A technology that allows a single system to operate in both high-thrust chemical and high-efficiency electric modes has been acquired by Quantum Space. This strategic acquisition from Phase Four, which also includes an integration and test facility in Los Angeles, strengthens Quantum Space’s ability to deliver highly maneuverable, persistent, and cost-efficient platforms for its national security, civil, and commercial customers and enabling missions from low-Earth to geostationary orbit and on to and cislunar space.

Phase Four’s multi-mode capability expands the utility of the Quantum Space Ranger platform. It combines rapid maneuvering for responsive missions with efficient station-keeping and phasing, and simplifies refueling by using a single propellant. This added agility supports faster response times, more versatile mission profiles, and longer-duration presence in orbit.

The newly acquired Los Angeles facility positions Quantum Space in a central hub of the nation’s space industrial base. The facility includes a large high-bay integration area, advanced environmental test chambers, machine shops, clean room, and a mission development laboratory.

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Financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025 have been released by Firefly Aerospace. The results are the first to be released by Firefly following it’s IPO last month, which CEO Jason Kim said “reflects the bold culture of our generational company, which delivers on the most challenging missions in space.”

During the company’s second fiscal quarter, Kim testified before Congress on the success of Blue Ghost Mission 1 and the critical future of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. During the earnings call posted to the Firefly website, Kim outlined details of their next three planned lunar missions.

“Blue Ghost Mission 2, values at $130 million, will deliver our lander to the far side of the moon, marking the first such mission by a U.S. lander. The structures for this mission have entered assembly in our spacecraft cleanroom after completing their crucial integration readiness review earlier this year,” Kim said. “The first payloads arrived, with Australian company Fleet Space delivering its Spider payload, and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory delivering their user terminal. We are also conducting SPECTER engine testing in preparation for Blue Ghost Mission 2. In December, NASA awarded Firefly’s third Blue Ghost contract, valued at $180 million. Our team completed the systems requirements review, allowing us to move forward with the design and development of the lander system. And as you will hear more about later, NASA awarded a $177 million contract for Blue Ghost Mission 4 in July. All of these missions support the growing NASA CLPS initiative which recently received a $250 million budget increase for FY 2026.”

Firefly expects FY 2025 full-year revenue to be between $133 million and $145 million.

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A strategic transition for the Dream Chaser spaceplane has been announced by Sierra space. Dream Chaser’s first flight will be a free-flyer, demonstration mission, which is expected to prove the technology and deliver critical data to NASA.

Sierra Space is prioritizing first-flight readiness with Dream Chaser, targeting a launch in late 2026 to align with expected launch vehicle availability. Sierra Space and NASA worked together to reach this mutually beneficial agreement that provides greater mission flexibility for Dream Chaser’s first flight. This flight aims to demonstrate critical capabilities for NASA’s ISS resupply and future Commercial LEO Destinations (CLD) missions and position Dream Chaser as a national asset available for future national security and defense demonstrations.

The company says they believe in Dream Chaser’s adaptability as an orbital, hypersonic spacecraft and rapid deployment, commercial testbed is critical to addressing the nation’s evolving priorities and emerging threats.

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Coming up, a power deal for Astro Digital. But right now, why not take a minute to become a paid subscriber to The Journal of Space Commerce. Whether you’re a space professional, investor or an enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com on Substack, and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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Satellite manufacturer Astro Digital has signed an agreement with startup Star Catcher to buy power in support of their “mission-as-a-service” model.

This partnership enables ESPA-class platforms like Astro Digital’s Corvus XL to scale from single-kilowatt buses to 10+ kW powerhouses, without expanding the satellite’s footprint. Jointly offering this capability means customers can have more powerful and cost effective missions, from single satellites to full constellations.

Star Catcher CEO Andrew Rush said the Astro Digital deal is an important one for the company.

(Andrew Rush) The deal that we’ve done with Astro Digital, namely them entering into a power purchase agreement with us is a big deal for us at Starcatcher because they’re one of the first customers just to sign up and say, hey, we’re gonna use this power beaming service and we’re actually gonna put some ready money on the table to reserve the utilization of this going forward. And this is a big validator for us, right? This is an even stronger sort of mission pull signal, market pull signal, showing that folks really value and want to use a power rated space.

(Ex Terra Media) Is this something that you’re getting a lot of traction on? Are you hearing from other folks that are at least interested if not ready to put pen to paper yet? So that’s right.

(Andrew Rush) We’ve had a lot of activity, a lot of interest, a lot of velocity that’s only gotten faster over the last year. I think when I was last on the podcast, we had maybe a dozen letters of intent signed from various folks and we had not yet inked any of these power purchase agreements. We now have more than three dozen letters of intent signed and we have multiple power purchase agreements signed with various firms. And we’ll be announcing those in the coming, in the future.

(Ex Terra Media) We were talking offline just a little bit about your upcoming demonstration at Kennedy Space Center. What’s that going to involve and what’s your timeline on it?

(Andrew Rush) We are on the doorstep of our largest ground-based demonstration of power beaming yet.

We really take a crawl, walk, run approach to technology development at StarCatcher. We start in the lab and then we do integrated tests and then we went to the Jacksonville Jaguars football stadium and did a 100 meter demonstration. We’ve done some kilometer scale validation of the technology more recently.

And in October, we’re going to go down to the shuttle landing facility and use the four and a half kilometer runway there to do a multi kilowatt, multi kilometer optical power beaming test campaign. And then once that test campaign concludes, then we will, you know, we’ll be sharing the results thereafter.

This announcement comes on the heels of Star Catcher’s $12.25 million Seed Round in July 2024, and a successful power beaming demonstration at the Jacksonville Jaguars’ EverBank Stadium, in March 2025. The company is gearing up for a large-scale demonstration at Space Florida’s Launch and Landing Facility later this year

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The 2025 Fast Company Innovation by Design Awards have recognized the Kayhan Space Satcat space traffic management platform. Satcat was the only space project honored across all categories this year, highlighting the growing importance of user-centric design in the space industry.

Kayhan developed Satcat to address one of spaceflight’s most urgent challenges: traffic coordination in increasingly congested Earth orbit. Hyun Seo is the Chief Product Officer at Kayhan Space. He developed the Satcat software.

“We’re striving to be the best Space Object catalog. And how we do that is through several different facets. One is the public aspect, where people can go look up certain satellites. And there are many websites that do that, but I think what is very nice about Satcat is indexed so you can search by orbital parameters or by metadata like who owns it, or what businesses own it. And then the other aspect is, behind a login, both free and paid actually, we provide to satellite operators conjunction analysis tools for them to do risk assessment as well as actual mitigation.”

Seo says data on satellites is gathered from multiple sources.

“We have partner networks that we work with for, I think the proper term is uncooperative RSOs like debris, for example. Or RSOs that you just can’t contact the operator for. And then we would do our own orbit determination, as well as just slightly post-processing to get it into the system. And obviously the owner-operators can upload their own ephemera that they generate from their GPS and GNSS data.”

An RSO is a Residential Space Object. Kayhan Space will be featured on The Journal of Space Commerce Podcast on October 16th.

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A new report titled “Redshift: The Acceleration of China’s Commercial and Civil Space Enterprise and the Challenge to America” has been released by the Commercial Space Federation.

The report offers a thorough review of China’s civil and commercial space activities over the past decade following the announcement of their “Space Dream” and implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative. Redshift outlines China’s plans and policy pronouncements, highlights achievements realized by 2025, and assesses the resulting risks to American commercial and strategic interests during this period of intensifying competition between the U.S. and China in orbit.

This report provides an open-source compendium and analysis of China’s goals and progress across six sectors of the space ecosystem: Spaceports and Infrastructure // Launch and Reentry // Remote Sensing (RS) and Space Situational Awareness (SSA) // Satellite Communications (Satcom) and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) // Commercial Low Earth Orbit (LEO) // and Space Exploration.

The report was developed in collaboration with Arizona State University (ASU) and led by ASU NewSpace Initiative Research Analyst Jonathan Roll with support from BryceTech and Orbital Gateway Consulting.

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In depth this week, two technology titans are poised to compete for a share of a market that will reshape global communications infrastructure. Amazon’s Project Kuiper is edging closer to commercial deployment while SpaceX’s Starlink will continue to accelerate its global expansion, setting the stage for a scenario that institutional investors may not be able to afford to ignore.

The global satellite market has reached an inflection point, with analysts projecting explosive growth from just over $362 billion in 2025 to approximately $729 and-an-half billion by 2034, representing a compound annual growth rate of just over 8 percent. More specifically, the satellite mega-constellations market is projected to surge from $5 and-a-half billion in 2025 to $27.3 billion by 2032, exhibiting a remarkable CAGR of just over 25.5%.

The mega-constellation sector, represented by companies like Kuiper and Starlink, exhibits classic infrastructure investment characteristics that institutional investors seek: high barriers to entry, natural monopoly tendencies, and strong network effects.

Starlink’s vertical integration strategy, leveraging SpaceX’s launch capabilities, has created significant cost advantages. Its phased-array antenna technology delivers latency around 20-40 milliseconds with speeds commonly ranging from 100-250 Mbps. More critically, the service has achieved proof-of-concept for next-generation capabilities.

Amazon’s Project Kuiper represents a different strategic approach, leveraging the company’s existing cloud infrastructure and enterprise relationships. With 102 satellites in orbit as of August 2025 and aiming for 3,236 total satellites, Kuiper expects to launch its commercial service by the end of this year. Kuiper’s integration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) creates unique value propositions for enterprise customers. This ecosystem approach could prove particularly attractive to large organizations already invested in AWS infrastructure.

The next five years will determine which operators achieve sustainable competitive positions in the NGSO market. An estimated 70,000 LEO satellites are expected to be launched over the next five years, representing unprecedented growth in space-based infrastructure.

The integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities into satellite operations could create new service categories and revenue opportunities. Advanced beam-forming technology and dynamic spectrum management will enable more efficient satellite utilization and improved service quality.

Paid subscribers can read the full analysis on The Journal of Space Commerce under the “In Depth” tab.

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And those are some of the top stories we covered for you on The Journal of Space Commerce this week. Space Commerce Week is a production of Ex Terra Media. You can get daily updates on space commerce by subscribing to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack at www.exterrajsc.com. And please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional, investor or an enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

Theme Stock Music provided by CoolTones, from Pond5

You Might have Missed:

* Strategic Alliance Formed to Improve Space Weather Intelligence

* Satellite Debris Inspection Mission Planned for 2027

* New 3D Printing Method Cuts Solar Array Production Time

* Space Norway Signs New Launch Agreement with SpaceX

* Maxar Partners with Ecopia AI to Launch Vivid Features

Representatives from the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) joined U.S. government and European Union (E.U.) colleagues in Washington, D.C. recently for the 13th U.S.-E.U. Space Dialogue.

DOC attendees included representatives from NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, the Office of Space Commerce, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Deputy Assistant Secretary for International and Space Affairs Juan Caro led the DOC delegation’s participation.

Over two days of meetings, the U.S. and E.U. delegations discussed topics ranging from spaceflight safety and space security concerns, to reducing barriers to trade and commerce in the space sector.

During a roundtable involving E.U. government officials and U.S. space industry, association, and academic sector representatives, the U.S. participants were afforded the opportunity to learn more about the European Commission’s draft EU Space Act, and to provide candid perspectives and feedback directly to E.U. leaders about the draft text in an effort to strengthen person-to-person trans-Atlantic space sector relationships.

The 14th iteration of the Space Dialogue will be held in Brussels.

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The FAA has cleared the Firefly Alpha rocket to return to flight following the Flight 6 mishap on April 29.

According to the company website, a thorough investigation was conducted in conjunction with the FAA, while at the same time an Independent Review Board of multiple government agencies, customers, and industry experts was assembled. The findings confirmed Firefly’s flight safety system performed nominally through all phases of flight. Both Alpha stages landed safely in the Pacific Ocean and the launch posed no risk to public safety.

Alpha Flight 6 lifted off and ascended nominally through stage separation. Alpha’s first stage then experienced a rupture milliseconds after stage separation. The pressure wave hit Alpha’s second stage, leading to the loss of the engine’s nozzle extension and substantially reducing stage two thrust. The second stage was able to recover attitude control and continued to ascend to an altitude of 320 km (≈200 miles) until running out of propellant. The vehicle was three seconds short of achieving orbital velocity and five seconds short of the target payload deployment orbit.

The ground-based video, onboard telemetry, post-flight empirical testing and Computational Fluid Dynamics analysis corroborated excessive heat from Plume Induced Flow Separation as the most probable root cause of the mishap. Alpha Flight 6 flew a higher angle of attack than prior missions. Plume-induced flow separation intensified heat on the leeward side reducing structural margins, causing the booster to rupture from stage separation induced loads.

Fortunately, the corrective actions are straight forward: increase thermal protection system thickness on Stage 1 and reduce angle of attack during key phases of the flight. Corrective actions have already been implemented.

Firefly is now working to determine the next available launch window for Alpha Flight 7.

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The inaugural flight of the Cygnus XL spacecraft, an expanded version of Northrop Grumman’s vehicle with 33% more cargo capacity than the previous variant, has arrived at the International Space Station. NG-23 carried over 11,000 pounds of equipment, science experiments and supplies to the crew aboard the space station.

Arrival at the station was delayed by a day. On Sept. 16, the Cygnus XL spacecraft’s main engine shut down earlier than planned during two orbit-raising burns for its space station rendezvous. NASA and Northrop Grumman delayed its arrival while flight controllers assessed an alternate approach plan. The early shutdown was triggered by a conservative software safeguard. The spacecraft was cleared for its approach to the orbiting laboratory early Thursday.

The resupply mission is carrying dozens of research experiments that will be conducted during Expedition 73, including materials to produce semiconductor crystals in space, and equipment to develop improvements for cryogenic fuel tanks. The spacecraft also will deliver a specialized UV light system to prevent the growth of microbe communities that form in water systems, and supplies to produce pharmaceutical crystals that could treat cancer and other diseases.

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Coming up, a new process for building on orbit. But right now, why not take a minute to become a paid subscriber to The Journal of Space Commerce. Whether you’re a space professional, investor or an enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com on Substack, and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

Space infrastructure company Rendezvous Robotics recently closed its Pre-Seed round and emerged from stealth. The company is developing modular, autonomous in-orbit assembly systems.

The company's patented TESSERAE technology was invented at MIT by Dr. Ariel Ekblaw, incubated at the Aurelia Institute, and spun out as Rendezvous co-founded by Ekblaw alongside Phil Frank and Joe Landon.

For more than six decades, space infrastructure has been limited by what can be folded up to fit inside rocket fairings. Rendezvous plans to launch modular tiles to assemble systems and infrastructure in space. Its patented flat-packed modular tiles and autonomous swarm robotics assemble directly in orbit using electromagnetic formation flying. The autonomous modules dock, correct mistakes, and can reconfigure over time — creating infrastructure beyond what is currently available: scalable, reconfigurable, and resilient platforms for national security, commerce and exploration.

Rendezvous has secured $3M in pre-seed funding led by Aurelia Foundry and 8090 Industries, with participation from ATX Venture Partners, Mana Ventures, and a group of other significant angel investors. The company plans to demonstrate its 5th-generation technology on the ISS in early 2026.

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A payload built by students at California Polytechnic State University has been successfully flown aboard the Dawn Aerospace Aurora spaceplane, reaching a speed of Mach 0.79 and an altitude of 37,000 feet.

The flight was the first time a U.S. student-built experiment has flown aboard Aurora, and marked a major milestone for university-led research in reusable spaceplane development.

Cal Poly’s payload was designed to test whether student-built hardware could withstand the rigors of high-altitude, spaceflight-like environments. Using a modified data system from Bolder Flight Systems, the mission focused on proving that the team could build and operate a payload ready to integrate with a commercial spaceplane.

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In Depth this week, the commercial space industry stands at a critical juncture as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implements sweeping regulatory changes under Part 450 licensing requirements, driven by recent Executive Order mandates that promise to reshape the competitive landscape for launch and reentry operations.

The commercial space transportation sector represents a rapidly expanding market segment within the broader space economy, with industry estimates suggesting the global space economy ranges from approximately $400-500 billion, though definitions and methodologies vary significantly across sources. FAA aerospace forecasts project dramatic expansion in U.S. operations, with high-case scenarios anticipating growth from approximately 183 operations in FY 2025 to as many as 566 operations by FY 2034—potentially totaling 4,010 authorized space operations over the decade ... a threefold increase that could stretch existing infrastructure and regulatory systems to their limits.

Part 450 licensing creates multiple layers of competitive advantage that extend beyond operational flexibility to encompass strategic positioning, capital efficiency, and market responsiveness. The regulatory framework's performance-based approach allows operators to demonstrate safety through engineering analysis rather than prescriptive compliance, enabling innovation in vehicle design and operational procedures.

Part 450 licensing also serves diverse commercial space applications that span traditional satellite deployment, emerging in-space services, and next-generation exploration missions. The regulatory framework's flexibility accommodates rapid evolution in mission profiles and technological capabilities that characterize the modern space economy.

The FAA Part 450 regulatory overhaul represents a pivotal moment for commercial space industry evolution, with implications extending across the entire space economy value chain. The March 10, 2026, transition deadline—when all legacy licenses expire—creates both opportunity and risk for industry participants and their investors.

Paid subscribers can read the full analysis on The Journal of Space Commerce under the "In Depth" tab.

Also in-depth, check out our investor spotlights on Lightspeed and Caffeinated Capital; company spotlights on Dawn Aerospace and Indra Sistemas, and a look at how Space Systems are transforming Defense and Commercial Markets.

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Space Commerce Week is a production of Ex Terra Media. You can get daily updates on space commerce by subscribing to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack at www.exterrajsc.com. And please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional, investor or an enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

Theme Stock Music provided by CoolTones, from Pond5

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* Rapid Capabilities Facility Established by Redwire

* First Multi-Cloud Region in Space Launched by Voyager

* NASA Award Supports Advancement of Commercial Hypersonic Systems

* Inflatable Tech Takes Aim at Orbital Debris

* MAGPIE Mission Passes Key Mission Definition Review

On April 30, 2024, SES and Intelsat announced an agreement for SES to acquire Intelsat for a cash consideration of $3.1 billion, or about €2.8 billion. The transaction was subject to receipt of relevant regulatory clearances and other relevant requirements which all have now been obtained.

That merger closed earlier this week.

The acquisition has been in the works since at least 2023, when the two companies revealed that they had been discussing the combination. Those discussions ended in June of 2023, but in April, 2024, SES announced that it would be acquiring Intelsat in a transaction consisting of cash and "certain contingent value rights."

The combination creates a strengthened global satellite operator with an expanded fleet of 120 satellites across two orbits, including approximately 90 geostationary (GEO), nearly 30 medium earth orbit (MEO) satellites, strategic access to low earth orbit (LEO) satellites, and an extensive ground network.

SES remains headquartered in Luxembourg and is publicly listed on the Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges, while maintaining a significant presence in the United States with its primary North American office in McLean, Virginia.

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Varda Space Industries recently announced a Series C fundraising round, bringing the total amount of capital raised by the microgravity-enabled life sciences company to $329 million. The $187 million fundraise was led by Natural Capital and Shrug Capital, with participation from Founders Fund, Peter Thiel, Khosla Ventures, Caffeinated Capital, Lux Capital, and Also Capital.

Since launching their first mission, W-1, in 2023, Varda has completed three successful launch and return missions, with a fourth, W-4, currently in orbit and a fifth expected to launch before the end of the year.

Varda's orbital laboratories are the first to process materials outside the International Space Station and mark the beginnings of commercial expansion into low Earth orbit. Due to the lack of gravity, materials such as the active pharmaceutical ingredients in medicines crystallize differently than they would on Earth, creating novel drug formulations that would otherwise be impossible.

Varda also operates a hypersonic testbed for government partners, working to utilize the W-series reentry vehicle to advance new technologies. The reentry capsules reach Mach 25 on their journey from space to Earth, offering a valuable, real-world flight environment for testing subsystems such as thermal protective materials, navigation, communication, and sensors.

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You can't buy it yet, but Firefly Aerospace has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission relating to a proposed initial public offering of shares of its common stock. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined.

Firefly intends to list its common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market under the ticker symbol “FLY.”

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan, Jefferies, and Wells Fargo Securities are acting as lead bookrunning managers for the proposed offering. Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank Securities, and Cantor are acting as joint bookrunners. Roth Capital Partners and Academy Securities will serve as co-managers.

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective.

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Coming up, the Ax-4 private astronauts have returned safely to Earth. But right now, why not take a minute to become a paid subscriber to The Journal of Space Commerce. Whether you’re a space professional, investor or an enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com on Substack, and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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After undocking from the International Space Station on Monday, the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew safely splashed down off the coast of California aboard SpaceX Dragon “Grace” early Tuesday.

This marks the first time astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary have conducted a mission on the International Space Station. For each of these countries, this mission has realized the return to human spaceflight, with all three nations sending astronauts to space for the first time in more than 40 years.

Over the course of their 18-day mission aboard the orbiting laboratory, the Ax-4 crew conducted more than 60 scientific experiments across a wide range of disciplines, including life sciences, materials research, Earth observation, and technology demonstrations. These investigations represented the interests of 31 countries, underscoring the mission’s global impact in advancing science and innovation in microgravity.

The crew also participated in over 20 outreach events, connecting with a diverse global audience that included government officials, students, researchers, the media, and aspiring astronauts.

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A strategic investment aims to leverage space technology to tackle global challenges in water scarcity and food security. Source Agriculture Corp, a land acquisition and agricultural technology investor, is backing Hydrosat, a company with a vision of increasing food production while significantly decreasing water use.

The company has already launched two satellites into orbit with SpaceX, and is now serving customers on over 4 million acres in 43 countries. Hydrosat's technology has demonstrated the ability to provide up to 30% water savings, a 50% increase in crop yields, and a 30% reduction in electricity usage, marking a transformative leap in sustainable farming practices.

Through its satellite-enabled solutions, Hydrosat offers field-level and regional analytics that empower governments, farmers, and businesses to make informed, data-driven decisions.

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A memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed between Japanese startup SpaceData and Redwire, signaling Redwire’s expansion of international collaboration into the Japanese tech sector.

Through the agreement, Redwire and SpaceData plan to identify opportunities to integrate SpaceData into Redwire’s digital ecosystem to support current and future missions to the International Space Station (ISS). They will also explore combined solutions that will allow them to support NASA Commercial Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Destination utilization components, systems, and software.

Additionally, the two companies will explore future collaborations for Cislunar, Lunar and Deep Space missions and services. Redwire will look to leverage SpaceData’s artificial intelligence (AI) for space and robotics capabilities.

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* Dawn Aerospace Joins European HYDEF Program

* TraCSS Welcomes SpaceX as 10th Beta User

* Bollinger Shipyards to Support Modification of Neutron Landing Barge

* Artemis Lunar Terrain Vehicle Instruments Selected

* OSC Seeks Stakeholder Feedback on the EU Space Act

Theme Stock Music provided by CoolTones, from Pond5

The FCC has approved a joint request from T-Mobile USA and SpaceX to waive several regulatory requirements, allowing more consumer smartphones to access satellite-based services under the Supplemental Coverage from Space (SCS) initiative.

The waiver permits handsets certified before June 29, 2024—but not yet authorized under satellite-specific rules—to connect to the Starlink satellite network via T-Mobile’s terrestrial infrastructure. This move aims to extend emergency and basic messaging services to remote and disaster-affected areas where traditional cellular coverage is unavailable.

T-Mobile and SpaceX argued that many compatible devices are already in use, but those devices can't access SCS because manufacturers have not updated their equipment certifications. The FCC agreed that denying access would be against the public interest, especially during emergencies, and emphasized that the waiver applies only to non-security-risk devices not listed on the FCC’s Covered List.

The decision follows successful emergency deployments of SCS services during hurricanes in Florida and North Carolina and wildfires in California, where no harmful interference was reported.

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NASA has awarded a contract to Momentus to support the demonstration of a Power Processing Unit (PPU) for Hall Thrusters. Based upon CisLunar Industries’ Modular Configurable Electric Power Converter (MCEPC) technologies, the PPU is designed to advance high Delta V Dynamic Maneuver and in-space assembly (ISAM) operations.

Under the new contract, managed by NASA’s Flight Opportunities program based at the Armstrong Flight Research Center, Momentus will host a payload from CisLunar Industries to conduct in-orbit testing of next-generation PPU technology and power management systems. This payload will be among several that Momentus will carry aboard its Vigoride 7 Orbital Service Vehicle, scheduled for launch no earlier than February 2026 on a SpaceX Transporter mission to Low Earth Orbit.

The mission will validate the technology’s performance, with real-time data transmissions to Momentus mission operations, enabling updates to PPU operating conditions in support of NASA’s ISAM objectives.

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The CubeSat market size is projected to reach $1.65 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 15.6% from 2025 to 2033. According to a new report from Grand View Research, the market growth is primarily driven by the increasing demand for low-cost satellite missions, rising adoption of CubeSats for Earth observation and remote sensing, and advancements in miniaturized satellite technologies.

The surge in demand for earth observation and remote sensing is unlocking new revenue streams for the CubeSat industry. Government agencies and private firms are investing in compact satellites to monitor agricultural patterns, climate change, and urban development.

Rising interest in space-based Internet of Things (IoT) applications is also expected to accelerate the development of CubeSat constellations. Industries like agriculture, maritime, and energy are increasingly relying on satellite connectivity for asset tracking in remote locations.

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The first deployment test for a Redwire Roll-Out Solar Array (ROSA) for the lunar Gateway’s Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) has been completed. The Gateway ROSAs will generate an unprecedented 60kW - making these the most powerful ROSAs ever built.

The robust power supply will allow Gateway to offer extensive capabilities for sustained exploration and research in deep space, potentially enabling ambitious activities such as resource extraction and utilization, while also providing peaceful space domain awareness and enhancing astronaut safety.

Redwire was contracted by Maxar, the prime contractor for PPE, to develop two ROSA wings. The pair of PPE ROSAs will undergo additional testing in the coming months, with delivery planned in the fourth quarter of this year.

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This week on The Journal of Space Commerce podcast, I talked with Mary Glazkova, CEO of Mission Space. A hardware and software company that is an emerging player in space weather intelligence, Mission Space is developing real-time monitoring and forecasting solutions that safeguard both Earth-based and space-based infrastructure.

The company's flagship technologies include a Space Weather Operation System (SWOS) forecasting platform, and the Zohar Satellite Constellation.

Glazkova said that Space weather has measurable and very immediate effects on systems we rely on every day. "For instance, airlines like Delta or United sometimes reroute or delay flights due to the risk of space weather. Another example is power grids. Magnetic storms overload transformers. It damages hardware and forces shutdowns."

Headquartered in Miami with a European presence in Luxembourg, Glazkova says Mission Space aims to be the “NOAA” of the commercial space era.

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A letter written by a group of commercial space industry companies and associations has been delivered to Representatives Hal Rogers (R-KY) and Grace Meng (D-NY), the Chair and Ranking Member respectively of the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Commerce, Science, Justice and Related Agencies, concerning funding for the NOAA Office of Space Commerce.

The signatories of the letter urge the committee leadership to appropriate sufficient funding for the Office of Space Commerce (OSC) in the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bill. Specifically, they call for the committee to fund OSC at $65M, the Fiscal Year 2025 appropriated level, and urge the Subcommittee to ensure continued execution of funds appropriated to OSC in Fiscal Year 2025.

The proposed NOAA OSC appropriation is $10 million, which would essentially eliminate funding for TraCSS and other programs. Coordination of space traffic would possibly be given back to the Department of Defense, or farmed out to commercial entities.

I talked this week to Audrey Schaffer - vice president for Strategy and Policy at Slingshot Aerospace and a spokesperson for the Commercial SSA Coalition; Madeline Chang, Director of Policy for the Satellite Industry Association; and Steve Jordan Tomaszewski, vice president of Space Systems at the Aerospace Industries Association. To start the conversation, Audrey Schaffer gave us an overview of the issue.

Audrey Schaffer

You know, Tom, as your readers well know or your listeners well know, space is becoming increasingly crowded. So much so that we are at the point where we really need, space traffic coordination system to help provide information to satellite operators on potential collisions they might encounter and to help deconflict the resulting maneuver so we don't accidentally make things worse. The office of space commerce was charged with that mission back in two thousand eighteen with a space policy directive three that transitioned responsibility from the Department of Defense who had been doing the mission to the Department of Commerce in recognition that while this may be an inherently governmental function, it is not a military function.

Fast forward, it took about five years for the commerce department to really be funded for this mission. And in the eighteen months or so since they were, they've made significant progress in establishing a traffic coordination system for space. Just a few weeks ago, the final details of the administration's fiscal year twenty twenty six budget were released. And in that budget, they proposed, essentially cutting eighty five percent of the Office of Space Commerce's funding, a total of fifty five million dollar cuts, and really, you know, essentially removing this space traffic coordination mission from commerce.

So we all came together, as representatives of the commercial space industry to advocate for restoring that funding. In addition to the demands on, space traffic and the need for space safety in order to assure that the services that we all depend on from space are continue to be available, we also don't wanna back slide this mission back to the defense department where they have higher priority things to focus on, like growing space threats. And finally, we, you know, the time, to set international norms and standards on space traffic management is really now, and lacking a government system that can go toe to toe with other international systems and really shape those rules and norms, we're concerned that the US is gonna lose its leadership in this critical domain.

Ex Terra Media

So what has been the rationale for making such a huge cut in the office of space commerce? Have they told you why that it goes from, what was it, sixty five million down to ten million? Yeah. You know, I think all of us have poked around, in Washington, law, various sources to try and uncover. And, honestly, there's not a clear answer. As far as I can tell, this might just be something that got caught up in a larger set of cuts that were made to certain agencies.

Audrey Schaffer

It doesn't seem to really have a key like, a critical policy rationale, which is exactly why, you know, we put together this letter, advocating for this issue to congress. We were concerned that, you know, it is actually a relatively small amount of money, only fifty five million, but it will have an outsized impact on the commercial space industry. And we didn't want it to get overlooked just because, you know, perhaps it was an error.

Ex Terra Media

Steve, from the aspect of the aerospace industries association, what does this kind of a cut mean for, for your members and people that are involved in the aerospace industry?

Steve Jordan Tomaszewski

The concern about this potential cut, would be an impact on, potential impact on space safety.

In the space industry, safety is our North Star, and making sure that satellites are operating in a safe and predictable manner is really underpins the entire space industry, and protects our satellites, for government purposes, but also for private sector purposes. The potential cuts here are really a big swing from where we've normally seen support, for the Office of Space Commerce and for the TraCSS program. The office has had, bipartisan support, for years, and our association as well as the other associations that have, signed on to this particular, letter of support, have just made that case that having an office that is able to, really provide that, collision avoidance and space traffic coordination, is really a sound, bedrock principle for for the entire industry.

Ex Terra Media

So, Madeline, some of the things that I've read include that this might be a function that was better handled at the commercial level by companies or a company as opposed to by the government. What's kind of the position of the satellite industry association? Can this be something that's privatized, or is it something that the industry as a whole needs to be run by the government?

Madeline Chang

Yeah. I mean, I think there are a lot of differing opinions on to what extent the government should be involved. But one thing that I really wanna emphasize is that the industry has been really involved in the development of tracks. Right now, it's in beta testing, and all of our many of our members had participated in the beta test so far, and they're excited to see when it opens in the next couple months. And the other thing I will say is that this is one of the government programs that just for a little bit of money will really open up the floodgates for a lot of private sector investing.

And space right now is going to get a lot more crowded in the next couple of years. Since TraCSS was first proposed, the number of satellites in the north orbit has more than doubled. There are over twelve thousand satellites on orbit now, and there are set to be a lot more largely on constellation deployments in the next couple of years. And so it's important for operators, and for investors in new space companies to know that satellites are able to share information on where they are and avoid other satellites and that there's that communication going on, both within, like, both within the US industry and also with international operators.

Ex Terra Media

Audrey, did you have something you wanted to add?

Audrey Schaffer

Yeah. I did, if it's alright. I mean, I wanted to go back to your question about, you know, this narrative that the commercial sector can do this mission. And in fact, I mean, the company that I'm with, Slingshot Aerospace, is one of the companies that does space situational awareness and space traffic coordination. We are a member of the Commercial SSA Coalition, which is a signatory to this letter.

That coalition represents all of the major US and s and all of the major US SSA companies, including optical providers, radar providers, analytic providers, etcetera. So our view on this is absolutely the private sector has the technologies to bring to bear for this mission, but we are also aligned that it needs government funding and a government wrapper in order to have the impact it needs on the industry. We need that government investment in order to bring these technologies into use for the private sector operators that are relying on the office of space commerce.

And so it's, you know, it's not a mistake that the commercial SSA industry is behind this letter as well.

Ex Terra Media

So the letter's been sent. What kind of a timeline are you looking at? Do we have any idea when this goes to committee, when the appropriations committee is gonna be meeting? And we'll get into some of the impacts or how we can make an impact in a little bit. But what kind of is that timeline?

Steve Jordan Tomaszewski

Couple of key things happening in the near future, is we are expecting, that senate appropriators, will be discussing, overall impacts, for civil space to include, the Office of Space Commerce, this week.

But this is going to be, you know, part of the overall fiscal fiscal year twenty twenty six, appropriation cycle, and budget development cycle. The other thing though that we highlighted in the letter, is making sure that we're not gonna do any programmatic changes, that would have severe impacts, and, really kind of cut the program short before congress has the opportunity to weigh in. So, you know, we're urging congress to support the Office of Space Commerce in this particular case.

But then also, it's important that the administration allows this program to continue to get off the ground, with the near term goal of getting past the beta user stage as Madeline previously mentioned, and having some widespread adoption.

Ex Terra Media

I know that both AIA and SIA are advocacy organizations, and you're going to do what it is that you do to talk to the members of congress and see about getting these things changed. But what can an individual industry professional do to try to influence the outcome of this legislation?

Audrey Schaffer

I mean, I Tom, I think, you know, everybody raising awareness of this issue, whether that's on LinkedIn, whether that's in meetings with, with congressional leaders, you know, just showing that this funding is vital.

And in fact, you know, obviously, industry associations are critical in terms of their role in representing large swaths of companies, but individual companies can go to Capitol Hill as well and talk to their members about the importance of this funding for their program. You know, I think anything we can do to raise the visibility of this issue, especially over the next couple of weeks, will be really important for influencing that legislative process.

