Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Trump win may boost Musk’s Mars vision

Plus: Japan, Poland join U.S. military sat network, and Anuvu eyes satellite constellation for in-flight Wi-Fi.
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Donald Trump will return to the White House, potentially giving SpaceX CEO Elon Musk greater influence. Most media outlets declared Trump the winner early Wednesday after he won enough swing states to secure a majority in the Electoral College. Musk threw his support behind Trump in July and both contributed and campaigned extensively for the Republican nominee. Trump said little about space during the campaign but did, on several occasions, appear to endorse a SpaceX-led accelerated human Mars program. Trump mentioned Musk during a victory speech in the early morning hours, describing watching the recent Starship Super Heavy landing and claiming he asked Musk to offer free Starlink services in areas of North Carolina hit by Hurricane Helene. Republicans also secured a majority in the Senate, but control of the House remains up for grabs. [Washington Post]

Japan and Poland will join a U.S. military communications satellite system. The two countries are set to join the Wideband Global Satcom (WGS) satellite network used by the U.S. military and those of several allies. WGS provides high-capacity communication services for military operations. With 10 satellites in geostationary Earth orbit, WGS has been the backbone of U.S. military communications. WGS allows participating nations to share the costs of satellite development and upkeep, alleviating the financial burden for the United States. [SpaceNews]


Anuvu is proposing to develop a constellation of satellites in highly elliptical orbit (HEO) to offer broadband services to aircraft. Anuvu announced a partnership with D-Orbit USA, a newly founded subsidiary of Italian space logistics company D-Orbit, to study the design of a HEO network using 16 satellites. Anuvu has been working on a system of eight GEO satellites, but the first two, scheduled to launch last year, have been delayed by manufacturer Astranis. Anuvu said that using satellites in HEO will provide higher data rates because the spacecraft will be at lower altitudes when in service and can also handle polar routes out of the reach of GEO satellites. [SpaceNews]


China is planning a first launch in 2026 of a rocket it plans to use in its human lunar exploration program. A model of the Long March 10A, a single-core rocket for launching crew, is set to be unveiled at the Zhuhai Airshow in southern China later this month. The rocket is set to have its debut launch in 2026, according to a report Tuesday in Science and Technology Daily, an official Chinese ministry newspaper. Long March 10A will be used to launch a new generation crew spacecraft to the Tiangong space station in low Earth orbit, while a three-core version of the rocket will be used to launch a crewed lunar spacecraft and, separately, a lunar lander. Also on display at the Zhuhai Airshow will be a new model of the Long March 9 heavy-lift rocket that now more closely resembles SpaceX's Starship with reusable upper and lower stages. [SpaceNews]


Gilmour Space has received a license from the Australian government for its first orbital launch. The company said Tuesday that the Australian Space Agency had issued the license for the inaugural flight of the Eris small launch vehicle from the company's spaceport in northern Queensland. Gilmour is projecting a launch in December or January. The company had been working towards a launch as early as May, but encountered delays in getting the license. [SpaceNews]


Other News

A Dragon cargo spacecraft docked with the International Space Station Tuesday morning. The Dragon docked with the forward port on the Harmony module at 9:52 a.m. Eastern, a little more than 12 hours after launch from the Kennedy Space Center. Dragon delivered more than 2,750 kilograms of cargo to the ISS on the CRS-31 mission, and will remain at the station for about a month before returning to Earth. [Space.com]


French launch vehicle startup Latitude has hired a new CEO. The company announced Tuesday that it hired Aurélie Bressollette as CEO, succeeding co-founder Stanislas Maximin, who now takes the role of executive chairman. Bressollette previously worked at Rivada Space Networks, Redwire, OHB and Airbus. Maximin said he will focus on strategic issues at the company, including fundraising, while Bressollette handles day-to-day operations. Latitude is working on a small launch vehicle called Zephyr, with a first launch projected towards the end of next year. [SpaceNews]


Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) has won a contract to build an imaging satellite for the U.K. military. The Juno satellite will provide imagery for British forces, building upon the capabilities demonstrated on the Tyche satellite launched in August. Juno, with an estimated cost of £40 million ($51 million), is scheduled to launch in 2027. [SSTL]


The South Korean government plans to support the development of lunar rovers. The country's industry ministry announced Wednesday partnerships with 13 companies and institutions, including automaker Hyundai, to develop key components for future lunar rovers. The ministry said it is spending about $16.5 million on the effort. [Yonhap]


Sage Advice


"Learn how to make a valve and you will be rich forever."


– NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free, speaking last week at a luncheon during the American Astronautical Society's von Braun Space Exploration Symposium.

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CST: Adel Al-Saleh

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Watch out for new episodes every Tuesday on SpaceNews.com and on the SpaceNews YouTube channel.


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Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Orbit diplomacy: Why U.S.-China must talk

National security insights for space professionals
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National security insights for space professionals. Delivered Tuesdays.

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Happy Election Day! 


Welcome to this week's edition of SpaceNews Military, your concise source for the latest developments at the intersection of space and national security. In this issue, we cover:


- Space Rapid Capabilities Office launches small biz accelerator

- U.S.-China space relations at a crossroads

- Astranis and Xona Space team up for GPS backup program





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Space & defense brief 🛰️

Countdown to New Glenn


Blue Origin last week transported the first stage of the New Glenn rocket to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Launch Complex 36, where it will undergo further testing and preparations for its upcoming first launch.


The massive 188-foot stage — equipped with seven BE-4 engines — was moved on an Oshkosh M1070, a repurposed U.S. Army tank transporter.   


With New Glenn, Blue Origin is aiming to compete against SpaceX and United Launch Alliance in the commercial and national security launch markets.


Credit: Blue Origin

Space Rapid Capabilities Office announces "Prime Fusion"

accelerator for small businesses


The U.S. Space Force's Space Rapid Capabilities Office (Space RCO) is sponsoring an accelerator named "Prime Fusion" to help small businesses navigate the defense contracting landscape within the space sector. 


The accelerator is focused on space domain awareness and seeks to attract companies that already have technologically mature offerings — especially satellite-hosted sensors and software to detect on-orbit anomalies and potential threats. 

  • Selected participants will have the opportunity to connect with large defense contractors, potentially opening doors to collaboration and commercialization of their solutions.

  • The Space RCO, headquartered at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, is organizing the accelerator in partnership with FedTech and Leidos. Interested businesses have until Dec. 4 to apply.

  • "The Prime Fusion Accelerator demonstrates our ongoing commitment to increasing collaboration with industry, particularly non-traditional companies," said Matt Fetrow, spokesperson for the Space RCO.





U.S.-China space relations at a crossroads


As China ascends as the world's second-largest space power, the next U.S. administration faces a critical decision: engage with China on space or risk heightened tensions in an already competitive domain. 


A new report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) emphasizes the urgency of U.S.-China space dialogue, especially as both nations expand their satellite fleets and conduct ambitious exploration missions that bring them ever closer in orbit—and potentially into conflict.


Key takeaways:

  • China has equipped its military with hundreds of space assets, including communications, intelligence, missile warning, and navigation satellites. It has also developed anti-satellite weapons capable of targeting U.S. assets.

  • China has solidified its status in human spaceflight with its space station and is pursuing a lunar landing program that may place Chinese astronauts on the Moon before NASA's next mission. 

  • With aspirations to rival the U.S. in commercial space, China is deploying communication and remote sensing satellites to capture market share. 

  • A mechanism to prevent misunderstandings during close-proximity satellite operations or potential collisions is critical to avoid unintended escalation.

  • CSIS points to Cold War-era U.S.-Soviet space cooperation as a model for maintaining communication during tense periods.




In other news 🚀

Neutron illustration by Rocket Lab


Rocket Lab confirmed it will submit a proposal to compete for Pentagon contracts with its new medium-lift rocket Neutron.


"We're excited to bid this time round for NSSL Lane 1, and we think Neutron is a really good vehicle for it," Rocket Lab's founder and CEO Peter Beck told SpaceNews


The NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 program is an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, enabling the Space Force to on-ramp providers on a yearly basis, and award individual task orders as needed. 


The Space Force requires the next round of Lane 1 bidders to be ready for a first launch by December 2025, a timeline Beck says Neutron can meet.







Satellite manufacturer Astranis is teaming up with navigation startup Xona Space Systems to compete for a U.S. Space Force contract aimed at developing a backup to the military's GPS system.


Astranis secured an $8 million contract for the initial design phase of the Resilient Global Positioning System (R-GPS) program, which seeks to deploy smaller, more cost-effective satellites to supplement the existing GPS constellation.


The U.S. Space Force selected four companies in September to develop competing designs, including Axient, L3 Harris, and Sierra Space alongside Astranis. One or two contractors will be selected to build an initial fleet of eight satellites, scheduled for launch in 2028.

 


The National Reconnaissance Office selected Cognitive Space, Impulse Space and Starfish Space to participate in its technology program that seeks innovations in space logistics and in-space mobility.


"This program helps NRO advance emerging technologies across launch, on-orbit support, and command and control," said Col. Eric Zarybnisky, director of the NRO's office of space launch.

