| By Jeff Foust
In today's edition: Golden Dome's 60-day sprint, a push to quickly pass a NASA spending bill, a new record high for the space economy and more.
If someone forwarded you this edition, sign up to receive it in your inbox every weekday. Have thoughts or feedback? You can hit reply to let me know.
| | | | | | Top Stories
The general now in charge of the Golden Dome missile defense system says he will have an architecture for it ready in 60 days. Speaking at a Space Foundation conference Tuesday, Gen. Michael Guetlein said he's been instructed to provide in 60 days an "objective architecture" or an initial, end-to-end blueprint for how satellites, sensors, interceptors, command networks and other components will integrate into a unified missile shield. He said he will work to bring together existing missile defense projects into that integrated architecture, along with new technologies like space-based missile interceptors. Guetlein was confirmed by the Senate last week to lead Golden Dome, and reports directly to Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg, bypassing traditional chains of command. [SpaceNews]
The administration is looking to expand the companies involved in Golden Dome to reduce reliance on SpaceX. Officials have reached out to companies like Amazon, Rocket Lab and Stoke Space about participating in the effort. That outreach is intended, officials said, to reduce the role SpaceX would play, which stems from the falling out between President Trump and Elon Musk. SpaceX, though, would likely still have a significant role given its capabilities in launch and satellites. Musk noted on social media that federal acquisition regulations require using the best companies and best prices. "Anything else would be breaking the law." [Reuters]
A key Senate appropriator wants to expedite passage of a spending bill that includes NASA. Speaking at the Space Foundation conference Tuesday, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), who chairs the appropriations subcommittee that funds NASA, says he wants to attach his subcommittee's spending bill, approved by the full committee last week, to the "MilCon-VA" appropriations bill that the full Senate plans to take up soon. Several other appropriations bills might also be added to that legislation, which he said is intended to address concerns the overall appropriations process may "deteriorate over time" this fall. Moran also called for the White House to select a new NASA administrator nominee, arguing having Sean Duffy serve as both acting NASA administrator and secretary of transportation is too heavy of a workload. [SpaceNews]
The development of a Space Development Agency (SDA) satellite constellation is at a "make-or-break" moment. Maj. Gen. Stephen Purdy, the acting assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration, said the first of several Tranche 1 launches of the SDA's Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture constellation is expected within the next month. Tranche 1 includes 126 Transport Layer communications satellites and 28 Tracking Layer satellites for missile warning and tracking. Purdy said the Tranche 1 satellites will be deployed in monthly launches over the next year. [SpaceNews]
The Space Force plans to select several companies to develop surveillance satellites in geostationary orbit. Purdy said the service will go with multiple companies to produce satellites to replace the current Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program constellation built by Northrop Grumman. The new procurement, named Geosynchronous Reconnaissance & Surveillance Constellation, or RG-XX, represents the Space Force's transition to a satellite acquisition model that leverages commercial technologies from the private sector. The new systems, used to monitor other spacecraft in GEO, will rely on large numbers of smaller, less expensive spacecraft. [SpaceNews]
AST SpaceMobile is seeking regulatory approval to provide direct-to-smartphone satellite connectivity for first responders in the United States. The company filed a request with the FCC to provide those services using Band 14 frequencies, via AT&T's government-backed FirstNet program, to enable connectivity in areas without terrestrial coverage. The FCC is expected to put both filings, along with other AST SpaceMobile applications related to Supplemental Coverage from Space, out for public notice prior to any decision. [SpaceNews]
The global space economy hit a new record high in 2024. Heather Pringle, CEO of the Space Foundation, announced that the global space economy, including all commercial and government activity, was valued at $613 billion in 2024. That is an increase of 7.8% from 2023, she said, and puts the space economy on a pace to reach $1 trillion by 2032. [SpaceNews]
| | | | | | Other News
SpaceX launched a pair of SES satellites Tuesday afternoon, one day after a last-minute scrub. A Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 5:12 p.m. Eastern. It deployed two O3b mPower satellites for SES into medium Earth orbits. A launch attempt Monday was called off less than 15 seconds before liftoff for an undisclosed issue. SES now has 10 O3b mPower satellites in orbit to provide broadband services. Three more mPower satellites are being built by Boeing for launch next year. [SpaceNews]