Anybody else?

Madeline Chang

I'll add there that, I mean, the amount of funding is really small. It's tremendously small, but it'll have a really large impact. And something I like to say is that it's less than half the budget of the Minecraft movie. And it's also, you know, sixty million. It's three episodes of severance. Like, it's … such an amazing office, and the program that they're working on is going to set norms for how we operate in space for the next couple decades.

Ex Terra Media

Steve, anything to add?

Steve Jordan Tomaszewski

We really want American leadership in space as the bottom line here. And, I think as was previously mentioned, the more folks are aware about this particular office and this particular program, the better. It really does have an outsized impact. You know, if you're a military member right now, you're rooting for this program because you want a non department of defense agency to take over this primary responsibility.

If you're a company, you wanna make sure that the US government is equipped with the latest and greatest innovation, from the private sector, which is what this program was really starting to get going here. And as an individual, if you wanna continue to use space services, and all the benefits that space provides from helping to predict the weather, communications, and even for national security purposes, you want there to be a good safe environment.

So, that's the bottom line is I think a lot of folks are seeing the benefits of this, and it's gonna be something that really has brought folks together, a lot in the last couple of years.

Ex Terra Media

Anything that I've missed?

Audrey Schaffer

Yeah. You know, I raise two additional points, kind of very different. The first one is about just kind of hitting this international leadership point one more time. You know, if you look at the history of air traffic control, the United States had a very heavy hand in shaping the system that we all benefit from today when we travel, you know, transatlantic flight from here to Europe.

And the air traffic controllers of the world all have to speak English. And that's because those were the regulations that were put in place when the system was first created. I'm very concerned that if we don't have a US space traffic control system, if you will, the traffic controllers in space in the future are not gonna be required to speak English. They'll be required to speak French or maybe Mandarin Chinese because those are the two countries that are developing their own space traffic coordination systems intended to serve global users.

We should not let the US take a back seat to China in space traffic management. So that's point one. Point two, and this is kind of a completely different point, but one I wanna just foot stomp. This letter is signed by all of the major US space industry associations and more, representing over four hundred and fifty companies from traditional primes to venture backed start ups, suppliers, operators, manufacturers. It represents a significant consensus within the space industry.

I don't, I think you'd be hard pressed to find a company or constituency in the space economy that disagrees with the sentiment of this letter. So I I just hope to leave you with, you know, what a broad base of support this funding has.

Audrey Schaffer is vice president for Strategy and Policy at Slingshot Aerospace and a spokesperson for the Commercial SSA Coalition; Madeline Chang is Director of Policy for the Satellite Industry Association; and Steve Jordan Tomaszewski, is vice president of Space Systems at the Aerospace Industries Association.

And those are some of the top stories we covered for you on The Journal of Space Commerce this week. Space Commerce Week is a production of Ex Terra Media. You can get daily updates on space commerce by subscribing to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack at www.exterrajsc.com. And please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional, investor or an enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

Theme Stock Music provided by CoolTones, from Pond5

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The 68th Electron rocket was launched last weekend, deploying a single satellite to space for a confidential commercial customer. The mission was the second of two launches for Rocket Lab from the same launch site in less than 48 hours, a new launch record for the company.

The ‘Symphony In The Stars’ mission lifted-off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand on June 28th to deploy a single spacecraft to a circular Earth orbit. The mission was the first of two dedicated launches for the new customer on Electron booked less than four months ago, with a second mission scheduled before the end of 2025.

Rocket Lab has now completed four launches in June for commercial satellite constellation operators.

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ESA has selected Rocket Lab to deploy the first pair of satellites for a future navigation constellation for Europe, LEO-PNT. The company will launch two Pathfinder A spacecraft for ESA, provided by European satellite prime contractors Thales Alenia Space and GMV, from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 no earlier than December 2025.

The spacecraft will be deployed to low Earth orbit as part of a mission to test a new approach of providing location, direction, and timing services from satellites in low orbit. The demonstration mission will assess how a low Earth orbit fleet of satellites can work in combination with the Galileo and EGNOS constellations in higher orbits that provide Europe’s own global navigation system.

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But across the Tasman Sea in Australia, the Gilmour Space Eris Rocket remains on the ground waiting for its first test flight. In a statement posted on the company website, Gilmour Space said that they had made the "tough call to postpone this week’s launch. This pause to give us a longer, more flexible launch window for our first test flight, and our team a chance to rest after an intense few weeks of testing and prep."

The company said on Thursday that its new target launch date is now not earlier than Thursday, July 16th.

The launch has been on hold since May, when a payload fairing system malfunctioned on the launch pad, causing a fairing to dislodge from the spacecraft. The company says it has installed additional safeguards to prevent the malfunction from happening again.

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Thanks for reading. You can support this newsletter and all of the content on The Journal of Space Commerce by becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional, investor or an enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com on Substack, and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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A technology center expansion aimed at scaling up the production and delivery of Surface Mount Technology (SMT) solar power systems, including production for national defense applications, has been announced by Sierra Space.

Located in Broomfield, Colorado, Sierra Space’s Power Station is a new production facility that will house world-class manufacturing capabilities to produce Surface Mount Technology (SMT) defense-hardened solar arrays, which provide best-in-class power density, resiliency, and production lead times.

In addition to the SMT production lines, the $45 million facility also houses new tooling and an integrated test center that includes thermal vacuum/thermal air chambers, and a dynamics lab for vibration and pyroshock testing. These solar arrays have diverse applications, including for use on satellites. Solar power is critical for space missions as it provides a reliable, renewable energy source to support long-duration operations in orbit and beyond.

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A Technology Safeguards Agreement (TSA) was signed between Sweden and the United States on June 20, moving Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) and Firefly Aerospace closer to a historic first satellite launch from Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, Sweden.

The bilateral agreement, signed at the Embassy of Sweden in Washington D.C., provides the legal and technical framework for U.S. commercial launches from Swedish spaceports while ensuring proper handling of sensitive technology. This agreement – only the sixth TSA signed by the United States with another country – allows SSC and Firefly Aerospace to continue building a comprehensive satellite launch service at Esrange Space Center and meet the increasing demand for orbital launch capabilities from mainland Europe.

Infrastructure development at SSC’s Esrange Space Center is progressing for Launch Complex 3C where Firefly’s Alpha rocket will launch. The tracking and control systems, security and depot facilities, and the Launch Control Center have already been established.

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A first-of-its-kind persistent monitoring solution that delivers strategic operational and threat intelligence at global scale for a real-time decision advantage has been launched by Maxar Intelligence. Sentry integrates AI-powered capabilities unique to Maxar—including multi-source constellation orchestration, geospatial fusion, and advanced machine learning models for automated analytics—to deliver a new level of closed-loop spatial intelligence.

The suite is specifically designed to monitor hundreds of areas around the world to solve complex problems such as anticipating adversarial threats or protecting industrial infrastructure, and includes two products designed for specific mission sets:

Site Sentry, a product for monitoring places of interest across land and sea, such as shipyards, airports, urban centers and more. Maritime Sentry, a broad-area monitoring product for tracking vessel activity at sea and in port, enabling customers to actively monitor thousands of sq km of ocean at once.

Both Sentry products draw on Maxar’s 250+ petabyte archive of very high-resolution satellite imagery collected over more than two decades. This geospatial foundation provides training data for advanced AI/ML computer vision models that contain a detailed understanding of historical activity and global patterns across the world.

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The four Airbus CO3D satellites and the CNES’s MicroCarb satellite will be launched into orbit on July 25 by Arianespace aboard a Vega C rocket. The VV27 launch is planned from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

The main passengers, the satellites that will make up the CO3D constellation, as well as the auxiliary passenger, MicroCarb, will be placed in Sun-synchronous orbits.

The CO3D (Constellation Optique 3D) satellites will deliver a global high-resolution Digital Surface Model (DSM) service to CNES providing 50 cm stereo imagery as well as 2D imagery for government and commercial customers. The data from the four dual-use satellites will feed a cloud-based ground segment operated by Airbus, including an image processing chain delivered by CNES. This data will answer both the military need for precise and up-to-date cartography as well as civil applications such as hydrology, geology, civil security, urban planning and land and resource management.

The CNES’ MicroCarb mission is designed to map sources and sinks of carbon dioxide (CO₂) using a dispersive spectrometer instrument that will measure atmospheric concentration of CO₂ with a high degree of precision.

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And those are some of the top stories we covered for you on The Journal of Space Commerce this week. Space Commerce Week is a production of Ex Terra Media. You can get daily updates on space commerce by subscribing to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack at www.exterrajsc.com. And please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional, investor or an enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

I'm Tom Patton

Theme Stock Music provided by CoolTones, from Pond5

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Monday was a very busy day for commercial space launch companies, and both coasts saw some launch action this week.

In the early morning hours Monday, SpaceX lofted another 27 Starlink satellites into orbit just before 2:00 am. The launch marked a milestone for the booster that was used. It was the 25th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched CRS-24, Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13F, OneWeb 1, SES-18 and SES-19, and now 21 Starlink missions.

Later Monday morning, ULA launched the second batch of satellites for Project Kuiper from Launch Complex 41 just before 7:00 am. There are six remaining Kuiper missions on the Atlas V rocket, building up to 38 high-cadence, rapid fire launches on the next-generation Vulcan rocket. ULA will deliver more than half of the Project Kuiper constellation’s 3,200 satellites, through what is recognized as the world’s largest commercial launch agreement.

The action then shifted to the west coast, where SpaceX launched the Transporter-14 mission fron Vandenberg Space Force Base carrying 70 payloads. Those included cubesats, microsats, re-entry capsules, and orbital transfer vehicles carrying three of those payloads to be deployed at a later time. It was the 26th flight for this particular Falcon 9 booster.

But the international crew of the Ax-4 mission had to wait an additional day before beginning their trip to the International Space Station. Axiom-4 had been scheduled for launch earlier this month, but was delayed first by a technical issue with the booster for the mission, and later by a leak in the Russian module of the ISS. They finally got off the ground and on their way to orbit early in the morning on Tuesday. The Ax-4 crew will be aboard the ISS for as long as two weeks carrying out more than 60 scientific experiments.

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In Washington, the FAA has authorized Varda Space to conduct multiple operations of its Winnebago reentry capsule until its current license expires in 2029. Enabling as many missions as an operator wants under one license is a key streamlining element of the Part 450 commercial space launch and reentry licensing rule.

Varda is the first reentry vehicle operator to take full advantage of this feature of the Part 450 rule. As a result of this action, Varda can ramp up its operations confident of regulatory authorization and will have reduced administrative costs. The FAA can focus more on the licensing needs of other launch and reentry operators and bring on new entrants.

The latest Varda mission, W4, launched into orbit aboard the Transporter-14 mission on Monday.

Provided Varda operates under the authorized mission profile and vehicle design, it will no longer need to apply for mission-by-mission license approvals. The FAA encourages other operators to take similar advantage of the benefits that Part 450 offers and has published Advisory Circulars to help operators understand how to succeed in the licensing process.

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Over at the FCC, The Space Bureau has accepted in part for filing an application filed by AST-Science, LLC (AST), known as AST SpaceMobile, for a modification of its license for five satellites. The company also seeks authority to operate a constellation of a total of two hundred forty-eight low-earth orbit non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellites.

Specifically, AST requests to operate an additional 243 satellites: 23 deployed at an altitude of 323 miles and 192 deployed at an altitude of 429 miles, both at an inclination of 53 degrees. A further 28 satellites woud be deployed at an altitude of 430 miles with an inclination of 98.1318 degrees.

Interested parties may file comments on or before July 21, and reply comments on or before August 5, 2025.

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Coming up, the progress of two lunar rovers. One brand new, and one pronounced ready for flight. But right now, why not take a minute to become a paid subscriber to The Journal of Space Commerce. Whether you’re a space professional, investor or enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com on Substack, and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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In market news, the global GEO satellite market reached a value of nearly $17.24 billion in 2024, and is expected to grow to $21.32 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate of 4.34%. The market is then expected to grow at a C-A-G-R of 3.73% from 2029 and reach $25.61 billion in 2034. That's according to a new report from ResearchandMarkets.

Analysts find the market to be highly concentrated, with a large number of small players operating in the market. The top ten competitors in the market accounted for up to 53.9% of the total market in 2023.

The growth will be driven by expansion of satellite-based communication networks, increasing commercial space sector investments, and an increasing need for high-speed internet and 5G technology. Factors negatively affecting growth are satellite congestion and orbital debris and limited private sector involvement.

North America was the largest region in the GEO satellite market, accounting for 47.93% or $8.26 billion of the total in 2024.

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In the 13th edition of the Novaspace "Prospects for Maritime Satellite Communications" report, the space consulting and market intelligence firm assesses the key trends and developments impacting this rapidly growing market.

The report finds that as the number of vessels using satcom services grows to 125,000 by 2034, reliance on GEO capacity will decrease. Vessels are moving their primary bandwidth from GEO to NGSO (Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit) connectivity.

As addressable market growth accelerates, service revenues could potentially climb to $3.3 billion by 2034.

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MONA LUNA, a 100% European-built lunar rover, was introduced at the Paris Air Show earlier this month. Designed to support the ambitions of the European Space Agency and the French CNES, the vehicle will be built at the Venturi Space facility in Toulouse, France, with the ultimate goal of providing Europe with a lunar-capable rover by 2030.

MONA LUNA is being designed to be carried into space by the Ariane 6.4 launch system and landed on the Moon’s surface by the European Argonaut lunar lander. The rover itself will be equipped with a robotic arm to handle scientific instruments and payloads. It could also be used in an emergency to carry an astronaut in difficulty, as envisaged by ESA and CNES in their feasibility studies.

Venturi Space France will oversee MONA LUNA’s development and space qualification from its base in Toulouse, coordinating every aspect of the process.

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Meanwhile, the shoebox-sized CubeRover-1 has successfully completed its acceptance test campaign, and is now deemed ready for flight to the lunar south pole aboard the Astrobotic Griffin Mission One (Griffin-1).

For this mission, CubeRover-1 will integrate with Mission Control’s 'Spacefarer' software platform, culminating in a joint mission demonstration named BEACON (Benchmark for Engineering and Autonomous Capabilities in Operations and Navigation). During the BEACON mission, Mission Control’s Spacefarer platform will play a mission-critical role in enabling real-time commanding and monitoring of CubeRover-1. This demonstration is made possible in part through funding from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) under the Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program (LEAP).

CubeRover-1 was also selected by NASA for a SBIR award for a commercial “mobility-as-a-service” demonstration on the Moon.

With the test campaign complete, CubeRover-1 will next be integrated with Astrobotic’s Griffin lunar lander to support Griffin-1’s launch window, which is slated for late 2025.

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And those are some of the top stories we covered for you on The Journal of Space Commerce this week. Space Commerce Week is a production of Ex Terra Media. You can get daily updates on space commerce by subscribing to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack at www.exterrajsc.com. And please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional, investor or enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

Theme Stock Music provided by CoolTones, from Pond5

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You've heard of the "Big Beautiful Bill" ... also known as the Budget Reconciliation Act. One of the provisions in that bill is for space companies to pay a fee for launching rockets beginning next year. According to the text of the bill in both houses of Congress, starting in 2026, the Secretary of Transportation would impose fees on each space launch or reentry under a license or permit.

The fee will be the lesser of a specified amount per pound of payload weight, which increases annually from $0.25 in 2026 to $1.50 in 2033, with further adjustments based on the consumer price index, or a fixed amount per launch or reentry, starting at $30,000 in 2026 and increasing to $200,000 in 2033, also adjusted annually based on the consumer price index.

The Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) would collect the fees, and deposit them into a dedicated fund to be used for administrative expenses. Some 70 percent of the collected fees would be available for the Office's expenses without further appropriation and without fiscal year limitation.

The potential impact to the commercial launch industry is additional costs for each launch or reentry, calculated based on payload weight or a fixed amount. This could significantly impact their budgets, especially for frequent launches. Companies would need to incorporate these fees into their financial planning and pricing strategies, potentially leading to higher costs for their customers.

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Meanwhile, a bill recently introduced in the U.S. Senate would streamline the application process for commercial space launches and the licensing of private remote sensing space systems or satellites.

The "Licensing Aerospace Units to New Commercial Heights" (LAUNCH) Act would require the FAA to streamline the application of regulations for commercial space launches and reentry requirements by eliminating duplicative efforts and taking industry feedback into account. It would also elevate the Commercial Space Transportation office to report directly to the Secretary of Transportation, and require the Transportation Secretary to report on flight safety and workforce collaboration.

According to the Senators introducing the bill, the FAA approval process for commercial space launches is needlessly cumbersome, and to maintain America’s competitive position, the FAA must be able to efficiently approve weekly and, eventually, daily launch and reentry operations by multiple companies in a manner that reduces the burden on the commercial space industry and government resources.

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Getting back to fees for a moment, The FCC has amended its existing method of assessing regulatory fees for space and earth stations. The changes will be effective for the fiscal year 2025 (FY 2025) assessment and collection of regulatory fees.

The two primary changes in the methodology are that regulatory fees are assessed on stations once they are authorized, rather than when the stations are certified to be operational, as is currently the case. Second, existing regulatory fee categories are split for Space Stations (Non-Geostationary Orbit) into two new fee categories: small constellations that are fewer than 1000 authorized space stations, and large constellations of 1000 authorized space stations or more. These changes will better distinguish between space station regulatees, and will more accurately apportion fee burdens among them, which should result in lower per unit regulatory fees for the majority of space station fee payors compared to fiscal year 2024.

The order also adopts an approach that broadens the base of regulatory fee payors to better align fees with the benefits of regulation and that is less subjective than the current system that allocates fees based on the estimated “complexity” of an NGSO system.

The commission says that the changes support its goal that its regulatory fees are fair, administrable, and sustainable.

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Coming up, the Aurora Spaceplane is coming to Oklahoma, and Honda is testing a reusable rocket. But right now why not take a minute to become a paid subscriber to The Journal of Space Commerce. Whether you’re a space professional or an enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com on Substack, and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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A binding partnership agreement has been inked between the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority (OSIDA) and Dawn Aerospace to bring a Mk-II Aurora spaceplane to Oklahoma. As part of the agreement, Dawn will deliver and operate Aurora at the Oklahoma Air and Space Port. The Aurora is scheduled for delivery in 2027, with flights to space commencing that same year.

Under the terms of the agreement, Dawn will supply the aircraft, ground control station and an operations team. Flights on Aurora are expected to cost, on average, low hundreds of thousands of dollars per flight. Campaigns of multiple flights will redefine the landscape of space launch and enable researchers to conduct experiments in rapid succession, accelerating scientific progress while keeping costs low. Oklahoma colleges and universities will have free access to the aircraft for research purposes for the first year of operations.

The Aurora's development will continue through 2027, with manufacturing and flight testing conducted at Dawn’s R&D facilities in Christchurch, New Zealand.

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A new operation dedicated to supporting national security space as a prime contractor has been introduced by Sierra Space. The launch of Sierra Space Defense and related infrastructure expansion plans are driven by a palpable sense of urgency: the United States is facing new threats and near-peer adversaries at unprecedented levels in the space domain.

In response to the evolving threat environment, Sierra Space is retooling its commercial capacity to focus on revitalizing the U.S. defense industrial base through innovative satellite and spacecraft systems technology.

Sierra Space will dedicate a new manufacturing facility, called “Victory Works,” to defense technology. Located in Centennial, Colorado, the 60,000 square-foot space will play a pivotal role in the production of the company’s new Sierra Space Eclipse satellite bus line.

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Could this be the Honda Civic of space? The research and development subsidiary of Honda Motor Co. has conducted a launch and landing test of an experimental reusable rocket developed independently by Honda. The test included a launch, flight to just under 900 feet and successful landing. It was the first time Honda has successfully landed a rocket.

The goals of the test were to demonstrate key technologies essential for rocket reusability, such as flight stability during ascent and descent, as well as landing capability.

Honda says its rocket research is being driven by the growing expectation for greater utilization of data systems in outer space through expanded use of satellites. That means the need for satellite launch rockets is also expected to increase in the coming years.

Honda has chosen to take on the technological challenge of developing reusable rockets by utilizing Honda technologies amassed in the development of various products and automated driving systems, based on a belief that reusable rockets will contribute to achieving sustainable transportation.

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And, as we produce our Weekly Review this week, the Ax-4 mission is now scheduled to launch early in the morning on Sunday, with a backup opportunity available on Monday, June 23 at 3:20 a.m. ET.

The mission had originally been scheduled to launch earlier this month, but was delayed to allow SpaceX teams to repair a liquid oxygen leak identified during post-static fire Falcon 9 rocket inspections. The launch was delayed further when a pressure leak was identified in the Russian Zvezda module of the ISS.

During their time on the orbiting laboratory, the crew will conduct more than 60 scientific experiments and demonstrations focused on human research, Earth observation, and life, biological, and material sciences.

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And those are some of the top stories we covered for you on The Journal of Space Commerce this week. You can get daily updates on space commerce by subscribing to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack at www.exterrajsc.com. And please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional or an enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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Theme Stock Music provided by CoolTones, from Pond5

The 66th Electron rocket launched by Rocket Lab has deployed the latest satellite to orbit for Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS). The ‘The Mountain God Guards’ mission was Rocket Lab’s second launch in less than a month for iQPS and its fourth overall with 100% mission success.

The deployment of the QPS-SAR-11 was relayed to the early-morning YouTube audience by Rocket Lab Mission Control and Senior Communications Manager Murielle Baker ... backed by some new-age music produced specifically for the event.

Mission Control: "Payload separation, QPS-SAR-11 confirmed"

Baker: "Great callout there from mission control. That is payload deployment confirmed and mission success for Electron. And welcome to orbit QPS-SAR-11. Congratulations to the whole team at iQPS and another bird in the sky for your constellation. And once again, congratulations to the Rocket Lab team on another successful launch, because that is 66 total Electron launches in total now and our eighth mission of the year, with our next Electron mission less than two weeks away from Launch Complex 1 again."

With this mission, Electron has now deployed half of iQPS’s constellation of satellites operating on orbit. Another four dedicated missions with QPS-SAR satellites are scheduled to launch on Electron across the remainder of this year and 2026.

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Over on this side of the planet, SpaceX stood down from the planned launch of the Axiom Space Ax-4 mission to the International Space Station twice this week. The culprit was a liquid oxygen leak identified during post static fire booster inspections. SpaceX says that once the issue has been remedied – and pending Range availability – a new launch date will be announced.

This will be the first flight for the Dragon spacecraft supporting this mission, and the second flight for the first stage booster, which previously launched a Starlink mission. Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage will land on Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

During their time on the orbiting laboratory, the international private crew will conduct more than 60 scientific experiments and demonstrations focused on human research, Earth observation, and life, biological, and material sciences.

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Among those scientific experiments to be carried out by the Ax-4 crew is one that aims to advance diabetes management in microgravity and open access to space for more people. Researchers will demonstrate the accuracy of glucose monitoring and the viability of insulin on the ISS, with the long-term goal of supporting astronauts with insulin-dependent diabetes on future space missions.

The ISS National Lab-sponsored project, Suite Ride, is a partnership between Axiom Space and Burjeel Holdings PLC, a healthcare services provider based in the United Arab Emirates.

The team is sending several commercially available glucose monitors to the ISS to ensure they maintain a comparable level of accuracy in microgravity. One of the monitors samples interstitial fluid (the fluid filling the spaces between cells in the body) to measure glucose levels. Microgravity causes shifts in body fluids that could affect the accuracy of these devices. The study will also look at whether microgravity affects the integrity of insulin.

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An advanced lunar and Martian manufacturing technology, "Mason", designed by Redwire, has passed Critical Design Review (CDR) with NASA participation. Mason is a tool suite designed to operate on the Moon and Mars that will enable the construction of berms, landing pads and roads for future lunar and Martian habitats. The project, managed under a Tipping Point agreement with NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, is part of a $12.9 million award to prototype Mason for broader plans to support a long-term presence and exploration on the lunar surface.

Designed to be scalable and platform agnostic for use on different landers, rovers, or robotic arms, Mason can convert lunar or Martian regolith into a strong, solid material similar to concrete. Regolith can cause equipment failures and maneuverability challenges, and it can become a dangerous projectile when accelerated by a rocket’s exhaust plume. Mason mitigates these risks, while significantly lowering the cost of lunar and Martian exploration efforts.

With CDR successfully completed, Redwire engineers will fabricate the Mason critical design prototype and conduct functional testing of its three tools. Redwire is currently exploring flight opportunities for a demonstration mission.

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Coming up, we'll delve into the space launch services and Earth observation markets. But right now why not take a minute to become a paid subscriber to The Journal of Space Commerce Whether you’re a space professional or enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com on Substack, and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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The space launch services market revenue reached $21.19 billion in 2025 and is predicted to attain around $57.94 billion by 2033 with a CAGR of 13.15%, according to a new report from Precedence Research. The market is witnessing rapid growth due to increasing demand for satellite deployment, expansion of commercial space enterprises, and heightened investment in reusable launch vehicles.

The industry is gaining momentum as satellite-based technologies, space exploration, and defense modernization continue to evolve. With the growing need for broadband connectivity, Earth observation, and global navigation, satellite launches are in high demand. Changes in the space industry are being brought on by more public-private partnerships, new advances in rocket technology, and the switch to reusing rockets.

The transition from expendable to reusable rockets is revolutionizing the economics of space launches. The flights of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, Blue Origin’s New Shepard and expected systems from Rocket Lab and ISRO are preparing for affordable and environmentally friendly space transportation.

Global investments in launch infrastructure are accelerating. Countries like the UK, India, Australia, and Brazil are developing new spaceports to support vertical and horizontal launches.

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The global satellite-based earth observation market was valued at $3.5 billion in 2022, and is projected to reach $6.4 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 6.6% from 2023 to 2032, according to a new report from Allied Market Research.

The industry is expected to gain high traction in the coming years due to an increase in demand for high-resolution earth observation data, a rise in applications of earth observation data in diverse sectors such as agriculture, urban planning, and disaster management, and partnerships facilitating miniaturization of satellite sensors.

Opportunities in the satellite-based earth observation market present a favorable landscape for businesses to capitalize on the growing demand for satellite data solutions across diverse industries. North America, especially the U.S., hosts some of the premier space agencies, satellite manufacturers, and earth observation service providers, which notably contributes toward the growth of the market. In addition, the continual progress in satellite technology, sensor capabilities, and data processing methods foster market expansion. Moreover, space agencies in the country are collaborating with commercial satellite providers to enhance their earth observation capabilities.

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A collaboration has been announced between Maritime Launch and Dutch aerospace company T-Minus Engineering to launch the Barracuda, a hypersonic test platform, from Spaceport Nova Scotia in October of this year.

This mission will represent the next step in advancing Spaceport Nova Scotia's suborbital and hypersonic testing capabilities, as Maritime Launch continues to establish Nova Scotia, Canada, as a hub for innovative space commercialization, research, and development. The Barracuda platform, developed by T-Minus, facilitates high-speed, high-altitude experiments for civil and defence applications.

Maritime Launch and T-Minus Engineering will launch two suborbital vehicles that carry payloads. Operating within Canada's existing regulatory regime for rocket launch, the vehicles are anticipated to reach altitudes significantly above the Kármán line, the acknowledged boundary of space, while achieving speeds over Mach 6. The launches will also accommodate various scientific and educational payloads for clients.

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And those are some of the top stories we covered for you on The Journal of Space Commerce this week. You can get daily updates on space commerce by subscribing to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack at www.exterrajsc.com. And please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional or enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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Theme Stock Music provided by CoolTones, from Pond5

"

ispace suffered another setback Thursday when the HAKUTO-R Lunar Lander was apparently lost during its landing attempt.

Telemetry was lost from the lander about 65 seconds before the scheduled landing time. After a tense half hour, the ispace commentators on the company live YouTube stream said that the mission control team had been unable to establish communications with the lander.

"We haven't been able to confirm, but MCC members will continuously attempt to communicate with the lander. And we will be reporting to you the latest state in the media interviewing that's scheduled in a few hours. So we need to never quit the lunar quest," the moderators said through a translator.

ispace released a statement late Thursday saying that, based on the currently available data, the Mission Control Center has been able to confirm the following: The laser rangefinder used to measure the distance to the lunar surface experienced delays in obtaining valid measurement values. As a result, the lander was unable to decelerate sufficiently to reach the required speed for the planned lunar landing. Based on these circumstances, it is currently assumed that the lander likely performed a hard landing on the lunar surface.

After communication with the lander was lost, a command was sent to reboot the lander, but communication was unable to be re-established.

The result was almost exactly the same as the previous ispace attempt to land on the Moon in April, 2023. On the HAKUTO-R Mission 1, telemetry was lost with the lander just before it was scheduled to land on the lunar surface.

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The FAA is requiring SpaceX to conduct a mishap investigation for the Starship Flight 9 mission that launched on May 27 from Starbase, Texas.

All Starship vehicle and Super Heavy booster debris landed within the designated hazard areas. There are no reports of public injury or damage to public property.

The mishap investigation is focused only on the loss of the Starship vehicle which did not complete its launch or reentry as planned. The FAA determined that the loss of the Super Heavy booster is covered by one of the approved test induced damage exceptions requested by SpaceX for certain flight events and system components. The FAA evaluated each exception prior to launch approval and verified they met public safety requirements.

The FAA approved test induced damage exceptions for the Super Heavy booster including failure of the grid fin system, poor engine initialization during the landing burn, and a hard water impact due to insufficient engine thrust. It also induced damage exceptions for the Starship vehicle including engine failure during either the in-space burn or the landing burn and failure of either the thermal shield or the flap system during reentry. The loss of the Starship vehicle did not involve any exception.

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A non-binding letter of intent for a proposed business combination has been jointly announced by the special purpose acquisition company ... or SPAC ... BPGC Acquisition Corp. ("BPGC"), and reusable space launch developer iRocket.

The parties have agreed on certain key terms of the proposed business combination and executed a non-binding letter of intent. Under the terms of the letter of intent, iRocket and BPGC would become a combined entity, with iRocket's existing shareholders exchanging their shares in iRocket for equity in the combined public company.

The letter of intent contemplates a pre-money equity value of iRocket of $400 million, before potential earnouts based on share price performance. The parties will announce additional details regarding the proposed business combination when a definitive agreement is executed, which is expected to occur in the summer of this year, with a closing anticipated before year end.

No assurances can be made that the parties will successfully negotiate and enter into a definitive agreement, or that the proposed transaction will be consummated on the terms or timeframe currently contemplated, or at all.

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Coming up, President Trump and Elon Musk face off on social media, and another step forward for the Office of Space Commerce's TraCSS program. But right now, why not take a minute to become a paid subscriber to The Journal of Space Commerce. Whether you’re a space professional or enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com on Substack, and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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What started as a political argument over the "Big Beautiful Bill" has escalated into a threat to America's manned space program. Since Musk criticized the reconciliation bill on X saying it didn't cut the deficit, Trump fired back on Truth Social, saying "The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn’t do it!"

In reply, Musk posted on X "In light of the President's statement about cancellation of my government contracts, @SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately."

It's not clear how much of this is serious and how much is bluster. But in the opinion of The Journal of Space Commerce, we feel like this is absolutely not the time or place for these two very wealthy and powerful men to be playing this kind of game. Both need to take a step back, and a deep breath, and consider what is best for the country. A goal which both have claimed to champion. Nor is it good for the industry to have these kinds of (hopefully) ridiculous threats thrown around. Nobody likes to see grown men shrieking "I'll just take my toys and go home" at one another across the Internet.

This is the kind of ridiculous sideshow that is not good for anyone right now, other than an opposition party which is popping its popcorn and getting ready to sit back and enjoy the show.

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Impulse Space recently announced it has raised $300 million in a Series C funding round—one of the largest venture rounds in the history of the space industry. The round, led by Linse Capital, brings Impulse’s total capital raised to $525 million.

The pre-emptive raise is both a positive signal about Impulse’s business trajectory and a direct response to surging customer demand. With over 30 signed contracts (totaling nearly $200 million in value) and growing interest from every sector, Impulse will use the funding to scale and execute a backlog of missions that require faster, more flexible, and more cost-effective in-space mobility.

This Series C funding will accelerate Impulse’s mission in three key ways: adding engineering, manufacturing, and mission operations jobs while continuing to vertically integrate for cost, quality, and schedule control; accelerating R&D to expand mission profiles—including integrating electric propulsion for long-duration missions—and develop new vehicles for national security and NASA applications, and; scaling production on Mira and Helios to meet a growing backlog of demand.

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Northrop Grumman Corporation has invested $50 million into Firefly Aerospace to further advance production of their co-developed medium launch vehicle, now known as Eclipse. The companies continue to make progress in the development of Eclipse flight hardware with qualification testing underway and more than 60 Miranda engine hot fire tests performed to date.

Based on Northrop Grumman’s Antares and Firefly’s Alpha rocket, Eclipse offers a significant leap in power, performance, production cadence, and payload capacity. The launch vehicle retains the flight-proven avionics from the Antares program with additional upgrades, including a larger payload fairing. Eclipse also utilizes the same first stage Firefly is developing for Antares 330, and retains scaled-up versions of Alpha’s propulsion systems and carbon composite structures, allowing the team to rapidly build and test Eclipse with significant production efficiencies and economies of scale.

Eclipse is equipped to deliver 18 tons of cargo to low Earth orbit or just over seven-thousand pounds of cargo to geosynchronous transfer orbit. Eclipse will first launch from Wallops Island, Virginia, as early as 2026.

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The Office of Space Commerce has announced that the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) has implemented Program Increment 1.2 for its beta users. This release introduces on-demand screening of operational ephemerides (EFF-em-AIR-eh-dees) and enables bulk submission capabilities—ideal for operators of large satellite constellations.

As an Agile software development program, TraCSS continues to deliver upgrades that add new capabilities in preparation for the migration of users from the Department of Defense.

The initial version, released in September 2024, distributed TraCSS-generated Conjunction Data Messages (CDMs) to beta users via the Space-Track.org interface. Subsequent updates enabled direct CDM distribution through TraCSS APIs.

With this latest update, beta-user satellite operators can now submit ephemerides to TraCSS at any time and receive conjunction analysis results within two to five minutes. This “on-demand screening” marks a significant advancement. Operators of large constellations can also submit thousands of ephemerides at once via “bulk submissions,” greatly enhancing space situational awareness and safety.

The TraCSS team is preparing to expand user participation in advance of a full production release scheduled for early 2026.

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And those are some of the top stories we covered for you on The Journal of Space Commerce this week. You can get daily updates on space commerce by subscribing to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack at www.exterrajsc.com. And please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional or enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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Theme Stock Music provided by CoolTones, from Pond5

SpaceX has a mantra: Fly, Learn, Repeat. And there will be a lot for SpaceX to learn from the ninth test flight of Starship, which ended with the loss of both the booster and 'Ship'.

Starship’s ninth flight test lifted off at 6:36 p.m. CT on Tuesday from Starbase, Texas. The Super Heavy booster supporting the mission made the first ever reflight in the Starship program, having previously launched on Starship’s seventh flight test in January 2025. The booster performed nominally until it reached the splashdown coordinates in the Gulf of America, and the landing burn was initiated. Dan Huot is part of the SpaceX Communications team.

Huot SOT "Ignited for our landing burn. It may have ended with that landing burn. It does look like we lost telemetry from the booster once we starten in to that landing burn. We just heard confirmation that the booster did demise. So the booster's flight ending before it was able to get through landing burn, but again we were not bringing that back, we expected it to make a hard splashdown in the gulf. We were getting data back that entire time through that high angle-of-attack flight, so that was something that was really vital for us to get from this re-use. First re-flight of booster in the books."

Ship continued on and reached an orbital altitude, but when the deployment of starlink analogs was attempted, but payload bay doors failed to open properly, and then attitude control of Ship was lost.

Huot SOT "As you can see from some of the views and some of the telemetry we are in a little bit of a spin. We did spring a leak in some of the fuel tank systems inside of Starship which a lot of those are used for attitude control. So at this point we've essentially lost our attitude control of Starship. We are still on a path toward reentry, We are suborbital so no matter what, we are going to reenter. However, this lowers the chances this will be a controlled reentry."

Contact with Starship was lost approximately 46 minutes into the flight, with all debris expected to fall within the planned hazard area in the Indian Ocean. Elon Musk said on X that he expects the cadence of launches of Starship to increase as the flight test program proceeds, but it will be at least in part up to the FAA when the next next launch will occur.

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NASA has awarded a contract to Sierra Space to study the use of the company’s expandable space station technology on the moon. The purpose of this contract will be to ultimately develop innovative solutions for lunar surface logistics and mobility supporting NASA’s moon to Mars Architecture.

Under the NextSTEP-2 Appendix R for Lunar Logistics and Mobility Studies award, the research will include everything from the potential use of Sierra Space’s inflatable LIFE habitat technology for tunnels around a moon base to tracking and storage of goods on the moon, as well as integration of the entire framework for habitation on the lunar surface.

The company has been deeply involved in NASA's lunar habitation efforts, conducting analyses and design work on everything from landing systems to habitats and pressurized lunar rovers.

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Dawn Aerospace has opened the order book for its Aurora spaceplane, with first deliveries expected in 2027. This marks the first time a space-capable vehicle – designed to fly beyond the Kármán line - has been offered for direct sale to customers.

Aurora is set to become the fastest and highest-flying aircraft ever to take off from a conventional runway, blending the extreme performance of rocket propulsion with the reusability and operational simplicity of traditional aviation. This concept enables high-frequency, low-cost access to both high-altitudes and space.

Aurora introduces a business model akin to commercial airlines, where operators can purchase aircraft and deliver services independently of the manufacturer. Dawn’s suborbital spaceplane is engineered for high-frequency operations from traditional airports and spaceports worldwide.

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Coming up, MDA Space Acquires Satixfy, and the future of nuclear power in space. But right now, why not take a minute to become a paid subscriber to The Journal of Space Commerce Whether you’re a space professional or enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com on Substack, and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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At a special meeting of shareholders last week, holders of the majority of outstanding ordinary shares of SatixFy voted to approve the Agreement and Plan of Merger with MDA Space, as amended and announced on May 20, 2025, pursuant to which MDA Space agreed to acquire SatixFy in an all-cash transaction. That transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of this year.

Over 99% of the Company’s outstanding ordinary shares that were voted at the meeting in person or by proxy were voted in favor of the adoption of the merger agreement and the merger.

Under the amended agreement, MDA Space will pay $3.00 without interest per ordinary share, which implies an aggregate equity value for the Company of approximately $280 million.

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The first of a series of premium articles published this week by Ex Terra Media focuses on the potential for nuclear power in space, both as a method of propulsion and an ongoing energy source for long-term human habitation of the Moon and Mars.

The chemical propulsion systems and solar collectors that power so much of space travel today will not be adequate for long-duration missions to distant destinations. There is a lot of research being done in the area of ion thrusters and solar sails, but maybe the most elegant solution is a technology that has been around for nearly a century: nuclear power. It's an answer that could potentially have multiple applications for space exploration.

The article delves into details about Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators (RTGs), which are currently in use in space, to Nuclear Thermal Rockets and the potential for nuclear fusion in space.

Projects like NASA's Kilopower initiative offer a promising starting point for advancing compact, lightweight nuclear reactors tailored for extraterrestrial environments. By demonstrating their capabilities through ground tests and eventual space missions, these efforts can pave the way for broader adoption of nuclear power in future expeditions. Read the full article right now by becoming a paid subscriber to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack.

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And this week on The Ex Terra Extra podcast, Mike Turner and I discuss the Satellite Industry Association's State of the Satellite Industry Report that it released recently, as well as the possible direction of NASA under the leadership of Jared Isaacman, should be he confirmed as the next administrator of the agency.

According to SIA, during 2024, the industry continued to grow at an unprecedented rate as a record number of 259 launches deployed an historic 2,172 tons and 2,695 satellites into Earth orbit. At the end of 2024, a total of 11,539 satellites were operating in Earth orbit compared with just 3,371 in 2020. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Meanwhile, what will be the role of NASA moving forward, and how might the dynamic between NASA and private industry change? During our conversation on Ex Terra Extra, Mike Turner questioned how NASA's budget is being deployed.

(Turner SOT) "Look, I love NASA. I want them to throw absolutely everything in the solar system and beyond because nobody does it better. But are we really spending the money the way we should? Can't NASA just say, maybe they say, here's the study we want done. People bid on the contract. And that's it. Let everybody else do what needs to be done and they stick with basic research. But I say basic research. What business is NASA in? Well, of course, it's a research and development organization. It's not a business, but what is it they do? And you can say, well, NASA does this, NASA does that.

"Okay, fine. But do they have to do everything? The SLS system is a NASA system. The Starship and Heavy Booster, that isn't. Boy, they all sure jumped on it when Elon's making this thing and they're going, oh, well, yeah, we can give you some contracts and we can do some things. Well, why didn't we do that with the SLS?

Well, it was politics. This is why the profit motive always does better than politics because politics, they don't care what they're spending. And in this day and age... You cannot, we don't have the luxury anymore to just throw dollars at things. And we have to be efficient."

You can listen to the full episode of the Ex Terra Extra podcast right now by becoming a paid subscriber to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack.

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And those are some of the top stories we covered for you on The Journal of Space Commerce this week. You can get daily updates on space commerce by subscribing to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack at www.exterrajsc.com. And please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional or enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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Theme Stock Music provided by CoolTones, from Pond5

(Editor’s Note: After the production deadline for the audio version of our weekly review, the FAA approved Starship for its Return to Flight)

The FAA has approved license modifications for the SpaceX Starship Flight 9 mission. The approval includes final action allowing SpaceX to increase Starship operations from five up to 25 per year at Boca Chica, Texas.

However, SpaceX may not launch until the FAA either closes the Starship Flight 8 mishap investigation or makes a return to flight determination. The FAA is reviewing the mishap report SpaceX submitted on May 13.

As a result of the Starship Flight 8 mishap, the FAA is expanding the size of aircraft and maritime hazard areas both in the U.S. and other countries for the Starship Flight 9 mission. There are two reasons for the change: the FAA’s requirement for SpaceX to revise the Flight Safety Analysis following the prior launch mishap, and because SpaceX intends to reuse a previously launched Super Heavy booster rocket for the first time.

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On the other side of the planet, another space company is struggling to get its FIRST rocket off the ground. The first test flight of the Gilmour Space Eris rocket has been postponed for at least several weeks due to a pre-launch anomaly during final preparations.

The test flight had been scheduled for May 15th in Australia. However, during a pre-flight test, it appears that an electrical fault inadvertently triggered the deployment mechanism of the rocket’s payload fairing — the carbon-fiber nose cone designed to protect the payload during ascent. The incident occurred prior to fueling, and importantly, there were no injuries. Initial assessments suggest there is no damage to the launch vehicle or ground systems.

As a result, the current test campaign is on hold and the launch will be delayed by at least a few weeks.

The rocket has since been safely returned to the Vehicle Assembly Building, and the team has begun analyzing the data to fully understand the cause of the electrical fault. A replacement payload fairing from Gilmour’s Gold Coast manufacturing facility will be transported to the Bowen launch site in the coming days. A new target launch window will be announced once confirmed.

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After a year of building hardware, focused engineering, testing, and human-centered design, the Intuitive Machines-led Moon RACER team has successfully held the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for its Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services (LTVS) feasibility contract. This milestone is intended to assess whether the Moon RACER's system-level design meets NASA's requirements for supporting astronauts on the Moon's surface as part of the Artemis campaign.

Intuitive Machines is one of three companies competitively selected for NASA’s LTVS feasibility assessment contract. NASA has indicated it plans to award the next phase, the delivery and demonstration mission, by the end of 2025.

Moon RACER—an acronym for Reusable Autonomous Crewed Exploration Rover—is a solar powered lunar terrain vehicle designed to carry two astronauts and nearly 4,000 pounds of total payload, including a towed trailer for science equipment or infrastructure materials.

Moon RACER is designed for more than crewed exploration. In April of this year, the team demonstrated the autonomous driving capabilities of the terrestrial moving mock-up at NASA Johnson Space Center using scanning LiDAR and terrain-navigation software developed by teammate, CSIRO (SIGH-ro), Australia’s national science agency.

The vehicle navigated complicated terrain without a driver, validating its potential to perform tasks like scouting, surveying, and logistics during uncrewed periods between Artemis missions.

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Coming up, the FCC NPRM to expand available satellite bandwidth, and a NASA VADR launch services contract goes to Rocket Lab. But right now, why not take a minute to become a paid subscriber to The Journal of Space Commerce. Whether you’re a space professional or enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com on Substack, and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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As part of its "Final Frontiers" agenda, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to kickstart a proceeding that could unlock more than 20,000 megahertz of spectrum for high-speed internet delivered from space. That amount is more than the sum total of all spectrum available for satellite broadband today.

Specifically, in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the Commission will seek comment on expanding satellite connectivity across four spectrum bands. These underused bands—located in “spectrum neighborhoods” ideal for satellite broadband—are prime candidates for modernization.

For many years, outdated regulations restricted satellite operations in the 12.7 GHz band. The 42 GHz band is one of the rare bands that still remains greenfield. The 52 GHz band has no licensed commercial users. And the W-band presents exciting opportunities for gigabit capacity over a massive, but mostly empty, swath of spectrum long considered outside the practical realm of physics.

FCC Chairman Brenden Carr said during the commission's May open meeting abundant spectrum for satellite operations is not a 'nice to have' thing.

SOT Carr "It's necessary for U.S. leadership. Every Megahertz matters. When our satellite systems have abundant spectrum, America leads. Our economy grows. Our national security strengthens. And millions of Americans gain affordable access to broadband. Our global competitors are not waiting. China is rapidly expanding its own space capabilities, and we're not going to let America fall behind. That's why we're taking action across multiple different spectrum bands today, in this rulemaking we're sending a clear signal. America is committed to leadership in space through a policy of satellite spectrum abundance."

The Commission intends to make good on its years-long efforts to unleash these bands for next-generation services.

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MDA Space and SatixFy have agreed to amend the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement"), dated April 1, 2025 among SatixFy Communications Ltd. ("SatixFy"), MDA Space Ltd. ("MDA") and certain subsidiaries. In the initial agreement, MDA agreed to acquire SatixFy in an all-cash transaction for $2.10 (without interest) per ordinary share, which implied an aggregate equity value for the Company of approximately $193 million.

The amendment follows a go-shop process, conducted by SatixFy with the assistance of its financial advisor TD Securities, in which approximately 75 third parties were contacted to determine whether they had an interest in making an Acquisition Proposal … as such term is defined in the Merger Agreement. The "go-shop" period under the Merger Agreement expired at 11:59 p.m. ET on May 16, 2025.

In response to the Go-Shop Proposal, and subsequent discussions with MDA, the companies reached an agreement to amend the Merger Agreement to provide for a significant increase in the merger consideration to an all-cash transaction for $3.00 (without interest) per ordinary share, which implies an aggregate equity value for the Company of approximately $280 million. The increase in the merger consideration is based upon the commitment by the Company not to consider any other acquisition proposals for SatixFy and for SatixFy's Board of Directors not to change its recommendation supporting the Merger Agreement, as amended.

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NASA has selected Rocket Lab to launch the agency's Aspera mission, a SmallSat to study galaxy formation and evolution, providing new insights into how the universe works.

The selection is part of NASA's Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) launch services contract. This contract allows the agency to make fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity launch service task order awards during VADR's five-year ordering period, with a maximum total contract value of $300 million.

Through the observation of ultraviolet light, Aspera will examine hot gas in the space between galaxies, called the intergalactic medium. The mission will study the inflow and outflow of gas from galaxies, a process thought to contribute to star formation.

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The FAA has released its Final Tiered Environmental Assessment authorizing SpaceX to conduct as many as 25 Starship launches per year from Starbase in Boca Chica.

The Revised Final EA evaluates two alternatives in detail: the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative.

The Proposed Action alternative would modify SpaceX’s existing vehicle operator license. It would authorize the company's proposal to increase the cadence of the Starship/Super Heavy launch program at the Boca Chica vertical launch area (VLA) to up to 25 annual launches, and 50 total annual landings (25 of the Starship and 25 of the Super Heavy) and make vehicle and operational upgrades. Up to three of the 25 launches would occur during nighttime hours from the VLA.

Landings at the VLA would only take place during the daytime, with up to 22 Starship and 22 Super Heavy landings at the VLA.

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The global satellite communications (SATCOM) market is expected to reach a size of approximately $75 billion by the end of 2033. According to a report from Orion Market Research, that translates to a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.8 percent through the period.

The satellite communications market is experiencing rapid growth, due to increasing demand for broadband connectivity, especially in remote and underserved regions.

The market is driven by the growing demand for reliable internet connectivity in remote and rural areas, where traditional broadband infrastructure is limited. The rise of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations, such as those from SpaceX's Starlink and Amazon's Project Kuiper, is significantly enhancing global coverage and data speeds. The increasing need for secure and efficient communication in defense, government, and military sectors is another major growth factor. Additionally, the global adoption of Internet of Things devices, 5G networks, and smart technologies is creating a surge in demand for satellite-based communication.

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The Satellite Industry Association (SIA) this week announced the release of its 28th annual State of the Satellite Industry Report (SSIR), a global summary of the commercial satellite industry. During 2024, the industry continued to grow at an unprecedented rate as a record number of 259 launches deployed an historic 21-hundred 72 tons, and 2,695 satellites into Earth orbit. At the end of 2024, a total of 11,539 satellites were operating in Earth orbit compared with just 3,371 in 2020.

After the release of the report, I delved into some of the details with Satellite Industry Association president Tom Stroup, starting with some of report's the key findings.

Tom Stroup, SIA

Yeah, I think that, you know, one of the key takeaways is that the industry continues to grow. And of course, we've seen different growth rates in the various sectors of the industry. But the manufacturing sector grew 17 percent last year. The launch sector grew 30% by revenue. And then within satellite services, we've seen satellite broadband and remote sensing continuing to grow very nicely. So I think that those are a couple of the key takeaways.

But also... you know the revenues only tell a portion of what's happening within the industry because there's so much innovation that's taking place and that's one of the things that we you know i've tried to highlight in the report that um you know while the and the industry is showing a tremendous amount of increase in terms of the number of satellites and growth within some of the different sectors that i just mentioned um you know it's it's really driven by the innovation that that has occurred across each of the different sectors of the industry so I think that those are some of the key takeaways, Tom.

Ex Terra Media

When you talk about the satellite part of the industry as a whole,

how much does the satellite industry contribute to the overall space 2.0 economy?

Tom Stroup, SIA

Yeah, so the industry generates $293 billion as of the end of last year. That was 71% of the global space economy. So it's far and away the largest component of the global space economy. And why do you think that growth is occurring?

Ex Terra Media

What's driving it?

Tom Stroup, SIA

I think there are two main drivers. I mean, one is demand. And, you know, you can envision just a continuous demand for broadband services as an example.

But of course, satellite is unique in terms of many of the capabilities with a ubiquitous coverage, the ability to provide service to the airline industry the maritime industry but the demand for continuous connectivity is certainly one of the the major drivers and the other is just the continued decrease in the cost of launch the increase in launch availability the decrease in cost of manufacturing satellites access to antenna technology that had not existed before.

Of course, the government, especially the U.S. government, continues to be one of the major customers of the industry. And in some cases, that's utilization of satellite operators. And in other cases, it's buying technology satellites for their own use. But there continues to be high demand, whether it's for remote sensing services, or communications by the U.S. military as well.

So those are just some of the major drivers. But I would say it starts with the fact that there's a huge demand for the services that the industry provides.

Ex Terra Media

One of the things that we often talk about is why does the general public care? Why is this important to somebody who's not involved in the space industry?

Tom Stroup, SIA

They use satellites every day, whether they think about it or not. And I'll start with the position navigation and timing capability in GPS satellites. So whether you're using a navigation system, or not the timing of mobile phone systems the timing of the internet are all based off of those satellites the next is people typically will gather some type of weather information that is gathered via satellites and well over half of the data that is gathered for climate monitoring it can only be done via satellite so whether you're using an app that such as for a shared driving service or you know many of the other apps that are dependent upon location capability or you're using it for broadband or emergency communications and then of course you don't think about it until there's an emergency when you've lost access to your cellular system but emergency personnel are very dependent upon the capabilities of the satellite industry One other one that people don't really think about is that most transactions at gas stations are conducted. You're using a credit card to be able to pay for your gas. It's actually connected via satellite system.

Ex Terra Media

Does it matter that people don't understand? And how important is that to the satellite industry that people begin to become more aware of the role that satellites play in their lives?

Tom Stroup, SIA

You know, I think it's important for policymakers to understand it because there are decisions that are made for things like access to spectrum. You know, so I think that it's important that policymakers understand. Certainly, we'd like all consumers to understand the capabilities of the industry. Many of those who have satellite television or satellite radio services, of course, understand that it's coming from satellites. But, you know, certainly we'd like everybody to appreciate the capabilities of the industry.

Produced by BryceTech, the 2025 State of the Satellite Industry Report derives from proprietary surveys of satellite companies, in-depth public information, and independent analysis, combined to assess the performance of sectors including satellite services, manufacturing, ground equipment and launch services.

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Coming up, Redwire reports its first quarter results, and conductiing scientific experiments in microgravity. But right now, why not take a minute to become a paid subscriber to The Journal of Space Commerce. Whether you’re a space professional or enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com on Substack, and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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Redwire Corporation has announced its first quarter 2025 results, showing an increase in bookings, but a decrease in revenues and a higher net loss over the same period in 2024.

Revenues for the first quarter of 2025 decreased 30.1% to $61.4 million, as compared to $87.8 million for the first quarter of 2024.

Net Loss for the first quarter of 2025 decreased by $5.1 million to -$2.9 million, as compared to -$8.1 million for the first quarter of 2024.

However, bookings increased significantly compared to Q4 2024, according to Peter Cannito, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Redwire. In an earnings call open to investors and the media, Cannito said that so far, tariffs imposed by the Trump administration have not had an effect on the company.

"We have yet to see notable widespread price increases, or shocks, due to tariffs. We are addressing one-off cases with suppliers, however we currently do not expect any material financial impact,” Cannito said. “Redwire will continue to monitor potential impacts closely as we manage our business through this dynamic environment. In some instances, we believe that the current trade environment may lead to both increasing investment in U.S. manufacturing, and in European space and defense budgets that could benefity Redwire's significant manufacturing presence in both regions."

Redwire CFO Jonathan Baliff said that he remains optimistic about the rest of the year, as the company is entering the second quarter ready to close on its acquisition of Edge Autonomy, and to capitalize on market trends in space and defense tech.

"We acknowledge that there is volatility with the rest of 2025,” Baliff said. “However, our previous combined forecast was meant to be conservative, and as of today, we believe we are still on track to end 2025 within our previously provided ranges. Therefore, we are reaffirming our combined forecast at this time."

That forecast is for full year revenues of $535 million to $605 million and Adjusted EBITDA of $70 million to $105 million with positive Free Cash Flow.

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The Varda Space Industries W-3 capsule landed at the Southern Lauch Koonibba Test Range in Australia Wednesday afternoon local time. W-3 is Varda's third successful mission and comes just 11 weeks after the previous successful mission.

W-3 carried an advanced inertial measurement unit developed in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force and Innovative Scientific Solutions Incorporated (ISSI). The Prometheus program, a partnership between Varda and the U.S. Air Force, addresses a national security need to accelerate the ability to conduct novel science and technology experiments in the extreme reentry environment through a low-cost, high cadence flight testbed.

Through regular, reliable launch and return, Varda aims to continue to increase cadence and offer a novel, low-cost approach to iterative hypersonic science and technology experimentation.

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The ISS National Laboratory is a research and development hub aboard the International Space Station (ISS), managed by a non-profit organization, the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), under a cooperative agreement with NASA. They provide access to the unique microgravity environment of low Earth orbit for scientific experiments, medical research, and technological innovation.

One of the key services provided by the ISS National Lab is facilitating collaboration between private companies, academic institutions, and government agencies to conduct experiments in space. It also supports studies on human biology, materials science, and advanced manufacturing, provides training, STEM programs, and workforce development initiatives for students and professionals, and helps translate space-based research into Earth-based applications.

On the latest edition of The Ex Terra Podcast, I talked with Phillip Irace, a Program Director for the ISS National Lab. He said that the microgravity environment makes a significant difference in conducting scientific experiments.

(SOT) "We go to space not for fun but because you can do these cool things," Irace said. "On the material science side, you can synthesize or process materials that have much more uniform microstructures and significantly reduce defects. You can even create entirely new structures or materials. On Earth, when you produce a material, any difference in temperature or density of the melt leads to things like sedimentation, stratification, mixing, and ultimately, these things lead to non-uniformities and defects that reduce a material's performance. So in microgravity, where these forces are eliminated, it opens up a lot of opportunity. In addition, in microgravity you have forces like surface tension and capillary forces that are not important on Earth, but when you get into microgravity, they're dominant. And you can take advantage of that to do cool things like containerless processing using spherical drops and fluidic templating. Then on the regenerative medicine side, the space environment has been shown to accelerate aging. So that's a huge advantage for studies in that area. Earlier I mentioned 3-D printing of organs and heart tissue. We also have a lot of protein crystalization research going on to identify viable drug candidates. Overall, I'd say that in microgravity, processes tend to be much slower and diffusion controlled, and this results in much higher quality final products, and that covers a wide range of applications."

The ISS National Lab has several programs that assist companies of all sizes get their experiments onto the station. Irace says companies can contact them at inquiries@issnationallab.org to get more information.

And those are some of the top stories we covered for you on The Journal of Space Commerce this week. You can get daily updates on space commerce by subscribing to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack at www.exterrajsc.com. And please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional or enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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Federal regulators accepted applications that would enable satellites to provide cellular coverage directly to existing smartphones in partnership with major wireless carriers. The FCC announced last week that AST SpaceMobile and AT&T, Verizon, and FirstNet have filed joint applications for supplemental coverage from space authorization. The Space Bureau, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, and Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau found the applications acceptable for filing after initial review.

AST SpaceMobile seeks authority to operate 248 non-geostationary orbit satellites that would work with terrestrial networks from AT&T, Verizon, and FirstNet, and would use existing cellular frequency bands for the service.

The company filed applications to modify its existing satellite authorization on June 12, with amendments submitted July 21 and Sept. 3.

The applications require multiple waivers of current FCC rules. The companies seek waivers to deploy supplemental coverage in areas where terrestrial carriers don't hold spectrum across entire geographic service areas. They also request permission to provide service on devices certified before June 29, 2024, that lack specific authorization for satellite operations.

Under existing rules, satellite operators and wireless licensees can enter spectrum leases only when holding all co-channel licenses throughout one of six geographic service areas. AST SpaceMobile, AT&T, and Verizon argue their cellular licenses don't cover entire continental U.S. areas, necessitating rule waivers.

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The satellite payload market is projected to be nearly 11 and a half billion dollars in 2030, up from just over 6 billion in 2025 ($11.44 billion in 2030 from $6.07 billion in 2025) at a CAGR of 13.5% during the forecast period according to a new report from MarketsandMarkets. The growth is mainly due to the expansion of sovereign and regional mega constellations for strategic and commercial communications, international strategic collaborations, and flagship Earth observation missions.

The market is witnessing strong growth globally, fueled by the rising international partnerships and collaborations for Earth Observation applications across different regions, and the rising number of satellite constellation launches for mega constellation projects. Further, the growth of the satellite payload market is attributed to the demand for high-speed internet and telecommunication services, along with the need for better management of Earth Observation satellite missions.

The LEO segment is expected to register the highest CAGR in the market during the forecast period. As operators and governments compete to secure space-based connectivity and Earth observation capabilities, the global satellite payload market is changing due to the increasing demand for payloads from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations.

In recent years, there has been an unprecedented demand for satellite payloads that are lighter, more modular, and more mass-producible due to mega-consortia like SpaceX's Starlink, OneWeb, and Amazon's Kuiper. There will be a sustained need for payloads in the areas of scientific research, communications, and imaging, as evidenced by the fact that Starlink alone required more than 6,000 operational satellites in 2024 and is expected to launch new batches at an unprecedented rate.

The large satellite segment is projected to dominate the satellite payload market share in 2025, primarily due to its high cost of payloads compared to that of small & medium satellites. Europe is projected to account for the second-largest market share because of the presence of some of the major satellite payload manufacturers, including Airbus and Thales, along with the megaconstellation projects such as OneWeb.

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NASA is requesting feedback from American companies on the next phase of its commercial space stations strategy to ensure a seamless transition of activities in low Earth orbit from the International Space Station.

Under the direction of acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy, the agency reassessed the commercial space stations acquisition strategy to ensure mission continuity, affordability, and national alignment, and to reduce the potential for a gap of a crew-capable platform in low Earth orbit.

In Phase 2, NASA intends to support industry’s design and demonstration of commercial stations through multiple funded Space Act Agreements, selected through a full and open competition.

The Phase 2 agreements are expected to include funded milestones leading to critical design review readiness and an in-space crewed demonstration of four crew members for a minimum of 30 days. Agreements are expected to include up to a five-year period of performance.

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Why not take a minute to become a paid subscriber to The Journal of Space Commerce. Whether you’re a space professional, investor or an enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit click the button below to help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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A demonstration of how GPS navigation can be bolstered by using Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites has been conducted by QinetiQ an Xona Space Systems, marking a major milestone in the development of next generation Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) capabilities. The goals are to increase resilience against jamming and spoofing, as well as improving GPS availability in congested or challenged environments.

In the first UK tests of Xona’s new satellite navigation system, called Pulsar, QinetiQ’s Q40 Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver, which can already receive signals from multiple GNSS satellite constellations on multiple frequencies, acquired and tracked signals from Xona’s first production-class satellite, Pulsar-0. The tests demonstrated that by supplementing GNSS with LEO satellite signals like the Pulsar X1, enhanced resilience in contested or poor-signal environments can be achieved.

A recent software upgrade to QinetiQ’s Q40 was developed under ESA's Navigation Innovation and Support Program (NAVISP) as part of the GNSS Receiver with Advanced Pulsar Enhancement (GRAPE) project. GRAPE is a collaboration between QinetiQ and Xona, supported by the UK Space Agency and ESA. Its goal is to explore how new LEO-based signals can be integrated with existing GNSS, to enhance the accuracy and resilience of navigation services for defence, critical infrastructure, and future autonomous applications.

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Eutelsat Group has announced that it is rebranding simply as Eutelsat, bringing all its activities and subsidiaries under one brand. This evolution reflects the company’s transformation into a global connectivity leader and its commitment to providing a clear, consistent identity for customers, partners, and shareholders worldwide.

Following its successful merger with OneWeb, which created a unique GEO-LEO operator, Eutelsat now operates as a single company. The LEO constellation will continue under the OneWeb name, highlighting its central role in delivering the low-latency, high-speed services that power Eutelsat’s global advantage and future growth.

With its new name and consolidated digital presence, Eutelsat says it looks ahead with confidence, focused on supporting the people and organizations it connects every day.

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The Gilmour Space Eris rocket launch may not have been as successful as the company would have liked, but they did note a significant milestone in the Australian space program this week.

Launched aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-14 mission in June, the ElaraSat MMS-1 (Multi-Mission Satellite-1) has completed platform commissioning and has successfully demonstrated reliable S-band communications and X-band downlink.

MMS-1 carries a hyperspectral imager from CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency.

Locally designed and built in Australia, the modular ElaraSat bus can be adapted for missions hosting payloads of up to 30 kilograms, and is compatible with a variety of launch vehicles, including the Gilmour Space Eris orbital rocket.

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In Depth this week, we examined the unprecedented opportunities and complex risk calculations afforded by President Donald Trump's Executive Order "Enabling Competition in the Commercial Space Industry", which represents the most aggressive attempt to streamline space regulations in decades.

The order establishes a unified framework reducing environmental review timelines from years to months, while creating "one-stop shopping" for launch licenses through the FAA. This streamlining directly impacts investment thesis calculations, as reduced regulatory uncertainty translates to improved project economics and faster capital deployment.

The commercial space sector, which represents 78% of the $613 billion global space economy, stands to benefit significantly from these changes, and investment flows reflect growing confidence in regulatory reform. Space technology startups raised $1.6 billion in the first quarter of 2025, indicating a strong institutional appetite for the sector.

Still, the tension between efficiency and safety creates nuanced investment considerations. Traditional aerospace safety protocols evolved over decades of government oversight, with extensive environmental reviews designed to protect both public safety and environmental resources. Critics argue that accelerated timelines may compromise thorough risk assessment, particularly for launch operations near populated areas.

The Executive Order's impact varies across space applications, creating differentiated investment opportunities. Satellite broadband and Earth observation represent significant near-term market opportunities, with multiple constellation programs competing for market position. And launch services remain foundational to sector growth.

President Trump's Executive Order on commercial space competition represents a significant regulatory approach shift that will reshape investment opportunities and risk calculations. The debate between efficiency and safety reflects the fundamental challenge of managing technological advancement in high-stakes environments. Paid subscribers can read the full analysis on The Journal of Space Commerce at exterrajsc.com.

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And those are some of the top stories we covered for you on The Journal of Space Commerce this week. Space Commerce Week is a production of Ex Terra Media. You can get daily updates on space commerce by subscribing to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack at www.exterrajsc.com. And please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional, investor or an enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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Theme Stock Music provided by CoolTones, from Pond5

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The first look at the NASA budget, and a self-assembling space architecture. Here are some of the top stories from The Journal of Space Commerce this week.

The FY26 federal budget proposed by the Trump administration would accelerate NASA's human space exploration of the Moon and Mars with what the administration calls a fiscally responsible portfolio of missions.

The Budget refocuses NASA funding on beating China back to the Moon and on putting the first human on Mars ... allocating over $7 billion for lunar exploration and introducing $1 billion in new investments for Mars-focused programs. To achieve these objectives, the Budget would streamline the NASA workforce, information technology services, NASA Center operations, facility maintenance, and construction and environmental compliance activities. The Budget also terminates multiple unaffordable missions and reduces lower priority research, resulting in a leaner Science program that reflects a commitment to fiscal responsibility.

NASA says it will coordinate closely with its partners to execute these priorities and investments as efficiently and effectively as possible.

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The latest Novaspace market intelligence report, Prospects for Space Exploration, provides a detailed outlook on government and commercial space initiatives through 2034.

The report finds that global government investment in space exploration totaled $27 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to nearly $31 billion by 2034. Lunar exploration will lead this expansion, with funding expected to rise from $12 billion to $15 billion, while Mars exploration is projected to grow at an 11% annual rate, fueled by upcoming sample-return missions.

The report forecasts nearly 330 lunar missions between 2025 and 2034, driven by a mix of government programs and private sector ventures. A substantial share of these missions is expected to fall under NASA’s Artemis program, reflecting a growing global ambition for sustained lunar presence and infrastructure.

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The House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology (Committee on Energy and Commerce) held a hearing recently titled "Global Networks at Risk: Securing the Future of Communications Infrastructure".

The committee recognized that satellites play a critical role in civilian and military communications. With that in mind, one of the witnesses invited to provide testimony at the hearing was Tom Stroup, president of the Satellite Industry Association.

Stroup told Ex Terra Media that satellite operators are well aware of the challenges of security in space, and have processes in place to assure the safety of spacecraft and fidelity of data.

"Many of the members of our industry provide dual-use services. So they are offering service not only to the commercial sector but also to the U.S. Government including the military. That makes the subject to attacks that we may not otherwise be subject to. But as a result of that, the industry has taken steps to minimize the impact. And one of the things I really sought to emphasize was the resilience based on the multiple, diverse delivery paths that we have," Stroup said. "And by that, I mean that most satellite operators have multiple satellites, whether they're geo-stationary or non-geo-stationary systems. And there's an opportunity to switch (between) satellites. And a number of companies deploy multi-orbit capabilities. So if there is an impact on a satellite there's an opportunity to switch to a different orbit. And one of the things that is provided as a result of this is not just the multi-orbit capability, but also multi-frequency capability. So I'd say that we are subject to some type of attack. But the industry has taken multiple steps to be able to minimize the effect of it."

Stroup told the committee that the association's members are dedicated to advancing national interests, ensuring the competitiveness of satellite companies in the U.S. and globally, and driving progress for the benefit of all Americans.

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As Eutelsat moves into its next phase after the integration with OneWeb and fully aligned with an IRIS2 future, the company this week announced the appointment of Jean-François Fallacher (pictured) as its new CEO. The appointment was decided at a Board Meeting held on May 4th, 2025 on the recommendation of the Nomination and Governance Committee. It will be effective on June 1st. This appointment comes as a natural change that fully aligns Eutelsat to the telecom ecosystem.

A seasoned telecoms professional, Fallacher joins Eutelsat following a lengthy career at Orange where he held the position of executive vice president and Chief Executive Officer of Orange France. Prior to that, he led Orange’s operations in various countries including Spain, Romania and Poland. Before his career at Orange, he held several roles in R&D, sales and operations, including Chief Operating Officer of Wanadoo in the Netherlands and Chief Executive Officer of Sofrecom, a consulting company specializing in the telecoms sector

Fallacher succeeds Eva Berneke, who has steered the company since January 2022, presiding over some of its most significant strategic and operational achievements. These include the merger with and integration of OneWeb in 2023 to create the world’s only LEO / GEO satellite operator.

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The Aurelia Institute is a nonprofit organization based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, dedicated to advancing humanity's future in space through research, education, and policy development. Their mission focuses on creating scalable space habitats, fostering public engagement with space exploration, and addressing the ethical and societal implications of life beyond Earth.

Their TESSERAE Project is a modular, self-assembling space architecture system designed to autonomously construct habitats in microgravity environments.

Evan Hilgemann is Senior Mechatronics Engineer for The Aurelia Institute. He told me on The Ex Terra Podcast that the TESSERAE project will use a system of tiles that will autonomously connect to one another using magnets to create a unique space habitat.

"Once they're in space they can form space stations, they're reusable, they're replaceable, and they can be used to form much larger structures ... than you can just fit into that launch fairing. So to form those very large spaces in orbit, you have to go to some kind of on-orbit assembly or construction. It's not something you can just launch from the ground with very large rockets."

These structures aim to support human life, scientific research, and other activities in Low-Earth Orbit.

And those are some of the top stories we covered for you on The Journal of Space Commerce this week. You can get daily updates on space commerce by subscribing to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack at www.exterrajsc.com. And please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional or enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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The Senate Commerce Committee voted 19-9 on Wednesday to advance the nomination of Jared Isaacman to be the next administrator of NASA. The nomination now moves to the full senate for a final vote.

Isaacman, 42, has traveled to space on two occasions on private missions aboard SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, and conducted the first EVA to be performed by a non-NASA astronaut.

In making the case to move the nomination forward to the full senate, Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-TX), cited Mr. Isaacman's commitment to NASA's Artemis program and a return to the Moon.

"Existing law directs NASA to establish 'sustained human presence in cis-lunar space, or on the Moon.' Federal law explicitly calls the moon a 'stepping stone to reaching Mars.' In other words, our path to predominance in space begins with the Artemis missions."

If confirmed by the full senate, Isaacman will face budgetary challenges to advance the Artemis missions. And while NASA's SLS will carry the next humans into a lunar orbit, the agency is relying on the SpaceX Starship as a lunar lander, and that system has yet to achieve orbit.

Isaacman was not present for the vote.

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With the Atlantic hurricane season beginning in less than six weeks, the Satellite Industry Association (SIA) is encouraging policy and lawmakers to continue considering the vital role satellites play in providing communications and other important services before, during and after a natural disaster. The Association summarized the various services satellites can provide both before and after an emergency, plus recent industry disaster response initiatives, in its newly updated SIA Report titled, “Natural Disasters – Satellites to the Rescue”.

SIA president Tom Stroup said that satellites provide critical links during natural disasters.

"We provide an opportunity for early response because our infrastructure is in space. And so when other systems go down, there is an ability to provide continuity of communications. In some instances it's for the first responders, they may have lost access to their communications systems, cell systems may have gone down, and there's an ability to provide communications. There's also the opportunity to be able to provide remote sensing information. Because again, there's an opportunity to be able to use optical imagery to be able to identify what roads are available, the level of damages. Even during the event, there's the opportunity to use other remote sensing techniques to be able to identify problems."

Stroup says for lawmakers and policymakers, advance planning is the key.

"You don't want to start trying to identify who has infrastructure, who the satellite providers are offering various kinds of service after the disaster has occurred. It is really reaching out to establish relationships and know what systems are going to be available in advance."

The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs for six months beginning on June 1st. Preliminary forecasts project a slightly above average number of named cyclones for 2025.

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An Atlas V rocket carrying the Kuiper-1 mission for Amazon's Project Kuiper lifted off Monday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Kuiper 1 launch marks the beginning of full-scale deployment of the Kuiper constellation and a new chapter in the commercial launch industry as Amazon partners with United Launch Alliance (ULA) to deliver a majority of its advanced satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO).

Project Kuiper will leverage the next-generation Vulcan rocket for 38 high-cadence, rapid-fire launches, positioning ULA to deliver more than half of the constellation's more than 3,200 satellites through the world's largest commercial launch agreement.

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The news was not so good for Firefly Aerospace. Its Alpha rocket launching a demonstration payload for Lockheed Martin experienced an anomaly during launch Tuesday from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, resulting in the loss of the payload, Lockheed Martin’s LM 400 tech demo.

According to the company, Firefly’s Alpha FLTA006 launch began with a nominal liftoff and progressed through first stage flight, reaching target separation velocity. The rocket then experienced a mishap between stage separation and second stage ignition that led to the loss of the Lightning engine nozzle extension, substantially reducing the engine’s thrust. That caused the upper stage to miss its orbital insertion. It reentered the atmosphere and landed in the Pacific Ocean.

Alpha FLTA006 is the second mission Firefly launched for Lockheed Martin and the first of Firefly’s multi-launch agreement with that company that includes up to 25 missions over the next five years.

The FAA said in a statement that it will be involved in every step of the mishap investigation process and must approve Firefly’s final report, including any corrective actions, before Alpha can return to fight. 

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Coming up, proposed changes to the government's rules for satellite operators, and the impact of the space economy on the nation's GDP. But right now, why not take a minute to become a paid subscriber to The Journal of Space Commerce. Whether you’re a space professional or enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com on Substack, and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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The FCC Monday voted to move forward with a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would promote efficient spectrum sharing between geostationary and non-geostationary satellite systems.

To take account of today’s satellite technology and operations and to promote efficient co-existence and expanded services to American consumers, the commission is looking to review power limits developed in the 1990s for fixed-satellite service systems in non-geostationary satellite orbit, for the protection of geostationary satellite networks.

Clay DeCell is an FCC Space Bureau Attorney Advisor in the Satellite Programs and Policy Division of the agency.

"This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking would examine modern satellite technology and operations to address the single-most constraining regulatory requirement on broadband satellite systems today. It would take a fresh look at rules dating to the 1990s, that affect satellite systems in the most common spectrum bands for satellite broadband," DeCell said.

"Specifically, the notice would ask how satellite operations have changed in the 20-plus years since these rules were adopted. How current limits affect geostationary satellites and impact the services provided by non-geostationary satellites, and whether updated or alternative sharing frameworks would promote better efficiency to the benefit of American consumers."

The commission voted unanimously to proceed with publication of the NPRM in the Federal Register. Comments must be submitted within 45 days after that publication.

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Through its strategic initiative Space Workforce for Tomorrow (SWFT), Space Foundation has entered into an agreement with International Space University (ISU) which aims to advance space education and address workforce needs across the United States space industry.

This strategic collaboration brings together Space Foundation’s national presence, SWFT’s focused mission to close the U.S. STEM talent gap, and ISU’s interdisciplinary expertise in space education to support the development of a diverse, skilled, and sustainable space workforce.

The MOU establishes a three-year framework for collaboration, emphasizing co-branded programming, national workforce development efforts, and shared resources to drive results across the space industry.

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The Texas Space Commission has selected Intuitive Machines for a grant up to $10 million from the Space Exploration and Research Fund (“SEARF”). This funding supports the development of an Earth reentry vehicle and orbital fabrication lab designed to enable microgravity biomanufacturing, and is intended to serve as a critical risk-reduction platform for the company’s future lunar sample return missions.

In 2022, Intuitive Machines began initial development of the preliminary design for an Earth reentry vehicle capable of supporting missions returning from low Earth orbit, the Moon, or Mars. As this technology was refined, the company partnered with Rhodium Scientific for commercial microgravity biomanufacturing in space.

The 12-month SEARF phase one effort will assist in advancing the collaboration with Rhodium Scientific and will support spacecraft development through Critical Design Review and the creation of a full-scale ground prototype.

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The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) is a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce responsible for producing economic statistics that provide insight into the U.S. economy. In March, it released a significant revision and update to its Space Economy Satellite Account (SESA), offering detailed data from 2012 through 2023.

This week on The Ex Terra Podcast, I talked with BEA Economist Patrick Georgi about the latest data. He says there has been a significant shift in the contribution of the satellite television segment to the overall GDP over the past few years.

"I think one of the stronger trends that we've seen in this new time series has been the shrinking of the information sector as a share of total space economy GDP, which has primarily been driven by declines in the satellite television industry. We've kind of seen this happening for a few years now, and the decline seems to be strongest from about 2016 to 2022. But as of 2023 it looks like that slide has appeared to slow down,” Georgi said. “What we think is that during this time there has been a shift in demand from satellite television to more Earth-based streaming services. However, within the information sector, we are starting to notice an increase, a slight uptick in satellite Internet connections in the United States. So there's potentially room for that market to counter some of the declines within the satellite television industry."

According to the BEA, the Space Economy in 2023 contributed $240.9 billion to the overall U.S. GDP, and supported 373,000 jobs.

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And those are some of the top stories we covered for you on The Journal of Space Commerce this week. You can get daily updates on space commerce by subscribing to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack at www.exterrajsc.com. And please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional or enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

Theme Stock Music Provided by Pond 5

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Obtaining Space Situational Awareness Data, and a Curriculum for the Final Frontier. Here are some of the top stories from The Journal of Space Commerce this week.

The Office of Space Commerce (OSC) has released a Request for Information seeking input on a future multi-vendor contract structure for obtaining space situational awareness (SSA) data and services. Responses will help shape OSC’s acquisition strategy for commercial data and services to integrate into the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS).

The Office of Space Commerce’s TraCSS program is interested in establishing a multi-vendor Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) or indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) to obtain commercial SSA data and services in support of the TraCSS mission. The program is seeking industry input on the attributes of a BPA or IDIQ that would allow flexibility and maximal participation by vendors. The program is also seeking input from industry on other acquisition vehicles that might address the need to engage broadly with the commercial SSA industry for data and services for TraCSS.

Responses to this Request for Information are due no later than 12:00 p.m. (EDT), May 6, 2025. Details on how to respond are available on the Office of Space Commerce website.

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The global space service market size was valued at $30.2 billion in 2023, and is projected to reach $67.9 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 8.8% from 2024 to 2033 according to a new report from Allied Market Research. Space service refers to a broad range of commercial, governmental, and defense-related activities that utilize space-based infrastructure, technologies, and operations to provide services on Earth and beyond, including activities in low Earth orbit (LEO), and geostationary orbit (GEO).

One of the most significant drivers of the space service market is the rising demand for satellite-based services, including telecommunications, earth observation, and navigation. However, high costs associated with space missions and satellite deployments and regulatory and legal challenges in space operations are anticipated to hamper the growth of the market during the forecast period. Moreover, rise in demand for space tourism and commercial spaceflight and the expansion of in-orbit services are expected to offer lucrative opportunities for the market in the future.

The satellite services segment held the highest market share in 2023, owing to the rise of high-speed satellite internet. Communication satellites accounted for a dominant market share in 2023, due to a rise in demand for high-speed internet, military communication needs, and the expansion of 5G networks.

The small payloads segment accounted for the largest market share and is anticipated to maintain its dominance till 2033, and the same segment is expected to witness the highest CAGR of 9.3% during the forecast period fueled by lower launch costs, shorter development cycles, and advancements in miniaturized technology.

North America accounted for the largest market share and is anticipated to maintain its dominance till 2033. However, the Asia-Pacific is expected to portray the highest CAGR of 9.8% during the forecast period.

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Two refueling operations of a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) satellite in geostationary orbit (GEO) for the United States Space Force (USSF) will be conducted by Astroscale U.S. next year. The mission is designed to demonstrate the ability of commercial Servicing, Mobility and Logistics providers to deliver on-orbit capabilities supporting the warfighter.

The Astroscale U.S. Refueler will be the first spacecraft to conduct hydrazine refueling operations above GEO and will be the first-ever on-orbit refueling mission supporting a DoD asset. This mission will establish space heritage for scalable refueling services, a critical step toward enabling sustained maneuverability.

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A contract to provide four docking mechanisms for the European Space Agency’s habitation module for the Lunar Gateway (the Lunar I-Hab) has been awarded to Redwire by Thales Alenia Space. Redwire’s wholly-owned Belgian subsidiary, Redwire Space NV, has been awarded the contract to deliver the International Berthing and Docking Mechanism (IBDM) for the Lunar I-Hab.

The contract includes one active IBDM that will couple Lunar I-Hab to the rest of the Gateway; and three passive systems, which will be used as a docking port for other modules or visiting vehicles. The IBDM will enable safe transfers of crew and cargo, supporting continuous operations and missions within the Gateway lunar space station.

Mike Gold, president of Civil and International Space at Redwire, explains the significance of the contribution to the project.

"We are working for Thales Italy, in this case, to support the international berthing and docking mechanisms for I-HAB. And this is the systems, as the name indicates, that will support berthing and docking. As someone who has dedicated his entire career to bringing people together in space, it's wonderful that through the Artemis Accords ... and they have done that proverbially ... here at Redwire we're doing it literally, where our docking mechanism will bring together modules from different nations, different peoples, representing how we can all come together in the incredible field of space exploration."

The Lunar I-Hab is ESA’s habitation module which will provide living quarters, laboratory space, and mission support infrastructure for astronauts conducting long-duration missions in deep space.

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Coming up, nuclear power for the lunar night. And will NASA be moving to Texas? But right now, why not take a minute to become a paid subscriber to The Journal of Space Commerce. Whether you’re a space professional or enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com on Substack, and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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A strategic agreement to jointly develop technologies that enable lunar missions to survive the harsh lunar night has been reached between ispace-U.S. and Zeno Power. The companies are targeting a demonstration mission as early as 2027 to validate this capability on the lunar surface.

ispace-U.S. and Zeno Power have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the goal to be the first to address NASA’s challenge and explore the integration of Zeno Power’s radioisotope power systems, (RPS) into future lunar missions.

Unlike solar panels and batteries, RPS provide continuous, reliable heat and electricity, regardless of solar availability, making them ideal for enabling a “survive the lunar night” capability.

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U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Ted Cruz and U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Brian Babin, both Texas Republicans, recently led a bicameral coalition of federal lawmakers representing Texas communities in sending a letter to President Trump urging his administration to move NASA headquarters from Washington, D.C. to the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas. The lease for NASA’s current DC office expires in 2028.

In the letter, the lawmakers argue that NASA is disconnected from the day-to-day work of its centers and hindered by bureaucratic micromanagement in Washington, D.C. Houston is well suited for NASA’s headquarters because of JSC’s substantial involvement in nearly everything that makes America a leader in space exploration.

Additionally, Texas boasts a strong business environment, low government regulation, a robust commercial space sector, and a cost of living that is less than half of the Washington, D.C. area. The lawmakers said moving the NASA headquarters to Texas will create more jobs, save taxpayer dollars, and reinvigorate America’s space agency.

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And this week on The Ex Terra Podcast, I talked with Dr. Don Platt, Director of The Spaceport Education Center at the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT).

The center is Located next to Cape Canaveral, a real advantage for integration with industry. Its programs are relevant to current and future needs, including launch operations, mission design, and systems integration.

Dr. Platt said that the nature of work in the Space 2.0 economy is changing, and the workforce has to change with it.

"I had a mentor who liked to say that the 20th century was the age of the specialist, and the 21st century was going to be the age of the generalist. Especially in a small company you're going to have a variety of different responsibilities. Every project you might have a somewhat different role," Platt said. "No longer do you call in a specialist who, all he does is write computer software to create a calculation for a thermal analysis of a very specific system on a spacecraft. Most of the people working in these smaller companies might have to design the entire thermal control system and be well aware of how it interacts with every other component on the spacecraft and how cooling on one component can have a ramification for an adjacent component. So yes, it's definitely a very different environment in a small company where you're doing many things, and interacting with a fewer number of people. But all of the people you're working with have a varied background as well."

Next week on the podcast, I'll talk with Patrick Georgi, an economist with the Bureau of Economic Analysis, about the most recent release of statistics on the space economy. I hope you'll join me then.

And those are some of the stories we covered for you on The Journal of Space Commerce this week. You can get daily updates on space commerce by subscribing to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack at www.exterrajsc.com. And please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional or enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

I'm Tom Patton

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Theme Stock Music Provided by Pond 5

Space employment and space investment are both on the rise. Here are some of the top stories from The Journal of Space Commerce this week.

The Space Report 2025 Q1, which shows space sector employment growth outpacing U.S. private sector growth, has been released by The Space Foundation. In the last decade, overall private sector employment increased 14.3%, while space sector employment increased 27%. Five-year growth for the industry has been even more significant, with employment increasing 18% from 2019 to 2024.

And these are good, high-paying jobs. The most recent year salary data, from 2023, shows the average private U.S. space industry salary was $135,000, a 3.1% increase over 2022 and nearly double the average private sector wage in the United States.

As the launch cadence increases globally, space companies are inundated with more data and an increased need to diversify their workforce — creating a growing demand for applicants with skills in computer science and data analysis.

The report also shows that the FAA licensed 157 commercial spaceflights in 2024 and estimates as many as 172 in 2025.

Next week on The Ex Terra Podcast, we'll talk at length about preparing the next generation of space workers with Dr. Don Platt, director of The Spaceport Education Center at the Florida Institute of Technology.

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Another report released this week ... this one from Space Capital ... shows the first quarter of 2025 was marked by a total investment of $4.3 billion

According to the Q1 2025 Space Investment Quarterly report, investments during the period in 104 companies brought the cumulative private market equity investment to $347.9 billion since 2009.

The report also identifies industry trends that could have several significant implications for the space economy and related industries.

Among those trends is an increase in competition for SpaceX for orbital launch contracts. Chad Anderson, Managing Partner of Space Capital, said in a YouTube video presentation about the report that competitors like Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, and Stoke Space are likely to drive innovation and reduce costs in the launch market. This increased competition can lead to more frequent and affordable access to space, benefiting a wide range of industries reliant on satellite deployment and space-based services, according to the report.

"The company has really enjoyed a decade of very limited competition, but alternatives are finally starting to emerge. In January, Jeff Bezo's Blue Origin successfully reached orbit with their New Glenn vehicle. It is now halfway to being certified for national security missions. It is teed up for some of this national security money. Rocket Lab and Stoke Space were also selected to compete, alongside SpaceX, Blue Origin and ULA for National Security space launch contracts. These are billions of dollars, and more and more companies are entering that pool and competing for those dollars."

Other trends to watch, according to the report, are geopolitical shifts, including rising tensions between the U.S. and China; technological advances in geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI) and AI-driven technologies that are unlocking new capabilities in mapping, spatial intelligence, and precision positioning; and market consolidation and acquisitions.

Anderson said that a recession would be particularly challenging to the space economy, and in particular for startups.

"It's been a few very difficult years for fundraising in the financial markets for startups," Anderson said. "And so a recession at this point in time would be very difficult for a lot of companies. Government contracts could shrink, or there could be delays, which could impact companies which are dependent on defense and national security spending."

Overall, the report finds that the space economy is very dynamic and evolving rapidly. But with significant investments in infrastructure, distribution, and applications, the space sector continues to offer significant opportunities for innovation and growth.

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Coming up, Redwire partners with ispace on CLPS missions, and Nino "Typhoon" Marcantonio on making connections with government customers. But right now, why not take a minute to become a paid subscriber to The Journal of Space Commerce Whether you’re a space professional or enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com on Substack, and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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A memorandum of understanding was signed between Redwire and ispace-U.S. at the 40th Space Symposium. Under the MoU, the companies will jointly pursue commercial lunar exploration and science missions for the NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative and other customers.

The NASA CLPS contract is a multi-award indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) pool of contracts with a cumulative maximum contract value of $2.6 billion through 2028.

Redwire is one of 14 prime contractors on the CLPS IDIQ contract, and together with ispace-U.S., the team will be pursuing future CLPS missions leveraging the proven ispace lunar lander. The APEX lunar lander is the company’s next-generation lander, incorporating lessons learned from the Hakuto-R lunar exploration program.

Mike Gold, president of Civil and International Space at Redwire, tells Ex Terra Media that the partnership promises significant outcomes.

"In the long term, we're not just going to go after programs, but going after a new lunar economy. Helium 3 has been gaining momentum, rare earth elements, there's just a lot of opportunities that five years ago, even a year ago we weren't even looking at or considering. So I'm very excited about the momentum generally with CLPS. You heard Jared Isaacman talk specifically about CLPS in his hearing, and I think we will see this administration continue to embrace and even do more with public-private partnerships that are so critical to why America is winning the global space race."

Gold said that the two companies are already looking specifically at at least one project for collaboration.

"CS-6 is the next CLPS opportunity for commercial entities to go to the Moon. This will be a mission to the south pole, and we are extraordinarily excited to team with ispace to help NASA and the world take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity."

With this strategic collaboration, Redwire and ispace-U.S. will be empowered to apply proven experience, expertise, and heritage to support future commercial lunar missions for government and private sector customers.

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Startups RedPoint Oncology and Fourier are the newest recipients of the Technology in Space Prize, funded by Boeing and the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), manager of the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory.

Selected through the MassChallenge (Boston) startup accelerator program, these two companies will utilize the unique research environment available through the ISS National Lab to push the boundaries of scientific knowledge and advance their research and technology development.

RedPoint Oncology will leverage the accelerated disease progression of cancers in microgravity to test a new class of therapeutics that can treat cancers resistant to conventional treatments. Fourier will test the performance of its new radiation-shielding material in protecting sensitive electronic devices from the harsh conditions in space. Through the Technology in Space Prize, CASIS and Boeing intend to award RedPoint Oncology and Fourier more than $650,000 in total funding.

The startups join a growing community of researchers using the final frontier to explore new possibilities and demonstrate the potential of space-based research. Since the prize’s inception, more than $20 million has been awarded for more than 30 projects.

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Blue Origin successfully completed its 11th human spaceflight for the New Shepard program. The crew included Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyễn (nWen), Gayle King, Katy Perry, Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sánchez, who brought the mission together.

The New Shepard spacecraft lifted off from central Texas at 9:30 AM Eastern time on Tuesday, and the capsule reached an apogee of 66 miles. The crew landed just after 8:40 am local time for a total duration of 10 minutes and 21 seconds.

Including this crew, New Shepard has now flown 58 people to space, including four people who have flown twice.

The spaceflight included the first all-female crew since Valentina Tereshkova flew alone aboard Vostok 6 in 1963.

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Marcantonio Global is a company that with a mission to accelerate innovation in the defense sector by fostering collaboration between innovative technology companies and defense organizations. This week on The Ex Terra Podcast, I talked with Nino Marcantonio, the founder and CEO of Marcantonio Global about how the firm works with space companies to make the right connections within the U.S. Government.

With a focus on investment strategies, policy navigation, and market analysis for the rapidly evolving commercial space industry, their mission is to bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and critical defense needs.

"I think that the lines between commercial space and the defense sector is blurring, with private innovators and innovations. If you're looking at rapid launch and surveillance that's been deployed to protect troops and national interest." Marcantonio said. "Some actors might use that as something nefarious, some actors might use that as crowd control. I think what we're seeing with SpaceX is absolutely something that, where real innovation comes in. These launches that they're doing, that they're catching the payload is absolutely amazing. You have all sorts of other players. HawkEye 360, Responsive Space Solutions, you've got Starlink helping Ukraine. That was an incredible thing, to help out a nation that was in need. It changed the character of the war. When you're able to use that kind of capability it can change the war outcome, which is really incredible."

Nino Marcantonio is the founder and CEO of Marcantonio Global.

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And those are some of the top stories we covered for you on The Journal of Space Commerce this week. You can get daily updates on space commerce by subscribing to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack at www.exterrajsc.com. And please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional or enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit exterrajsc.com and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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NASA Administrator nominee Jared Isaacman meets with the U.S. Senate, and Political Change and Space Commerce. Here are some of the top stories from The Journal of Space Commerce this week.

The U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation committee held a hearing Wednesday to consider the nomination of Entrepreneur Jared Isaacman to be the next NASA Administrator. While Isaacman by his own admission to the committee is not a scientist or particularly political, he has traveled to space ... paying his own way.

Isaacman has flown on two private space missions, commanding both the Inspiration4 mission and the Polaris Dawn mission. On that later flight, he became the first private citizen to conduct an extra-vehicular activity. His nomination became official on January 20, 2025, the day President Trump was inaugurated. In his opening prepared remarks to the committee, he outlined his vision for NASA, while acknowledging the agency has challenges.

"Presidents have called for a return to the Moon and a path to Mars since 1989, and well over $100 billion has been spent without the intended results," he said. "Most programs ... new telescopes, rovers and x-planes, entire space ships ... are over budget and behind schedule. And this is discouraging, because when people look up at the stars and wonder what is out there, they want those answers today, and not decades down the road.

"And I know that it is not lost on the members of this committee that we have geopolitical rivals moving at impressive speeds. It's imperative for our national security, our pride and all that we stand to gain in exploration that we never come in second place," Isaacman said.

Following opening remarks Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the ranking Democrat on the panel, asked Isaacman about his thoughts on firm, fixed-price contracts that are often awarded by NASA to private companies.

"Having run a defense aerospace company for more than a decade, I generally am a fan, of firm, fixed-price contracts and being held accountable for what we bid. In terms of the difference between NASA's in-house expertise and what commercial industry is able to provide ... I believe NASA should, again, per my prepared remarks, on the near impossible that no one else is capable of doing. And when they figure it out, commercial industry takes over and brings the rest of the world to follow," Isaacman said.

If confirmed, Isaacman said the goals of the agency would be for American astronauts to lead the way in the ultimate high ground of space; to ignite a thriving economy in Low Earth Orbit, and: to be a force-multiplier for science. The hearing concluded without a vote on Isaacman's nomination.

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According to a new report from global technology intelligence firm ABI Research, the total number of active LEO (including VLEO) satellites in operational orbit has the potential to increase from 7,473 in 2023 to approximately 42,600 by 2032. As China and Europe intensify their efforts and make significant investments in the LEO satellite market, there is a growing emphasis on space technologies for both national and commercial strategies. With more companies entering this sector, there are vast opportunities to expand across various industry verticals to capture the potential the space domain offers.

Many satellite network operators are seizing this opportunity to invest in their networks or collaborate with technology companies. In the AI and edge processing space, companies like AWS, Spire Global, Telesat Lightspeed, D-Orbit, Anduril, and Ubotica are exploring new opportunities to deliver advanced systems that integrate these technologies into satellite networks.

Chinese operators such as Spacesail, China Satellite Network Group, and Shanghai Landspace Technology are also accelerating the development of their satellite constellations to strengthen national defense and security systems. This includes their ambition to become global leaders in communications and other key space capabilities.

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The FAA-required investigation of the SpaceX Starship Flight 7 mishap on Jan. 16 is closed. There were no public injuries and one confirmed report of minor vehicle damage in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The FAA oversaw and accepted the findings of the SpaceX-led investigation. The final mishap report cites the probable root cause for the loss of the Starship vehicle was stronger than anticipated vibrations during flight led to increased stress on, and failure of, the hardware in the propulsion system. SpaceX identified 11 corrective actions to prevent a reoccurrence of the event. The FAA verified that SpaceX implemented corrective actions prior to Flight 8.

The most probable root cause for the loss of ship was identified as a harmonic response several times stronger in flight than had been seen during testing, which led to increased stress on hardware in the propulsion system. The subsequent propellant leaks exceeded the venting capability of the ship’s attic area and resulted in sustained fires.

The FAA is overseeing the SpaceX-led investigation of the Starship Flight 8 mishap that occurred on March 6. The investigation remains open. A return to flight of the Starship vehicle is based on public safety. SpaceX may not launch Starship again until the FAA accepts the final mishap investigation report or makes a return to flight determination and all other licensing requirements are met.

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Coming up, an update on Axiom Station, and the effect of foreign policy on space commerce. But right now, why not take a minute to become a paid subscriber to The Journal of Space Commerce Whether you’re a space professional or enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com on Substack, and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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A high-differential pressure water electrolysis system under development by Honda R&D will be tested aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in collaboration with Sierra Space and Tec-Masters. The project is part of Honda's vision for a regenerative fuel cell system that could provide advanced energy storage capable of supporting human life on the lunar surface.

Honda envisions the circulative renewable energy system, which would continuously produce oxygen, hydrogen, and electricity, to be part of the infrastructure for humanity's sustained habitation on the Moon – utilizing the available resources of sunlight and water.

During the Lunar Day, the system will use electricity generated by the sun to power the process. Honda's high-differential pressure water electrolysis system will then produce hydrogen and oxygen from water. During the Lunar Night, when the Moon is not receiving sunlight, some of the oxygen will be used for astronauts to breathe. The system will use the remaining oxygen, along with the hydrogen produced during the Lunar Day, to generate electricity.

After the fuel cells generate electricity, the only byproduct is water, which is recycled back into the water electrolysis system to create a closed-loop energy cycle. This process is similar to how a home solar system operates on Earth.

For the ISS testing, Honda is collaborating with Sierra Space and Tec-Masters, a provider of innovative scientific and technological solutions. Sierra Space will be the primary space mission integrator, working with NASA to transport materials on Sierra Space's Dream Chaser spaceplane. Tec-Masters will be the ISS technology expert.

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A significant milestone in the development of flight operations for Axiom station has been reached with the successful execution of the first simulated mission of the Payload, Power, and Thermal Module (PPTM).

This demonstration served as a critical step in aligning the infrastructure and personnel necessary to prepare Axiom Space for future space station flight operations. The primary objective was to establish and test the flow of real-time data from the simulator to vehicle displays within the MCC-A infrastructure. A secondary objective focused on exercising these tools in a controlled environment, allowing an experienced flight control team to assess the tools’ effectiveness.

Moving forward, the integrated team will define new demonstration objectives designed to further refine operational readiness and enhance training fidelity.

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This week on The Ex Terra Podcast, we talked with Dr. Namrata Goswami, an author and educator currently teaching with the West Space and Schriever scholars program at Johns Hopkins University.

There has been a lot of political change since we last talked with Dr. Goswami, both domestically and on the world stage. Uncertainty over tariffs is roiling the stock market, and international relations are shifting like an offshore sandbar. What does all that mean for space commerce and space programs among our largest competitors ... China, Russia and India?

"Space is seen as so vital, for example, for China's economic development, for China's capacity in terms of its own other technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, their economy, that they find the money. And they find very long-term money. And what they do is that, especially for China, India and Russia to an extent. Russia is actually facing (many) more issues than China and India in terms of the funding for its program. So I would argue that both China and India have allocated money in their five year plans for their space programs. And because they give (it) so much of a high priority that they find the money for it."

Dr. Namrata Goswami co-authored the book "Scramble for the Skies: The Great Power Competition to Control the Resources of Outer Space".

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And those are some of the top stories we covered for you on The Journal of Space Commerce this week. You can get daily updates on space commerce by subscribing to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack at www.exterrajsc.com. And please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional or enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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Theme Stock Music provided by CoolTones, from Pond5

Images from file

The impact of space commerce on the U.S. economy, and another all-civilian space flight. I'm Tom Patton, and here are some of the top stories from The Journal of Space Commerce this week.

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) has released new and updated U.S. space economy statistics for 2012–2023. These statistics provide estimates of the U.S. space economy's gross domestic product (GDP) and gross output by industry in current and chained (or “real”) dollars, as well as by-industry estimates of private employment and compensation. The space economy accounted for $142.5 billion, or 0.5 percent, of total U.S. GDP in 2023.

Real GDP grew by 0.6 percent in the space economy, reflecting the second consecutive year of positive real growth. The statistics also show the space economy accounted for $240.9 billion of gross output in 2023 and $57.9 billion of private-sector compensation and supported 373,000 private-sector jobs.

Real GDP growth in the space economy was partly offset by declines in the information sector, down −4.0 percent, and wholesale trade, which was off 5.2 percent.

According to BEA, gross output is principally a measure of sales or revenue from production for most industries, although it is measured as sales or revenue less cost of goods sold for margin industries like retail and wholesale trade. Intermediate inputs are the foreign and domestically-produced goods and services used up by an industry in the process of producing its gross output. Value added is the difference between gross output and intermediate inputs and represents the value of labor and capital used in producing gross output. The sum of value added across all industries is equal to gross domestic product for the economy. Value added is also measured as the sum of an industry’s compensation of employees, taxes on production and imports, less subsidies, and gross operating surplus.

Or put more simply:

* In business: Sales = Cost-of-Goods + Value Add

* In the economy: Gross Output = Intermediate Inputs + GDP

* Sales is to Gross Output as Value Add is to GDP

We're working on getting a representative from BEA to be a guest on The Ex Terra Podcast in the coming weeks, so be sure to stay tuned, or better yet, subscribe.

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NASA has awarded SpaceX a modification under the NASA Launch Services (NLS) II contract to add Starship to their existing Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch service offerings.

The contracts include an on-ramp provision that provides an opportunity annually for new launch service providers to add their launch service on an NLS II contract and compete for future missions and allows existing contractors to introduce launch services not currently on their NLS II contracts.

Meanwhile, another group of civilian astronauts lifted off on the Fram2 mission aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule.

Fram2 is the first manned mission to be launched into a polar orbit. During their multi-day mission, Dragon and the crew will explore Earth from a polar orbit and fly over Earth’s polar regions for the first time. They will also conduct 22 research experiments designed to help advance humanity’s capabilities for long-duration space exploration, and the understanding of human health in space.

Named in honor of the ship that helped explorers first reach Earth’s Arctic and Antarctic regions, Fram2 is commanded by Chun Wang, an entrepreneur and adventurer from Malta.

The Fram2 Dragon capsule splashed down off the coast of California at about noon eastern time on Friday and the crew exited exit the spacecraft without additional medical and operational assistance, helping researchers understand the ability of astronauts to perform unassisted functional tasks after short- and long-duration space missions.

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The FCC has launched an inquiry to explore commercial technologies that would complement the Global Positioning System (GPS).