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Please send comments, suggestions and tips to serwin@spacenews.com


Australia cancels $5B Lockheed satellite deal

Plus: Rocket Lab's bid for Space Force contract and Soyuz launches over 50 satellites.
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The Australian government has canceled a multibillion-dollar military satellite contract with Lockheed Martin. The Australian Department of Defence said Monday it was canceling the JP9102 program, which planned to develop three to five GEO satellites that would provide dedicated military communications services, and will instead examine multi-orbit solutions. Lockheed Martin won the contract, with an estimated value of $5 billion, 18 months ago. The decision to end JP9102 is yet another sign of the disruptive impact that low Earth orbit space internet services, led by the rapid growth of SpaceX's Starlink, are having on the traditional satellite communications industry and government procurement models. [SpaceNews]


Rocket Lab plans to offer its Neutron rocket to the Space Force in an upcoming contract on-ramp. Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck said in an interview that the company will respond to a request for proposals released last week by the Space Force for the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 1 program, which currently has contracts with Blue Origin, SpaceX and United Launch Alliance. The Space Force offers annual on-ramps for new providers, and the current call for proposals is open to companies that will be ready for a first launch by December 2025. Beck said he expects Rocket Lab to have Neutron ready by that deadline. Lane 1 is designed for missions that can accept higher risks and is intended to facilitate faster launches of less sensitive payloads. [SpaceNews]


Rocket Lab carried out an Electron launch this morning for a confidential customer. The Electron lifted off at 5:54 a.m. Eastern from the company's Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand, and Rocket Lab declared success about an hour later. The "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes" carried a payload for an undisclosed commercial customer, with Rocket Lab adding the mission to the manifest just last month. Rocket Lab did not disclose any details about the payload or customer. One potential customer for the mission is E-Space, which filed for an authorization to launch a payload in September according to New Zealand government documents. [SpaceNews]


SpaceX launched a Dragon cargo spacecraft Monday night. A Falcon 9 lifted off from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A at 9:29 p.m. Eastern and deployed the Dragon into orbit nine and a half minutes later. The Dragon, flying the CRS-31 cargo mission, is scheduled to dock with the International Space Station at about 10:15 a.m. Eastern this morning and deliver 2,762 kilograms of supplies and experiments. Later this week NASA will use the Dragon to conduct a reboost maneuver for the station, the first time a Dragon has been used for that purpose. NASA and SpaceX said that maneuver is a test to expand the capabilities of visiting vehicles like Dragon and give SpaceX experience for the Dragon-derived U.S. Deorbit Vehicle it is building for NASA to deorbit the ISS at the end of its life. [SpaceNews]


Other News

A Soyuz rocket launched more than 50 satellites Monday. A Soyuz-2.1b rocket launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia's Far East at 6:18 p.m. Eastern. The primary payload for the launch was a pair of Ionosfera-M heliophysics satellites. The rocket also carried 53 secondary payloads, including 28 smallsats by Russian company Sputnix for ship tracking and other applications and two satellites from Iran. [TASS]


NASA expects to determine next steps for the canceled VIPER rover mission by early next year. At a conference last week, officials said they received 11 responses to a request for information about potential partnerships through which a company or organization would take over the lunar rover mission, and is currently evaluating them to see which may be worth pursuing. NASA announced in July it was canceling VIPER because of cost and schedule overruns, even though the rover is now complete. VIPER has since completed environmental testing with flying colors. [SpaceNews]


Two spaceports are making progress towards hosting their first launches. A local council last week approved proposed modifications for the Sutherland Spaceport in northern Scotland, changing the layout of the launch pad and moving tracking antennas to the summit of a nearby mountain. The spaceport will be used by Orbex starting as soon as next year. Halfway around the world, Australian officials gave final approvals for the development of the Whalers Way launch site in South Australia, allowing spaceport operator Southern Launch to conduct up to 36 orbital launches annually there. Southern Launch says it expects to have the site operational by the end of 2025. [Aberdeen (Scot.) Press & Journal | Australian Broadcasting Corp.]


An "interstellar fireball" claimed by some scientists may not be from out of this solar system after all. The 2014 fireball had a measured velocity of 44.8 kilometers per second, higher than the sun's escape velocity, suggesting that the object was from out of the solar system. A reanalysis of that data shows that the errors on the velocity are large enough to make it unlikely that the object came from outside the solar system. Researchers added that even if the object was traveling that fast, it would have burned up completely upon entering the Earth's atmosphere, contrary to claims by scientists like Harvard's Avi Loeb who said they scooped up fragments of that object from the ocean floor. [Space.com]

Do Astronauts Feel the Same About Pop Stars?


"This is a very oddly specific question that I ask guys on first dates. I always ask them if they think that they would want to go to space. And if they say yes, I don't date them. I just think if you want to go to space, you're a little too full of yourself, because I think it's just weird."


– Singer Olivia Rodrigo in a recent interview with Netflix. [Instagram]

What's New With SpaceNews?

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Trump win may boost Musk’s Mars vision

Plus: Japan, Poland join U.S. military sat network, and Anuvu eyes satellite constellation for in-flight Wi-Fi.  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌...