Spaceflight to launch startups: stop focusing on cool techby Caleb Henry — March 11, 2020 [SN]
Spaceflight is interested in upcoming launch vehicles, but only if they deliver. Credit: Spaceflight.WASHINGTON — If launch startups want to win business from Spaceflight, they should focus on schedule, reliability and price, not how interesting their technology is, a company representative said March 10.
The Seattle-based rideshare organizer is not afraid to launch smallsats on new rockets, having secured rides for its customers on India’s new Small Satellite Launch Vehicle and Relativity Space’s Terran 1, neither of which have flown.
https://spacenews.com/spaceflight-to-launch-startups-stop-focusing-on-cool-tech/Launch companies optimistic about future demandby Jeff Foust — September 9, 2021 [SN]
A partial rebound in the GEO market and emerging demand for satellite megaconstellations has Arianespace optimistic about the business case for the Ariane 6. Credit: ESANATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Launch companies that have suffered from flat or declining traditional markets in recent years say they believe a surge of demand, primarily from satellite megaconstellations, will boost their businesses later this decade.
During a panel session at the Satellite 2021 conference Sept. 9, executives pointed to constellations ranging from Amazon’s Project Kuiper to the second-generation OneWeb system slated to start deployment later this decade as part of a surge of demand they expect to serve.
https://spacenews.com/launch-companies-optimistic-about-future-demand/NASA to start astrophysics probe programby Jeff Foust — January 12, 2022 [SN]
The probe line of astrophysics missions will fill a gap between the next flagship mission, the Roman Space Telescope (above), and flagship missions recommended by the decadal survey that won’t launch until at least the 2040s. Credit: NASAORLANDO, Fla. — NASA is starting to implement recommendations of the astrophysics decadal survey by announcing plans for a new line of missions and laying the groundwork for future large space telescopes.
During an online town hall meeting Jan. 11, originally intended to take place at the American Astronomical Society conference before that meeting was canceled by the pandemic, the agency announced it will go ahead with a line of “probe” class missions intended to fill the gap between large flagship missions and smaller Explorer-class spacecraft.
https://spacenews.com/nasa-to-start-astrophysics-probe-program/NASA inspector general warns astronaut corps may be too smallby Jeff Foust — January 15, 2022 [SN]
The 10 members of NASA's latest astronaut class will start two years of training in January. Credit: NASAWASHINGTON — The size of NASA’s astronaut corps may soon fall below the minimum level the agency needs to support space station and Artemis missions and other activities, the agency’s inspector general warns.
A Jan. 11 report by NASA’s Office of Inspector General found that the agency’s astronaut corps, with 44 active astronauts, could fall below the “minimum manifest requirement” needed to adequately support International Space Station and Artemis missions as soon as this year as astronauts leave the agency. The corps, which had at its peak in 2000 nearly 150 astronauts, is now at its smallest size since the 1970s.
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https://spacenews.com/nasa-inspector-general-warns-astronaut-corps-may-be-too-small/Former NASA administrator Bridenstine endorses candidate in Virginia congressional raceby Sandra Erwin — January 21, 2022 [SN]
Jim Bridenstine testifies before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation July 17, 2019, Credit: NASABridenstine: 'Congress and the space community would benefit by having more members with national security and space policy experience'WASHINGTON — 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).
https://spacenews.com/former-nasa-administrator-bridenstine-endorses-candidate-in-virginia-congressional-race/Proposed NTSB commercial space regulation criticized by industry and FAAby Jeff Foust — January 24, 2022 [SN]
A Firefly Aerospace Alpha rocket is destroyed by range safety after it started tumbling during its inaugural launch in September 2021. An NTSB proposal would give that agency authority to investigate mishaps like that, a move that both industry and the FAA oppose. Credit: SpaceNews/Jeff FoustWASHINGTON — A proposal by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) that would give the agency a greater role in investigating failures of commercial launches is facing strong opposition from both the industry and the Federal Aviation Administration.
https://spacenews.com/proposed-ntsb-commercial-space-regulation-criticized-by-industry-and-faa/Living on the edge: Satellites adopt powerful computersby Debra Werner — January 24, 2022 [SN]
Australian startup Spiral Blue is testing prototype of its Space Edge Zero computer on SatRevolution of Poland’s Earth-observation satellites. Credit: SatRevolutionThe latest Apple Watch has 16 times the memory of the central processor on NASA’s Mars 2020 rover. For the new iPhone, 64 times the car-size rover’s memory comes standard.
For decades, people dismissed comparisons of terrestrial and space-based processors by pointing out the harsh radiation and temperature extremes facing space-based electronics. Only components custom built for spaceflight and proven to function well after many years in orbit were considered resilient enough for multibillion-dollar space agency missions.
https://spacenews.com/living-on-the-edge-satellites-adopt-powerful-computers/GEO satellite operators seek multi-orbit strategiesby Jeff Foust — January 26, 2022 [SN]
Viasat chairman Mark Dankberg and Telesat CEO Dan Goldberg participate via video link in a WSBW panel discussion that included executives from SES, Eutelsat and Hughes. Credit: Euroconsult via FlickrThe environment was a little different outside the Paris hotel that hosted Euroconsult’s World Satellite Business Week in December. The Tuileries Gardens across the street, tranquil when the conference is normally held in September, was instead the site of a raucous Christmas carnival. From the middle of the day until late in the evening, crowds packed the park for food, shopping and, especially, amusement park rides.
https://spacenews.com/geo-satellite-operators-seek-multi-orbit-strategies/Star Trek tribute mission to fly on ULA’s Vulcan inaugural launchby Sandra Erwin — January 26, 2022 [SN]
United Launch Alliance’s future rocket Vulcan Centaur undergoing pathfinder tests at Cape Canaveral. Credit: ULAThe Celestis mission will be named the Enterprise FlightWASHINGTON — Celestis, a company that provides space memorial services, will launch a Star Trek tribute mission on the first flight of United Launch Alliance’s new rocket Vulcan Centaur, ULA announced Jan. 26.
The rocket will launch Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander and the Celestis mission will ride as a secondary payload.
https://spacenews.com/star-trek-tribute-mission-to-fly-on-ulas-vulcan-inaugural-launch/Reaching the tipping point for 3D printing satellitesby Jason Rainbow — January 27, 2022 [SN]
3D printing enables multiple waveguides to be merged into one unit, facilitating system integration and optimizing weight. Credit: Swissto12The number of 3D-printed parts on board satellites is growing amid advances in additive manufacturing. Satellite shops are embracing the technology to cut costs and accelerate production for increasingly capable spacecraft. Advances are paving the way to a future where satellites can print parts in orbit. But how close is the industry to 3D printing entire satellites?
https://spacenews.com/reaching-the-tipping-point-for-3d-printing-satellites/NASA selects a dozen companies for smallsat launch servicesby Jeff Foust — January 27, 2022 [SN]
Astra test-fired its Rocket 3.3 vehicle Jan. 22 ahead of a launch from Cape Canaveral in the near future for NASA's VCLS program. Credit: Astra/John KrausWASHINGTON — NASA awarded contracts Jan. 26 to a dozen companies, ranging from industry stalwarts to startups yet to launch their first rocket, to provide low-cost launches of agency smallsats.
NASA said it selected the companies for its Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) program, which will provide launches of cubesats and other smallsats, particularly those with a higher risk tolerance. Those payloads will be launched either on dedicated missions or as rideshare payloads on other launches.
https://spacenews.com/nasa-selects-a-dozen-companies-for-smallsat-launch-services/Leshin to be next director of JPLby Jeff Foust — January 28, 2022 [SN]
Laurie Leshin, currently president of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, will start as director of JPL in May. Credit: WPIWASHINGTON — A planetary scientist and university president will be the next person, and first woman, to run NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
The California Institute of Technology announced Jan. 27 that it selected Laurie Leshin to be the next director of JPL, which the university operates for NASA as a center for developing and operating robotic space exploration missions. She succeeds Mike Watkins, who stepped down as director of JPL in August to become a professor at Caltech.
https://spacenews.com/leshin-to-be-next-director-of-jpl/NASA safety panel watching human spaceflight reorganizationby Jeff Foust — January 28, 2022 [SN]
Jim Free (left) will be the associate administrator leading the new Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, whlie Kathy Lueders runs the Space Operations Mission Directorate. Credit: NASA/Aubrey GemignaniWASHINGTON — NASA’s safety advisers say they’re closely watching a planned reorganization of the agency’s human spaceflight directorate to ensure it doesn’t adversely affect safety.
NASA announced in September that it was splitting its Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD) into two organizations, the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate and Space Operations Mission Directorate. The former would be responsible for programs linked to the Artemis lunar exploration initiative and future Mars exploration, while the latter handles the International Space Station and low Earth orbit commercialization. The split reverses a merger a decade earlier of NASA’s exploration and space operations directorates that created HEOMD.
https://spacenews.com/nasa-safety-panel-watching-human-spaceflight-reorganization/More spaceports, more problemsby Jeff Foust — February 25, 2022 [SN]
An earlier concept for Spaceport Camden in Georgia. While the FAA issued a license for the spaceport in December, the site still faces legal and business obstacles. Credit: Spaceport CamdenSteve Howard is not superstitious, at least about a particular number. “Thirteen is my favorite number,” said Howard, the administrator of Camden County, Georgia, in early January.