Because the American economy and national security depend on GPS as the sole source of PNT data, the U.S. government has shown great interest in developing resilient backups that would protect critical operations from any disruption in GPS signals.

In his opening remarks on the topic at a commission meeting held to discuss this and other issues, FCC Chairman Brenden Carr talked about the scope of the GPS inquiry.

"With this inquiry, we will explore other PNT systems that can be complements or alternatives to GPS, with an emphasis on complementary systems," Carr said. "Beyond answering technical questions, we hope this effort will engage stakeholders across government and industry to encourage the development of new PNT technologies and solutions."

The Commission intends to build a comprehensive record on what actions it can take to strengthen GPS and promote other PNT technologies. These actions could include FCC rule changes, public-private partnerships, testbeds, Innovation Zones, and more.

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The FAA-required investigation of the Blue Origin New Glenn-1 mishap that occurred on Jan. 16 is closed. There were no public injuries or public property damage.

The FAA oversaw and accepted the findings of the Blue Origin-led investigation. The final mishap report identified the proximate cause of the mishap as an inability of New Glenn's first stage to restart the engines, preventing a reentry burn from occurring, and resulting in the loss of the stage.

Blue Origin identified seven corrective actions to prevent reoccurrence of the anomaly. The FAA will verify that Blue Origin has implemented corrective actions prior to the launch of the New Glenn-2 mission.

But with the conclusion of the investigation, the Blue Origin New Glenn vehicle is authorized to return to flight provided all other licensing requirements are met.

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The first commercial space launch from European soil was conducted Sunday by satellite launch service company Isar Aerospace.

And though the flight of the Spectrum rocket was terminated 30 seconds after being launched from Andøya (AN-dwah) Spaceport in Norway, Daniel Metzler, CEO and Co-founder of Isar Aerospace, said the launch met all of the company's goals.

"We got a clean liftoff, we flew for about 30 seconds, and in the meantime we did not blow up the pad, which was most of what we wanted to achieve," Metzler said. "And what we really wanted to achieve was to get a lot of data, and so the teams are already on it right now to look at all of the data so we can learn from it, put it into the second vehicle and go from there."

Launch vehicles for the second and third flight of Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum are already in production. In its new headquarter near Munich, Germany, Isar Aerospace says it will be able to produce up to 40 Spectrum launch vehicles per year in the future.

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This week on the Ex Terra Podcast, I talked with Victoria Da Poian, Lead Data Scientist, and Peter O'Donoghue, Chief Technology Officer at Tyto Athene.

The company focuses on secure communications, mission-critical IT infrastructure, and digital transformation for government agencies and defense organizations.

While their core business is not explicitly focused on the space sector, their capabilities in secure communications, cybersecurity, and IT solutions are increasingly relevant to modern space operations, particularly in defense-related satellite communications (SATCOM), ground station infrastructure, and space-based networking. O'Donoghue said these days, everything is interconnected.

"AI/ML is extremely important, but I think ... everything is going to keep evolving. But the pattern that I see that is most important is ... everything is a set of either always connected or ephemerally connected things that actually produce or create data. We need to be able to understand that data and exploit it to actually generate better mission outcomes."

Peter O'Donoghue is Chief Technology Officer at Tyto Athene.

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And those are some of the top stories we covered for you on The Journal of Space Commerce this week. You can get daily updates on space commerce by subscribing to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack at www.exterrajsc.com. And please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional or enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

I'm Tom Patton

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SpaceX looks to increase its launch cadence from Cape Canaveral. I'm Tom Patton, and here are some of the top stories from The Journal of Space Commerce this week.

The FAA has posted for public review a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) analyzing the SpaceX proposal to increase Falcon 9 operations from 50 to up to 120 per year from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The Draft EA also reviews the construction of a first-stage booster landing zone at the site with up to 34 landings per year.

Under the Proposed Action addressed in the Draft EA, the FAA would Issue a license modification that would allow SpaceX to increase the annual number of Falcon 9 launches at SLC-40, construct and operate a Falcon 9 first-stage booster landing zone (LZ) at SLC-40, and approve related airspace closures for launch and landing operations.

The FAA invites interested parties to submit comments on the Draft EA. The comment period closes on April 24, 2025.

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The Rocket Lab ‘Finding Hot Wildfires Near You’ mission lifted-off from Mahia, New Zealand on Tuesday. The mission launched within four months after contract signing with Germany-based global wildfire and detection company OroraTech in order to meet the time-sensitive requirements of the company's wildfire detection mission.

As the countdown progressed, Rocket Lab software engineer Griessen (Gray-sen) Leslie laid out the primary objectives for the launch.

"Electron is carrying eight satellites on board for today's mission for OroraTech, and is heading for a 550 kilometer circular Earth orbit on a 97 degree inclination. Deploying today's satellites on orbit will provide firefighters and emergency workers near-real-time data on how a fire is behaving, and situational awareness to better battle wildfires and their hotspots."

‘Finding Hot Wildfires Near You’ marked a significant expansion of OroraTech’s constellation, enhancing their global capabilities and connectivity with a network of advanced thermal sensors. This was the third Electron launch completed within two weeks from Launch Complex 1.

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A lunar rover tasked with exploring the Gruithuisen Domes on the Moon will be built by Blue Origin company Honeybee Robotics for Firefly Aerospace. The rover will fly on the third Blue Ghost mission currently scheduled to land on the near side of the moon sometime in 2028.

As part of Firefly’s third mission to the Moon, Honeybee’s rover will help investigate the subsurface composition of the Gruithuisen Gamma Dome carrying elements of NASA’s Lunar Vulkan Imaging and Spectroscopy Explorer (Lunar-VISE) suite.

The rover will travel along the southern edge of the Gruithuisen Gamma Dome and through a boulder field to reach the rim of a recent impact crater. The rover will then traverse back to the lander just before sunset to enable repeat observations of boulder targets at different solar illumination angles.

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A new statement of intent focused on Moon and Mars activities has been signed by representatives of the European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The statement outlines an intention towards space exploration cooperation between ESA and JAXA, and lays the groundwork for expanded collaboration between the two agencies in advancing science, technology and international partnerships.

The statement of intent highlights many opportunities for collaboration in exploring the Moon and Mars.

Going forward, technical teams from ESA and JAXA will begin working closely to define their roles and how they’ll work together; exchanging detailed data will be key to ensuring a seamless cooperation. Once these are in place, and pending further approval and funding, more formal agreements between the two agencies will be established.

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The first-ever demonstration of the space-based power beaming technology being developed by Star Catcher was demonstrated last Friday, marking a major step toward deploying an in-space energy grid that will eliminate power constraints for satellites. Conducted at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, this end-to-end ground demonstration validates the core technology that could soon address the growing gap between supply and demand in on-orbit power generation.

For the demonstration, Star Catcher’s proprietary energy transmission system successfully collected and transmitted concentrated solar energy over 100 meters to multiple off-the-shelf satellite solar arrays, proving the viability of the company’s space technology under real-world conditions.

While this demonstration successfully beamed power the length of a football field, Star Catcher is already preparing for its first large-scale test this summer at Space Florida’s Launch and Landing Facility at Cape Canaveral, Florida.

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This week on The Ex Terra Podcast, I talked with Michael Anderson, co-founder and CEO of Seagate Space.

Maritime launch has been attempted in the past, with varying levels of success. Anderson says that what his company hopes to do is provide a launch platform that it adaptable to multiple types of rockets, and offers launch providers a more affordable option than most land-based launch facilities. Anderson says their approach employs advances in technology to increase efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

"What we are designing is a platform that can be constructed modularly, and gives us an easier way to adjust the design to accomodate more than one user. And so a typical barge or vessel asset is going to be fixed-form ... there's a steel hull component and it's very hard to change the dimensions of that asset. It's hard to even go and change it on the drawing board. We've designed something that's ... I don't want to give too much away but there's incremental units to allow the assed to be constructed piecemeal. And that allows us to change the form factor, it allows us to add attributes where they're needed, versus not, and it's really unique in maritime, but I think what this industry needs is a unique solution."

Anderson says that the company has targeted a early as this year for an attempt to launch a small-scale rocket, with a test involving a full-scale launch vehicle perhaps as early as 2026.

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And those are just some of the stories we covered for you this week on The Journal of Space Commerce. Whether you're a space professional or an enthousiast, please consider becoming a paid or founding subscriber and get first access to in-depth podcasts and articles focusing on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com to find out how you can help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole, and when necessary critique the commercial space industry.

I'm Tom Patton, Thanks for listening.

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Lunar Success, and the return of Crew-9. I'm Tom Patton, and here are some of the stories we covered for you this week on The Journal of Space Commerce.

After landing on the Moon with NASA science and technology demonstrations March 2, Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Mission 1 concluded its mission March 16. But analysis of data returned to Earth from the NASA instruments continues, benefitting future lunar missions.

“We collected over 119 gigabytes of data, and that's imagery data, and payload data, and that doesn't include even the telemetry data we brought back down.” Ray Allensorth, Firefly Aerospace

As part of NASA's CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative and Artemis campaign, Firefly's Blue Ghost lunar lander delivered 10 NASA science and technology instruments to the Mare Crisium basin on the near side of the Moon.

In a news conference following the official conclusion of the mission, Firefly Aerospace Spacecraft Program Director Ray Allensworth said that the impacts of the mission will be realized in the months and years to come.

"We were able to completely maximize the lunar day, operating every day that we were on the surface, and ... also through an eclipse and into the lunar night. And it's that data that's really important to us as Firefly to provide back to the payloads. We collected over 119 gigabytes of data, and that's imagery data, and payload data, and that doesn't include even the telemetry data we brought back down. So just a significant amount of data that all the teams get to go dig into, learn from, and I think over the coming months and years we're really going to see all the information and new findings coming out of all this data.

Firefly says the data captured will benefit humanity in many ways, providing insights into how space weather and other cosmic forces may impact Earth.

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The Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station wrapped up this week, with Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams returning to Earth some nine months after launching aboard the Boeing Starliner crewed flight test last June.

Williams and Wilmore, along with NASA Astronaut Nick Hague and Russian Cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, splashed down in the Gulf of America off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida on Tuesday.

Even given the issues that cropped up with the Starliner spacecraft that took Wilmore and Williams to the station, at a post-splashdown news conference, NASA Commercial Crew Manager Steve Stitch said the agency was not ready to give up on the Boeing system.

"We'll celebrate for a while. We're going to take some time to celebrate this one and spend a little time with the crew. And then we'll move on to Crew-11. Crew-11 will be here before you know it, we're going to launch that vehicle as early as mid-July, so we'll start preparing for that. And then, we're working hand in hand with Boeing as well on certification of Starliner, getting that vehicle back to flight. Butch and Suni's return on Dragon to me shows how important it is to have two different crew transportation systems, the importance of Starliner and the redundancy we're building in human spaceflight for our low-Earth orbit economy. "

The Crew-9 mission was the fourth flight of the Dragon spacecraft named Freedom. It also previously supported NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4, Axiom Mission 2, and Axiom Mission 3. It will be inspected and refurbished for use on a future mission.

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In other news, the third Varda orbital processing and reentry capsule, W-3, launched just 15 days after the reentry of the company's second mission, which landed in Australia on Feb. 27, 2025. W-3 was carried into orbit aboard the SpaceX Transporter-13 rideshare mission.

Supported by a Rocket Lab-developed Pioneer satellite like its predecessors, W-3's payload is an advanced navigation system called an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) developed by the US Air Force and Innovative Scientific Solutions Incorporated (ISSI). This payload will be tested at reentry speeds it was designed to withstand but has never encountered before.

IMUs are electronics that can measure an object's motion, orientation, and velocity. Such technology is included in everything from cars to FitBits. Varda's capsule can help test these devices for our government and commercial partners to advance research into high-hypersonic technologies.

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Speaking of Rocket Lab, the company has entered into a non-binding term sheet with certain lenders to acquire, subject to certain governmental approvals, a controlling equity position in Mynaric AG.

Mynaric is a provider of laser optical communications terminals for air, space, and mobile applications. The acquisition, if accomplished, is expected to further strengthen Rocket Lab’s capabilities as a launch provider, spacecraft manufacturer, and supplier of satellite components at scale. Rocket Lab may fund this and other future acquisition opportunities with proceeds from equity offerings.

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And finally, we were pleased to welcome back The Ex Terra Podcast this week. My guest was Dr. Bill Goodman, founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technology Officer of Goodman Technologies.

Dr. Goodman is often referred to as the "real-world Tony Stark". He has made many contributions to the State-Of-The-Art: airborne SiC telescopes, space and nuclear survivable coatings and mirrors, lightweight mirrors for space and directed energy, seeker telescopes, deformable mirrors, fast steering mirrors, actively cooled mirrors/structures, windows for HELs, solar telescope mirrors, and more.

"The second part of the term, "composites", that's a group of different materials that come together that usually synergize to give properties that any one of the constituents by themselves don't have. But "nano" is where it gets interesting. A human hair is about 100 microns in diameter ... A single carbon fiber might be 10 microns in diameter, but a nanoparticle is about 0.0001 the diameter of a human hair. What makes them very special is if you compare their surface area to volume ratio, it's an extraordinarily high number compared to a larger particle like a marble, or a baseball, or a beach ball."

Goodman says he has lost count of the number of patents held by his company, but not the bills from his patent attorney.

Goodman Technology products range from thermal and radiation shielding to body armor. He earned both a Masters and PhD. in Material Sciences from UCLA.

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And those are just some of the stories we covered for you on The Journal of Space Commerce this week. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional or enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

I'm Tom Patton. Thanks for listening.

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Blue Ghost captured a solar eclipse from a unique angle this week. Here are some of the top stories from The Journal of Space Commerce this week.

Normally, when we think about a solar eclipse, it's the Moon crossing in front of the Sun and casting a shadow on Earth. But this week, the Firefly Aerospace Blue Ghost lander watched the Earth pass in front of the sun from its vantage point on the Moon in Mare Crisium.

The eclipse lasted about 5 hours, with approximately 2 hours and 16 minutes of totality. While it was not a stated mission requirement, Firefly's goal was to image the eclipse, and potentially operate NASA instruments to measure changes in the lunar environment from this unique perspective.

Capturing this footage required Blue Ghost to rely on its batteries for power rather than its solar panels, presenting a challenge during the darkness of the eclipse, but Firefly Aerospace says it captured this incredible phenomenon and hopes to share it with the world.

Earlier this week, Blue Ghost performed ongoing LISTER operations. Mounted below Blue Ghost’s lower deck, NASA’s Lunar Instrumentation for Subsurface Thermal Exploration with Rapidity (LISTER) payload is a pneumatic, gas-powered drill developed by Texas Tech University and Honeybee Robotics. It measures the temperature and flow of heat from the Moon’s interior.

Overall, eight out of 10 NASA payloads have already met their Blue Ghost Mission objectives.

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The space industry gathered in Washington, D.C. this week for Satellite Week. This series of events highlighted the significant contributions that the manufacturers, engineers, and entrepreneurs in America’s space sector are making to the country’s economy and national security.

At the start of the event, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr summarized some of the early wins the agency has delivered for America’s space industry. Chairman Carr also announced three north stars that will guide the FCC’s work to extend U.S. leadership in space—speed, simplification, and spectrum.

Within just weeks of leading the FCC, Chairman Carr has prioritized America’s space economy and delivered an initial set of early wins for the sector, including:

* 33 space station and 200 ground station applications granted since January 20th alone.

* Enabling faster and more robust direct-to-cell service by allowing providers to operate on spectrum at higher power levels.

* And the Elimination of the FCC’s slow, resource intensive review mechanisms by starting the process of standardizing the agency’s review and approval procedures through objective metrics.

He promised to focus the FCC’s work on speed, simplification, and ensuring satellite operators have the spectrum resources necessary to fuel this sector’s growth. These pillars will make America the most attractive country in the world to launch a space business.

Later during the show, Space Bureau Chief Jay Schwarz, echoed those sentiments, saying that in the past the agency has chosen paperwork, processes, and precautions, and it is now urgent that it change course.

Stay tuned.

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A few months ago, we introduced you to a company called Star Catcher on The Ex Terra Podcast. This week, the company announced a strategic partnership with Space Florida to advance what would be the world's first space energy grid.

On the podcast in August, Star Catcher CEO Andrew Rush explained how the system is designed to work.

"We will fly our power nodes in select orbits in Low Earth Orbit at about 1,500 kilometers in altitude, so we're kind of looking down on everybody in Low Earth Orbit, and each one of the satellites has a multi-thousand kilometer operational radius. So we will beam the power to client satellites, and they'll stay in their orbits doing their missions servicing their customers. We will direct the energy to them based on their needs. So it's really important for us to avoid kind of a "chicken and the egg" problem, where we don't want our customers to have to change how they operate, and we don't want them to have to fly some custom receiver. That's why we interface with their existing solar arrays and say "hey, just keep doing what you're doing and we'll beam power to you."

Star Catcher plans conduct a large-scale demonstration later this summer of its unique power beaming technology at Space Florida's Launch and Landing Facility (LLF), a historic site integral to advancing space technology innovation.

The partnership also includes an investment in Star Catcher by Space Florida, underscoring the State of Florida's commitment to fostering innovation and driving the growth of Florida's space economy. The announcement builds on Star Catcher's recent success, including closing a $12.25 million seed funding round in July 2024.

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A study aimed at developing capabilities to refurbish and upgrade satellites for commercial use has been completed by Astroscale and BAE Systems. As part of the European Space Agency’s ‘Systems Studies for a Circular Economy in Space’, Astroscale is collaborating with BAE Systems to develop an In-orbit Refurbishment and Upgrading Service (IRUS) to advance the transition away from the current single-use culture in space. This initial systems study will inform the next steps towards future commercial services.

The IRUS project involves building on Astroscale’s existing technology to design a servicer satellite which can rendezvous with a BAE Systems client satellite. The client satellite will be created in a modular serviceable way, enabling the servicer to robotically upgrade its specific modules in space.

DHV Technology, a manufacturer of solar array systems and spacecraft power subsystems, was also part of the project. The company added breadth to the study’s scope by investigating wider impacts and potential applications of refurbishment and upgrading on solar cell technologies.

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Finally, Lucy Edge has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer at ReOrbit, a manufacturer of software-enabled satellites. She will assume her new role on April 1.

Ms. Edge previously served as Chief of Missions and Deputy CEO at the Satellite Applications Catapult. Before that, she played a key role in the success of Avanti Communications, where she contributed to designing and launching satellites, as well as establishing and running the Avanti Communications Spacecraft Operations Center.

Edge holds a degree in Physics and transitioned into spacecraft engineering through a Master’s program.

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And those are just some of the stories presented by The Journal of Space Commerce this week. If you're a space enthusiast looking for stories about innovation in the space industry, we hope you'll consider becoming a paid or founding subscriber to The Journal of Space Commerce. You can be the first to get access to in-depth articles about the promise of space, as well as our Ex Terra Extra podcast, where we take a deep dive into some of the most fascinating aspects of the new space industry.

So please consider a paid subscription to The Journal of Space Commerce to help us maintain our independence as we chronicle, cajole, and when necessary critique the new space industry ... Thanks for listening. I'm Tom Patton.

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Space exploration is all about successes and setbacks, and there was some of both this week. I'm Tom Patton, and here are some of the top stories from The Journal of Space Commerce this week.

We'll start with a success. On Sunday, Blue Ghost Mission 1 ... dubbed by Firefly Aerospace as "Ghost Riders in the Sky"… successfully landed on the Moon. The achievement marked the first time that a commercial company achieved a fully successful soft landing on the lunar surface.

The lander touched down at 2:34 a.m. CST on Sunday within its 100-meter landing target next to a volcanic feature called Mons Latreille. Blue Ghost’s shock absorbing legs stabilized the lander as it touched down, and inertial readings confirmed the lander was upright in a stable configuration.

The surface operations now underway include lunar subsurface drilling, sample collection, X-ray imaging, and dust mitigation experiments. On March 14, Firefly expects to capture high-definition imagery of a total eclipse when the Earth blocks the sun above the Moon’s horizon. On March 16, Blue Ghost will then capture the lunar sunset, providing data on how lunar dust levitates due to solar influences and creates a lunar horizon glow first documented by Eugene Cernan on Apollo 17. Following the sunset, Blue Ghost will operate several hours into the lunar night and continue to capture imagery that observes how levitating dust behavior changes after the sunset.

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The news was not so good for Intuitive Machines. The IM-2 mission Athena Lander overshot its planned landing zone by about 250 meters and landed inside a crater near the lunar south pole.

Intuitive Machines knew something had gone wrong shortly after the landing. but during a news conference with NASA Thursday afternoon, Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus remained optimistic about what they might be able to achieve.

"We don't believe we're in the correct attitude on the Moon yet again," Altemus said. "I can say that we are charging on the surface, We are commanding uplink and downlink from the vehicle to our ground network ... so we are communicating. We can command payloads on and off, we can send commands to the vehicle, and we have powered down and done some power conservation steps as prudent measures to see how long and what objectives we can accomplish in the mission going forward. When we get that full assessment, we will then work closely with NASA science and technology groups to identify science objectives that are of the highest priority. And then we'll figure out what the mission profile will look (like). It will be off-nominal, because we are not getting everything we asked for in terms of power generation, communication, etc."

On its website Friday, the company said that after landing, mission controllers were able to accelerate several program and payload milestones, including NASA’s PRIME-1 suite, before the lander’s batteries depleted.

But with the direction of the sun, the orientation of the solar panels, and extreme cold temperatures in the crater, Intuitive Machines does not expect Athena to recharge, and so declared the mission to be concluded.

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SpaceX conducted its eighth flight test of its full stack Starship spacecraft on Thursday. The test was reminiscent of a long foul ball to left field. The Starship Super Heavy booster performed nominally. The second stage, or "ship" separated successfully from the booster, and the booster was recovered intact back at Starbase in south Texas. And then ...

"And we just saw some engines go out ... it looks like we are losing attitude control of the Ship ..."

For the second straight time, the second stage experienced an energetic event in the aft portion of Starship, resulting in the loss of several Raptor engines. This in turn led to a loss of attitude control and ultimately a loss of communications with Starship. Final contact came approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds after liftoff.

Some airspace was briefly closed and the FAA issued a ground stop for some airports in south Florida due to the potential for debris falling back to Earth. The FAA issued a statement indicating that the agency is requiring SpaceX to perform a mishap investigation into the loss of the Starship vehicle during launch operations.

During the event, the FAA activated a Debris Response Area and briefly slowed aircraft outside the area where space vehicle debris was falling or stopped aircraft at their departure locations. Normal operations have resumed.

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In other news, a new satellite that can be produced in high volumes and tailored for large constellations, targeting high value applications and national security missions, has been introduced by Rocket Lab. 'Flatellite' is a scalable, long-life, high-power, stackable satellite that enables secure, low-latency, high-speed connectivity and remote sensing capability for national security, defense, and commercial markets.

Flatellite employs a low-profile, stackable structure to maximize the number of satellites that can be deployed per launch and has seamless integration with Rocket Lab’s own Neutron rocket. The design integrates heritage components and subsystems, including propulsion, flight software, avionics, reaction wheels, star trackers, separation system, solar arrays, radios, composite structures, and fuel tanks.

Flatellite joins Rocket Lab’s family of four standard spacecraft models that enable commercial, science, exploration, and defense missions, all manufactured at the Company’s Spacecraft Production Complex and headquarters in Long Beach, California.

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Speaking of the Neutron rocket, Rocket Lab also introduced its ‘Return On Investment' ocean landing platform. The vessel is a 400 ft modified barge that will be customized to enable landings at sea for its reusable Neutron rocket.

Sound familiar?

The modifications will include autonomous ground support equipment to capture and secure the landed Neutron, blast shields to protect equipment during Neutron landings, and station-keeping thrusters for precise positioning. The Company has acquired the barge and Construction of ‘Return On Investment’ will take place throughout this year, with expectations of being ready to enter service in 2026.

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But booster recovery isn't the only space operation that may one day be conducted from a floating platform. A new company called Seagate Space Corporation, based in Jacksonville, FL, says it will bring maritime innovations that are both cost-effective and rapidly deployable to the industry.

By moving launches offshore, the company says it can unlock the vastness of the ocean as a solution to the barriers to launch from land-based locations – an undertaking they believe is vital for delivering on the promise of the orbital age.

Seagate Space is currently in discussions with potential launch partners for a demonstration mission targeting early 2026.

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Full development of the Starlab space station can begin following the successful completion of the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) in collaboration with NASA, an important step toward full-scale production.

The completion of the PDR and an exacting level 1 safety review signify that the station's architecture, systems and integration plans are ready to advance the project toward certification with the intent to win a future contract for NASA utilization and astronaut activity. This achievement positions the project for the next phase: detailed design and hardware development, leading to a Critical Design Review to confirm the station's readiness.

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And those are just some of the stories presented by The Journal of Space Commerce this week. If you're a space enthusiast looking for stories about innovation in the space industry, we hope you'll consider becoming a paid or founding subscriber to The Journal of Space Commerce. You can be the first to get access to in-depth articles about the promise of space, as well as our Ex Terra Extra podcast, where we take a deep dive into some of the most fascinating aspects of the new space industry.

So please consider a paid subscription to The Journal of Space Commerce to help us maintain our independence as we chronicle, cajole, and when necessary critique the new space industry ... Thanks for listening. I'm Tom Patton.

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The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation held a hearing Wednesday focused on the issue of what nation will be first to land the next humans on the Moon. The hearing, titled "There’s a Bad Moon on the Rise: Why Congress and NASA Must Thwart China in the Space Race”, included testimony from former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, as well as Allen Cutler, president and CEO of the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration; Mike Gold, president of Civil and International Space for Redwire, and; Lieutenant General John Shaw, Former Deputy Commander of the U.S. Space Command.

The discussion ranged from NASA's impact on diplomacy and military readiness to how small businesses contribute to the success of programs like Artemis. Michigan Senator Gary Peters, a Democrat, asked Allen Cutler about what Congress can do to include more small businesses in the aerospace supply chain.

Cutler said that if it were not for small business, the Artemis program would not exist.

"And it you think about it, these missions, they need every sing le piece to work. It's common to hear something like 'you need a million things to go right for a mission to be accomplished, you just need one to go wrong'. That stems all the way up and down the supply chain. And it starts with small business. They are making those initial components that make Artemis possible. So absolutely critical on the small business side. I think, we talked about this a little bit with Senator Moran when we talk about CRs (Continuing Resolutions), the instability that comes with uncertain funding, be it not knowing if we're going to shut down, continuing resolution, are we going to continue the program after Artemis III with SLS and Orion, all of these things insert instability into businesses understanding. And when that happens, maybe larger companies can weather those sort of things. For small businesses, that's hard."

Chairman Cruz raised an alarm about China being very transparent about its ambitions both in low Earth orbit and on the Moon. Redwire's Mike Gold talked about the importance of the United States beating China to a permanent presence in Cislunar space with its Gateway program.

"When I was at NASA, I got a briefing on our ability, or should I say inability, to monitor Chinese activities in cislunar space. I didn't sleep for a week. You hear democracy dies in darkness? Our freedom could die in the depths of space if we are not able to monitor and understand what's happening with space situational awareness around the moon. And relative to nuclear on the moon, you mentioned helium-3, it's not just about the moon, it's about earth. The countries and companies that control the moon will control the Earth, it's just a matter of time. Rare earth elements, helium-3, we need to be able to extract these resources, we need to be able to learn to live off the land."

The consensus from the hearing seemed to be that securing a permanent U.S. presence in cislunar space and on the Moon is not just a matter of scientific achievement but a vital step in safeguarding national security and economic interests. The path forward demands robust collaboration between government, industry, and innovators to ensure America remains the preeminent force in the final frontier.

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A refueling spacecraft dubbed "REFLEX-J" has been introduced by Astroscale Japan. Short for Refueling for Extension and Flexibility - Japan, REFLEX-J is part of Japan’s Key and Advanced Technology R&D through Cross Community Collaboration Program, led by the Cabinet Office and promoted by the Japan Science and Technology Agency. Astroscale Japan was awarded this major contract in January to develop and demonstrate satellite refueling technology in space.

REFLEX-J builds on Astroscale’s Rendezvous, Proximity Operations and Docking (RPOD) technologies. The spacecraft will integrate robotics, computer vision, and fuel transfer capabilities to perform a chemical refueling demonstration in low Earth orbit. The team will also conduct ground testing across multiple propellants to ensure scalability for missions to geostationary orbit and compatibility with electric propulsion systems.

The project is expected to span five years with a maximum budget of JPY 10.8 billion (≈$74.5 million), culminating in an in-orbit demonstration around 2029.

If successful, REFLEX-J could redefine satellite operations, reduce space debris, and establish a framework for long-term orbital sustainability, potentially positioning Astroscale and Japan at the forefront of the emerging on-orbit servicing industry.

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A natural resources company in Seattle has been awarded up to $4.84 million in a grant from the Texas Space Commission (TSC) to develop and test highly specialized simulants of Moon dirt, or regolith. Interlune will use the grant funds, along with internal investment, to create a Lunar Regolith Simulant Center of Excellence near NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Simulated lunar regolith is crucial to testing technology and equipment being developed by myriad companies and government agencies, including instruments, landers, rovers, and other equipment.

By developing, producing, and scaling advanced lunar regolith simulants, Interlune will create precise testing environments for its proprietary system to harvest natural resources from space, starting with helium-3 from the Moon. The company will make these simulants available to other companies, research institutions, and government organizations.

Interlune has raised $18 million in venture capital seed funding and has binding contracts with buyers of helium-3 for delivery on Earth beginning in 2029

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Coming up, a snapshot of the LEO-PNT market through 2030. But right now, take a minute to become a paid subscriber to The Journal of Space Commerce. Whether you’re a space professional, investor or an enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com on Substack, and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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The LEO PNT market is expected to reach $570 million by 2030, from $70 million in 2025, with a CAGR of 53.9% according to a new report from MarketsandMarkets.

The LEO PNT market is experiencing significant growth, driven by the increasing demand for secure, resilient, and high-precision navigation solutions as traditional GNSS faces threats like jamming, spoofing, and signal loss. Other factors supporting the market include defense modernization efforts, the rise of civil aviation, and the integration of autonomous systems in automotive, maritime, and unmanned platforms. The rollout of 5G and 6G networks is further generating demand for low-latency, high-availability PNT services, boosting adoption.

Asia Pacific is projected to hold the largest LEO PNT industry share due to extensive defense modernization, rapid growth in civil aviation, and robust 5G and IoT infrastructure across major economies. The region's significant defense upgrade efforts are driving demand for secure and precise navigation. The expansion of civil aviation, particularly in China and India, further increases reliance on advanced PNT systems.

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ESA has signed contracts with two aerospace companies for five total missions under its Flight Ticket Initiative. Avio and Isar Aerospace will undertake demonstration missions for the agency.

The Flight Ticket Initiative is a collaboration between the ESA and the European Commission to give European companies and institutions the opportunity to test and prove new products and applications in space. It encourages the use of new European launchers.

Testing prototypes in space provides valuable insight for research projects and unlocks the market potential of commercial applications. These types of missions are also called in-orbit demonstration or validation, abbreviated to IOD/IOV, as they are meant to demonstrate or validate hardware, services and satellite payloads in space.

The Flight Ticket Initiative fosters competition in the European space industry and provides regular opportunities for launch services on the IOD/IOV missions and more. The Flight Ticket Initiative is part of ESA’s ‘Boost!’ program.

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In Depth this week, we explored the small satellite market, and market estimates that vary widely among analysts.

Market research indicates the industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, with market valuations ranging from approximately $3 and a quarter billion dollars, to just under $11 and a half billion dollars across different research methodologies last year. Projected compound annual growth rates (CAGR) average 12.9% through the forecast period to 2032.

The significant variability in size estimates in the market is due to differing approaches, geographic scope, and satellite classification systems employed by various research organizations. Fortune Business Insights positions the 2024 market at $11.41 billion, representing the upper bound of industry estimates, while Maximize Market Research suggests a more conservative $3.23 billion valuation. This dispersion reflects the evolving nature of market definitions, with some analyses including only nanosatellites and CubeSats while others encompass the broader small satellite category of sub-1000 kg spacecraft.

The consolidated analysis of eight major research sources reveals a median 2024 market size of $4.81 billion, providing a balanced perspective that accounts for methodological variations while establishing a reliable baseline for industry assessment.

This figure aligns closely with multiple independent analyses, including Spherical Insights' $4.03 billion estimate and the Market.US $4.43 billion valuation, suggesting reasonable consensus around the mid-range market size projection.

North America maintains market leadership with approximately 49.17% of global market share in 2024, driven primarily by the presence of major industry players including SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing, combined with substantial government investment in space infrastructure. The Asia-Pacific region emerges as the fastest-growing market segment, with several analyses projecting compound annual growth rates exceeding 16% through 2030.

Artificial intelligence integration represents a transformative technology trend that enhances small satellite operational efficiency and capability. Modern small satellites incorporate AI-driven systems for autonomous operation, predictive maintenance, and intelligent data processing, reducing ground station requirements and enabling real-time decision-making in space-based applications.

Overall, the small satellite market continues evolving toward larger constellation architectures and integrated service delivery models that combine multiple spacecraft, ground infrastructure, and data processing capabilities into comprehensive solutions. This evolution requires substantial capital investment and operational scale that may favor larger companies or well-capitalized consortiums over smaller, specialized firms. -end-

And those are some of the top stories we covered for you on The Journal of Space Commerce this week. Space Commerce Week is a production of Ex Terra Media. You can get daily updates on space commerce by subscribing to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack at www.exterrajsc.com. And please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional, investor or an enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

Theme Stock Music provided by CoolTones, from Pond5

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Starship tries again for orbit, and Intuitive Machines is on its way back to the Moon. I'm Tom Patton, and here are some of the top stories from The Journal of Space Commerce this week.

SpaceX has updated its projection for the 8th Starship test flight to not earlier than Monday, March 3. The launch window will open at 5:30 p.m. CT.

The launch was originally planned for last Friday, but it was delayed for unspecified reasons. The upcoming flight will target objectives not reached on the previous test, including Starship’s first payload deployment of Starlink Simulators and multiple reentry experiments geared towards returning the upper stage to the launch site for catch. The flight also includes the launch, return, and catch of the Super Heavy booster.

Extensive upgrades to Starship’s upper stage debuted on the previous flight test, focused on adding reliability and performance across all phases of flight. Starship’s forward flaps have been upgraded to significantly reduce their exposure to reentry heating while simplifying the underlying mechanisms and protective tiling. Redesigns to the propulsion system, including a 25 percent increase in propellant volume over previous generations, and additional vehicle performance and the ability to fly longer duration missions. And the vehicle’s avionics underwent a complete redesign, adding additional capability and redundancy for increasingly complex missions like propellant transfer and ship return to the launch site.

SpaceX has also released the results of its investigation following the anomaly on the previous test flight.

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There are two missions scheduled to land on the Moon this coming week.

Carrying NASA instruments as part of the NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative and Artemis campaign, Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 mission launched on Wednesday aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Intuitive Machines’ lunar lander is scheduled to touch down on Thursday, March 6, on a plateau in the Moon’s South Pole.

Once on the Moon, the NASA CLPS investigations will aim to measure the potential presence of volatiles or gases from lunar soil – one of the first on-site demonstrations of resource use on the Moon. In addition, a passive Laser Retroreflector Array on the top deck of the lander will bounce laser light back at any future orbiting or incoming spacecraft to give them a permanent reference point on the lunar surface. Other technology instruments on this delivery will demonstrate a robust surface communications system and deploy a propulsive drone designed to hop across the lunar surface.

NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft, which launched as a rideshare with the IM-2 mission, also began its journey to lunar orbit, where it will map the distribution of the different forms of water on the Moon.

Meanwhile, the Firefly Aerospace Blue Ghost lander is slated to land on the lunar surface today. Firefly reported that all 10 NASA payloads have remained healthy as Blue Ghost approached its final destination, and continued to support science operations along the way.

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On the other side of this planet, the countdown is on for the first launch of Gilmour Space Technologies' Eris rocket. The company announced this week that the Eris launch window will open 'no earlier than' March 15 for the maiden flight of the first Australian-designed and built rocket aiming for orbit.

The news follows final airspace approvals from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) and Airservices Australia, clearing the last regulatory hurdle before launch. It also marks the culmination of years of innovative R&D and manufacturing by the Gold Coast-based company, which developed the Eris launch vehicle and Bowen Orbital Spaceport in North Queensland.

The company is backed by private investors including Blackbird, Main Sequence, Fine Structure Ventures, Queensland Investment Corporation, and superannuation funds like HESTA, Hostplus, and NGS Super.

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While NASA has now determined that the recently-discovered "Asteroid 2024 YR4" is not going to impact the Earth in 2032, its discovery may have increased interest in the announcement this week of a launch contract for NASA's Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor mission. NEO Surveyor will detect and observe asteroids and comets that could potentially pose an impact threat to Earth.

NEO Surveyor will be carried into space by SpaceX aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in 2027. The total cost to the taxpayer for the launch is estimated to be in the neighborhood of $100 million, which includes the launch service and other mission related costs.

The mission will carry out a five-year baseline survey to find at least two-thirds of the currently-unknown NEOs larger than 460 feet. These are objects large enough to cause major regional damage in the event of an Earth impact. By using two heat-sensitive infrared imaging channels, the telescope can also make more accurate measurements of the sizes of NEOs and gain information about their composition, shapes, rotational states, and orbits.

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The Critical Design Review (CDR) for the VICTUS HAZE mission has been completed by Rocket Lab National Security. The mission will demonstrate launch readiness within 24 hours’ notice, the ability to track and reach a target object, and the ability to identify and characterize on-orbit threats.

Rocket Lab will configure its vertically integrated Pioneer spacecraft to meet the unique requirements of the VICTUS HAZE mission and launch it on the Company’s Electron rocket from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.

The successful completion of CDR marks the transition to the production phase of the program, which will encompass integration of the spacecraft and launch vehicle and initiation of ground segment preparations for launch later this year.

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And finally, Blue Origin has announced the six people flying on its NS-31 mission. The all-female crew includes Aisha Bowe, Amanda Nguyen (n-GWEN), Gayle King, Katy Perry, Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sánchez, who brought the mission together.

This will be the first all-female flight crew since Valentina Tereshkova’s solo spaceflight in 1963 for the Soviet Union. The flight is tentatively scheduled for this spring.

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Those are just some of the stories this week from The Journal of Space Commerce. If you have been enjoying our content, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Paid subscribers have first access to our Ex Terra Extra podcasts, as well as in-depth articles where we take a deep dive into many issues important to the new space industry. Your help will keep The Journal of Space Commerce free of advertising and help us maintain our independence. Find out more at www.exterrajsc.com.

Thanks for listening, I'm Tom Patton.

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A bi-partisan group of senators has reintroduced the Situational Awareness of Flying Elements, or SAFE, in Orbit Act, which would encourage the development of commercial space capabilities. That would be accomplished by directing the Office of Space Commerce (OSC) to acquire and disseminate unclassified data, analytics, information, and services on space activities and space traffic coordination in low-Earth orbit.

The bill was originally introduced in 2024. It was passed by unanimous consent in the Senate in December of last year, but no action was taken on the bill by the U.S. House.

The SAFE Orbit Act would allow OSC to conduct Space Situational awareness and Space Traffic Coordination activities, and direct OSC to make basic-level SSA data, analytics, information, and services available for public use through an easily accessible web-based interface at no charge to the end user. It would also have OSC maintain a public catalogue of SSA data and information that maximizes the use of satellite owner and operator data as well as U.S. Government data.

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The next iteration of the Stoke Space Andromeda engine has been announced by the company. Built on lessons from earlier variants, the company says Andromeda’s new design ... called Andromeda2 ... brings major improvements to performance, simplicity, and rapid reusability.

Stoke says it has created a system that can robustly survive the environments of orbital reentry by integrating a metal heat shield with the engine, and by actively cooling it with liquid hydrogen. The design means it can be ready to fly again immediately … without inspection or refurbishment, according to information provided by the company.

Andromeda2’s thruster nozzles are now designed to operate in two different modes: one in the vacuum of space and one in Earth’s atmosphere. The second-stage base heat shield serves not just as armor, but as an integral part of the Andromeda engine. By applying regenerative cooling … a technology proven to work for rocket engine chambers in which the thermal environment is about 20 times more intense … Stoke says it has created a heat shield that can readily handle atmospheric reentry and be ready for the next flight without refurbishment.

Outwardly, Andromeda2’s base shape returns to one of the earliest concepts, featuring a continuously curved contour across the entire base of the vehicle, and the thruster nozzles fully embedded along the outer circumference.

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Staying with engine developments for just a moment, the test campaign for the Sierra Space fully integrated VR35K-A upper stage engine, under contract with Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) Rocket Propulsion Division at Edwards Air Force Base, has been completed.

Additionally, the company has been awarded a $16 million firm-fixed-price contract from AFRL to continue upper stage engine maturation to fulfill future National Security Space Launch (NSSL) missions.

The VR35K-A is a high-performance liquid oxygen (LOX)/liquid hydrogen (LH2) engine that employs a fuel-rich staged combustion cycle, an innovative turbopump architecture and a VORTEX combustion chamber to produce 35,000 pounds of thrust at a higher performance than any currently available engine.

The VR35K-A engine will serve a critical industry need in supporting larger payload delivery to Low Earth Orbit and beyond. Sierra Space is also applying its VORTEX combustion chamber technology to engines and thrusters to support in-space propulsion for spacecraft orbital maneuvering and extraterrestrial landers. For example, Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser spacecraft uses VORTEX in its reaction control system thrusters.

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The 60th Electron launch conducted by Rocket Lab deployed the latest satellite in the BlackSky Earth-imaging satellite constellation. The ‘Fasten Your Space Belts’ mission lifted-off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand February 19th, and successfully deployed the first Gen-3 satellite from BlackSky to a 292-mile orbit, adding to the company’s growing low Earth orbit constellation.

The mission was the ninth Electron launch for BlackSky since 2019, and the latest in what is expected to be a busy launch year for Rocket Lab in 2025. The company plans to launch more dedicated Electron rockets to build out BlackSky’s constellation, missions from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 in Virginia, and the debut launch of its new medium-lift reusable rocket - Neutron.

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Blue Origin has revealed five of the six people flying on its NS-30 mission. The crew includes Lane Bess, Jesús Calleja, Elaine Chia Hyde, Dr. Richard Scott, Tushar Shah, and an undisclosed sixth crew member. Lane is flying on New Shepard for the second time, the fourth astronaut to do so.

This mission is the 10th human flight for the New Shepard program and the 30th in its history. To date, the program has flown 47 humans above the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space.

Blue Origin says the flight date will be announced soon.

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We need your help. If you have been enjoying the content offered by The Journal of Space Commerce, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. There will be more content exclusively for paid subscribers coming throughout this year, and you can be among the first to read or listen to those stories by becoming a paid or founding subscriber.

We certainly appreciate everyone who enjoys our content. To keep it coming, please consider a paid subscription to The Journal of Space Commerce. And thanks in advance.

House members are requesting a review of the space launch licensing process. Here are some of the top stories this week from The Journal of Space Commerce.

House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Brian Babin (R-TX) and Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) have sent a letter to the Comptroller General requesting an independent review of the federal processes for licensing commercial launch and reentry activities. The Committee is particularly concerned with the implementation of Part 450 regulations by the Department of Transportation and whether it is being carried out effectively and efficiently.

Over the past several years, the Committee has stressed the need for a practical and streamlined licensing system for our nation’s rapidly growing commercial space sector. This is critical to our economic and national interests and essential to upholding our commitment to the highest safety standards.

The FAA released the Streamlined Launch and Reentry Regulations in 2020, which created a new vehicle operator license under Part 450 of the Code of Federal Regulations. While Part 450 was intended to expedite the licensing process, it has instead created challenges for industry compliance, often resulting in delays in issuing licenses, which are a roadblock to continued American leadership in the commercial space sector, the letter states.

The members of Congress laid out several considerations for GAO when reviewing the processes.

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Staying in Washington for just a moment, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has appointed Jay Schwartz as the new head of the agency's space bureau.

Schwartz will serve as Chief of the Space Bureau, which plays a key role in advancing the Commission’s Space Innovation Agenda. It promotes a competitive and innovative global communications marketplace by leading policy and licensing matters related to satellite and space-based communications and activities.

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The Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, also known as "ASAP", is an advisory committee that reports to NASA and Congress. ASAP issued its 2024 annual report Thursday examining the agency's safety performance, accomplishments, and challenges during the past year.

This year's report reflects the panel's continued focus on NASA's strategies for risk management and safety culture in an environment of growing space commercialization. Specifically, the panel cites its 2021 recommendations for NASA on preparing for future challenges in a changing landscape, including the need to evaluate NASA's approach to safety and technical risk and to evolve its role, responsibilities, and relationships with private sector and international partners.

Overall, the panel finds NASA is continuing to make progress with respect to the agency's strategic vision, approach to governance, and integrated program management. The NASA 2040 new agency-wide initiative is working to operationalize the agency's vision and strategic objectives across headquarters and centers. With the establishment of NASA's Moon to Mars Program Office in 2023, it finds NASA has implemented safety and risk management as a key focus for NASA's Artemis campaign.

The 2024 report provides details on the concrete actions the agency should take to fulfill its previous recommendations and spotlights its recommendations for the agency moving ahead. It addresses safety assessments for Moon to Mars and current International Space Station operations, as well as risk-related issues surrounding NASA's planned transition to commercial low Earth orbit destinations.

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The first of many full-scale vehicle test campaigns for the Vast Haven-1 private space station has been completed.

The test was initiated with a decay leak check followed by the proof test. Haven-1 performed as expected with no visual changes observed. The total test duration was 5 hours, with the leak rate remaining within specification for 10 minutes. All strain gauges stayed within acceptable ranges.

Haven-1 successfully passed its primary structure qualification proof test on the first attempt—a critical milestone toward launch. This achievement demonstrates the full proof qualification of a space station pressure vessel in just 15 months from zero aluminum work to a proof-tested structure.

The space station structure was designed, built, and tested entirely in-house by Vast. According to an updated timeline posted on the Internet by Vast, the launch campaign will begin with pre-launch operations at the launch site in April 2026, with launch now planned for May 2026, and the first crewed mission to the Haven-1 space station in June of that year.

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And while NASA searches for a new partner for its VIPER rover, which we told you about last week, its role on the Astrobotic Griffin Mission One (Griffin-1) will be filled by the Venturi Astrolab FLIP rover.

FLIP is an acronym for FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform. The rover will be deployed at the Nobile Region of the lunar south pole.

In July, NASA announced its intent to discontinue the VIPER project due to funding constraints, future budget risks, and lander delays. The NASA CLPS contract to deliver VIPER to the Moon has been modified to serve as a large lander demonstration flight. Astrobotic’s Griffin lander will demonstrate this capability, flying a mass load similar to VIPER to the South Pole region of the Moon. To help achieve this goal, Astrobotic’s Griffin lander will deploy Astrolab’s FLIP rover on the Moon. The rover will demonstrate core components and subsystems used on the company’s large-scale vehicle, the Flexible Logistics and Exploration (FLEX) rover, introduced in 2022.

In 2023, Astrolab announced an agreement with SpaceX to land the commercial FLEX rover on the Moon as soon as December 2026 using its Starship launch and landing system. Astrolab has agreed to a two-year launch window with SpaceX.

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Are you interested in a Moon Rover ... low miles, never used? After the program was cancelled in 2024, NASA is now looking to secure a public/private partnership and land and operate NASA’s VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) mission on the Moon.

As part of an agreement, NASA would contribute the existing VIPER rover as-is. Potential partners would need to arrange for the integration and successful landing of the rover on the Moon, conduct a science/exploration campaign, and disseminate VIPER-generated science data. The partner may not disassemble the rover and use its instruments or parts separately from the VIPER mission. NASA’s selection approach will favor proposals that enable data from the mission’s science instruments to be shared openly with anyone who wishes to use it.

This new announcement comes after NASA issued a Request for Information on Aug. 9, 2024, to seek interest from American companies and institutions in conducting a mission using the agency’s VIPER Moon rover after the program was canceled in July 2024. Any partnership would work under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement. This type of partnership allows both NASA and an industry partner to contribute services, technology, and hardware to the collaboration.

The Announcement for Partnership Proposal contains proposal instructions and evaluation criteria for a new Lunar Volatiles Science Partnership. Responses are due Thursday, Feb. 20. After evaluating submissions, any selections by the agency will require respondents to submit a second, more detailed, proposal. NASA is expected to make a decision on the VIPER mission this summer.

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While we're on the subject of lunar exploration, ESA has awarded a contract valued at some $886 million to Thales Alenia Space related to the design, the development and the delivery of the Lunar Descent Element (LDE) for ESA’s Argonaut Mission, including responsibility for mission design and integration.

Planned to be launched from the 2030s, Argonaut will deliver cargo, infrastructure and scientific instruments to the Moon’s surface.

The first mission is envisioned to deal with delivery of dedicated navigation and telecommunication payloads as well as an energy generation and storage system, as European enterprises to explore the Lunar southern area.

The Argonaut spacecraft consists of three main elements: the lunar descent element (LDE) for flying to the Moon and landing on the target, the cargo platform one, which is the interface between the lander and its payload, and finally, the element that the mission designers want to send to the Moon.

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Meanwhile, a joint request for research proposals to study and advance long-term human habitation and exploration in space has been issued by Vast and SpaceX.

Building on their established partnership, the two companies seek high-impact research projects to support humanity on Earth and advance our capacity to live and work in Earth orbit and beyond. Submitted proposals will be evaluated based on scientific and technical merit, feasibility, and alignment with mission objectives. Approved research proposals will be able to leverage the capabilities of the Haven-1 Lab, Dragon spacecraft, and/or private astronaut missions to the International Space Station (ISS).

Haven-1 is scheduled to be the world’s first commercial space station and crewed microgravity research, development, and manufacturing platform. This groundbreaking facility will enable cutting-edge research and technological advancements, opening new frontiers in space science.

While no direct funding will be provided to the research project, Vast and SpaceX will offer selected researchers access to a hosted orbital laboratory, on-orbit crew time, and support for project design and flight qualification—at no cost.

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It's no secret that Earth observation is one of the cornerstones of the new space economy, and the appetite for EO data seems to continue to grow. According to a new report from Technavio, The satellite-based earth observation market size is estimated to increase by $9.65 billion at a CAGR of 12% between 2024 and 2029.

North America is estimated to contribute 43%. To the growth of the global market. The Satellite-Based Earth Observation Market report forecasts market growth by revenue at global, regional & country levels from 2017 to 2027. The United States dominates the global satellite-based Earth Observation (EO) market, owning approximately one-third of the current Earth-orbiting satellites. Since the industry's inception, the US has been a pioneer, utilizing satellites for communications, surveillance and intelligence, national security, weather forecasting, disaster management, environmental monitoring, and navigation. NASA spearheads most US satellite-based EO missions. However, in the last decade, numerous private companies have emerged, offering satellite imagery analysis and Value-Added Services (VAS). Some of these enterprises also manufacture and launch their small satellites for data collection.

The defense segment held a substantial share in the global satellite-based Earth observation market in 2023 due to increasing defense spending on satellite technologies for surveillance, security, and intelligence purposes by emerging nations like China, India, and Russia.

Market growth is driven by the need for natural catastrophe prevention, climate change mitigation, and scientific research and development. However, market restraints include highly trained workers, encrypted data security, big data management, launch costs, and satellite production.

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Another prominent player in the new space economy is satellite communications, and that market is also poised for some significant growth, according to a new report from the Business Research Company.

The Satellite Communication market value stood at $61.82 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $66.75 billion in 2025 with a CAGR of 8.0 percent. And the company projects that the future looks bright for the market, with its size expected to shoot up to $103.78 billion in 2029 at an impressive CAGR of 11.7 percent.

The market appears to be largely driven by the increasing adoption of low-earth orbit satellites across sectors. The technology is revolutionizing internet and digital communication, bolstering market growth. Robust government support is driving the growth of the satellite communication market in the forecast period. Government investment will support research and development activities, new technology developments and projects.

North America led the Satellite Communication market in 2024. However, it is Asia-Pacific that's expected to demonstrate the fastest growth in the forecast period.

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This programming note, in the coming months, you’ll notice more articles and podcasts that are behind a paywall. Paid subscribers will have first access to that content, but it will eventually be made available to all subscribers. But to be among the first to see them, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription to The Journal of Space Commerce. And thank you in advance.

You might also like:

* Ex Terra Extra: Artemis Revisited (P)

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* Satellite Propulsion Market Worth $5.19 Billion by 2030

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* Virgin Galactic Announces Partnership with Redwire

* Artemis Revisited: The Hazy Path to the Moon (P)

The 24th edition of the Novaspace annual Government Space Programs (GSP) report reveals that global government space investments reached approximately $135 billion in 2024, a 10% increase compared to 2023. Defense spending, now the majority of budgets at $73 billion (54%), underscores space’s growing importance as a contested and strategic domain.

The widening gap underscores the growing emphasis on defense-focused space programs, as space emerges as a pivotal domain for achieving strategic autonomy alongside maritime, aerial, and cyber arenas. On the civil side, Human Spaceflight remains the largest category of global government space investment in 2024. Traditionally, leading spacefaring nations and organizations have dominated the budgets for crewed and uncrewed scientific missions and exploration programs. However, this trend is evolving as more countries recognize the strategic and economic advantages of participating in space exploration activities.

The Government Space Programs report anticipates a deceleration in the growth of public space expenditures in the coming years. Faced with fiscal pressures such as economic constraints and competing policy priorities, Novaspace projects that government space budgets will stabilize, growing at a modest rate of approximately 1% annually through the end of the decade.

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As an example of that government interest in space, the UK Government has invested £20 million, or just under $25 million, in spaceflight company Orbex as part of its Series D fundraising. The investment comes as the UK government vows to develop Britain’s mission to regularly launch into orbit from its shores using UK-manufactured rockets, supporting growth in its expanding space industry and attracting investment from across the globe.

Orbex is developing both small and medium sized space rockets, and initial launch operations will take place from SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland. The company expects to launch its first Prime rocket towards the end of 2025.

In addition to the UK Government, the Export & Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO), Octopus Ventures and private investor Sohaib Abbasi have also contributed to Series D so far. The total raised currently stands at £23 million (≈$28.6 million).

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If you thought there were a lot or rocket launches last year, you were right. The Space Report 2024 Q4 has been released by The Space Foundation, showing a record number of launch attempts for the fourth consecutive year. The 259 launches in 2024 occurred an average of one every 34 hours, five hours more frequently than in 2023. The launch pace will likely continue to grow in 2025, with launch operators planning site improvements, more frequent launches, and the first flights of 24 launch vehicles, according to the report.

Despite the increase in launches, spacecraft deployments in 2024 dropped 3% to 2,802. Still, total mass brought to orbit increased 40% to 1.9 million kilograms as operators transitioned to heavier satellites, including SpaceX’s Starlink v2 mini. SpaceX was a primary driver of launch and spacecraft trends, launching 152 times, deploying almost 2,000 Starlink satellites, and test launching the Starship vehicle four times. Military spacecraft deployments increased 86% in 2024 as SpaceX launched more than 100 satellites for the NRO’s Starshield constellation.

The growing space economy highlights the need for a robust education-to-industry pipeline. Schools, government agencies, and space companies are working to grow STEM engagement and students’ interest in space. Industry and academic partnerships show a growing trend and preference for active learning environments with more hands-on experience and internships for students planning to enter the space workforce.

To better track the growing number of objects in Earth’s orbit and prevent devastating collisions, the U.S. Department of Commerce has begun trials of its new TraCSS system. This program combines data from private companies with Defense Department capabilities to monitor satellite movements and debris-generating events.

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NASA and its international partners have approved the crew for Axiom Space’s fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, launching from the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida no earlier than spring 2025.

The international Ax-4 crew will launch aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and travel to the space station. Once docked, the private astronauts plan to spend up to 14 days aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting a mission comprised of science, outreach, and commercial activities. Commanded by Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and now director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, the mission will send the first ISRO astronaut to the station as part of a joint effort between NASA and the Indian space agency. The private mission also carries the first astronauts from Poland and Hungary to stay aboard the space station.

Axiom is developing its own private space station which it hopes will be a contender to replace the ISS when it is retired and de-orbited.

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Over at Sierra Space, which is also developing a private space station concept with its LIFE habitat, a spacecraft that the company hopes will one day transport astronauts to that station has passed a key milestone for cargo resupply missions to ISS. Dream Chaser spaceplane has successfully completed and passed its Joint Test 10B milestone in collaboration with NASA.

The test demonstrated several capabilities of Dream Chaser, including its ability to power-on, air-cool, and exchange data with multiple powered payloads inside its pressurized cabin.

The successful completion of this milestone confirms that Dream Chaser will accommodate various payloads. The Joint Test 10B test demonstrated that Sierra Space can provide power within a specific voltage range and maintain the necessary environmental requirements for payloads. It also ensured all vehicle and payload data are seen in both Sierra Space’s mission control room in Louisville, Colorado, and in the payload support control rooms at NASA’s Marshall Spaceflight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

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And Voyager Technologies has announced that it has confidentially submitted a draft registration statement on Form S-1 to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") relating to the proposed initial public offering of its common stock.

The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined. The initial public offering is subject to market and other conditions and the completion of the SEC's review process.

And those are some of the top stories from The Journal of Space Commerce this week. I'm Tom Patton.

Other stories you may have missed this week:

Spain's Next-Generation Secure Communications Satellite Launched

"Full Success" Achieved for Gitai 16U-Sized Satellite

Astroscale Japan Selected to Develop In-Space Refueling Technologies

Next New Shepard Mission will Mimic the Moon’s Gravity

Lunar Logistics Study Contract Awarded to Intuitive Machines

Analysts are still bullish on the potential for the space economy.

For evidence, we cite the 11th Edition of the Novaspace Space Economy Report, which forecasts that the global space economy will grow from $596 billion in 2024, to $944 billion by 2033. This steady growth, driven primarily by advancements in downstream solutions, could mark a pivotal decade for the industry.

The report emphasizes the essential role of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing in downstream applications. These innovations are enhancing data collection and processing capabilities, fostering convergence with the digital economy, and creating new opportunities for commercial adoption.

While downstream activities play a central role, upstream sectors face persistent challenges. Inflation, supply chain disruptions, and material shortages are reshaping traditional ecosystems, prompting industry consolidation and increased competition from vertically integrated players.

Emerging business models, such as Direct-to-Device services and in-orbit economies hold promise for the industry’s future. However, their success will depend on early mission performance and commercial viability.

Government investment remains a key factor in driving growth, with global military space budgets exceeding $64 billion.

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Stoke Space, a company working to build a fully-reusable medium lift rocket, has closed a $260 million Series C funding round. The round involves new and existing investors, and brings the total raised by the company to $480 million.

The company says the round round reflects the growing demand for its innovative approach to creating ultra-low-cost on-demand space transportation, as well as the exceptional progress it has made in developing the fully reusable solutions that make low-cost access to, and from space possible.

The funding round comes just weeks after the company’s successful vertical test firing of its first-stage Zenith engine on its test stand in Moses Lake, Washington. Stoke intends to use the new funding to complete construction at the historic Launch Complex 14 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, which has been allocated by the Space Force for dedicated use by Stoke’s Nova launch vehicle. Launch Complex 14 was host to John Glenn’s iconic Friendship 7 flight in 1962

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A definitive agreement has been reached for the acquisition of Edge Autonomy by Redwire Corporation. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Redwire will acquire Edge Autonomy for $925 million on a debt free, cash free basis and subject to customary working capital, cash and debt adjustments.

The acquisition is expected to transform Redwire into a multi-domain autonomous technology company, broadening its portfolio of mission-critical space platforms to include combat-proven autonomous airborne platforms.

Formed in 2021 through the merger of UAV Factory and Jennings Aeronautics, Edge Autonomy harnesses over three decades of experience developing uncrewed and autonomous technology systems.

The companies expect the combination of Redwire and Edge Autonomy to create a multi-domain, scaled and profitable space and defense tech company focused on the convergence of integrated autonomous, AI-enabled multi-domain operations for defense and national security.

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Voyager Space has rebranded as Voyager Technologies. The company says the strategic shift highlights its capabilities and position across broad technology markets and underscores its stated commitment to delivering mission-critical solutions that address the most complex challenges from ground to orbit.

As part of this evolution, Voyager has also organized its operations into three business segments: Defense & National Security, focusing on defense systems, spectrum dominance, communications systems, guidance and navigation systems, and national security space; Space Solutions, delivering cutting-edge space and science systems including the Bishop Airlock, advanced exploration systems, space science and mission management; and Starlab Space Stations, developing the next generation of commercial space infrastructure to ensure continued human presence in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Now operating as Voyager Technologies, the company says it is “positioned to deliver mission enabling products and technologies and end-to-end mission solutions for the future.”

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A digital copy of the United States Constitution is traveling to the surface of the Moon as part of an historic lunar mission, marking the first-ever inclusion of the nation's foundational document in a permanent lunar archive.

The digital copy of the US Constitution embarked on its journey aboard Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander as part of the Copernic Space digital archive.

Looking ahead, Spacebit, a British privately held company developing space robotics technology for lunar and planetary missions, is preparing to send a physical copy of the U.S. Constitution to the Moon later this year. Encased in space-qualified materials, this version will be engineered to endure the harsh lunar environment for millions of years, standing as a testament to human ingenuity and perseverance.

People who count backwards to zero got a good workout this week, with multiple notable launches on both coasts. And some were more successful than others.

We'll start with New Glenn, which after years of delays and several scrubs got off the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station very early on Thursday morning, marking a first step towards Blue Origin challenging SpaceX for a piece of the orbital launch business. On its first test flight, New Glenn safely reached its intended orbit during the NG-1 mission, accomplishing the primary objective.

The second stage is in its final orbit following two successful burns of the BE-3U engines. The Blue Ring Pathfinder is receiving data and performing well.

However, the planned landing on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean was not as successful, and the booster was lost during descent. Still, the company said the mission was a success, and that a lot of important data was collected during this first flight, and the company's vice president for the New Glenn program Jarrett Jones said that manufacturing rates and the launch cadence would be increasing.

The FAA is requiring Blue Origin to conduct an investigation into the loss of the booster, and says a return to flight will be contingent on the agency finding that any system, process, or procedure related to the mishap does not affect public safety.

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For SpaceX, it was the opposite problem when it came to the seventh Starship flight test Thursday afternoon. The booster was recovered, but the second stage and Starship itself underwent what SpaceX calls a "Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly", meaning that it blew up.

The flight went according to plan for about eight and a half minutes, with the booster separating from the upper stage and returning to Starbase in Boca Chica, settling back into the chopsticks that are designed to capture the rocket. However, as the booster was landing, the SpaceX commentators at the launch site were commenting that they had lost telemetry with Starship.

Elon Musk posted on X later Thursday afternoon that the preliminary data indicated that there was an oxygen/fuel leak in the cavity above the ship engine firewall that was large enough to build pressure in excess of the vent capacity. He said the company will double check for leaks going forward, and the other modifications to the upper stage would be made, but that he does not expect the incident to cause any significant delays in future Starship flight tests.

SpaceX will be cooperating with the FAA in its investigation of the incident.

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SpaceX did have a couple of successful launches this week, one from Florida and one from California. On Tuesday, the Transporter-12 rideshare mission lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California carrying 131 payloads, including included MicroSats, and orbital transfer vehicles carrying 30 of those payloads, 14 of which will be deployed at a later time. To date, SpaceX has launched more than 1,100 payloads to orbit for 130+ customers across the entire Rideshare program.

From the east coast, a Falcon 9 rocket began the journey of the Firefly Aerospace Blue Ghost lander to the Moon on Wednesday. Blue Ghost is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Service program, and will demonstrate lunar drilling technology, regolith (lunar rocks and soil) sample collection capabilities, global navigation satellite system abilities, radiation tolerant computing, and lunar dust mitigation methods. The data captured could also benefit humans on Earth by providing insights into how space weather and other cosmic forces impact our home planet.

The Blue Ghost lander is targeted to land near a volcanic feature called Mons Latreille

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In non-launch news, the first overseas subsidiary of Starlab Space has been established in an effort to demonstrate its commitment to its international partners, maintaining global cooperation and permanent human presence, and expanding microgravity research opportunities in a commercial LEO economy.

Starlab Space is a US-led joint venture that is recreating the global partnership network that enabled the success of the International Space Station, but now through leading international industrial partners. The European subsidiary, Starlab Space GmbH, is located in Bremen, Germany. It is jointly owned by Starlab Space and Airbus Defense and Space.

Starlab Space Europe is strongly positioned to leverage Airbus' advanced space infrastructure facilities and experienced team that support both the ISS Columbus Module and the European Service Module for NASA's Orion spacecraft.

Airbus nominated Manfred Jaumann to serve as managing director for the enterprise.

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And The GPS Tracking Device market is expanding rapidly due to the increasing demand for real-time location tracking and asset management across various industries. A new report from Maximize Market Research predicts that the market will grow to $7.34 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 13.1 percent.

GPS tracking devices use satellite signals to pinpoint and track the precise location of vehicles, assets, or individuals, providing invaluable data for security, logistics, fleet management, and personal safety. These devices are used in a wide range of applications, from personal tracking devices to advanced solutions for logistics and transportation companies.

The primary driver for the growth of the GPS tracking device market is the increasing demand for fleet management and logistics optimization. Businesses are increasingly using GPS tracking to monitor and manage the movement of their vehicles and assets.

Another significant driver is the growing awareness and demand for personal safety solutions, particularly in the context of rising security concerns and the need for better tracking of individuals.

The United States remains a dominant player in the GPS tracking device market, driven by widespread adoption in fleet management, logistics, and personal security.

An agreement has been reached between SpaceX and Vast to launch two crewed missions to the International Space Station in support of Vast’s future bid for NASA’s private astronaut missions (PAM). These missions, contingent on Vast being selected by NASA, will be the fifth and sixth such missions ever awarded by the agency.

While Vast is developing its private space station, Haven-1, the company plans to leverage additional missions to the ISS in partnership with NASA to draw on the agency’s extensive expertise. These missions provide opportunities to collaborate with private individuals and international space agency customers through the NASA PAM program and strengthen current partnerships. This is an important step as Vast prepares to compete with its Haven-2 design in NASA’s upcoming Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destination (CLD) Phase II program, which is positioned to select a successor to the ISS.‍

These two missions expand Vast’s launch manifest with SpaceX, which includes the company’s Falcon 9 rocket delivering Haven-1 to low-Earth orbit and a subsequent Dragon mission to fly crew to the commercial space station. Haven-1 will also be supported by Starlink laser-based high-speed internet. ‍

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And speaking of private space missions ... the assigned crew for the Axiom Space Ax-4 mission has completed its training with international partners in anticipation of a planned 14 day mission to the International Space Station.

Astronaut training with international partners is an important part of preparing the assigned Ax-4 astronauts for their planned mission to the International Space Station in spring 2025. Collaborating with NASA and various international partner nations necessitates a thorough understanding of the space station's systems and operations.

The European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), along with the Japan Manned Space Systems Corporation (JAMSS), have provided astronaut training programs to ensure the assigned Ax-4 crew is adept at functioning within the space station's multinational environment. This training is crucial for the assigned Ax-4 astronauts to efficiently and successfully execute their mission tasks onboard.

The crew of four includes astronauts from India, Poland and Hungary. The mission will be commanded by former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who is now director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space.

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The Satellite Communication Market, which was valued at $23.1 billion in 2024, is projected to climb to $71.5 billion by the end of 2034, according to a recent study by Global Market Insights.

This growth is primarily fueled by the increasing demand for reliable internet connectivity, particularly in remote and underserved areas where traditional infrastructure is limited or unavailable. The satellite communication market is categorized into two main segments: products and services. The services segment is expected to experience significant expansion, with a CAGR of 12.5% during the forecast period.

The surge in demand for Satcom services is driven by the growing need for satellite solutions in industries such as telecommunications, defense, maritime, aviation, and government. A notable trend in this space is the rising adoption of managed services and connectivity solutions, particularly in regions where conventional infrastructure is scarce.

North America led the satellite communication market in 2023, with a 48.5% market share.

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And finally, a couple of stories coming out of Washington, DC as the country awaits the transition to a new administration.

With Republicans taking control of the U.S. Senate, Texas Senator Ted Cruz has been named as the chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The committee is charged with issues dealing with the commercial space industry, as well as NASA.

Sen. Cruz previously served as the Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee in the 118th Congress.

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And a bipartisan group of six U.S. Senators has introduced the NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2024, which would provide the agency $25.4 billion in funding for Fiscal Year 2025. The bill's sponsors say the legislation gives NASA clear guidance to keep aeronautics, space exploration, Earth and space science, and technology on a steady course to maintain American aerospace leadership.

The legislation directs NASA to continue the development of all space exploration elements under the Artemis Moon exploration program, to include use of private sector logistics support.

In good news for the companies developing private space stations, the bill requires NASA to maintain a continuous U.S. human presence in Earth’s orbit through and beyond the life of the International Space Station, and directs the agency to use commercially-provided orbiting space stations to ensure a continuous human presence in orbit and transition to use of these commercial stations once the International Space Station reaches the end of its operational life.

The commercial space sector would also benefit from a requirement to continue the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program to procure lunar payload delivery from commercial providers and to assess the agency’s future role in the commercial lunar delivery market. It also focuses on advanced communications, navigation capabilities and time synchronization standards to ensure well-coordinated activities on the lunar surface.

NASA is now targeting no earlier than March for the launch of the SpaceX Crew-10 mission to the International Space Station. The change gives NASA and SpaceX teams time to complete processing on a new Dragon spacecraft for the mission. The new spacecraft is set to arrive at the company’s processing facility in Florida in a few days.

NASA and SpaceX assessed various options for managing the next crewed handover, including using another Dragon spacecraft and manifest adjustments. After careful consideration, the team determined that launching Crew-10 in late March, following completion of the new Dragon spacecraft, was the best option for meeting NASA’s requirements and achieving space station objectives for 2025.

The space station recently received two resupply flights in November and is well-stocked with everything the crew needs, including food, water, clothing, and oxygen.

Training for the Crew-10 Mission is ongoing at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

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Speaking of space stations, the Axiom Station module sequence has been revised by Axiom Space to enable its commercial space station to become an independent orbital platform as early as 2028.

Revising the order in which modules will attach to the International Space Station allows Axiom Station to operate as a free-flyer about two years earlier than planned, supporting customer needs as well as national objectives – preparing the International Space Station for a U.S. deorbit vehicle and decommissioning station by the end of this decade.

The revised on-orbit assembly sequence will start with the Payload Power Thermal Module (AxPPTM), followed by AxH1, an airlock, Habitat 2 (AxH2), and finally the Research and Manufacturing Facility (AxRMF).

Axiom Space was awarded a contract by NASA in 2020 to attach a privately developed module to the International Space Station, as part of NASA’s efforts to commercialize LEO and retire the International Space Station.

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A $65 million extension of ICEYE's earlier growth funding round of $93 million, announced in April 2024, has been closed, the company reports. The extension brings the total amount raised in 2024 to $158 million. In total, ICEYE has raised over $500 million to date.

ICEYE has achieved considerable growth during the past years and this investment will enable ICEYE to continue expanding its ISR capabilities to serve a global customer base while further cementing its position in the new space ecosystem.

The financing consists of a mix of debt and equity instruments and will increase investment in further developing ICEYE's SAR satellite constellation, its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platform, and related systems.

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Eutelsat has awarded a contract to Airbus to build the extension of its OneWeb Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellation.

Under the contract signed between the two companies, Airbus will build the first batches of the extension, totaling 100 satellites, with delivery targeted from the end of 2026, ensuring continuity and enhancement of service for current and future customers.

The new satellites will enable key technology upgrades, notably 5G on-ground integration, and ensure technology architecture compatibility with Europe’s planned IRIS2 multi-orbit constellation, due to enter operational service in 2030, of which Eutelsat will be one of the main operators.

All 100 new satellites will be built at the Airbus site in Toulouse. Production is expected to start in 2026.

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This week on The Ex Terra Podcast, I talked with Michael Fry, General Manager of the Sev1Tech Air and Space Force Division.

Sev1Tech is a company providing IT modernization, cloud, cybersecurity, engineering, fielding, training, and program support services. Their offerings span across defense, intelligence, homeland security, health, space, and commercial markets.

Fry said that the company has to find a balance between security and the speed of data transfer.

"When you think about some of the programs that we work with ... missile warning for example ... satellites are detecting missiles across the world, for ourselves and our partners ... when you bring that detection down, analyze it and you have to move that data to someone who's going to make a decision and then someone who's going to take action on it, yeah, latency and time to data is more important than security. We encrypt everything. It's all safe, so I'm not worried about that, but the real challenge here is getting that data across our networks faster than what can be provided by things like the Internet."

Earlier this month, the Office of Space Commerce’s Gabriel Swiney and Mariel Borowitz joined key U.S space diplomacy efforts in the United Arab Emirates.

First, OSC participated in a U.S. space trade mission to UAE, organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The delegation visited the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center in Dubai, engaging with international partners and the UAE space sector in preparation for the Abu Dhabi Space Debate on December 10-11.

The discussion explored critical topics around decentralized SSA, including mechanisms to share the consequential data for spaceflight safety. Specifically, Borowitz shared updates on the TraCSS initiative’s open data policy, emphasizing the role of data sharing and international cooperation in building a transparent and collaborative SSA framework.

According to the OSC, as the United States is developing the TraCSS system, many other nations and organizations around the world are also developing or improving their own SSA capabilities. As these developments continue, the Office of Space Commerce is committed to maintaining an open and transparent system that enables global coordination with other SSA providers and ensures reliable and efficient services to global spacecraft operators.

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Blue Origin’s payload for New Glenn’s first mission, NG-1, is ready for launch this year. NG-1 will carry the company’s Blue Ring Pathfinder and mark the rocket’s first National Security Space Launch certification flight. The encapsulated payload will be integrated onto the launch vehicle following the hotfire. New Glenn will lift off from Blue Origin’s Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

The pathfinder was developed by Blue Origin’s In-Space Systems business unit. It will test Blue Ring’s core flight, ground systems, and operational capabilities. NG-1 will carry the Blue Ring Pathfinder payload as part of the Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU) Orbital Logistics prototype effort. DIU funding is helping to enable future Department of Defense missions.

The demonstrator includes a communications array, power systems, and a flight computer affixed to a secondary payload adapter ring. The pathfinder will validate Blue Ring’s communications capabilities from orbit to ground. The mission will also test its in-space telemetry, tracking and command hardware, and ground-based radiometric tracking that will be used on the future Blue Ring production space vehicle. The pathfinder will remain onboard New Glenn’s second stage for the duration of an expected six-hour mission.

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The commercial debris inspection demonstration satellite, Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J), recently successfully approached a large piece of space debris ... a rocket upper stage ... to approximately 15 meters, or just under 50 feet. This is the closest approach ever achieved by a commercial company to space debris through Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO).

When ADRAS-J was 50 meters behind the upper stage the spacecraft reduced the gap in a straight-line approach then maneuvered to approximately 15 meters below the Payload Attach Fitting (PAF) — the planned capture point for the follow-on ADRAS-J2 mission — aligning the spacecraft’s relative speed, distance, and attitude. ADRAS-J successfully maintained this position until an autonomous abort was triggered by the onboard collision avoidance system due to an unexpected relative attitude anomaly with the upper stage. The spacecraft safely maneuvered away from the debris as designed before reaching the CIP. Astroscale Japan is currently investigating the cause of the abort.

While ADRAS-J did not reach its intended final distance, the mission demonstrated the robustness of its safety measures during simulated capture operations. The onboard Fault-Detection, Isolation, and Recovery system has ensured the spacecraft’s safety during all close-proximity operations, including the successful response and abort maneuver during the first fly-around observation attempt in July.

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As NASA develops a blueprint for space exploration throughout the solar system for the benefit of humanity, the agency had released several new documents updating its Moon to Mars architecture. The roadmap sets NASA on course for long-term lunar exploration under the Artemis campaign in preparation for future crewed missions to Mars.

Following an Architecture Concept Review, the 2024 updates include a revision of NASA’s Architecture Definition Document which details technical approaches and processes of the agency’s exploration plans, an executive overview, and 12 new white papers on key Moon to Mars topics.

One newly released white paper highlights NASA’s decision to use fission power as the primary source of power on the Martian surface to sustain crews — the first of seven key decisions necessary for human Mars exploration. Fission power is a form of nuclear power unaffected by day and night cycles or potential dust storms on Mars.

New additions this year also include a broader, prioritized list of key architecture decisions that need to be made early in NASA’s plans to send humans to the Red Planet.

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An agreement has been signed between the European Commission, ESA and SpaceRISE ... a consortium comprised by Eutelsat, Hispasat and SES ... that will see the consortium design, deliver and operate the Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity and Security by Satellite (IRIS²) for a period of 12 years. The contract was signed today in a ceremony at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels.

With the network of 290 new Low Earth Orbit and Medium Earth Orbit satellites expected to provide services by the beginning of 2030, the IRIS² constellation of satellites for a resilient, interconnected and secure Europe is an EU flagship initiative. IRIS² will be the preferred and trusted network for Europe in delivering secure and reliable high-performance communication solutions to the EU and its Member States as well as high-speed broadband connectivity for European citizens, governmental authorities and businesses, playing a transformative role in reinforcing Europe’s digital sovereignty, and low-latency connectivity.

Under the agreement with SpaceRISE, the project will be backed by €6.5 billion (≈$6.83 billion) of public funds representing nearly 60% of the total project costs – comprising funding from the European Commission, EU Member States, the European Space Agency and private financing from the consortium members. The SpaceRISE consortium will lead the wider European space industry to accelerate innovation throughout the supply chain, enhancing Europe's leadership and competitiveness in the space sector.

And those are some of the top stories from The Journal of Space Commerce this week. I'm Tom Patton

The 10th Starship test flight, conducted Tuesday evening, met every major objective laid out for the flight.

The flight test began with Super Heavy successfully lifting off by igniting all 33 Raptor engines and ascending over the Gulf of America. The successful ascent was followed by a hot-staging maneuver, with Starship’s upper stage igniting its six Raptor engines to separate from Super Heavy and continue the flight to space.

Following stage separation, the Super Heavy booster completed its boostback burn to put it on a course to a pre-planned splashdown zone. Super Heavy entered into a final hover above the water before shutting down its engines and splashing down into the Gulf.

Starship completed a full-duration ascent burn and achieved its planned velocity, successfully putting it on a suborbital trajectory. The first in-space objective was then completed, with eight Starlink simulators deployed in the first successful payload demonstration from Starship. The vehicle then completed the second ever in-space relight of a Raptor engine, demonstrating a key capability for future deorbit burns. Moving into the critical reentry phase, Starship was intentionally stressed to push the envelope on vehicle capabilities. And then came a controlled dip into the Indian ocean.

The vehicle achieved orbital altitude, but the objective was not to complete a full orbit of the Earth. But you can feel pretty safe in predicting that we'll likely be seeing that in the not-too-distant future.

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European satellite manufacturer Aerospacelab recently announced the closure of an extended Series B funding round totaling approximately $110 million through a dual-tranche funding of $66 million alongside a $44 million commitment from a European Financial Institution. This Series B round has been strategically implemented to align with Aerospacelab’s ambitious industrial roadmap and solidify its position as a major force in the aerospace industry.

This substantial investment has served to propel Aeropacelab’s growth trajectory and fuel its products’ readiness, resulting in a fleet of ready-to-sell satellites to demanding customers active in a variety of industries (e.g. earth observation, telecom, etc). Additionally, it has been directed towards the full verticalization of all key subsystems, reinforcing its industrial autonomy and accelerating its product development.

Aerospacelab’s Megafactory, a cornerstone of its industrial strategy, has already benefited from the Series B funding, enabling the company to build one of the most advanced satellite production sites in Europe, with a manufacturing capacity of up to 500 satellites per year. The capital has also been instrumental in accelerating R&D, attracting top-tier engineering talent, and fully verticalizing subsystems

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A critical engineering milestone has been reached in the development of a lunar power demonstration mission by Astrobotic. The LunaGrid-Lite mission has now moved into flight hardware production.

The LunaGrid-Lite mission will deploy 1,640 feet of ultra-light cable across the lunar landscape and transmit 1 kilowatt of power using a CubeRover for the first time on the Moon's surface. The project successfully passed Critical Design Review, a major spacecraft development phase that finalizes all system designs and verifies they meet technical requirements before moving to flight component fabrication and assembly. The milestone puts the mission on track for completion by the second quarter of 2026.

With spaceflight component production now underway, the next major milestone will be the System Integration Review, scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2025. During this phase, completed hardware will undergo detailed evaluation to confirm readiness for full spacecraft integration.

The successful transmission of power across the lunar surface could enable future missions to operate through the two-week lunar night, when solar panels are ineffective. This capability is crucial for NASA's Artemis program and commercial lunar ventures planning long-term operations at the Moon's south pole.

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Coming up, Rocket Lab cuts the ribbon on its new launch facility in Virginia. But right now why not take a minute to become a paid subscriber to The Journal of Space Commerce. Whether you’re a space professional, investor or an enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com on Substack, and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

There's a new launch facility at Wallops Island, VA. Rocket Lab officially cut the ribbon on its new Launch Complex 3 (LC-3) Thursday morning in an event attended by company founder Sir Peter Beck, Virginia Governor Glenn Younkin and other government and NASA officials.

The facility is purpose-built for launching Rocket Lab's Neutron rocket, a fully-reusable launch system. The company says the advanced 8-ton payload class Neutron launch vehicle is designed to transform space access by delivering reliable and cost-effective launch services for satellite mega-constellations, deep space missions and human spaceflight. The booster will land on a 400-ft-long landing platform named ‘Return On Investment' that is currently under construction.

Beck explained the significance of the new launch facility. "With the opening of Launch Complex 3, we take a major step forward in ensuring resilient and assured space access for the nation ... a capability that has never been more critical,” he said. “Our high cadence, reusable launch vehicle Neutron will expand Virginia's capabilities, and enable the United States to quickly and reliably reach the International Space Station, Earth orbit, as well as explore the moon and beyond."

Governor Younkin called the Virginia spaceport an economic engine for the region that took a giant step forward with the signing of President Trump's executive order promoting the commercial space industry, and said that Virginia is now poised to take a leadership role in commercial space launch.

"In order to lead, it requires us to have an ecosystem that can fulfill not just the current requirements, but the future requirements of the most vibrant space industry complex in America. That is what we are building," Younkin said.

The first launch of a Neutron rocket from LC-3 is not planned until 2026, but Governor Younkin hinted that it might come before the end of this year. "If it's on Christmas Day, I'll bring the presents," the Governor quipped.

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Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet, the 70th Electron mission was launched by Rocket Lab last weekend. The ‘Live, Laugh, Launch’ mission lifted-off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand on August 23, less than three weeks after Electron’s previous successful launch from the same site.

‘Live, Laugh, Launch’ was Electron’s 12th mission of 2025. The company says the majority of Electron missions launched this year, including this most recent mission, have been the continuation of multi-launch contracts with satellite operators to deploy their constellation in low Earth orbit.

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Scientists have launched an experiment to the International Space Station (ISS) to study how 3D bioprinted liver tissue behaves in microgravity, a project led by the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. The investigation, sponsored by ISS National Labs, launched on SpaceX’s 33rd Commercial Resupply Services mission contracted by NASA, seeks to improve tissue engineering for medical treatments on Earth and in space.

The experiment focuses on 3D bioprinted liver tissue with vascular channels, which are critical for delivering oxygen and nutrients to keep tissues functional. On Earth, Wake Forest researchers have created liver tissue constructs that remain viable for 30 days, but maintaining large, thick tissues is challenging due to vascularization limitations. Microgravity may enhance cell behavior and tissue development, potentially overcoming these hurdles.

This experiment could revolutionize regenerative medicine by improving the creation of functional tissues for transplants, addressing the organ shortage crisis affecting over 100,000 people on U.S. transplant waiting lists.

Insights from microgravity may also help protect astronauts’ health during deep space missions, advancing both terrestrial healthcare and space exploration.

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NASA has selected San Francisco-based Planette to develop QubitCast, a next-generation weather forecasting system. Powered by artificial intelligence (AI), the company says QubitCast will improve long-range or subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) weather predictions ... that is forecasts ranging from two weeks to two years ... beyond current limitations with a focus on extreme weather detection capabilities. The system will be designed to provide critical early warning signals for high-impact severe weather, making it possible to plan and prepare for extremes.

Planette’s layering of several physics-based models and AI enables its forecasts to extend further into the future than the industry norm of 10 days. The company combines atmospheric data with ocean and land inputs, and couples this modeling approach to fill a critical information gap between traditional short-term weather predictions and long-term projections, up to one year into the future.

With QubitCast, Planette is utilizing algorithms inspired by quantum physics, such as the ability to explore multiple possibilities in parallel. The breakthrough will allow the company to process data more efficiently and uncover hidden weather patterns with greater accuracy, delivering more timely and actionable forecasts without relying on the still-emerging hardware for quantum computing.

And those are some of the top stories we covered for you on The Journal of Space Commerce this week. Space Commerce Week is a production of Ex Terra Media. You can get daily updates on space commerce by subscribing to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack at www.exterrajsc.com. And please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional, investor or an enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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Theme Stock Music provided by CoolTones, from Pond5

As the volume of orbital debris continues to grow, the need for precise and reliable prediction methods has never been more critical to ensure safety and operational integrity of our space assets. Traditional models often fall short in accounting for the complex dynamics of space environments. However, by integrating the principles of physics directly into neural network architectures, Sierra Space has developed a solution that the company says will not only enhances prediction accuracy but also significantly reduces computational overhead.

Leveraging the power of physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) and a collaboration with NVIDIA, Sierra Space says it is now able to predict the future locations of orbital debris.

PINNs represent a revolutionary approach to modeling and predicting the behavior of orbital debris. Sierra Space PINNs are trained to understand and predict the trajectories of debris by incorporating data from various sources, including satellite observations and historical tracking information.

NVIDIA’s GPUs enable the processing of vast amounts of data simultaneously, significantly reducing the time required for model training and inference. This capability is crucial for real-time applications where timely predictions can make the difference between a safe maneuver and a potential collision.

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A launch window has been announced for an upcoming Electron mission to deploy the latest satellite in Synspective’s growing Earth observation constellation.

The “Owl The Way Up” mission is scheduled to launch from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand during a launch window that opens on December 18th in that country. The mission will deploy a single StriX satellite to orbit for Synspective.

Synspective's small SAR satellites, StriX, are equipped with a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensor, which can observe the Earth's surface in any weather condition day or night.

Rocket Lab first launched for Synspective in December 2020 and has been the sole launch provider for Synspective’s constellation to date.

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Spaceflight company Orbex is narrowing its operational focus to developing small and medium sized space rockets after switching its launch operations to SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland.

The company has decided to pause construction of its own spaceport in Sutherland and will instead launch its first rockets from SaxaVord. The decision enables the company to direct more funding to the development of a new, medium-sized launch vehicle called Proxima. Orbex will retain its lease to build and operate its own spaceport at Sutherland in order to give it flexibility to increase launch capacity in the future. This will be kept under continuous review.

Orbex is planning to increase the size of its manufacturing capability in Forres to ensure it can meet demand for its smaller vehicle, known as Prime. It will now also use the site to develop a new medium launch vehicle, which will enable Orbex to send more and larger satellites into orbit.

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A definitive agreement has been reached between Neo Space Group and Airbus Defense and Space (Airbus) to acquire the latter company's UP42 business, a next-generation earth observation digital platform. UP42, launched by Airbus in 2019 in Berlin, Germany, is a pioneer in streamlining access to, and deriving insights from geospatial data via a cloud-based platform.

Neo Space Group (NSG) is a Public Investment Fund-owned company and Saudi Arabia's leading commercial space services provider. UP42 is expected to be part of NSG's growing Geospatial division. UP42's earth observation digital platform provides customers access to data and analytics from more than 80 of the world's leading geospatial companies, making it easy to source and manage diverse data from multiple providers through one seamless interface.

NSG was launched in May of this year, when Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced its establishment, with the mission to become a global leader in the satellite and space sector.

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Among the passengers launching on December 21 on the SpaceX Bandwagon-2 mission is the first satellite built by Spacecoin as it embarks on a program to build the first decentralized, space-based Internet service.

CTC-0 will take off from Vandenberg Space Force Base aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. It will conduct a pilot test with partners in Africa and South Asia. Additional satellites are expected to be launched in 2025 to conduct pilot tests across various frequency bands, secure more partners to drive market adoption and expansion, and prepare for a Q4 launch to start providing service to potentially billions of unconnected people.

The company estimates that nearly 37% of the global population today has no internet connectivity. By establishing universal internet access, the company hopes to "Connect the Unconnected", and provide direct-to-mobile internet connectivity to global regions that lack reliable internet access.

And those are some of the top stories appearing this week on The Journal of Space Commerce.

https://www.exterrajsc.com

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated entrepreneur Jarad Isaacman to be the next Administrator of NASA.

Isaacman has financed and led two private missions into space carrying all-civilian crews. In 2021, Isaacman was commander of the Inspiration4 mission, which was the first orbital spaceflight with an all-private crew. Then earlier this year, Isaacman was commander of the Polaris Dawn mission, which saw the first spacewalk by a private astronaut. Polaris Dawn was placed in an elliptical orbit which saw the crew travel further from the Earth than any mission since the Apollo program.

"Jared’s passion for Space, astronaut experience, and dedication to pushing the boundaries of exploration, unlocking the mysteries of the universe, and advancing the new Space economy, make him ideally suited to lead NASA into a bold new Era." Trump said in a post on X announcing the appointment.

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When Isaacman steps into the administrator role at NASA, he'll inherit an Artemis program that is continuing to fall behind schedule. The agency announced this week that the Artemis II flight to orbit the Moon will not launch until sometime any earlier than April 2026, and that the Artemis III flight to land humans on the lunar surface will not take place before mid-2027.

The agency’s decision comes after an extensive investigation of an Artemis I heat shield issue showed the Artemis II heat shield can keep the crew safe during the planned mission with changes to Orion’s trajectory as it enters Earth’s atmosphere and slows from nearly 25,000 mph to about 325 mph before its parachutes unfurl for safe splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

NASA will, however, continue stacking its SLS (Space Launch System) rocket elements, which began in November, and prepare it for integration with Orion for Artemis II.

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A spacecraft that may make it to the Moon in 2025 is the Firefly Aerospace lunar lander, which will be shipped to Cape Canaveral later this month for launch integration.

Blue Ghost environmental testing was recently completed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in mid-October. The regimen included comprehensive functional and behavioral testing in a flight-like environment. The testing also included vibration, acoustic, electromagnetic interference and compatibility tests to further verify the integrated lander can withstand each flight environment during launch, transit, and landing on the Moon.

Following launch and vehicle separation, Blue Ghost will begin its approximately 45-day transit to the Moon, allowing ample time to conduct robust health checks and begin payload operations on orbit. If all goes well, Blue Ghost is targeted for a landing in Mare Crisium, and its payloads will operate for a full lunar day, or 14 Earth days.

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The satellite-based earth observation market size is forecast to increase by $7.60 billion, at a CAGR of 10.67% through 2028, according to a new report from Technavio. The market anticipates growth fueled by the increasing use of satellites for advanced environmental monitoring, crucial in disaster management and resource conservation efforts.

Technological advancements, including higher-resolution imaging and data analytics, bolster observation capabilities. Furthermore, the rising need to strengthen offshore communication, especially in sectors like maritime shipping and oil exploration, drives demand, driving market expansion for satellite-based earth observation solutions.

Based on type, the market has been segmented into Value Added Services (VAS) and data, with the VAS segment accounting for the largest share in this segment.

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This week on The Ex Terra Podcast, we talked with Dylan Kesler, VP of AI and Data Science at Slingshot Aerospace.

In the coming years, AI agents will be paramount to enable spacecraft to operate independently and alleviate pressure on space operators, assisting with space traffic coordination, preventing space debris, real-time data processing and training to ensure the security and success of mission-critical space operations.

Kesler says that the growing number of satellites in orbit will make AI an indispensable tool for governments and private satellite operators.

"When we start to talk about tens of thousands of satellites that are doing much more in space than they have before, the amount of information becomes overwhelming, not just for one person, but for all the people we could throw at it," he said. "So AI does a great job of taking many data streams and sifting through those and building representations that are useful for people to think about."

Slingshot Aerospace recently was awarded a contract to build the presentation layer for TraCSS, the NOAA Office of Space Commerce space traffic system.

And those are some of the top stories from The Journal of Space Commerce this week. I'm Tom Patton

https://www.exterrajsc.com

The sixth flight test of the SpaceX Starship launched from Starbase on Tuesday, seeking to expand the envelope on ship and booster capabilities and get closer to bringing reuse of the entire system online.

The Super Heavy booster successfully lifted off at the start of the launch window, with all 33 Raptor engines powering it and Starship off the pad from Starbase. Following a nominal ascent and stage separation, the booster successfully transitioned to its boostback burn to begin the return to launch site. During this phase, automated health checks of critical hardware on the launch and catch tower triggered an abort of the catch attempt. The booster then executed a pre-planned divert maneuver, performing a landing burn and soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico.

Starship completed another successful ascent, placing it on the expected trajectory. The ship successfully reignited a single Raptor engine while in space, demonstrating the capabilities required to conduct a ship deorbit burn before starting fully orbital missions. With live views and telemetry being relayed by Starlink, the ship successfully made it through reentry and executed a flip, landing burn, and soft splashdown in the Indian Ocean.

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The first supersonic flight of the Dawn Aerospace Mk-II Aurora Spaceplane took place on November 12, making it one of the fastest privately-developed aircraft on the planet.

Aurora reached Mach 1.1 and climbed to an altitude of 82,500 feet, over twice as high as commercial aircraft. The flight also marks the first time a civil aircraft has flown supersonic since Concorde was retired in 2003. This achievement signifies a major step toward operational hypersonic travel and daily space access, establishing rocket-powered aircraft as a new class of ultra-high-performance vehicles.

The flight, conducted from New Zealand’s Glentanner Aerodrome exceeded its test target speeds and altitude of Mach 1.05 and 75,000 feet. The Aurora also set a record, becoming the fastest aircraft to climb from ground level to 20 km (66,000 feet), completing the ascent in just 118.6 seconds.

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Looking at a couple of market reports released this week, The Global Satellite Payloads Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.7% from 2024 to 2030, according to a new report published by Verified Market Reports. The report reveals that the market, valued at $14.1 billion in 2023, is expected to reach $41.9 billion by the end of the forecast period.

The increasing need for high-resolution imaging and real-time data has significantly boosted the demand for satellite payloads. Various sectors, such as agriculture, environmental monitoring, and urban planning, rely on satellite-based data for precision, efficiency, and decision-making. The growing emphasis on providing internet access to remote and underserved regions is another major driver in the satellite payloads market.

Continuous innovation in satellite payload design, especially in miniaturization and cost efficiency, fuels market growth. But the satellite payloads market faces significant barriers due to high initial investment requirements and lengthy development periods. Designing, manufacturing, and launching satellite payloads involves complex engineering and precision, resulting in high costs that can deter new entrants.

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The Satellite Communications equipment market is projected to reach $41.51 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 11.3% from 2024 to 2029 according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets.

The range of products and services encompasses antennas, transceivers, modems, power amplifiers, and integrated systems designed for different applications. SATCOM equipment provides military operations with secure communication and the real-time transmission of data, which helps improve situational awareness and operational effectiveness. Beyond defense, the market serves many civil and commercial sectors, such as telecommunications, broadcasting, maritime, aviation, and emergency services.

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Getting into space is loud. There’s no way around it, the controlled explosion that propels a spacecraft into orbit generates a LOT of noise. Anyone who has ever watched a launch in person knows how true that is.

But sound can have a very detrimental effect on the spacecraft riding on the rocket. Sound is nothing more than a vibration, after all, and shaking things often leads to breaking things. That’s why acoustic testing is such an important part of evaluating a spacecraft's fitness for flight.

This week on The Ex Terra Podcast, Tom Patton talked with Alessandra 'Alex' Carrella, Max Myers and Bradley Hope from MSI-DFAT about DFAN testing for spacecraft which was developed by the company.

The MSI-DFAT test method uses a large number of speakers that surround the test article to create the acoustic test field. The speakers are controlled in zones and provide more flexibility than in a traditional reverberant test chamber.

Bradley Hope is U.S. Business Development Manager for MI-DFAT. "We're essentially recreating the very harsh noise and vibration environment created by sound during rocket launch. That's a very violent environment, and it's part of an overall series of tests that they call 'environmental tests' that a spacecraft will go through prior to launch."

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ended Fiscal Year 2024 with a record 148 licensed commercial space operations, up more than 30 percent over the prior year. The FAA forecasts that number may more than double by FY 2028.

To address the expected surge in launches, the agency plans to stand up an Aerospace Rulemaking Committee to update the FAA’s Part 450 launch and reentry licensing rule. The committee will consist of members of the commercial space industry and academia and will focus on nine topics, including flight safety analyses, system safety, and means of compliance. It is expected to submit a report with recommended changes to Part 450 rule by late summer 2025. The FAA would then use the recommendations to plan future rulemaking actions.

The FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation continues to fine-tune its internal processes and policies and has significantly increased staffing to the highest level in its 40-year history. In addition, it is developing tools to automate license application submission and evaluation and expanded its educational outreach to the industry with additional pre-application consultation opportunities, advisory circulars, online workshops, and more.

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A multi-launch agreement with a confidential commercial satellite constellation operator has been signed by Rocket Lab for its new medium-lift rocket Neutron.

Under the contract, Rocket Lab will launch two dedicated missions on Neutron starting about mid-2026 from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 3 on Wallops Island, Virginia. The launch service agreement for these missions signifies the beginning of a productive collaboration that could see Neutron deploy the entire constellation.

In addition to serving customers, Rocket Lab says Neutron is key to the company’s strategy as an end-to-end space company preparing to deploy its own constellations and deliver services from space in the future.

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A couple of significant market reports were released this week. The Earth Observation (EO) Satellite Market size is expected to reach $500 million by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.90% from 2024 to 2032, according to a new report from Market Research Future.

The EO satellite market has emerged as one of the most critical sectors within the broader space industry, offering invaluable data and insights for a wide range of applications across multiple industries. EO satellites play a significant role in monitoring the Earth's surface, atmosphere, and oceans, providing critical data for climate studies, agriculture, disaster management, urban planning, and national security.

The rising demand for accurate and timely Earth observation data, coupled with innovations in satellite miniaturization, cost-effective launch solutions, and artificial intelligence (AI) integration, is likely to shape the future trajectory of the market. The next decade promises substantial growth, driven by the increasing adoption of EO satellites in sectors ranging from agriculture and forestry to defense and disaster management.

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After experiencing substantial growth over the past decade, the Satellite Communications Market is poised for continued expansion through 2030, according to new projections from Market Research Future.

The market will grow to approximately $34.85 billion by 2030, according to the company's research. This growth translates to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.44% from 2023 to 2030.

Several factors are contributing to the market's upward trajectory, including the increasing use of marine Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSAT), the rising demand for compact SATCOM solutions, and the continuous military satellite launches. These trends not only reflect the growing demand for satellite communication solutions but also underscore the broad applications of SATCOM technology across commercial, military, and government sectors.

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And speaking of communications satellites, this week on The Ex Terra Podcast we welcomed Shey Sabripour, founder and CEO of CesiumAstro. The company recently announced its “Element” integrated phased-array satellite.

“Phased Array is a device that’s been around … it’s a technology that’s been around for a long, long time. It was conceived and conceptualized and invented well over 100 years ago. But ultimately it was used in radar applications,” Sabripour said.

“It is a device that allow you to electronically steer these beams. So what you want to do is you want to have these agile beams that dynamically steer. That’s what phased arrays do. They just electronically steer the beams, but they provide many other applications. You can dynamically change the frequency per beam, you can dynamically adjust the power to each beam, and in military applications there are lots and lots of benefits with phased arrays that come this multi-user, electronically steerable, dynamic, software-defined beams.”

CesiumAstro's scalable products range from discrete modules to complete software-defined payloads that "work out of the box". The integrated product line ranges from single-beam downlink solutions to multi-beam, full-duplex communications payloads.

Three of our top stories came literally from the far side of the planet from JSC HQ this week. For starters, Australia's Minister for Industry and Science, Ed Husic MP, and the Australian Space Agency granted the country’s first orbital launch permit to Gilmour Space Technologies for its maiden Eris rocket launch from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in north Queensland.

The upcoming TestFlight1 will be the first of several planned test launches to reach orbit with Eris, which leverages new propulsion technologies developed by the Gold Coast-based company.

An Australian launch permit is required under the Space (Launches & Returns) Act 2018 to launch an object from Australia to an altitude of over 100 kilometers (≈62 miles). It comes with a number of conditions that must be met before launch, and a mandatory 30-day notification period.

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Meanwhile, the Australian Ministry of Defense canceled a satellite procurement contract with Lockheed Martin, citing the evolving nature of the space domain.

In a statement released to the media, the Australian MoD said that, "as outlined in the 2024 National Defense Strategy, Defense requires space capabilities that enhance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, provide resilient communications and counter emerging space threats. The Integrated Investment Program included $9-$12 billion to invest in enhanced space capabilities.

The MoD said in the statement that it was canceling the agreement with Lockheed Martin Australia for a single orbit GEO-based satellite communications system, while stressing that Lockheed Martin Australia continues to be a highly valued industry partner, supporting Defense’s requirements for contemporary and future capability demands.

Instead of a single orbit solution, the agency will focus on a multi-orbit capability increasing resilience for the Australian Defense Force.

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Across the Tasman Sea in New Zealand, Rocket Lab launched its 54th Electron rocket, carrying a payload for a "confidential customer" into orbit. The mission was Rocket Lab’s 12th Electron launch this year, continuing to best the Company’s previous record of 10 annual launches achieved in 2023.

The ‘Changes in Attitudes, Changes in Latitudes’ mission launched from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand on November 5th, 2024, less than ten weeks from the mission’s launch contract signing, making it one of the company’s fastest turnarounds yet from contract to launch.

It has been typical for years to pass between contract and launch. Rocket Lab says its Electron rocket now makes it possible for customers to book and launch in just weeks, enabling them to test technologies faster, begin generating revenue from constellations earlier, or gather urgent data from orbit at near on-demand timelines.

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On the financial front, Redwire Corporation announced results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2024.