A power outage at an FAA center scrubbed another Falcon 9 launch from California. SpaceX called off the Falcon 9 launch of NASA's TRACERS mission, along with several other small satellites, less than a minute before launch Tuesday, citing "airspace concerns" from the FAA. The agency later said a "regional power outage" in Santa Barbara disrupted operations at the Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center, leading the FAA to withdraw permission for the launch. The launch is rescheduled for Wednesday at 2:13 p.m. Eastern. [Spaceflight Now]
A launch vehicle shortage is delaying deployment of a Chinese megaconstellation. Only about 90 satellites in the Qianfan, or Thousand Sails, constellation have launched to date, far short of the goal of having 648 satellites in orbit by the end of the year. The slow deployment is linked to a lack of available launch vehicles, one source said, which could affect Qianfan's ability to compete with SpaceX's Starlink as well as access to spectrum reserved for the system. [South China Morning Post]
The Trump administration is reportedly considering reducing environmental regulations for commercial launches. A draft of an executive order developed by the White House would direct the secretary of transportation to "eliminate or expedite" environmental reviews for launch licenses. Many in the industry have argued that such reviews have slowed approvals for licenses, but some groups warn the move could jeopardize the environment and public safety. The executive order would also call for revisions to Part 450, FAA launch licensing regulations enacted several years ago that the industry says have been difficult to implement. [ProPublica]
Rocket Lab is looking for help to allow it to barge ahead with development of its Neutron rocket. The company is seeking permission to use a technique called kedging to allow barges to navigate shallow waters near Wallops Island, Virginia, to deliver structures for its Neutron rocket. The company has long-term plans to dredge a permanent channel for barge deliveries but is awaiting federal approval for that work. The company says other approaches for delivering the Neutron structures to Wallops are not feasible. [TechCrunch]
New Zealand has updated its national space law to provide more oversight of ground stations. The Outer Space High Altitude Activities Amendment Bill, approved on Wednesday and which takes effect next week, will set up new oversight and safeguards for ground-based space infrastructure like tracking stations. The law was prompted by concerns from the country's intelligence service that other countries tried to set up ground stations in the country intended to assist "foreign military activity that could have harmed New Zealand interests." [Reuters]
| | | | | | Impatient Kansans
| "But the soon, I hope, is true, although 'soon' in Washington, DC, is often longer than what 'soon' is in Kansas."
| | – Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) at the Space Foundation's Innovate Space: Global Economic Summit Tuesday after stating he had been informed the White House will "soon" select a new NASA administrator nominee.
| | | | | | | FROM SPACENEWS |  | | Fact or fiction on the future of the space economy: Drawing from their new book Space to Grow, authors Matthew Weinzierl (Harvard Business School) and Brendan Rosseau (Blue Origin) discuss how market dynamics, shifting public-sector priorities, and defense investments are driving a new era of space activity. Whether you're a policymaker, investor, operator, or observer, this Space Minds episode captures the critical questions facing the future of space enterprise. | | | | | | | 🚀 🕑 🎧 Don't miss SpaceNews' FirstUp Audio
The day's most important space headlines delivered in less than 10 minutes every Monday-Friday. Listen on our website, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite podcast app.
| | | | | | Sign up for our other newsletters -
Military Space: Veteran defense journalist Sandra Erwin delivers news and insights for the military space professional. Delivered Tuesday. -
China Report: Analysis of China's space activities and what it means as one of the United States' top competitors from correspondent Andrew Jones. Delivered every other Wednesday. -
SpaceNext AI: Exploring the intersection of space and artificial intelligence. Delivered Thursday.
-
SpaceNews This Week: A round-up of the week's top stories, including our conference coverage. Delivered Friday. -
Video & Audio: Upcoming live programs, scheduled guests, and recent Space Minds podcast episodes, webinars and other events. Delivered Friday. -
Marketing Minute: Covering PR, marketing, and advertising trends, upcoming SpaceNews opportunities, and editorial insights for communications and marketing leaders. Delivered monthly. | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment