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As SpaceX continues to prepare for its next Starship test flight, NASA is among those keeping a close eye on it. SpaceX is pressing ahead with a launch as soon as Sunday from Boca Chica, Texas, although the FAA has yet to issue an updated launch license for it. At a National Academies committee meeting Wednesday, a NASA official said the agency was "really looking forward" to the launch as part of efforts by SpaceX to accelerate its flight rate. NASA said key issues it is watching in Starship's development include tests next year of propellant transfer in orbit and bringing up its flight rate to a level that can fill a propellant depot in orbit required for Starship lunar lander missions for NASA's Artemis lunar exploration campaign. The upcoming Starship test flight will also attempt a "catch" of the Super Heavy booster by the launch tower, which NASA said SpaceX moved up from a later planned launch. At another committee meeting Wednesday, a SpaceX executive expressed confidence in the catch attempt, noting the high precision of an ocean booster landing on the previous flight. [SpaceNews]
The role of satellite services in disaster relief may provide a new argument for a Space National Guard. At an event Wednesday, some experts said they were rethinking previous opposition to a National Guard component to the Space Force. That is based on the increasing role satellites play in disaster relief, such as the recent Hurricane Helene. National Guard units are uniquely positioned to provide these services during domestic crises under legal authorities active-duty military do not have. Currently, about 700 members of the Air National Guard support space operations, including satellite communications. [SpaceNews]
Starlink has expanded its emergency direct-to-device phone services to Florida as Hurricane Milton strikes the state. The FCC granted SpaceX a 15-day special temporary authority (STA) for the storm's projected path across central Florida. SpaceX said it has enabled basic texting services on T-Mobile phones in areas affected by Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene, and will also deliver emergency alerts to all phones and carriers used by those affected by the hurricanes. [SpaceNews]
A startup created by the co-founder of financial services company Robinhood is taking a new approach to space-based solar power. Aetherflux announced Wednesday it plans to launch a demonstration satellite by early 2026 that will test technology to beam solar power to Earth using infrared lasers. The company is proposing a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites that could provide power, initially for remote users like forward operating bases for the military, later expanding to broader applications. Aetherflux argues this is more scalable than earlier concepts for larger solar power stations in geostationary orbit. Baiju Bhatt, founder of Aetherflux and, earlier, co-founder of Robinhood, said he is self-funding the company through the demonstration mission. [SpaceNews]
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| Other News
SpaceX has reportedly required companies launching competitors to Starlink on its rockets to agree to share spectrum. These spectrum-sharing agreements, which allow Starlink to use spectrum allocated to those other companies, were signed with Kepler Communications and OneWeb before SpaceX launched their satellites, helping Starlink expand its service. The agreements prompted one law firm to meet with the Justice Department to discuss possible antitrust issues, but the department has taken no action so far. SpaceX argued that the spectrum-sharing agreements are equitable because they have to be ratified by governments. [Wall Street Journal]
Ocean scientists are concerned about the environmental impacts of deorbiting the International Space Station. Debris from the eventual deorbiting of the ISS is likely to splash down at a remote location in the South Pacific Ocean known as Point Nemo that is currently used as a target for many spacecraft reentries. Environmental groups say they are worried about potential deleterious effects, citing uncertainties about what is on the station and what will survive reentry. The EPA plans to evaluate NASA's plans but does not have a schedule for completing that work. [SpaceNews]
NASA has identified 50 "areas of concern" on the Russian segment of the station. Those areas of concern could be similar to cracks seen in one part of the Russian service module that have caused a persistent, but small, air leak there, but could also be "benign imperfections" like scratches. NASA has expressed its concerns to Roscosmos and a report last month by NASA's Office of Inspector General noted the leaks in the Russian service module to its highest level of risk. NASA noted last month, though, that the leak rate in the service module fell recently after some repair work by cosmonauts. [Washington Post]
A solar storm could stress power grids damaged by recent hurricanes. NOAA issued a watch for a severe geomagnetic storm Thursday and Friday after a solar outburst earlier this week. The storm is not expected to be as strong as the one that hit in May, but the effects of it could cause disruptions on power grids damaged by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The storm could cause aurora displays visible as far south as the lower Midwest. [AP]
| |  | Spaceflight Olympians
"He had worked with a number of athletes that, quite honestly, were not entirely dislike what we were doing going to West Texas. They were getting ready to take a trip away from home to do a performance of their lifetime in a place and time that was strange and under a lot of pressure, and to be able to perform at a high level while also enjoying the event."
– Rob Ferl, a University of Florida professor, discussing at a National Academies committee meeting Wednesday why his research group brought in a sports psychologist who had worked with Olympic athletes to help them prepare for Ferl's research flight on Blue Origin's New Shepard suborbital vehicle earlier this year.
| | | A premier press release service designed to elevate your company's visibility and target our audience. Publish your company's press release with Stellar Dispatch today. Announcing DSI's 11th Annual Space Resiliency Summit
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