Just a few weeks earlier, the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) awarded a launch site operator’s license, more commonly called a spaceport license, to Camden County, making it the thirteenth commercial launch site licensed by the agency. The license was the culmination of years of work, including extensive environmental reviews and coordination among many state and federal agencies. “This was a challenging project, with a lot of battle scars,” he said.
https://spacenews.com/more-spaceports-more-problems/Op-ed | Order and Progress – Brazil’s Second Act in Spaceby Shelli Brunswick — March 17, 2022 [SN]
Brazil is outlined in yellow in this undated Telebras handout depicting the SGDC-1 satellite the Brazilian telecommunications operator launched in 2017 on an Ariane 5 rocket from neighboring French Guiana.For decades, journalists and analysts have characterized Brazil as a “sleeping giant” perpetually on the verge of “waking up” to its enormous economic and geopolitical potential. In 1971, the New York Times proclaimed, “The giant of the continent, dismissed as a sleeping giant until recently, has begun to stir, and interest in Brazil’s intentions has grown among her neighbors.”
https://spacenews.com/op-ed-order-and-progress-brazils-second-act-in-space/Accelerating satellite production timelines improving market healthby Jason Rainbow — March 24, 2022 [SN]
Satellite manufacturers discuss the state of the industry at the Satellite 2022 trade show March 22.WASHINGTON — Satellite makers are hopeful that higher frequency production rates will facilitate more innovation in the market, and fortify supply chains disrupted by the pandemic.
While higher volume and lower cost satellite production “doesn’t sound very sexy,” York Space Systems CEO Dirk Wallinger told the Satellite 2022 trade show March 22 in Washington D.C. that it also accelerates technology cycles in the industry.
https://spacenews.com/accelerating-satellite-production-timelines-improving-market-health/Foust Forward | Getting comfortable with orbital space tourismby Jeff Foust — March 24, 2022 [SN]
The four members of the Ax-1 crew (right) undergo training at NASA's Johnson Space Center for their commercial mission to the International Space Station. Credit: Axiom SpaceLast May, the Discovery network announced plans for a new reality TV series: “Who Wants to Be an Astronaut?” Contestants would be put through a “variety of extreme challenges,” the network said, with a winner selected by a panel of expert judges to go to space. And not just a quick suborbital hop, either: Discovery said the winner would go on Axiom Space’s Ax-2 mission to the International Space Station.
The announcement got widespread publicity, but the network has since gone quiet. Some who signed up in the initial call for contestants say they have not heard anything from the show’s producers since then. Discovery has taken down a website for the show and removed from YouTube a promotional video it released last May.
https://spacenews.com/foust-forward-getting-comfortable-with-orbital-space-tourism/Tech in Orbit Leads to Breakthroughs on Earthby Boeing — March 28, 2022 Sponsored Post [SN]
Boeing’s Technology in Space program gives a boost to start-ups working on biomedical innovations by funding their experiments on the International Space Station.In July 2016, Nicole Wagner was sitting at her desk at the MassChallenge co-working space in South Boston. Wagner, president and CEO of Farmington, Conn.-based LambdaVision Inc., was carpooling three times a week with her chief science officer, Jordan Greco, to participate in the startup accelerator program. The commute was 90 minutes each way, including dropping off Wagner’s toddler at her mom’s for childcare. As a scientist, entrepreneur, wife and mom, Wagner said, her days were typically beyond packed.
https://spacenews.com/tech-in-orbit-leads-to-breakthroughs-on-earth/37th Space Symposium attendance to top 10,000by Debra Werner — April 2, 2022 [SN]
SAN FRANCISCO — More than 10,000 people are expected to attend the 37th Space Symposium in person at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs and online through a virtual platform.
Roughly seven months after the 36th Space Symposium, which was rescheduled repeatedly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Space Foundation is preparing to welcome 275 exhibitors and representatives of 40 nations to the annual event that showcases military, civil and commercial space activities.
“We had a smaller international presence this past August principally because of travel restrictions,” Space Foundation spokesman Rich Cooper told SpaceNews. “Since a lot of those restrictions have been lifted, a very healthy international presence is going to be on hand.”
https://spacenews.com/37th-space-symposium-attendance-to-top-10000/
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