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[MUSIC PLAYING] Today is October 8, 2025. I'm Maria Varmazis, and this is T-minus. [MUSIC PLAYING] T-minus. 22nd to LOS, T-dred. Open aboard. [INAUDIBLE] [MUSIC PLAYING] [INAUDIBLE] [INAUDIBLE] [MUSIC PLAYING] Five. Issa spots an unexpected asteroid passing by Earth at Leo Range. [INAUDIBLE] Arian Group and Sabga line up production for Arian 6's operational phase. Three. Blue Origin has awarded a $78.25 million space force contract to expand launch processing at Canaveral. Two. Space Capital's Q3 2025 Space IQ Report shows a $5.8 billion surge in private space investment. One. Verizon signs a deal with AST Space Mobile to deliver cellular service from space. [INAUDIBLE] [MUSIC PLAYING] Lift off. [MUSIC PLAYING] Happy Wednesday, everybody. Thank you for joining me today. Let's dive in. In an expansion of a partnership that started last year, US telecom's giant Verizon has signed a new agreement with AST Space Mobile to bring directed device satellite connectivity to its customers across the continental United States. The agreement will allow Verizon to expand coverage of its 850 megahertz low band spectrum in areas where cellular coverage is usually not available via space based broadband from AST Space Mobile. The two companies plan to begin service rollout in 2026. AST Space Mobile will operate a constellation of large phased array satellites that are designed to connect directly to standard mobile phones, expanding Verizon's network reach and resiliency. No financial details about this agreement have as yet been disclosed. That said, speaking of financial details, the Q3 2025 Space IQ Report from Space Capital is out today. And this latest report studying the state of the space industry says 2025 is on track to rank among the top three funding years on record. Digging into just a few of the details from this report, Space Capital reports that $5.8 billion were invested across 115 companies in Q3 2025, bringing total private equity investment in the space economy to nearly $400 billion since 2009. Venture capital led 86% of activity with infrastructure companies-- yes, infrastructure companies-- drawing the largest share of about $4.4 billion, which is up 12% quarter over quarter. But truly, defense spending is the driver for so much of what is going on. Satellite manufacturing and defense-driven golden dome capabilities dominated funding rounds, no surprise there, while emerging industries like logistics and lunar services also gained some traction. Distribution saw $300 million in new capital, focused on AI-enabled connectivity and directed device satellite communications, and applications pulled $1.1 billion after last quarter's surge in geospatial intelligence interest. Despite macroeconomic pressure around the globe, Space Capital says investor confidence, especially in dual-use revenue-producing space businesses, remains strong. There are lots of details to check out in this report. Highly recommend you read the report in full, and we have a link to it in our show notes for you. Blue Origin has secured a $78.25 million contract from the US Space Force to build a new payload processing facility at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The project was awarded as part of the National Security Space Launch Commercial Solutions' opening effort and aims to increase Florida's launch throughput by providing additional clean room, fueling, and integration facilities for government and commercial missions. The new structure will support payloads up to 45 metric tons and accommodate multiple vehicle types, including Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket. Construction of the facility is scheduled for completion by 2028, and Space Force officials say that the investment will help them enhance resilience and flexibility in national launch infrastructure. Let's turn our sights to Europe now, and Arian Group and Belgian aerospace firm SABCA have signed a new long-term supply agreement for the operational phase of the heavy-lift Arian-6 rocket. The contract covers production of nozzle activation systems for the main and upper stages of Arian-6 flight models 16 through 42. The two companies have been partnering for quite some time already, so this continuation, says Arian Group, secures critical supply chain continuity and supports its goal of maintaining a regular launch cadence for institutional and commercial customers across Europe. And for our final bit of space news today, some bit of space coming our way. A small asteroid designated 2025 TF passed over Antarctica last Wednesday at a distance of about 428 kilometers, or 265 miles above Earth's surface, yes. That is a mighty close pass, well within Leo, closer than many satellites and nearly at the altitude of the International Space Station. And better yet, not only was its travel path super close to Earth, this asteroid's appearance was also a surprise. Astronomers didn't spot it until several hours after its closest approach when NASA's Catalina Sky Survey detected it and ESA's Planetary Defense Office confirmed its trajectory. Now the asteroid's next predicted flyby won't occur until April 2087, and ESA also says that the event shows why near-Earth object tracking systems are so, so very important. And ESA also said that the object was estimated to be between only three and 10 feet across, so it posed no threat to our planet. Satellite versus asteroid, though, that would be a different story. Thankfully, no satellites were harmed during this surprise asteroid flyby. And that's our Intel briefing for this Wednesday. If you'd like to check out the stories and reports in today's show, the show notes have you covered. They are in your podcast app and on our website, space.ntuk.com. And while you're checking out those show notes, since it's just you and me today, I thought I'd let you know that I put two extra stories in the show notes for you to check out. One is a space.com piece from the IAC 2025 regarding new announcements from Chinese officials there about space junk de-orbiting plans and what that could mean for the continuing militarization of space. And there's a new story on VIA Satellite about a collab between Cepentrio and Shona Space Systems. It's all in the show notes. Enjoy. Whether you've been listening to T-Minus from the start or this is your first episode tuning in, I want to thank you for listening. If you like what we are doing here at T-Minus, your support will help us grow and bring you more of the insights and guest interviews that you enjoy. So if you could take a moment and leave us a five-star rating and short review in whatever podcast app you use, I would appreciate it so much. Tell us about a favorite recent episode that really got you thinking. You know, that kind of detail really helps us make the show even better. So since I wouldn't be much of a podcast host if I didn't drop an obligatory like and subscribe now and then, please do like and subscribe if you haven't yet. And thank you. (upbeat music) We'll be right back. Welcome back. So Mars just had front row seats to an interstellar visitor. Thankfully we have eyes in the skies sort of kind of there so we got to see it too. He says ExoMars and Mars Express orbiters turned their cameras towards Comet 3i Atlas, which is a rare traveler from beyond our solar system. In the first week of October, these orbiters had the best view of any spacecraft in the neighborhood and they watched the ancient comet glide past them from about 30 million kilometers away. Okay, so it's a comet, not a big deal, right? Well, this comet is actually quite special. It is only the third interstellar comet ever spotted after Umumuamua and Borisov. And scientists think that it may be older than the solar system itself. We only found out about its existence this past July after all. Now the orbiters couldn't pick out 3i Atlas's tiny core but they did capture the ghostly glow of its expanding coma, which is the halo of gas and dust that forms as sunlight heats a comet up. And next month on November 25th, while many of us Americans will be getting ready for our Thanksgiving holiday and perhaps starting to travel long distances to see our family and friends, ESA's juice spacecraft will take its own look as 3i Atlas continues its own long trek and swings past the sun. And in the much, much longer run, ESA and JAX's Comet Interceptor Mission Collaboration planned to launch in 2029, hopes to someday meet one of these cosmic outsiders up close. Wouldn't that be something? (upbeat music) And that's T-minus brought to you by N2K Cyberwire. We'd love to know what you think of our podcast. Your feedback ensures we deliver the insights that keep you a step ahead in the rapidly changing space industry. If you like our show, please share a rating and review in your podcast app. Please also fill out the survey in the show notes or send an email to space@n2k.com. We're proud that N2K Cyberwire is part of the daily routine of the most influential leaders and operators in the public and private sector. From the Fortune 500 to many of the world's preeminent intelligence and law enforcement agencies. N2K helps space and cybersecurity professionals grow, learn and stay informed. As a nexus for discovery and connection, we bring you the people, the technology and the ideas shaping the future of secure innovation. Learn how at N2K.com. N2K Senior Producer is Alice Carruth. Our Producer is Liz Stokes. We're mixed by Elliott Peltzman and Tre Hester with original music by Elliott Peltzman. Our Executive Producer is Jennifer Eiben. Peter Kilpe is our publisher and I am your host, Maria Varmazis. Thank you for listening. We'll see you tomorrow. (upbeat music) - T-minus. (upbeat music) (water splashing) [BLANK_AUDIO]