Signals and Space | V1 | Issue 10 | 06.20.23

Signals and Space is your weekly intelligence briefing to ensure you know what's going up and what’s going on in space—and why it matters.

Here’s what we covered last week:

Monday, 6/12/23: SpaceX goes coast to coast.

1. Dual SpaceX Launches

   • Who: SpaceX
   • What: Two SpaceX launches, one from Florida and another from California, took place on the same day. Florida's launch involved 53 Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 while the California mission, Transporter-8, was a rideshare mission with 72 payloads.
   • Why: SpaceX is continuing to expand its Starlink internet service while also providing launch services to other entities. This highlights the growing frequency and regularity of space launches.

2. ISS Solar Upgrade Complete

   • Who: NASA astronauts Stephen Bowen and Warren Hoburg.
   • What: They successfully installed and deployed new iROSA (Roll-out Solar Arrays) for the International Space Station.
   • Why: The new solar arrays will boost solar power generation by 30%, which demonstrates progress in space infrastructure and technology.

3. Delays to the US Space Force GPS ground system overhaul

   • Who: US Space Force, Raytheon Technologies
   • What: Technical issues and budget constraints have led to delays in the ground system overhaul for the US Space Force GPS.
   • Why: The delays highlight challenges in complex space projects and the impact of budgeting issues on project timelines.

4. BAE Systems' Satellite Launch Postponed

   • Who: BAE Systems
   • What: The planned launch of its first multi-sensor satellite cluster, known as Azalea, into low Earth orbit has been postponed to 2025.
   • Why: The delay in the UK's defense space strategy signifies the challenges faced in deploying new technologies in space.

5. NOAA Organic Act

   • Who: House Republicans, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
   • What: Proposed a bill to make NOAA an independent agency, removing it from the Commerce Department’s umbrella.
   • Why: The move aims to reduce political oversight of NOAA.

6. HawkEye 360's Cluster 7 Satellites Begin Operation

   • Who: HawkEye 360
   • What: The company's Cluster 7 satellites have begun operation less than two months after launching into orbit.
   • Why: The new satellite cluster enhances the company's capacity to collect and analyze radio frequency data, boosting its services.

7. Capella Space Awarded NASA Contract

   • Who: Capella Space, NASA
   • What: Capella Space has been awarded a 5-year blanket purchase agreement with NASA‘s Earth Science Division.
   • Why: The agreement will allow NASA access to commercial Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image products, enhancing NASA's research capabilities.

8. GRACE-FO Satellite Data

   • Who: NASA, the German Research Centre for Geosciences
   • What: Released data from the GRACE-FO (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On) satellite showing water gains in California.
   • Why: These data provide vital insights into Earth's water systems and the impact of climate events.

9. Layoffs at Ursa Major and Orbit Fab

   • Who: Ursa Major, Orbit Fab
   • What: Both Colorado-based space companies conducted layoffs due to funding issues.
   • Why: The layoffs highlight the current economic challenges in the space industry.
10. Featured interview: Aaron Myrick, Project Leader at The Aerospace Corporation. Aaron worked on the Moonlighter - the satellite hacking sandbox, now on orbit. You can connect with Aaron on LinkedIn and follow the Aerospace Corporation on their website.

Tuesday, 6/13/23: The hitchhikers guide to LEO.

1. Diverse Payloads in the Transporter 8 Rideshare

   • Who: Exolaunch, D-Orbit, Launcher, Terran Orbital, ImageSat International, Tomorrow.io, Varda Space, Starfish Space, and various other organizations.
   • What: The Transporter 8 rideshare included a variety of satellites from different organizations, including remote sensing satellites, weather-radar satellites, a manufacturing facility, and a satellite servicer. These satellites were guided to their destinations by space tugs from three companies.
   • Why: These diverse payloads represent significant advancements in the commercial space sector, in areas such as in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing, weather monitoring, and remote sensing.

2. FAA Under Pressure Post-Starship Testing

   • Who: Federal Aviation Authority (FAA)
   • What: In the wake of recent Starship testing, the FAA may be tasked with additional responsibilities for space traffic management, as proposed in a 770-page bill in the US House of Representatives.
   • Why: The potential expansion of the FAA's duties signifies a response to the rapid growth and evolution of the commercial space sector, and the need for improved regulation and oversight.

3. Controversy Surrounding Space Command HQ

   • Who: US Administration and Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall
   • What: The US House of Representatives has released a draft bill that would pause construction on the temporary Space Command headquarters until a report justifying its final location is submitted.
   • Why: This controversy reflects the ongoing struggles in determining the best location for the Space Command HQ, given the strategic importance and the economic implications of its placement.

4. DIU’s 'Outernet' Plans

   • Who: US Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
   • What: The DIU plans to test internet capabilities in space by the end of the year, working with seven companies on related projects.
   • Why: This project represents a step forward in leveraging commercial space networks to enhance military communications and represents an initiative to expand and diversify internet coverage.

5. Expansion of the Very Large Array in New Mexico

   • Who: National Radio and Astronomy Observatory
   • What: The expansion of the Very Large Array in New Mexico will add 260 new antennas, significantly enhancing its capability.
   • Why: This expansion signifies a major investment in the ongoing quest for extraterrestrial life and a commitment to furthering our understanding of the universe.

6. UK Funding for Space-Based Solar Power

   • Who: UK Universities
   • What: UK Universities are set to receive significant funding to study space-based solar power, following advances in the field in Japan and the US.
   • Why: This reflects the growing global interest in space-based solar power as a potential solution for sustainable energy generation and a key driver of future economic growth.

7. Young Prodigy Joins SpaceX

   • Who: Kairan Quazi, a 14-year old graduate from the Santa Clara University School of Engineering.
   • What: Kairan Quazi is set to start working as a software engineer at SpaceX.
   • Why: This highlights the exceptional talent emerging in the new generation and the growing appeal of the commercial space sector as a career destination.
8. Featured Interview: Susan Charlesworth, Director of Oxford Human Performance. Susan has worked with ESA astronauts on preparing for human spaceflight. You can follow Susan on LinkedIn and learn more about Oxford Human Performance on their website.

Wednesday, 6/14/23: Space, collaborate and listen.

1. US Commerce Department Engages Industry for Space Situational Awareness

   • Who: US Commerce Department
   • What: The department announced two upcoming meetings with industry satellite operators to discuss better ways of sharing spacecraft location data. The ultimate goal is to establish a more effective space traffic coordination system.
   • Why: The move is critical for improving coordination and knowledge sharing for what's on orbit and where, breaking the information silos across military, civil, or industry facilities.

2. United Nations Urges for Better Space Governance

   • Who: Guy Ryder, United Nations undersecretary-general for policy
   • What: Ryder underlines the urgent need for nations to improve collaboration on their space activities, emphasizing improved space governance, peaceful uses of outer space, and addressing space debris.
   • Why: The call-to-action comes at a crucial time for global space diplomacy and governance, amid increased space activities and the associated risks, such as space debris.

3. New Spaceport Development in China's Hainan Province

   • Who: Chinese Space News
   • What: A new complex at a spaceport in Hainan Province is under construction. The spaceport is expected to be completed in 2024 and host commercial Chinese space launches in the same year.
   • Why: The development underscores China's growing space ambitions and could increase China's influence in the global space industry.

4. BepiColombo's Third Flyby of Mercury

   • Who: BepiColombo, a joint mission by the European Space Agency and Japan’s Aerospace Exploration Agency
   • What: BepiColombo is scheduled for its third flyby of Mercury, as part of its mission launched in 2018.
   • Why: The mission continues to provide valuable data on Mercury and contributes to our understanding of the solar system.

5. Arianespace and Orbex's MOU

   • Who: Arianespace and Orbex
   • What: The two European launch providers signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on future missions.
   • Why: This collaboration aims to enhance their joint capabilities and customer services, marking a significant development in Europe's space sector.

6. Airbus Ventures Supports Zero-Error Systems and Venus Aerospace

   • Who: Airbus Ventures, Zero-Error Systems, Venus Aerospace
   • What: Airbus Ventures has invested in two space startups, Zero-Error Systems, which focuses on semiconductor solutions for space, and Venus Aerospace, a hypersonic spaceplane manufacturer.
   • Why: These investments highlight the growing interest in advanced space technologies and underscore the potential for growth and innovation in the sector.

7. Texas Establishes Space Commission

   • Who: Texas Governor Greg Abbott
   • What: A new law has been signed, leading to the creation of the Texas Space Commission, overseeing $350 million in development of the space industry in Texas.
   • Why: The move underlines Texas's growing role in the American space industry and could spur further investment and development in the sector.

8. Deloitte's "xTech Futures" Reports

   • Who: Deloitte
   • What: Deloitte released the first in a series of reports to help organizations understand their role in the growing space economy.
   • Why: The report series signifies the importance of strategic planning for businesses looking to enter or expand in the space industry and highlights the expected growth in the sector.
9. Featured Interview: Jack Cohen, Program and Mission Manager at Astro Digital. You can follow Jack on LinkedIn and find out more about Astro Digital on their website.

Thursday, 6/15/23: Space-based solar power is the new hot topic.

1. Space-based solar power research gets legislative attention

   • Who: The Science, Space and Technology Committee, Congressman Kevin Mullin of California, the Alliance for Space Development, the Space Frontier Foundation, and the National Space Society.
   • What: A bill, House Resolution 2988, titled the Department of Energy and NASA Interagency Research Coordination Act, has been passed with bipartisan support in the committee, pushing for both the DoE and NASA to conduct research on space-based solar power.
   • Why: The bill shows that space-based solar power is now on the legislative radar in the United States, a significant step for its development. The last time it was mentioned in US legislation was in the 1970s.

2. Introduction of Spaceport Act

   • Who: Four US senators from Colorado and New Mexico.
   • What: Introduced the Spaceport Project Opportunities for Resilient Transportation Act (Spaceport Act) that encourages the development of commercial spaceports through the modernization of the FAA’s STIM grant program.
   • Why: The act is a long overdue update and re-authorization aiming to keep up with the growing demand for launch capacity and find new funding sources to build new or update existing spaceport infrastructure.

3. FAA’s Steps to Mitigate Space Traffic Issues

   • Who: Duane Freer, manager of the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization’s Space Operations.
   • What: The FAA is working on mitigating issues between aviation and space traffic to result in both time and fuel savings for airlines and air travelers.
   • Why: The FAA is adjusting to the increase in spaceflight affecting civilian air traffic on both coasts.

4. AST SpaceMobile Hit with Lawsuit

   • Who: A Pennsylvania based law firm, Kaskela Law, and AST SpaceMobile, Inc.
   • What: The law firm is investigating AST SpaceMobile on behalf of its long-term shareholders due to a cumulative decline of over 70% in the company's share value.
   • Why: The investigation aims to determine whether the company or its representatives violated the securities laws or breached their fiduciary duties, causing investor losses.

5. Tomorrow.IO’s Series E Funding

   • Who: Earth observation company, Tomorrow.IO.
   • What: The company raised $87 million in a Series E funding round.
   • Why: The funds will be used to support the company’s weather and climate data satellite constellation.

6. ArianeSpace’s Partnership Agreements

   • Who: ArianeSpace, Orbex, and Spanish rocket company PLD Space.
   • What: ArianeSpace signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Orbex and a partnership agreement with PLD Space.
   • Why: The agreement with PLD Space will allow the company to offer customizable services to ArianeSpace customers.

7. Personnel Appointments at Various Space Companies

   • Who: ispace, Terran Orbital, and Lockheed Martin.
   • What: Personnel changes include the appointment of a former NASA astronaut as CEO of ispace's U.S. arm, a former Virgin Orbit executive as COO of Terran Orbital, and a retired Brigadier General as Lockheed Martin's space business development director for Saudi Arabia.
   • Why: These appointments are aimed at advancing the strategic goals and development of each company.

8. Life-sustaining Phosphorus Discovered on Saturn’s Moon

   • Who: NASA’s Cassini mission scientists.
   • What: The data from the mission shows that Saturn's moon Enceladus contains traces of phosphorus, an essential chemical element for life, locked inside salt-rich ice grains.
   • Why: This is the first time this essential element has been discovered in an ocean beyond Earth, providing further evidence for the possibility of extraterrestrial life.

9. Rocket Lab’s Upcoming Hypersonic Suborbital Vehicle Test

   • Who: Rocket Lab, NASA’s Wallops Range.
   • What: Rocket Lab is rumored to be testing their hypersonic suborbital vehicle in the coming days, with NASA's Wallops Range scheduled to support the launch.
   • Why: This development represents a significant advancement in hypersonic travel.
10. Featured Interview: Stefan Powell, CEO and CTO of New Zealand based start up Dawn Aerospace. You can connect with Stefan on LinkedIn and find out more about Dawn Aerospace on their website.

Friday, 6/16/23: NASA’s magnificent seven.

1. NASA’s Second Cohort for Commercial Space Capabilities Collaboration

   • Who: NASA, Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman, Sierra Space, SpaceX, Special Aerospace Services, ThinkOrbital, and Vast Space.
   • What: NASA announced its collaboration with these seven commercial space companies as part of its second Collaborations for Commercial Space Capabilities (CCSC-2) initiative. The goal is to foster a robust low Earth orbit (LEO) economy. Each company is self-funding their participation.
   • Why: With the International Space Station's time in orbit ending in 2030, NASA's collaboration aims to support the development of commercial space stations and the expansion of the LEO economy.

2. Vast Selects Impulse for Haven-1

   • Who: Space habitation company Vast, Impulse Space.
   • What: Vast has chosen Impulse to provide the propulsion system for its Haven-1 Space Station.
   • Why: Vast plans to launch a commercial space station in August 2025 and has engaged Impulse to augment control systems and provide end-of-life operations.

3. Virgin Galactic Announces Commercial Spaceflight

   • Who: Virgin Galactic, Italian Air Force, National Research Council of Italy.
   • What: Virgin Galactic has announced the flight window for the first commercial spaceflight of its service starting June 27.
   • Why: The mission will carry three members of the Italian Air Force and the National Research Council of Italy to conduct microgravity experiments, marking the beginning of Virgin Galactic's commercial operations.

4. Luxembourg and SES Collaborate for Military Space Capabilities

   • Who: Luxembourg’s parliament, SES, US Space Force.
   • What: Luxembourg’s parliament has approved a $213 million deal to use SES's O3b mPower network for defense cooperation.
   • Why: This program is designed to improve Luxembourg’s military space capabilities and deepen defense cooperation with NATO allies, including the US.

5. Eutelsat Sells European Retail Broadband Activities

   • Who: Eutelsat.
   • What: Eutelsat is selling its European retail broadband activities to focus on the wholesale market.
   • Why: This move allows Eutelsat to shift its attention and resources to growing its wholesale market footprint.

6. Astra Carta: A Space Sustainability Plan

   • Who: King Charles III of the UK, astronaut Chris Hadfield.
   • What: They are working on the Astra Carta, a new plan for space sustainability.
   • Why: This plan aims to guide the usage of space and moon settlements differently than Earth, influencing global decision-making in the space industry.

7. Raytheon Recognized by NASA for Webb Mission

   • Who: NASA, Raytheon Technologies.
   • What: NASA recognized Raytheon Technologies with a Group Achievement Award for its work on the James Webb Space Telescope Flight Operations Subsystem.
   • Why: Raytheon's subsystem played a vital role in the successful launch and continuous operation of the Webb mission.

8. Concerns Over Microchips in the Aerospace Supply Chain

   • Who: US federal agencies and the military.
   • What: Concerns are growing over microchips fabricated in China finding their way into the aerospace supply chain.
   • Why: The influx of these microchips could potentially pose a risk to US national security and aerospace industry integrity.
9. Featured interview: Dr. George Nield, former Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation at the Federal Aviation Administration, Blue Origin Astronaut and Head of the Global Spaceport Alliance. You can connect with George on LinkedIn and find out more about the Global Spaceport Alliance on their website.

Saturday, 6/17/23: The human experience in spaceflight with Dr. George Nield.