: Variety)
Hollywood has officially entered the space race, as plans for a second film and TV studio in outer space have been unveiled. Space 11 Corp, which was set up by “Survivor” producer Andrea Iervolino and is run by MMA fighter turned producer John Lewis, is exploring a deal with Voyager Space company Nanoracks to build a free-flying space station that will function as a soundstage in zero gravity.
Named S11S, the module can also be used as a live venue and will contain accommodation and sleeping quarters. Nanoracks, the largest commercial user of the International Space Station, expects the studio to be operational by 2027. Space 11 Corp launched in April with the primary intention of making screen projects in zero gravity. Its subsidiaries include film and television studio Space 11 Studio, which focuses on high-concept zero-gravity productions, and Space 11 City, a film production facility. The company is also behind the forthcoming reality TV series “Galactic Combat,” a zero-gravity fight competition series. (1/21)
NASA Takes Official Ownership of Bigelow ISS Module (Source: Space News)
NASA has taken ownership of an inflatable module on the International Space Station developed by Bigelow Aerospace. NASA took ownership of the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module (BEAM) last month when an engineering contract with Bigelow expired. Earlier this week, it awarded a new contract to ATA Engineering, a former Bigelow subcontractor, to provide engineering support. BEAM was installed on the station in 2016 and certified for use there to 2032. Once a pioneer in commercial space station development, Bigelow laid off its staff in early 2020. (1/21)
Machine to Melt Moon Rocks and Derive Metals May Launch in 2024 (Source: Ars Technica)
In recent years, much has been said about mining water ice in shadowed craters at the Moon's South Pole for use as rocket propellant. Enthusiasm for this idea has led NASA to begin planning the first human missions of its Artemis Program to land near the South Pole instead of the mid-latitudes. However, a Houston-based company says there is value in the gray, dusty regolith spread across the entire lunar surface. The firm, Lunar Resources, is developing technology to extract iron, aluminum, magnesium, and silicon from the Moon's regolith.
These materials, in turn, would be used to manufacture goods on the Moon. "There are all of these valuable metals on the Moon, just there for the taking," said Elliot Carol, chief executive officer of Lunar Resources. In addition to the private capital raised to date, the National Science Foundation and NASA have provided the company with about $3 million in funding to develop a prototype reactor that could be sent to the Moon for a demonstration test. Carol said this demonstration reactor will be ready to fly "before" 2024.
The technology to extract metals has its roots at NASA. It is called Molten Regolith Electrolysis, by which lunar regolith is heated to a temperature of 1,600 degrees Centigrade, melted, and then electrolyzed to produce oxygen and metals, such as iron and silicon. Although the composition varies by location, lunar soil is composed of about 40 to 45 percent oxygen, 20 percent silicon, and 10 percent aluminum, with smaller amounts of iron and titanium. (1/21)
MDA Awarded Contract for Lunar Landing Sensors (Source: Space Daily)
MDA Ltd. has announced a contract with an undisclosed US-based space company for a key landing sensor for a 2023 mission to the Moon. This award was made as part of the company's project involving NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. "Momentum is building as governments and private sector organizations work hand in glove on a shared mission that will take us back towards the Moon and beyond," said Mike Greenley, Chief Executive Officer of MDA. (1/18)
Paragon Snares $100M Lunar Space Station Deal (Source: Arizona Daily Star)
Tucson-based Paragon Space Development Corp. says it has finalized its contract with aerospace giant Northrop Grumman to supply life-support systems for a planned orbiting lunar space station — and revealed the total value of the contract exceeds $100 million. The contract for the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO), which NASA plans to launch as soon as 2024, is the biggest single contract ever for Paragon, said Grant Anderson, co-founder, president and CEO of Paragon. Paragon has been providing environmental and life-support systems to the space agency and its contractors for nearly 30 years. (1/15)
NASA Satellite Servicing Technologies Licensed by Northrop Grumman (Source: Space Daily)
Northrop Grumman recently signed agreements to license three technologies from NASA related to satellite servicing. Two of the technologies were developed by NASA for the On-orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing 1 (OSAM-1) mission. OSAM-1 is a first-of-its-kind mission that will grapple a US government-owned satellite, Landsat 7, to refuel it and to demonstrate the capability to potentially extend the operational life of satellites on orbit. Landsat 7 was not originally designed to be refueled, repaired, or modified, so the developed technologies were designed to enable NASA to provide this capability. (1/19)
Formation of Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program Signals New Era for NASA (Source: Roundup Reads)
Congress recently gave the green light to NASA to formulate a new program that aligns core human space exploration capabilities in support of Artemis. The newly created Extravehicular Activity (EVA) and Human Surface Mobility (HSM) program will be managed out of NASA’s Johnson Space Center and led by Lara Kearney, who most recently served as deputy program manager for the Gateway program. The EVA and HSM program will play critical roles in landing the first woman and the first person of color on the surface of the Moon.
The main goal of the nascent EVA and HSM program is to provide safe, reliable, and effective EVA and HSM capabilities that allows astronauts to survive and work outside the confines of a base spacecraft in order to explore on and around the Moon. (1/18)
NASA Safety Panel Requests Review of Human Spaceflight (Source: Space News)
NASA's safety advisers are calling on the agency to review how it manages its human spaceflight efforts. The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, in its annual report published last week, said that the evolving relationship NASA has with industry makes it "crucial for NASA to strategically evaluate the path ahead" for those programs. It questioned the "disaggregated" way NASA's human space exploration efforts are run, with separate programs for SLS, Orion and ground systems, and recommended creating an integrated Artemis program led by a single program manager. It also recommended NASA create a "board of directors" led by senior headquarters officials and center directors, and development of a long-term strategic vision. (1/18)
SpaceX Cargo Dragon Undocks from Station for Monday Splashdown (Source: NASA)
A SpaceX cargo Dragon spacecraft undocked from the International Docking Adapter on the station’s space-facing port of the Harmony module at 10:40 a.m. EST. Dragon will now fire its thrusters to move a safe distance from the space station. Controllers will command a deorbit burn Monday, Jan. 24. After re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, the spacecraft will make a parachute-assisted splashdown about 4:05 p.m., off the coast of Florida near Panama City. (1/23)
Expedition 66 Kicks Off 2022 with Plenty of Science, Including 4 Experiments from Florida-Based Redwire Space (Source: MyNews13)
After spending nearly a month in orbit, the Cargo Dragon capsule that launched shortly before Christmas is preparing to splashdown off the coast of Florida. The capsule was sent to the orbiting outpost with about 6,500 pounds of cargo, including gifts for the astronauts of Expedition 66 to enjoy the holiday season. Among the purely fun goodies for the orbiting outpost were four experiments sent by Redwire Space, headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla. They included three plant-based experiments and one focused on manufacturing in space.
Dave Reed, who serves as Redwire’s Florida Operations Director, is helping to oversee these projects. He has been working with science payloads for decades, going back to his start with NASA in the 90s. His first roll was as a mission analyst and program engineer starting in 1991. Reed retired from NASA to work in the private sector with his final job as the Chief of Science Program Development and Payload Engineering Subject Matter Expert at Kennedy Space Center. (1/22)
Archaeologists Launch First-Ever 'Dig' Into Life on the International Space Station (Source: NPR)
A group of researchers has launched the first-ever archaeological study of humans in space, observing the lives of the crew living on the International Space Station. The experiment, which will analyze and document the unique "microsociety in a miniworld," began this week with associate professors Alice Gorman from Flinders University in Australia and Justin Walsh of Chapman University in California leading the effort.
"We're the first to try to understand how humans relate to the items they live with in space," Walsh said in a statement. He added: "By bringing archaeological perspectives to an active space domain, we're the first to show how people adapt their behavior to a completely new environment." Over the course of the project, the team will investigate how a space culture has emerged and evolved since the opening of the ISS in November 2000 and the effects on the development of long-term missions on those who are aboard to solve technical, engineering or medical issues. (1/20)
Data-Relay System Connects Astronauts Direct to Europe (Source: Space Daily)
Astronauts on board the International Space Station are connecting straight to Europe at light speed, thanks to the European Data Relay System. An upgrade to the communications system is delivering broadband internet speeds similar to those enjoyed by families on Earth. It means that experiments on board the International Space Station can be monitored from Europe in close to real time. Until now, data from investigations into the effects of radiation on seeds and biomining research had to be stored on hard drives and returned to Earth many months later. (1/18)
ESA Space Summit to Focus on Human Spaceflight (Source: Space News)
The head of ESA says he hopes a space summit next month will provide a political endorsement of a European human spaceflight initiative. Josef Aschbacher said he wants the one-day meeting of ESA and European Union ministers in France on Feb. 16 to provide a mandate for ESA to begin studies of a human spaceflight program. Since taking office last year, Aschbacher has emphasized the importance of creating a European human space exploration capability. Other topics of the space summit will include initiatives on climate change and space safety as well as the E.U.'s proposed secure connectivity satellite system. (1/21)
ESA Whittles Wannabe Astronauts Down From 23,000 to 1,391 (Source: The Register)
The European Space Agency (ESA) has completed stage one of its latest astronaut selection process, with 1,362 astronaut and 29 parastronaut applicants making the cut. The group, which started as 23,000 wannabes, will now be invited to participate in a battery of psychological, performance, and personality tests followed by psychological interviews and medical testing for the ones that make it that far. (1/18)
InSight Mars Lander Exits Safe Mode (Source: NASA)
NASA’s InSight Mars lander has emerged from safe mode. JPL said the spacecraft resumed normal operations Wednesday after being in a power-conserving safe mode since Jan. 7 because of a dust storm that diminished sunlight reaching the solar-powered spacecraft. However, regular science operations won’t resume until controllers know how much power is available to the spacecraft after the dust storm has passed. In the meantime, NASA’s Ingenuity Mars helicopter suffered its first weather-related flight delay. Project engineers said a dust storm in Jezero Crater led them to delay the helicopter’s 19th flight earlier this month. That storm has since dissipated, and the project now plans to make the flight as soon as Sunday. (1/21)
Bouncing Boulders Point to Quakes on Mars (Source: New York Times)
If a rock falls on Mars, and no one is there to see it, does it leave a trace? Yes, and it’s a beautiful herringbone-like pattern, new research reveals. Scientists have now spotted thousands of tracks on the red planet created by tumbling boulders. Delicate chevron-shaped piles of Martian dust and sand frame the tracks, the team showed, and most fade over the course of a few years.
Rockfalls have been spotted elsewhere in the solar system, including on the moon and even a comet. But a big open question is the timing of these processes on other worlds — are they ongoing or did they predominantly occur in the past? A study of these ephemeral features on Mars, published last month in Geophysical Research Letters, says that such boulder tracks can be used to pinpoint recent seismic activity on the red planet. (1/22)
Curiosity Measures Intriguing Carbon Signature on Mars (Source: Space Daily)
After analyzing powdered rock samples collected from the surface of Mars by NASA's Curiosity rover, scientists have announced that several of the samples are rich in a type of carbon that on Earth is associated with biological processes. While the finding is intriguing, it doesn't necessarily point to ancient life on Mars, as scientists have not yet found conclusive supporting evidence of ancient or current biology there, such as sedimentary rock formations produced by ancient bacteria, or a diversity of complex organic molecules formed by life. (1/18)
Curiosity Rover Finds Martian Organics (Source: Space.com)
NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has found organic compounds on the red planet, but scientists said that is not necessarily evidence of life. In a study published Tuesday, researchers said an instrument on Curiosity had detected compounds rich in carbon-12, an isotope of carbon. On Earth, metabolic processes preferentially use carbon-12, so detecting organics with high levels of that isotope is suggestive of life. However, scientists said the compounds could be created by other processes, such as interaction with ultraviolet light or carbon dioxide, that do not require the presence of life. Those involved in the study said they need more data to determine which process created the compounds. (1/19)
Mars Signs of Past Life (Source: TIME)
Mars may be a wasteland today, but for the first billion or so years of its 4.5 billion year life span, it was awash in oceans and seas and protected by a thick blanket of air. Eventually its magnetic field shut down, allowing the solar wind to claw away the atmosphere and the water to vanish into space. But that first billion years offered Mars plenty of time to cook up at least microbial life. Now, a study published Jan. 18 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests researchers may have found lingering surface markers of such ancient biology.
The new research was based on work conducted by NASA's Curiosity rover, which has spent nearly a decade in Mars's Gale Crater, which NASA believes was once a lake. In the first part of House's study, the rover collected rock and soil samples at 24 different sites around Gale Crater. The samples were then transferred to a laboratory oven within the body of the rover and heated to about 1,500º F. A laser spectrometer then analyzed the chemistry of the samples. It was looking especially closely for carbon, the elemental backbone of all life as we know it. It found plenty, which was pretty much as expected. The surprise was just which type.
Carbon comes in two principal isotopes: carbon-13, with six protons and seven neutrons; and carbon-12, with six protons and six neutrons. Carbon-13 doesn't play well with biology; its heavier structure makes for tougher molecular bonds that don't allow for the nimble recombining that makes biological processes possible, and that carbon-12 performs so easily. The more carbon-12 you find in a Martian sample, the greater the possibility that you're looking at an artifact of early life. And Curiosity found plenty of it: Nearly half of the samples it collected had significantly higher levels of carbon-12 than scientists typically detect in Martian meteorites. (1/21)
Perseverance Rover Dumps Mars Sample (Source: NASA)
NASA's Perseverance Mars rover is dumping a sample it tried to collect but could not properly stow. The tube containing the sample, collected last month, could not be stored in a "bit carousel" on the rover because of pebbles in the way. Rover controllers determined the best way to deal with the problem was to simply dump the contents of the tube back on the surface of Mars, a process not originally contemplated when designing the mission but one that is simple to perform. Scientists hope to make a second attempt soon to collect a sample from the same rock. (1/18)
Cosmonauts Prep Prichal Module During 7 Hour ISS Spacewalk (Source: NASASpaceFlight.com)
Two cosmonauts completed work on a new Russian space station module during a spacewalk Wednesday. Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov spent 7 hours and 11 minutes outside the station during the spacewalk, which ended at 2:28 p.m. Eastern. The two completed their planned work to outfit the Prichal node module, added to the station in November. That work included setting up cameras, handrails, antennas and other equipment on the exterior of the module, allowing it to support dockings by Soyuz and Progress spacecraft. (1/20)
Russia's Only Female Cosmonaut to Travel to Space in September (Source: Space Daily)
Russia's sole active female cosmonaut, Anna Kikina, is due to travel to the International Space Station in September on a Soyuz rocket, the national space agency said Thursday. Kikina, a 37-year-old engineer, will be only the fifth professional woman cosmonaut from Russia or the Soviet Union to fly to space. (1/20)
US Refuses Visa for Russian Cosmonaut (Source: RIA Novosti)
The American authorities denied Russian cosmonaut Nikolai Chub a visa without explanation, an informed source told RIA Novosti. "Cosmonaut Nikolai Chub , whose flight to the International Space Station is planned in the spring of 2023, was denied an entry visa to the United States without explanation," the agency's source said. He explained that traditionally all Russian members of the expedition are trained at the Johnson Space Center before flying to the ISS. They are studying, among other things, the structure of the American segment of the station in the same way as astronauts from the US are preparing in Russia. (1/22)
Roscosmos: US Visa Denial to Cosmonaut Chub Puts His Safety on ISS (Source: TASS)
The safety of Russian cosmonaut Nikolay Chub during his mission on the International Space Station (ISS), scheduled for 2023, has been called into question after the United States refused him an entry visa, Russia’s space agency Roscosmos told reporters on Saturday. "This situation calls into question the very safety of the Russian cosmonaut’s mission on the ISS and the safety of the Station’s US segment due to the unpreparedness of the Russian cosmonaut in case of an emergency," Roscosmos said. The Russian state corporation clarified that nobody will ever launch an untrained crew into space. (1/22)
Chinese Scientists Build 'Artificial Moon' to Conduct Experiments in Low Gravity (Source: Space Daily)
According to the South China Morning Post, the facility located in Jiangsu Province, will play an important part in the exploration of the Moon as China plans to land its astronauts on Earth's satellite by 2030 and set up a base there. Chinese scientists have built an artificial moon that will make it possible to conduct experiments in low gravity. According to the researchers, their creation is the first of its kind in the world and is designed so that it can make gravity "disappear".
The researchers say they were inspired by an experiment conducted by the Russian-Dutch-British physicist Andre Geim, who used magnets to levitate a frog. The device consists of a 2-foot room placed inside a vacuum chamber, which, in turn, has two powerful magnets. The magnets generate a strong magnetic field, making the room levitate. Chinese researchers simulated the lunar landscape in the room, putting rocks and dust in there. (1/18)
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After Six Decades, Russia Will Build its Final Proton Rocket This Year (Source: Ars Technica)
Russia's main space corporation, Roscosmos, said it is in the process of building four more Proton rockets before it shuts down production of the venerable booster. Roscosmos said the four rockets are on an assembly line in Moscow. After their production is complete, these four rockets will be added to its present inventory of 10 flight-ready Proton-M rockets. Russia said it plans to launch these remaining 14 Proton rockets over the next four or five years. Russia plans to transition payloads, such as military communications satellites, that would have launched on Proton to the new Angara-A5 rocket. (1/18)
Russia to Launch at Least Two Light Angara Rockets in 2022 (Source: TASS)
Russia’s State Space Corporation Roscosmos expects to launch at least two light Angara carrier rockets this year, Roscosmos Chief Dmitry Rogozin said on Friday. "As you know, the test launches of Angara rockets are in full swing. A new launch was carried out in December. This year, we will launch at least two light Angara rockets," the Roscosmos chief said during his visit to the construction site of the National Space Center in Moscow. (1/21)
Kazakhstan's President Fires Special Envoy To Baikonur Spaceport (Source: Sputnik)
Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has fired his special envoy to the Russia-leased Baikonur space port, his press office said. "A decree of the head of state has relieved Serik Zhusipovich Suleimenov of his duties as the Kazakhstani president's special representative at Baikonur complex," the presidency said. Suleimenov was appointed envoy to Baikonur and deputy to the provincial governor in April 2020. No reason was given for his firing. (1/19)
China's Landspace Readies for First Launch (Source: Space News)
Chinese private company Landspace is working towards the first launch of its new methane-fueled Zhuque-2 rocket. Satellite imagery and deleted social media postings indicate that work is progressing on a new complex for methane-liquid oxygen launch vehicles at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, including the presence of a Zhuque-2 test article. Landspace CEO Zhang Changwu said in an interview last November that Zhuque-2 could lift off in the first quarter of 2022, which could make it the first orbital launch attempt of a rocket using methane and liquid oxygen propellants. (1/19)
China Launches Classified Satellite on Long March 2D Rocket (Source: Space News)
China launched a classified satellite over the weekend in the country's first launch of the year. A Long March 2D lifted off at 9:35 p.m. Eastern Sunday and placed the Shiyan-13 satellite into orbit. Chinese state media provided no information regarding the payloads or uses of Shiyan-13, which is in an orbit of 357 by 1,297 kilometers inclined at 98.7 degrees. The launch was the first of more than 40 planned for this year by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp., following up on its 48 Long March launches last year. (1/18)
China’s Lingkong Tianxing Successfully Completed its First Flight Mission in 2022 (Source: Weixin)
Chinese firm Lingkong Tianxing Technology Co., which raised more than $46.3 million for its hypersonic spaceplane plans in 2021, successfully completed the first flight test this year at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on 23 January. This is also the 10th flight mission of the "Tianxing" series of rockets! Kick off the high-density launch in 2022. (1/23)
Japan's H3 Rocket Debut Delayed with Main Engine Defects (Source: Kyodo)
Japan's new H3 rocket is unlikely to launch this quarter as previously predicted. Japanese industry sources say newly discovered defects with the rocket's main engine will delay the launch, with no clarity on when the launch can be rescheduled. There are concerns, though, that the delay could be "prolonged." The H3 is intended to be the successor to the H-2A rocket, but with a lower cost that would make it more competitive commercially. (1/18)
Arianespace to Launch Microcarb on Vega C (Source: Parabolic Arc)
Arianespace has been awarded a launch contract by ESA, on behalf of the European Commission, to launch Microcarb in 2023 on Vega C. Microcarb is a 190kg satellite developed by CNES that will be delivered into a sun-synchronous orbit, 650km above the Earth. Microcarb is a small satellite designed to map sources and sinks of carbon dioxide (CO2)—the most important greenhouse gas — on a global scale. (1/18)
National Ukrainian Spaceport to be Built in Odesa Region (Source: Kyiv Post)
Territory has been found on the administrative border of Odesa and Mykolayiv regions for the creation of a new Ukrainian spaceport. The news was announced at a Jan. 20 press conference organised by the Association of Innovation and Space Clusters of Ukraine; Head of the Odessa Regional State Administration, Serhiy Hrynevetsky; and Head of the National Center for Space Management and Testing, Volodymyr Prysyazhny.
However, construction of a strategic facility on the Black Sea Coast needs approval from neighboring Turkey because of the risk of second stage launch vehicles falling back to its territory. Head of the Dnipropetrovsk Space Cluster, Yevhen Rokytskyi, clarified that there are already technologies that allow launch vehicles to take off and make a controlled return without the need for an exclusion zone. (1/21)
On Scotland’s Haunting Coast, a Village Dreams of Space (Source: Wall Street Journal)
Dorothy Pritchard and her neighbors hadn’t always planned to host a spaceport. The retired schoolteacher lives along the coast of A’ Mhoine peninsula, an area of wind-scoured peat lands known as the Flow Country, at the tip of Scotland’s mainland. For generations, aristocratic landlords far away in England rented parcels of land here to small groups of crofters to farm as best they could. Oil and gas from the North Sea helped provide jobs some 180 miles away in Aberdeen, allowing some people to stay reasonably nearby and return home at weekends. (1/22)
Spaceport Cornwall Still on Course for Virgin Orbit Rocket Launch in 2022 (Source: Cornwall Live)
It’s all systems go for rocket launches to take place in Cornwall this year. Spaceport bosses in the Duchy said all the pieces of the puzzle are falling into place to make sure Virgin Orbit can use Newquay airport to launch microsatellites into space from Cornwall towards the end of the year. Melissa Thorpe, the head of Spaceport Cornwall, said the organization continues to work with Sir Richard Branson’s company to ensure two launches take place in 2022.
The first launch would also be the opportunity to send Kernow Sat 1, a satellite designed and manufactured in Cornwall with a view to carry out earth science such as measuring ocean plastic pollution or mapping tree planting and deforestation or coastal erosion and look at issues that affect the Duchy, into space on the first trip. (1/21)
Liability and Insurance Framework for Manufacturers of Space Objects in India (Source: Space Review)
India’s government is working to open up its space industry to private players, reforms that bring with it a variety of challenges. Three legal experts discuss issues involving liability and insurance regarding that reform effort. Click here. (1/17)
Weaponizing Space Not ISRO’s Mandate, a Q&A with ISRO Chief S. Somanath (Source: The Week)
He is a film buff, and has offered to sit for a session dedicated only to discussing film dialogues—be they from potboilers or classics, Akira Kurosawa or Adoor Gopalakrishnan. S. Somanath, 58, the chief of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) himself has a cine star flamboyance about him, with his thick mop of hair, dark moustache and stylish mannerisms. Click here. (1/23)
Pakistan Joins India in Blocking Starlink Service (Source: Space News)
Pakistan has followed India's lead in blocking pre-sales of SpaceX's Starlink service. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said Wednesday that "Starlink has neither applied for nor obtained any license from PTA to operate and provide internet services" in the country. It advised the general public to refrain from pre-booking the service in Pakistan through Starlink or associated websites. India's telecom regulator similarly advised people from making deposits for Starlink in November, and by early January SpaceX was refunding those orders. (1/20)
OneWeb Makes Moves Toward India Service (Source: PTI)
OneWeb is partnering with Hughes to provide services in India. The companies announced Thursday a six-year distribution agreement whereby Hughes will provide OneWeb's satellite broadband services throughout the country. The announcement didn't disclose when those companies would start offering services in India. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding last fall regarding such a partnership, and Hughes is a minor shareholder in OneWeb. (1/20)
Latin America's Bid on Space (Source: Quartz)
After decades of talk, Latin America is the closest it’s been to launching a regional space agency. Last autumn, 18 countries, including Mexico and Argentina, signed an agreement to create the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency, or ALCE. It’s unclear whether those plans will materialize into a viable operation that regularly shoots satellites into space, never mind rockets or astronauts. But the accord’s mere existence is already giving the region’s emerging space industry a much needed push.
ALCE will also need funding, a tough ask in a region where about a third of residents are poor. Judging by the budgets of some of the national agencies, space so far has not been a spending priority (Spanish.) Though entrepreneurs say the space industry will help solve problems on Earth, whether by creating jobs or enabling fixes like monitoring Amazon deforestation, they still have to make their case to the public. There are potential risks to ALCE flopping, including an even worse case of brain drain. “If the region doesn’t make any concrete progress soon, it will lag further and further behind and lose human resources,” says Angel Arcia.
But the challenges ahead shouldn’t dissuade the launch of ALCE. If anything, the agency should set loftier goals to make sure Latin America doesn’t get left out of the next phase of space activity. (1/20)
Israel Moves Toward Artemis Accords Agreement (Source: Space News)
Israel appears to be next in line to sign the Artemis Accords. Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid tweeted Sunday that he had won approval from the government to sign the U.S.-led accords, which outline safe and sustainable space exploration practices. Israeli media reported a formal signing ceremony could occur next week when the Israel Space Agency hosts the 17th Ramon International Space Conference. (1/19)
Latvia's Mission Space Plans Weather Satellite Constellation (Source: Space News)
A Latvian startup has plans to launch a constellation of satellites to provide commercial space weather data. Mission Space announced Thursday an agreement with Bulgarian startup EnduroSat to launch a set of high-energy particle detectors later this year on a cubesat. Mission Space plans to ultimately establish a constellation of 24 satellites to monitor space weather, using that data to quantify the risks to individual satellites and to correlate spacecraft anomalies with the intensity and type of recorded high-energy particles. (1/21)
Malta’s New Space Exploration Strategy (Source: Lovin Malta)
Malta has just launched its first official strategy to enable space exploration, during a press conference held earlier today. The strategy, which is being headed by Innovation Minister Owen Bonnici and Task Force Chief Omar Cutajar, is made up of a set of policies with goals mapped out until 2027. “We are fully intent on making sure that the strategy moves forward. We are going to consult with the general public, and once that consultation process is closed in March, we are going to keep on working so that this strategy is translated into practice,” Minister Owen Bonnici said. (1/21)
ESA May Accelerate Sentinel-1B Replacement (Source: Space News)
ESA may accelerate the launch of a radar imaging satellite after another satellite malfunctioned last month. Sentinel-1B has been out of service since Dec. 23 after its radar antenna's primary and backup power systems failed. Efforts to fix the power system have not been successful, but ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher said Tuesday that those efforts continue. A new satellite, Sentinel-1C, is nearing completion and currently scheduled to launch around the middle of next year. Aschbacher said ESA is looking into whether that satellite could be launched earlier, possibly by the end of this year. (1/19)
Satellite Images Show Tonga Volcano's Aftermath (Source: BBC)
The massive volcanic eruption and tsunami in Tonga has caused catastrophic damage, with homes destroyed and many communities covered in a thick layer of ash. The Tongan government says the country has been hit by an "unprecedented disaster." Communications with Tonga have been severely disrupted. Satellite images and aerial photographs show the scale of the destruction. Click here. (1/18)
Update on Africa's 1st Satellite Constellation Built by CPUT (Source: Space Daily)
The Marine Domain Awareness Satellites (MDASat) have already started successfully transmitting data after they were launched aboard US aerospace company SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket yesterday. The mission carried a total of 105 spacecraft, including CubeSats, microsats, PocketQubes and orbital transfer vehicles. CPUT Vice-Chancellor Prof Chris Nhlapo congratulated engineers from the university's African Space Innovation Centre (ASIC) in person while watching the launch live with them at the ground station in Bellville. (1/14)
Space Norway Restores Redundancy for Svalbard Ground Stations (Source: Space News)
Space Norway has restored communications on an undersea fiber-optic cable it operates between its Svalbard satellite station and mainland Norway, which had left the Arctic region without a backup connection after failing Jan. 7. A shunt failure caused a loss of power to signal repeaters on one of two cables that connect the Arctic region, state-run Space Norway said Jan. 19.
“Through a work around applying alternate power supply to the damaged cable, the redundancy was restored during the evening of January 18th, 2022,” state-run Space Norway’s head of infrastructure Dag Stølan said. “This minimizes the operating risk until final cable repair can be performed probably in the February 2022 timeframe, depending on the availability of cable vessel and the necessary weather conditions.” (1/21)
Private Investment in Space Infrastructure Hit Record $14.5B in 2021 (Source: Space Daily)
Private investment in space infrastructure companies hit a record-breaking $14.5 billion last year, according to a report Tuesday by New York City-based firm Space Capital. The new report from the venture capital company shows space infrastructure investment in 2021 was more than 50% greater than the prior record set in 2020. (1/18)
Rocket Lab Closes Acquisition of SolAero Holdings (Source: Rocket Lab)
Rocket Lab USA has closed the previously-announced transaction to acquire SolAero Holdings, Inc. (SolAero), a supplier of space solar power products and precision aerospace structures for the global aerospace market, for $80 million in cash. Rocket Lab announced the execution of the agreement to acquire SolAero on December 13, 2021 pending certain closing conditions. (1/18)
EarthDaily Picks Loft Orbital to Operate Constellation (Source: Space News)
EarthDaily Analytics has selected condosat operator Loft Orbital to build, launch and operate a fleet of 10 Earth-observation satellites on its behalf. Under the $150 million deal, modified OneWeb satellite platforms that Loft Orbital recently ordered from Airbus will be used for EarthDaily’s constellation. The company was formed by Antarctica Capital last February after the private equity company bought parts of UrtheCast that sought creditor protection to avoid bankruptcy. It expects to deploy the full constellation of nine satellites, with one orbital spare, in 2023 for agriculture, insurance, commodity trading and other markets. (1/19)
EarthDaily Analytics Plans Multi-Spectral Satellite Constellation (Source: Space News)
EarthDaily Analytics is developing a $150 million Earth-observation constellation to collect imagery in 21 spectral bands. The Vancouver startup, formed by Antarctica Capital in February 2021 after the private equity firm bought parts of UrtheCast, announced it is hiring Loft Orbital to build, launch and operate a fleet of 10 Earth-observation satellites on its behalf. (1/19)
OneWeb Satellites Cranking Out Two Satellites Per Day at Cape Canaveral Spaceport Factory (Source: Florida Today)
Walk into the OneWeb Satellites visitor lobby, and you'll notice a throwback wall plaque displaying a black-and-white photo of a Ford Model T, the rudimentary car that debuted in 1908. What gives? Technicians on this futuristic factory floor at Kennedy Space Center's Exploration Park use artificial-intelligence software and geolocation-equipped torque wrenches to carefully assemble satellites — completing two per day — for launch into low-Earth orbit.
"Classically, it would take two years to 10 years to build a spacecraft. We build — from cradle to grave — in about seven days," Hinds said, standing next to the Model T photo. Workers on Merritt Island typically finish building two satellites per day inside the 142,000-square-foot building. Each cube-shaped satellite measures about the size of a washing machine, weighs about 330 pounds, uses about 300 watts of power, and takes one week to build. In orbit, each satellite can receive and transmit data across an area roughly the size of Alaska.
The state contributed about $20 million in incentives toward the factory's $36 million price tag. The company projected its total capital investment would reach $85 million. Today, Hinds said OneWeb Satellites employs about 200 people in Florida and 100 people in France. Hinds said it costs roughly $1 million for his factory to produce a satellite. Since production started, he said assembly has accelerated from a 10-day to a seven-day process. And Hinds considers the 648-satellite constellation "Gen 1" of the payload capabilities that the Merritt Island factory can produce. (1/21)
SES Consolidates (Source: Space News)
Satellite operator SES is absorbing its SES Networks business unit. SES Networks was formed in 2016 as part of the company's acquisition of O3b Networks and its medium Earth orbit constellation. The consolidation is similar to the integration of SES Video into the overall company in 2020 following the retirement of that business unit's CEO, Ferdinand Kayser. SES is preparing to launch the O3b mPOWER constellation this year. (1/19)
Aliena Deploys Compact and Fuel-Efficient Satellite Engine Into Space (Source: Space Daily)
Aliena, a tech spin-off from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), has been deployed into space a nanosatellite fitted with a fuel-efficient engine it has developed. The nanosatellite was sent from the SpaceX Falcon 9's Transporter-3 mission which launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, US.
The satellite's engine, a Hall effect thruster, a type of ion thruster in which ions from the propellant are accelerated by an electric field, was developed by Aliena. Compared to current satellite engines of its type, the new engine consumes just a fraction of power for its operation. Thrusters are crucial to satellites, as they need them to make occasional thrust firings to keep them in orbit, otherwise they will re-enter Earth's atmosphere, putting an end to their mission. This is due to the resistive force or drag from the thin atmosphere which they encounter. (1/14)
Steven Mnuchin’s Liberty Strategic Capital to Invest $150 Million in Satellogic and CF Acquisition Corp. V (Source: Satellogic)
Satellogic, a leader in sub-meter resolution satellite imagery collection, currently 70 centimeters, and CF Acquisition Corp. V, a SPAC sponsored by Cantor Fitzgerald, have secured an additional $150 million private placement commitment from Liberty Strategic Capital, a private equity firm founded and led by former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin. This investment brings the total committed capital coming into Satellogic in this series of transactions to more than $265 million. (1/18)
quub to Demonstrate Cybersecurity with Smallsat (Source: Space Daily)
Launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on January 13, quub's pocketqube smallsat will serve as a proof of concept for the prevention of data hacks. Data breaches cost millions of dollars every year. IBM's annual Data Breach Report indicates that the average worldwide cost per breach in 2020 was $3.86 million. In the U.S., the average cost per breach was $8.64 million. IBM cites Internet-of-things (IoT) devices and third-party breaches as among several key cost-amplifying factors. As IoT devices become ubiquitous the electronic transmission of sensitive data must keep pace. (1/12)
Satellite Launches and Space Tourism Could Soon Be a Huge Part of the Economy (Source: CBS News)
In the early days, space exploration was purely a project of the government. But a push toward privatization is well underway. Barry Petersen takes a look at some of the groundwork being done here on Earth to turn space into a center of commercial activity. Click here. (1/22)
Optimism Among Space Investors for Long-Term Growth (Source: Space News)
Space industry officials are offering some cautious optimism about investment in the field. At a conference last week, some executives noted that space companies that went public last year through SPAC mergers have been performing poorly on the stock market, which they said could be due to investors not appreciating the challenges such companies face. However, one investor said he was "grossly optimistic" about the industry in the long term because of the potential for decreasing space access costs to create exponential growth. (1/18)
When SPACs are Attacked (Source: Space Review)
One of the major developments in commercial space last year was the series of companies that went public through mergers with “blank-check” companies called SPACs. Jeff Foust reports those companies are facing new problems as public corporations while SPACs themselves run into difficulties. Click here. (1/17)
Solar Power, Going Down (Source: Space Daily)
A concept image of a future in-orbit demonstrator for space-based solar power. Sunlight up in Earth orbit is ten times more intense than down on Earth's surface, so the idea is to fly dedicated satellites to capture solar energy, then beam it down to Earth - and potentially the Moon or other planets further into the future. A new ESA Discovery project is looking into a key part of the space-based solar power process: how to convert a large amount of solar power into a useful form, then transport it down to the ground as efficiently as possible?
The basic concept dates back more than a century to Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, one of the original prophets of space travel, then developed in detail by Czech-born engineer Peter Glaser from the 1970s onward. ESA has been collecting new ideas for technologies and concepts to advance the development of space-based solar power through its Open Space Innovation Platform. (1/14)
Sony Cubesat Planned for Arts and Entertainment (Source: Space News)
Sony will launch a cubesat later this year equipped with a camera as part of a project with artists, entertainers and educators. The six-unit cubesat, developed by the University of Tokyo and JAXA, will be equipped with a Sony camera, enabling selected users to capture and record the Earth and stars. Sony hopes the project will help explore business opportunities in fields ranging from arts and entertainment to museums and amusement parks. (1/20)
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Palomar Survey Instrument Analyzes Impact of Starlink Satellites on Astronomy (Source: Space Daily)
Since 2019, SpaceX has been launching an increasing number of internet satellites into orbit around Earth. The satellite constellation, called Starlink, now includes nearly 1,800 members orbiting at altitudes of about 550 kilometers. Astronomers have expressed concerns that that these objects, which can appear as streaks in telescope images, could hamper their scientific observations.
To quantify these effects, a team of researchers studied archival images captured by the National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), an instrument that operates from Caltech's Palomar Observatory near San Diego. ZTF scans the entire night sky every two days, cataloguing cosmic objects that explode, blink, or otherwise change over time. This includes everything from supernovae to near-Earth asteroids. The Zwicky team members say they decided to specifically study the effects of Starlink satellites because they currently represent the largest low-Earth orbit, or LEO, constellation, and they have well-characterized orbits.
The findings show 5,301 satellite streaks appear in archival images taken between November 2019 and September 2021. The streaks are most apparent in so-called twilight observations, those taken at dawn or dusk, which are important for finding near-Earth asteroids that appear close to the sun in the sky. ZTF has discovered several asteroids of this nature, including 2020 AV2, the first asteroid spotted with an orbit that fits entirely within the orbit of Venus. (1/18)
Where is the Edge of Space? (Source: Cosmos)
Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered: how far away is space? What distances can we climb to in our atmosphere before we reach the edge, and does that line even exist? Cosmos Magazine’s Lauren Fuge delves into this conundrum within the context of 2021’s billionaire “astronauts” and their race to space. Click here. (1/18)
Understanding the "Cold Spot" in the Cosmic Microwave Background (Source: Space Daily)
After the Big Bang, the universe, glowing brightly, was opaque and so hot that atoms could not form. Eventually cooling down to about minus 454 degrees Fahrenheit (-270 degrees Celsius), much of the energy from the Big Bang took the form of light. This afterglow, known as the cosmic microwave background, can now be seen with telescopes at microwave frequencies invisible to human eyes. It has tiny fluctuations in temperature that provide information about the early universe.
Now scientists might have an explanation for the existence of an especially cold region in the afterglow, known as the CMB Cold Spot. Its origin has been a mystery so far but might be attributed to the largest absence of galaxies ever discovered. Scientists used data collected by the Dark Energy Survey to confirm the existence of one of the largest supervoids known to humanity, the Eridanus supervoid, as reported in a paper published in December 2021. This once-hypothesized but now-confirmed void in the cosmic web might be a possible cause for the anomaly in the CMB. (1/14)
An ‘Atomic Fountain’ Has Measured the Curvature of Spacetime (Source: Scientific American)
A group of physicists announced that they’ve been able to measure the curvature of space-time. The experiment is part of an area of science called atom interferometry. It takes advantage of a principle of quantum mechanics: just as a light wave can be represented as a particle, a particle (such as an atom) can be represented as a “wave packet.” And just as light waves can overlap and create interference, so too can matter wave packets.
In particular, if an atom’s wave packet is split in two, allowed to do something, and then recombined, the waves might not line up anymore—in other words, their phases have changed. They created an “atomic fountain,” consisting of a vacuum tube 33 feet tall ornamented with a ring around the very top. They controlled the atomic fountain by shooting laser pulses through it. With one pulse, they launched two atoms up from the bottom. The two atoms reached different heights before a second pulse shot them back down. A third pulse caught the atoms at the bottom, recombining the atoms’ wave packets.
The researchers found that the two wave packets were out of phase—a sign that the gravitational field in the atomic fountain wasn’t completely uniform. “That … in general relativity, can be understood, actually, as the effect of space-time curvature,” Roura told Space.com, referring to one of Albert Einstein’s most famous theories. Since the atom that went higher was closer to the ring, it experienced more acceleration thanks to the ring’s gravity. In a perfectly uniform gravitational field, such effects would cancel out. (1/17)
Any Single Galaxy Reveals the Composition of an Entire Universe (Source: Quanta)
A group of scientists may have stumbled upon a radical new way to do cosmology. Cosmologists usually determine the composition of the universe by observing as much of it as possible. But these researchers have found that a machine learning algorithm can scrutinize a single simulated galaxy and predict the overall makeup of the digital universe in which it exists — a feat analogous to analyzing a random grain of sand under a microscope and working out the mass of Eurasia.
The machines appear to have found a pattern that might someday allow astronomers to draw sweeping conclusions about the real cosmos merely by studying its elemental building blocks. “Instead of measuring these millions of galaxies, you can just take one. It’s really amazing that this works.” The improbable find grew out of an exercise Villaescusa-Navarro gave to Jupiter Ding, a Princeton University undergraduate: Build a neural network that, knowing a galaxy’s properties, can estimate a couple of cosmological attributes.
The assignment was meant merely to familiarize Ding with machine learning. Then they noticed that the computer was nailing the overall density of matter. When tested on thousands of fresh galaxies from dozens of universes it hadn’t previously examined, the neural network was able to predict the cosmic density of matter to within 10%. “It doesn’t matter which galaxy you are considering,” Villaescusa-Navarro said. “No one imagined this would be possible.” (1/21)
NASA Upgrades its Asteroid Hazard Software to Use Sunlight (Source: Space.com)
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) just upgraded the software it uses to assess potentially hazardous asteroids to account for sunlight's affect on orbits, among other changes. While there are no immediate known space rock hazards to Earth despite decades of careful searching, astronomers continue to scan the skies, just in case. The new impact monitoring algorithm, called Sentry-II, upgrades software in use for 20 years. Sentry-II will periodically scan a table of potentially hazardous asteroids with known orbits, generated by the Center for Near Earth Object Studies managed by JPL. (1/23)
The Overview Effect and Jedi Training with Spacekind (Source: Medium)
Do space and mindfulness have the power to bring the world together? Frank White thinks so, and so does Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides. Frank authored The Overview Effect, the book that explains how viewing Earth from space changes human perception. Loretta’s work also uses space to bend the mind. Her SpaceKind development program is nicknamed “Jedi training.” Loretta, a founder astronaut at Virgin Galactic, coaches participants on how to mentally prepare for space by being a better human. SpaceKind and the Overview Effect are helping the space community grow to a higher level of humanity. Surely Master Yoda would approve.
Loretta’s eight-week personal development course has lessons about facing fear, trusting others, and de-escalating stress. The program includes self-reflection, discussion, and growth challenges. Recently Loretta asked SpaceKinders to make amends with their parents. There is always hope, Loretta teaches. If Darth Vader is redeemable, so is your parent. Social hour follows each meeting, where space professionals build a community of friends. The training invites participants to be vulnerable and take actions that honor their best selves. (1/11)
China Rocket Material Used for Olympic Ski Helmets (Source: Xinhua)
Chinese scientists have developed a strong ski helmet with space technology originally used on the Long March-5 rocket, the country's heaviest launch vehicle and the carrier of Mars probe Tianwen-1. The helmet has been tested on Chinese freestyle skiers during their training on aerials and halfpipes for the upcoming Winter Olympics. They must be lightweight and show strong resistance to impact. The same principles apply to spacecraft, and scientists hoped to take advantage of the rocket's structure and materials to improve skiers' safety. (1/18)
Florida Lawmaker Calls for Creation of Task Force on Futuristic Air Travel (Source: Florida Politics)
Republican Rep. Jason Fischer wants transportation leaders to start thinking about the future. In the upcoming 2022 Legislative Session, Fischer is pitching a bill that aims to ready the state for an emerging means of transportation: electric air travel. The bill (HB 1005) would create Florida’s first Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Task Force, a collective of local and state leaders tasked with exploring the possibility of air travel using vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. eVTOL aircraft — which uses electric power to hover, take off and land vertically — would capitalize on underutilized flight paths in Florida. (1/5)
Braun to Lead Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins (Source: APL)
A JPL official and former NASA chief technologist will be the next head of space exploration at the Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Maryland. APL announced Thursday that Bobby Braun will take over as head of the lab’s Space Exploration Sector in March. Braun is currently the director for planetary science at JPL and previously held positions at the University of Colorado and Georgia Tech and served a term as NASA chief technologist. He succeeds Michael Ryschkewitsch, who is retiring from APL. (1/21)
Former NASA JSC Chief Scientist Passes Away (Source: Twitter @v_wyche)
A former chief scientist for NASA's human research program at the Johnson Space Center has died. John Charles worked at NASA for 33 years, retiring as chief scientist and overseeing projects such as the biomedical studies associated with the one-year flight of Scott Kelly on the ISS. He also co-developed fluid-loading countermeasures for shuttle astronauts to avoid fainting after returning from orbit. (1/20)
Buzz Aldrin Turns 92, Oldest of Remaining Moonwalkers (Source: Orlando Sentinel)
Buzz Aldrin has made it around the sun 92 times, one year shy of the number of minutes he spent walking on the moon. Aldrin, who landed with Neil Armstrong to become one of the first two, and to date, one of only 12 people, to walk on the lunar surface, was born on a Monday, on Jan. 20, 1930. At age 39, as a member of Apollo 11, he joined Armstrong stepping foot on the moon after they landed in the Lunar Module Eagle on July 20, 1969.
He spent one hour and 33 minutes outside the spacecraft. The only nonagenarian, Aldrin is the oldest remaining moonwalker, and last remaining Apollo 11 crew member alive. Armstrong died in 2012 and the command module pilot Michael Collins, who orbited the moon, died in April 2021. Those still alive are Apollo 15′s David Scott, 89, Apollo 16′s Charles Duke, 86, and Apollo 17′s Harrison Schmitt, 86. (1/20)
Former NASA Administrator Bridenstine Endorses Candidate in Virginia Congressional Race (Source: Space News)
Former NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine is wading into one of Virginia’s congressional races, backing a Republican candidate with a background in national security space. Bridenstine told SpaceNews he decided to endorse John Henley, a former U.S. Air Force legislative liaison who worked on the standup of the U.S. Space Force, because of his space and national security expertise. Henley announced Jan. 20 he will be running for the House seat in Virginia’s 10th district currently occupied by two-term incumbent Jennifer Wexton (D). (1/21)
Stealing Secrets From the Ether: Missile and Satellite Telemetry Interception During the Cold War (Source: Space Review)
During the Cold War, the US operated ground stations around the world, including places like Iran and Pakistan, to monitor telemetry from Soviet launches. Dwayne Day explores what’s known about these projects thanks to a recently declassified official history. Click here. (1/17)
Kansas Cosmosphere Museum Partners with Brewery for Space Beer (Source: CollectSpace)
A space museum is brewing up a new project. The Cosmosphere museum in Kansas is partnering with a local brewery on Space Race IPA, a beer billed as an "off-planet experience for your palate." Some of the proceeds of sales of the beer and merchandise with the Space Race logo will support the museum. (1/20)
What is this SPACErePORT?
The SPACErePORT is a free weekly chronicle for space industry insiders, investors, policy makers, and enthusiasts. It is distributed to ~1500 subscribers and is supplemented by a daily-updated SPACErePORT blog; a Twitter feed with ~1800 followers; and a spaceports-focused LinkedIn Group with ~290 members. (I also manage the National Space Club's Florida Committee LinkedIn and Twitter feeds.) If you appreciate this free resource, donations are encouraged using the PayPal tip jar, or Venmo using @Edward-Ellegood. I can also publish banner advertisements at affordable rates, or sometimes for free if I support the cause. Thanks!
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Florida Aerospace Calendar
Click HERE to suggest new items and corrections.
Jan. TBD - Astra Rocket 3 VCLS Demo 2 launch, Cape Canaveral Spaceport, Time TBD - http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html
Jan. 27 - Florida Space Day, Capitol Building, Tallahassee - http://floridaspaceday.com/
Jan. 27 - Falcon-9 launch, COSMO-SkyMed satellite deployment, Cape Canaveral Spaceport, 6:11 p.m. - http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html
Jan. 29 - Astronaut memorial ceremony for Apollo 1, Challenger & Columbia crew, Sand Point Park, Titusville FL, 11:00 a.m. - https://spacewalkoffame.org
Jan. 29 - Falcon-9 launch, Starlink satellites deployment, Cape Canaveral Spaceport, 3:00 p.m. - http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html
Feb. TBD - Falcon-Heavy launch, USSF-44 satellite deployment, Cape Canaveral Spaceport, Time TBD - http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html
Mar. 1 - Atlas-5 launch, GOES-T satellite deployment, Cape Canaveral Spaceport, 4:38 p.m. - http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html
Mar TBD - NASA SLS Artemis 1 launch, Cape Canaveral Spaceport, Time TBD - http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html
Mar. 31 - Falcon-9 launch, Axiom 1 commercial ISS crew, Cape Canaveral Spaceport, Time TBD - http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html
Apr. TBD - Falcon-Heavy launch, USSF-52 satellite deployment, Cape Canaveral Spaceport, Time TBD - http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html
Apr. TBD - Atlas-5 launch, USSF-12 satellite deployment, Cape Canaveral Spaceport, Time TBD - http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html
Apr. 15 - Falcon-9 launch, NASA crew launch to ISS, Cape Canaveral Spaceport, Time TBD - http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html
May. TBD - Atlas-5 launch, CST-100 Starliner Uncrewed Orbital Flight Test 2, Cape Canaveral Spaceport, Time TBD - http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html
Jun. TBD - Atlas-5 launch, CST-100 Starliner crewed orbital test, Cape Canaveral Spaceport, Time TBD - http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html
Jul. TBD - Vulcan Centaur launch, Peregrine satellite deployment, Cape Canaveral Spaceport, Time TBD - http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html
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SPACErePORT news and editorial summaries are distilled and organized by me and don’t necessarily reflect my opinions or any SPACErePORT advertisers.
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