According to a news release, revenues for the third quarter of 2024 increased 9.6% to $68.6 million, as compared to $62.6 million for the third quarter of 2023. Net Loss for the third quarter of 2024 increased by $14.6 million to $(21.0) million, as compared to $(6.3) million for the third quarter of 2023. Net Loss for the third quarter of 2024 includes a loss contingency of $8.0 million related to the Lemen v. Redwire Corp. securities lawsuit, of which there is no comparable cost for the third quarter of 2023.

Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter of 2024 decreased by $2.5 million to $2.4 million, as compared to $4.9 million for the third quarter of 2023.

For the full year ending December 31, 2024, Redwire affirms that it is forecasting revenues of $310 million.

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And Viasat has released its Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 (Q2 FY25) financial results in a letter to shareholders posted on the company website.

According to the letter, the Q2 FY25 results were better than expected in terms of revenue and Adjusted EBITDA performance, reflecting continued demand for Viasat's technology solutions and strong results in Defense and Advanced Technologies (DAT).

At the halfway point of the fiscal year, Viasat CEO Mark Dankberg says that for FY2025 the company expects mid-single-digit YoY Adjusted EBITDA growth excluding the one-time benefits from the litigation settlement of $86 million in Q2 FY2024, off a reference base of FY2024 Combined Adjusted EBITDA of $1.5 billion. The Combined Adjusted EBITDA growth is expected to be driven by strong revenue flow through from DAT licensing agreements and Communication Services.

Looking ahead to FY2026, Dankberg says he expects that YoY revenue and Adjusted EBITDA growth – and the two-year cumulative capex number is expected to remain net neutral which indicates ultimately the same for cash through FY2026.

U.S. Transportation Secretary and Acting NASA Administrator Sean P. Duffy recently marked the FAA’s 1,000th operation of a commercial space vehicle that the agency licensed or permitted.

As the number of launches and reentries continues to grow, particularly with the signing last week of the “Enabling Competition in the Commercial Space Industry” Executive Order, the FAA is moving forward with actions to maintain public safety while reducing regulatory burden to meet increasing industry demand.

Timely license approval by the FAA is key to getting U.S. rockets off the launch pad and into space. The FAA is implementing the Part 450 license rule to streamline the launch and reentry application process, authorize multiple operations with one license approval, and relieve administrative and cost burdens on industry, among other benefits. Seven operators have a Part 450 license with several others in the process.

Secretary Duffy said the FAA is dedicated to providing safe, efficient, and timely access to space.

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Meanwhile, the agency has introduced the first of several new capabilities being developed to further the safe integration of launch and reentry vehicles into the National Airspace System (NAS). Space Data Integrator is an operational prototype that will receive and distribute launch and reentry data for initial use within the NAS to enable improved situational awareness and airspace management decision-making.

SDI will provide some much-needed automation to improve the current operation, which relies heavily on manual processes to retrieve and communicate space data.

The SDI operational prototype is designed to accept launch and reentry vehicle state vector data gathered from operators such as vehicle position, altitude, and speed. It will then process the data, display it, and distribute it to Traffic Flow Management System (TFMS). The system allows the FAA to track the actual versus planned trajectory of launch and reentry operations, the status of various mission events, and the display of Aircraft Hazard Areas (AHAs).

The end goal is to optimize the safety, efficiency, and integration of space operations using our advanced automation tools and procedural improvements, the agency says.

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Space and defense technology company Sidus Space posted higher revenue but deeper losses in the second quarter as it invests in next-generation satellite systems and artificial intelligence capabilities.

The company completed commissioning of its ADCS system on LizzieSat-3 with autonomous, machine learning-powered onboard guidance, navigation and control software. The company also deployed its Orlaith AI system in Asia and amended its lunar satellite manufacturing contract with Lonestar Holdings, bringing the total potential value to $120 million.

On an earnings call recorded and posted to the Sidus Space website, CEO Carol Craig said that the deployment of LizzieSat 3 helped lay the groundwork for future revenue enhancement.

"We completed commissioning of the ADCS system on LizzieSat 3 with cutting-edge, autonomous machine learning onboard GNC software to enable full autonomous pointing, and set the stage for solar array deployment and payload activation. This demonstrates the ability of our satellites to accept technological software advancements while on-orbit," Craig said. "It also represents a major step towards converting our satellite infrastructure into recurring, revenue-generating assets. We are now moving to activate our sensors, which will lead to subscriptions under existing customer agreements. The activation of these technologies will also support additional government and commercial contracts where on-orbit experience and performance are also key differentiators."

Chief Financial Officer Adarsh Perekh dove deeper into the actual numbers.

"Total revenue for the first half of 2025 was approximately $1.5 million, compared to $2.0 million in the same period in 2024. While this reflects a decrease of $478,000, or 24 percent, the change aligns with our shift away from legacy contract work toward higher-value space-based and AI driven solutions. This repositioning is intentional, and expect to generate more sustainable recurring revenue in future periods. The impact of milestone-based revenue recognition also influence the year-over-year comparison," Perekh said. "Cost of revenue rose to approximately $4.2 million, a 52 percent increase from $2.7 million in the first half of 2024. Key contributors included a $1.1 million increase in depreciation tied to satellite and software investments; a changing contract mix requiring greater labor and material inputs; ongoing supply chain pressures impacting manufacturing operations. Gross profits for the period was a loss of $2.7 million, compared to a loss of $757,000 in the same period last year."

We see Sidus Space's results reflecting a broader trend in the commercial space industry, where companies are investing heavily in next-generation capabilities while working to commercialize their technologies.

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Why not take a minute to become a paid subscriber to The Journal of Space Commerce. Whether you’re a space professional, investor or an enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just click the subscribe button below, and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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New market research from MarketsandMarkets indicates the global satellite internet market has the potential to surge from $14.56 billion this year to as much as $33.44 billion by 2030, driven by widespread adoption of affordable user terminals and artificial intelligence-powered network optimization systems.

The market is expected to register an 18.1% compound annual growth rate during the forecast period, propelled by electronically steerable user terminals that reduce adoption barriers across consumer and enterprise segments. AI-powered network management systems are improving bandwidth efficiency by dynamically prioritizing traffic based on application and region, allowing providers to serve more users with fewer resources.

Multi-orbit systems are projected to register the highest growth as they combine advantages of low Earth orbit, medium Earth orbit and geostationary Earth orbit satellites. SpaceX, Viasat, EchoStar Corporation, Eutelsat Communications SA and SES S.A. dominate the competitive landscape as leading market players, the analyst says.

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SpinLaunch, a company that was founded to create an innovative way to launch small satellites into orbit, is pivoting to be a manufacturer and operator of those small satellites.

The company developed a ground-based centrifuge that would launch small payloads into orbit, and while they had some success with suborbital missions, getting all the way to LEO proved to be a more daunting challenge. While they have not given up on the idea entirely, the company recently secured $30 million in funding to speed development of its low-earth orbit satellite broadband network. The Meridian Space constellation aims to provide cost-effective global satellite communications.

SpinLaunch has completed full-scale testing of its proprietary multi-band reflectarray antenna, a key component that enables the constellation's low-cost design. The company says its reconfigurable antenna offers a more compact and energy-efficient alternative to traditional satellite antennas, which can be bulky and expensive.

The pivot comes after changes in the C-Suite. In 2024, David Wrenn was named as CEO, succeeding company founder and CEO Jonathan Yaney. Recently, Wrenn was replaced as CEO by SatComm industry veteran Massimiliano Ladovaz, who is known as a prolific fundraiser.

SpinLaunch appears to be continuing to develop its centrifugal launch system, perhaps to keep control of the deployment of its satellite constellation.

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On this most recent edition of The Journal of Space Commerce podcast, I talked with Michael Potter, one of the founding trustees of the Lunar Museum of Art. LUMA is a digital museum and archival initiative focused on the intersection of art, space, and technology. It presents curated exhibitions, immersive galleries, and projects that explore humanity’s cultural expansion beyond Earth. LUMA is also a leader in integrating NFTs and digital storytelling into space-themed experiences.

On the podcast, Potter explained that LUMA is a digital layer on top of the Lonestar Data Holdings data center, which was carried to the moon aboard the Intuitive Machines lunar lander.

"From a practical point of view, we're the first museum on the moon, we're the first non-profit museum on the moon (and) the first art museum on the moon," Potter said. "But to get a start, we had to do it in a digital context because that was all that was available to us at that moment. But the idea is that this is really a hybrid museum."

LUMA currently has four galleries:

* The Best of NASA

* Space for Art: Healing Through Creativity

* Cinema

* Next Frontiers

Potter hopes that LUMA will eventually become part of an envisioned network called "The Museums of the Next Frontiers" with other art museums.

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And those are some of the top stories we covered for you on The Journal of Space Commerce this week. Space Commerce Week is a production of Ex Terra Media. You can get daily updates on space commerce by subscribing to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack at www.exterrajsc.com. And please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional, investor or an enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

Theme Stock Music provided by CoolTones, from Pond5

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President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an Executive Order (EO) titled “Enabling Competition in the Commercial Space Industry” that will enable a competitive launch marketplace and substantially increase the commercial space launch cadence and novel space activities by 2030.

According to the text of the EO, the commercial space industry drives economic growth, supports cutting-edge technology, and advances Federal space exploration objectives. Inefficient permitting processes discourage investment and innovation, limiting the ability of U.S. companies to lead in global space markets. Meanwhile, overly complex environmental and other licensing and permitting regulations slow down commercial space launches and infrastructure development, and benefit entrenched incumbents who can afford to bear the expense of regulatory compliance over new market entrants who may not have that ability.

The Executive Order has multiple implications for the commercial space industry. It will streamline commercial license and permit approvals for United States-based operators, including eliminating regulatory barriers and expediting environmental reviews for commercial launches and reentries. Environmental groups have expressed opposition to the latter provision. It cuts unnecessary red tape to make it easier to build new spaceports in the U.S., and promotes new space activities like in-space manufacturing and orbital refueling through a streamlined framework.

The move was welcomed by The Commercial Space Federation.

We'll look at some of the implications for investors and venture capitalists in just a few minutes.

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President Trump wasn't the only one looking to make things easier for the commercial space industry. The Federal Communications Commission unanimously voted to modernize and streamline the nation’s satellite and earth station licensing rules with a goal of boosting the space economy.

The bipartisan reforms, unanimously approved August 7, are designed to speed up the application process for satellite operators, and support emerging business models like ground-station-as-a-service (GSaaS), where a single facility connects to multiple satellite systems. Formerly bogged down by paperwork, the process approved by the FCC will now let earth station operators obtain baseline licenses and later add or remove satellites through simple notifications, eliminating the need for repeat applications. The FCC also established a 30-day shot clock for most earth station renewals and scrapped unnecessary requirements like keeping paper application copies.

In a prepared statement, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr laid out his reasons for voting in favor of the change.

“The global value for the space economy just passed $600 billion. Ensuring that American companies secure and extend leadership positions in this sector means more jobs and economic opportunity for the country. I'm confident that our businesses will lead the world if we get the regulatory framework right,” Carr said. “To help America's space companies continue to succeed and grow, we're not only working to speed up and simplify our processes. But we're also working to promote more flexibility as well. Making the smallest change to a satellite system or earth station can require an entirely new FCC approval. So, the Order we adopt today will eliminate FCC approval requirements for a range of routine changes that pose no risk to the public."

The reforms are part of a broader “Build America” agenda, aimed at keeping U.S. space policy in step with rapid technological advances and supporting a flourishing environment for investment, competition, and innovation within the satellite industry.

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A definitive agreement has been reached for the acquisition of deep space navigation company KinetX by Intuitive Machines. The acquisition, which is expected to close before the end of the year, strengthens Intuitive Machines’ position as a vertically integrated provider of end-to-end systems for the Moon, Mars and beyond, and marks the Company’s formal expansion into the precision navigation and flight dynamics segment of deep space operations.

The acquisition reinforces the Company’s flight dynamics and navigation business line within Intuitive Machines’ Data Transmission Services segment. Intuitive Machines plans to pair KinetX software and talent with its lunar-proven flight systems, positioning the Company to lead in emerging opportunities like NASA’s Near Space Network Services, the potential for Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System replacement, Mars data relay missions, and commercial operations of legacy Deep Space Network infrastructure.

The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions.

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Global demand for Earth observation (EO) geospatial data is rising, driven by increased interest and investment in geospatial intelligence. According to global technology intelligence firm ABI Research, the EO sector is projected to generate $15 billion in revenue by 2030. Europe is expected to lead with the highest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.5% from 2024 to 2030, followed closely by the Asia-Pacific region at 19.6%.

Getting a little more granular, the agriculture sector is projected to grow at a CAGR of 15.0% through the period, driven by expanding applications such as precision agriculture, crop health monitoring, and land use analysis. Meanwhile, the supply chain and transport sector is expected to see a higher CAGR of 16.7%, as EO technologies play a critical role in enabling real-time visibility, asset tracking, and infrastructure management, particularly in response to recent global supply chain disruptions.

While North America currently leads in EO industry investment and innovation, regions like Europe and Asia-Pacific are quickly accelerating their efforts.

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Coming up, NASA looks to industry for lower-cost launch and delivery options. But right now, why not take a minute to become a paid subscriber to The Journal of Space Commerce. Whether you’re a space professional, investor or an enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com on Substack, and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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NASA has selected six companies to produce studies focused on lower-cost ways to launch and deliver spacecraft of various sizes and forms to multiple, difficult-to-reach orbits.

The firm-fixed-price awards comprise nine studies with a maximum total value of approximately $1.4 million. The awardees are:

* Arrow Science and Technology

* Blue Origin

* Firefly Aerospace

* Impulse Space

* Rocket Lab

* United Launch Services

Each of the six companies will deliver studies exploring future application of orbital transfer vehicles for NASA missions. The studies will be complete by mid-September. NASA will use the findings to inform mission design, planning, and commercial launch acquisition strategies for risk-tolerant payloads, with a possibility of expanding delivery services to larger-sized payloads and to less risk-tolerant missions in the future.

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Europe's most advanced weather satellite successfully launched from French Guiana on Tuesday, marking a major milestone in global meteorological observation capabilities.

The EUMETSAT's Metop Second Generation A1 satellite will orbit approximately 497 miles above Earth's surface, carrying six advanced instruments designed to improve weather predictions from 12 hours to 10 days ahead. The spacecraft also carries the European Union's Copernicus Sentinel-5 mission, which will monitor air quality and atmospheric composition.

The polar-orbiting satellite will travel from north to south as Earth rotates beneath it, providing global coverage and diverse observations.

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A Brooklyn-based technology company has secured its second NASA Phase II contract to develop wireless power systems for lunar and planetary exploration. The two-year agreement with Yank Technologies will fund development of systems that could improve how rovers operate on the moon and Mars.

Yank will advance its Wireless Power Receiver Converters to Technology Readiness Level 6 during the contract period. The devices consolidate multiple converters into a single stage, reducing rover mass and improving system efficiency. Their wide input voltage range supports varying charging distances and alignment tolerances - critical factors for wireless power transmission in space environments.

The technology addresses a key challenge in planetary exploration: dust contamination. Traditional electrical connectors become unreliable when exposed to lunar regolith or Martian dust storms. Wireless power transfer eliminates these vulnerable connection points, potentially extending mission duration and reliability.

For fiscal year 2026, Congress allocated $8.3 billion to NASA's Moon-to-Mars Initiative, creating opportunities for companies developing space-ready technologies.

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In Depth this week, we took a closer look at the impacts of the Enabling Competition in the Commercial Space Industry Executive Order on the investment community.

The U.S. commercial space economy demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth momentum entering 2025, with launch services constituting the foundational layer enabling broader space commerce. Satellite manufacturing and services represent the largest revenue segment, accounting for approximately 68% of commercial space activity. Earth observation, communications, and navigation applications drive sustained demand, with small satellite deployments increasing 50% annually over the past two decades.

For potential investors, the deregulation executive order creates immediate competitive advantages for companies capable of rapid expansion. Environmental review acceleration enables faster launch site development and mission deployment, particularly benefiting operators with existing capabilities seeking scale increases. Spaceport infrastructure development presents significant capital deployment opportunities as facility construction accelerates under streamlined approval processes. Construction and engineering firms specializing in aerospace infrastructure represent indirect investment exposure.

Novel space activity authorization creates regulatory clarity enabling venture capital deployment in previously uncertain applications. Asteroid mining, orbital manufacturing, and space-based energy ventures gain defined pathways to operational approval, reducing development risk and potentially accelerating private investment.

The 2030 timeline creates urgency around commercial space capabilities that could reshape competitive positioning. Companies achieving technological breakthroughs in reusable systems, in-space operations, or novel applications could capture outsized market share during this expansion phase. However, capital intensity and technical risk require careful due diligence around execution capabilities and market timing.

Overall, commercial space deregulation represents a calculated bet on American technological leadership and entrepreneurial capability. The space economy's expansion toward $1.8 trillion by 2035 depends critically on achieving cost reductions and operational reliability that transform space access from exceptional to routine. However, the capital-intensive nature of space ventures and inherent technical risks demand careful portfolio construction and realistic timeline expectations.

The deregulation framework ultimately tests whether reduced government oversight accelerates innovation or compromises safety and environmental protection. Stakeholders must balance growth opportunity against operational prudence in pursuing America's space economy leadership.

Read more on the Journal of Space Commerce on Substack

And those are some of the top stories we covered for you on The Journal of Space Commerce this week. Space Commerce Week is a production of Ex Terra Media. You can get daily updates on space commerce by subscribing to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack at www.exterrajsc.com. And please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional, investor or an enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit exterrajsc.com and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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Theme Stock Music provided by CoolTones, from Pond5

NASA has awarded a CLPS contract valued at $176.7 million to Firefly Aerospace to deliver five NASA-sponsored payloads to the Moon’s south pole in 2029. The mission will utilize Firefly’s Elytra orbital vehicle and Blue Ghost lunar lander to enable payload operations that include evaluating the Moon’s south pole resources, such as hydrogen, water, and other minerals, and studying the radiation and thermal environment that could affect future astronauts and lunar infrastructure.

During Blue Ghost Mission 4 operations, Firefly’s Elytra Dark transfer vehicle will first deploy the Blue Ghost lander into lunar orbit, and remain on orbit to provide a long-haul communications relay for the mission. Blue Ghost will then land on the Moon in the south pole region, deploy the rovers, and enable payload operations with data, power, and communications services for more than 12 days on the lunar surface.

The NASA-sponsored payloads carried by Blue Ghost include two rovers – the MoonRanger rover and a Canadian Space Agency rover – as well as a Laser Ablation Ionization Mass Spectrometer (LIMS), a Laser Retroreflector Array (LRA), and the Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume Surface Studies (SCALPSS), which also flew on Blue Ghost Mission 1. These payloads will help uncover the composition and resources available at the Moon’s south pole, advance lunar navigation, evaluate the chemical composition of lunar regolith, and further study the effects of a lander’s plume on the Moon’s surface during landings.

Following Blue Ghost Mission 4 operations, Elytra Dark will remain operational in lunar orbit for more than five years in support of Firefly’s Ocula lunar imaging service.

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The Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) Satellite Market is projected to reach $1.5 billion by 2034, rising from $10.4 million this year. That translates to a CAGR of almost 74 percent through the period, according to a new report from BIS Research.

The VLEO satellite market is in an accelerated growth phase, propelled by increasing investments in satellite constellations and emerging use cases demanding ultra-low latency and high-resolution data. The market is projected to sustain steady expansion over the next decade, supported by the growing demand for high-capacity, low-latency satellite services globally.

The VLEO satellite market exhibits a competitive landscape driven by established aerospace corporations and innovative satellite technology providers. Leading global players such as Sierra Space Corporation, Redwire Corporation, Earth Observant Inc., and CASIC are instrumental in advancing VLEO satellite technologies.

Competition within the global very low earth orbit (VLEO) satellite market is shaped by strategic partnerships, continuous technology innovation, and increasing investments from government space agencies and commercial players. However, there could also be some challenges to growth in the market, including technical difficulties in overcoming atmospheric drag and orbital decay, and regulatory complexities regarding frequency management and orbital traffic coordination.

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The 69th Electron mission conducted by launch company Rocket Lab has deployed the latest satellite to orbit for Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS). This was Rocket Lab’s fifth dedicated mission in a multi-launch contract to build the iQPS constellation in low Earth orbit.

‘The Harvest Goddess Thrives’ mission lifted off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand on August 5th. Electron deployed a single SAR imaging satellite named QPS-SAR-12 to a 357 mile circular Earth orbit.

‘The Harvest Goddess Thrives’ marks Rocket Lab’s 11th Electron mission of 2025 and its 69th launch overall.

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Coming up, a conversation with Michael Potter with the Institute of Space Commerce. But right now, why not take a minute to become a paid subscriber to The Journal of Space Commerce. Whether you’re a space professional, investor or an enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com on Substack, and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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A new entity focused on growing seed crystals in orbit that will be used on Earth to create new and reformulated pharmaceuticals has been established by Redwire. SpaceMD will take advantage of the unique microgravity environment in space through the use of Redwire’s Pharmaceutical In-Space Laboratory (PIL-BOX) technology to grow the seed crystals.

More than two dozen PIL-BOX systems have already flown in space, and have successfully crystalized 17 compounds on the International Space Station, including insulin and other critical molecules. SpaceMD will sell or license these seed crystals to companies that can use them to create reformulated versions of existing drugs or entirely new therapeutics.

As part of this launch, SpaceMD announced an initial licensing agreement with ExesaLibero (EX-eh-sah-LEE-bear-o) Pharma, a pharmaceutical company developing new small molecule drugs to treat bone disease. Under the terms of the agreement, the company will work with SpaceMD to advance and enhance its small-molecule drug ELP-004 and other relevant compounds via the PIL-BOX system. This drug could hold the key to controlling the insidious bone erosion that numerous debilitating diseases cause, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple myeloma, diabetes, periodontal disease, and tuberculosis.

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The Space Carbon Fiber Composites market was estimated at $451.2 million in 2024 and is projected to reach $571.9 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 4.0% through the period, according to a new report from Global Industry Analysts.

The growth in the market is being driven by several factors including increased satellite launches, the commercialization of low-Earth orbit, and demand for reusable launch systems. As launch economics shift toward cost-per-kilogram metrics, carbon composites offer compelling performance advantages that translate into reduced fuel consumption, enhanced payload capacity, and faster vehicle turnaround. The NewSpace movement, characterized by private-sector-led innovation, is also accelerating composite adoption through prototyping flexibility, agile manufacturing, and performance-driven design optimization.

Carbon fiber composites have become indispensable in space applications due to their unique combination of high strength-to-weight ratio, dimensional stability, and resistance to extreme temperatures and radiation. Importantly, carbon fiber composites offer enhanced radiation shielding and reduced outgassing, which are crucial for protecting sensitive electronic equipment and ensuring thermal control in spacecraft.

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The Institute of Space Commerce is a nonprofit think tank headquartered in Austin, TX focused on expanding and enhancing the economic and commercial dimensions of the space industry ... what many call Space 2.0. It operates as an intellectual hub for policy, research, and global dialogue.

This week on The Journal of Space Commerce Podcast, I talked with Michael Potter, one of the co-founders of the Institute of Space Commerce. He said that the institute is at least in part an outgrowth of the transition from a government-centric space industry, to one that is more commercially focused. As an example, he cited satellite communications, which in its early days was completely monopolized by governments. Then, the industry started to get pressure from real commercial players.

"One of the early pioneers was PanAmSat. And basically it was illegal, it was illegal for people to try to break that monopoly. And so we had to go through a process, and members of the Institute of Space Commerce, many of the key members have decades and decades of experience in commercialization, law, policy, regulation. And we had to break the back of the Intelsat monopoly, which was 100 percent monopoly. Eutelsat was a monopoly, Inmarsat was a monopoly. And then you see the emergence, and now we have those very vital ecosystems. Everything from Starlink to remote sensing to other aspects of satellite communications. So that is a normal process. It starts (as a) kind of government monopoly entity, and then it gets spun off where it becomes a powerful ecosystem." Michael Potter, The Institute of Space Commerce

The Institute offers Fellowships & Scholarships to nurture the next generation of space economic leaders, Space Cafe Events, global educational gatherings on cutting-edge industry topics, Research Publications including essays, white papers, and books, Media Contributions and Outreach Campaigns, including advocacy such as S.O.S. (Save Our Station) for the ISS.

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In Depth this week, we explored the question of whether commercial space companies can replace the traditional aerospace/defense company paradigm.

Commercial space companies have fundamentally disrupted launch economics, satellite manufacturing, and space services—challenging the decades-old dominance of traditional aerospace and defense contractors. With SpaceX now valued at $180 billion, and commercial launch services projected to grow from $4.28 billion in 2023 to $10.98 billion by 2032, the question is no longer whether commercial players can compete, but whether they can fully replace the established paradigm dominated by companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman.

The global launch services market and the satellite manufacturing market have both seen dramatic growth, but it hasn't always been smooth sailing.

SpaceX has demonstrated the transformative power of reusability, reducing launch costs from tens of thousands of dollars per kilogram to under $3,000 per kilogram for Falcon Heavy missions. This cost reduction stems from recovering and refurbishing first-stage boosters, eliminating the traditional model of expendable rockets that made each launch prohibitively expensive. Traditional aerospace companies like Boeing and Lockheed Martin, through their United Launch Alliance joint venture, have historically operated with cost-plus contracts that provided little incentive for dramatic cost reduction. Rocket Lab has completed 69 orbital launches to date, demonstrating a rapid launch cadence impossible under traditional aerospace development timelines. Their boosters are still expendable, though they are working on a recovery system that would allow boosters to be used for multiple launches. Commercial companies typically achieve first launch within 3-5 years of founding, compared to 10-15 year development cycles common among traditional contractors.

However, scale and technical complexity represent fundamental challenges for commercial space companies seeking to replace traditional aerospace contractors. Achieving the scale necessary to fully replace traditional contractors requires commercial companies to expand beyond their current niches into broader aerospace and defense markets.

Overall, commercial space companies have fundamentally disrupted the traditional aerospace paradigm, achieving dramatic cost reductions and operational efficiencies that seemed impossible a decade ago. The emerging paradigm will likely feature commercial companies dominating launch services, satellite manufacturing, and emerging space applications, while traditional contractors maintain market share in complex defense systems and mission-critical applications. Success will favor companies ... whether commercial startups or traditional contractors ... that can combine commercial efficiency with traditional aerospace reliability and scale. You can read the full report on The Journal of Space Commerce at www.exterrajsc.com.

And those are some of the top stories we covered for you on The Journal of Space Commerce this week. Space Commerce Week is a production of Ex Terra Media. You can get daily updates on space commerce by subscribing to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack at www.exterrajsc.com. And please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional, investor or an enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

Theme Stock Music provided by CoolTones, from Pond5

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The maiden test launch of Australia's first locally designed and built orbital rocket was conducted Wednesday by Gilmour Space Technologies, marking a major milestone toward offering low-cost, responsive launch services for small satellites.

The 75-foot, 30-metric ton Eris rocket, powered by new hybrid propulsion technology, successfully lifted off from the Bowen Orbital Spaceport in North Queensland, achieving approximately 14 seconds of flight. An apparent anomaly with one of the primary first stage engines caused the rocket to lose thrust and impact terrain. There were no injuries associated with the incident.

The TestFlight 1 campaign was the first integrated attempt of an orbital-class rocket designed and built entirely in Australia. It also marked the first use of the newly licensed Bowen Orbital Spaceport — Australia's first commercial orbital launch site, built by Gilmour Space to support future missions.

Eris was developed almost entirely in-house — including propulsion, structures, avionics, software, and the spaceport itself — on a fraction of the budget available to most global launch companies.

Initial data confirms that key systems performed well until the anomaly, including ignition, liftoff, first-stage thrust, range tracking and telemetry. The team is now reviewing flight data to understand the cause of the anomaly that led to early termination, with lessons already being applied to the next vehicle, which is in production.

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Public and private stock sales were prominent this week. The recent Sidus Space public stock offering of 7,143,000 shares of its Class A common closed Tuesday, according to a company news release. Each share of Class A common stock was sold at a public offering price of $1.05 per share for gross proceeds of approximately $7.5 million, before deducting the placement agent’s fees and offering expenses. All of the shares of common stock were offered by the company.

The company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for a variety of corporate functions, including sales and marketing; operational costs; product development; manufacturing expansion, and; working capital and other general corporate purposes.

ThinkEquity acted as sole placement agent for the offering.

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Meanwhile, a series of strategic financial transactions designed to optimize capital structure, reduce future interest obligations, and manage potential dilution have been announced by AST SpaceMobile.

The company has priced a private offering of $500 million in aggregate principal amount of 2.375% convertible senior notes due in 2032. The notes are convertible into shares of Class A common stock at an initial conversion price of $72.07 per share, representing a 20% premium over the closing price of $60.06 on July 24, 2025. Initial purchasers have been granted an option to purchase up to an additional $75 million in notes.

To mitigate potential dilution, AST SpaceMobile has entered into capped call transactions with a cap price of $120.12 per share. Net proceeds from the offering are expected to be approximately $486.9 million (or $560 million if the option is exercised in full), with $47 million allocated to the capped call transactions. The remaining proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes.

In a concurrent transaction, AST SpaceMobile is repurchasing $135 million in principal amount of its existing 4.25% convertible senior notes due in 2032. This repurchase will eliminate approximately $37.8 million in future interest payments and remove approximately 5 million shares from potential dilution.

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Coming up, a space debris removal patent, and designing a lunar habitat. But right now, why not take a minute to become a paid subscriber to The Journal of Space Commerce. Whether you’re a space professional, investor or an enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com on Substack, and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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As low Earth orbit becomes increasingly congested with aging satellites and fragmented debris, and new satellites being launched at an accelerating pace, Astroscale has been issued a U.S. Patent for its “Method and System for Multi-Object Space Debris Removal.” This patented innovation offers a sustainable and cost-effective distributed architecture approach to active debris removal (ADR), allowing for scalable, repeatable ADR operations and controlled reentry of multiple debris objects.

Under this new patented method, the servicer docks with a debris object (the “client”) and transfers it to a reentry shepherd vehicle in a lower orbit. Once the client is docked with the shepherd, the servicer separates and proceeds to engage a new client, while the shepherd safely guides the initial client into Earth’s atmosphere for reentry. This process repeats, allowing the servicer to remove multiple large debris objects over the course of its mission.

Astroscale’s architecture also supports flexible mission profiles: the shepherd can remain docked through reentry, undocked after performing reentry insertion and returned to orbit, or in some cases, missions can proceed without a shepherd vehicle at all. This adaptability is essential in addressing the diverse size and risk profile of objects in orbit.

Check out an in-depth article on Astroscale on The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack at www.exterrajsc.com.

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Staying in low Earth orbit for a moment, a strategic partnership has been formed between Starlab Space and Journey that will help shape the interior and experiential design of the next-generation commercial space station. Journey joins Hilton and Airbus in developing a station environment that elevates how astronauts live and work in orbit.

Journey brings a portfolio of high profile projects, including the Sphere in Las Vegas. The design agency will work closely with Hilton, one of the original strategic partners in the Starlab program, designing the Starlab hospitality and crew experience.

This collaboration focuses on enhancing everyday life in orbit. By combining narrative design, digital infrastructure and spatial layout, Journey will help ensure Starlab functions as both a cutting-edge research platform and a welcoming, livable habitat.

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Now, on to the moon. With an international goal of establishing a long-term human presence on the lunar surface, a contract to conduct the preliminary design phase for a pressurized Multi-Purpose Habitation (MPH) module for the lunar surface has been awarded to Thales Alenia Space by the Italian Space Agency (ASI). The scope of work includes development of critical enabling technologies for the habitat.

Planned for launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in 2033, the MPH module will be the first ever dedicated habitation asset on the lunar surface as part of the Artemis Accords between NASA and ASI for bilateral Moon cooperation. The MPH module will safely host astronauts during their missions, support surface operations, enable scientific research experiments both with and without the presence of a human crew; and have the capability to move on the surface.

Designed for a minimum operational lifespan of 10 years, the MPH will serve as a permanent surface habitat, capable of operating synergistically with other elements of the Artemis architecture. The initial development will focus on enabling technologies aimed at facing the harsh environmental conditions on the lunar surface, including extreme thermal variations, pervasive lunar dust, high radiation levels, micrometeoroid impacts, and the effects of reduced lunar gravity.

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And when it comes to getting around on the moon ... the Canadian Space Agency has awarded three contracts totaling $14.6 million to advance the development of the new Canadian lunar utility rover. This investment marks the beginning of a long-term project that will draw on the skills and determination of experts across the country.

Canada's utility rover is set to provide critical assistance to astronauts and support operations, including transporting cargo and performing logistics and construction duties on the Moon. Over the next 18 months, Canadensys Aerospace Corporation, MDA Space and Mission Control Space Services will conduct preparatory studies to assess different options for the rover, including potential capacities depending on different sizes and scope.

MDA Space has been selected by the CSA as the team leader on the program. The study will focus on mission architecture, technology options and risk assessments, ensuring that the technologies required for future lunar logistics and mobility are mission ready. This phase follows on the heels of a successful autonomous lunar surface demonstration by the MDA Space team at the Canadian Space Agency in December 2024.

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And those are some of the top stories we covered for you on The Journal of Space Commerce this week. Space Commerce Week is a production of Ex Terra Media. You can get daily updates on space commerce by subscribing to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack at www.exterrajsc.com. And please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional, investor or an enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

Theme Stock Music provided by CoolTones, from Pond5

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As human access to space continues to surge, a new bipartisan Congressional Caucus dedicated to U.S. leadership in space exploration has officially been established. The Advancing Humanity in Space Congressional Caucus (AHSCC) was formed through the leadership and vision of its four bipartisan co-chairs: Republicans Don Bacon of Nebraska and Gabe Evans of Colorado, along with Democrats Glenn Ivey of Maryland and George Whitesides from California.

With support from Space for Humanity, the new caucus "is dedicated to improving U.S. leadership in space exploration while ensuring that policies align with national priorities, technological innovation, economic growth, and global collaboration," according to its charter.

The AHSCC will serve as a bipartisan forum, demonstrating how space can unite people across ideological divides around a shared vision for the future. This is the first time a Congressional Caucus has been chartered exclusively dedicated solely to advancing humanity's exploration of space.

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Staying on Capitol Hill for just a moment, a bipartisan bill that was recently introduced in the U.S. Senate would promote aeronautical and space research, educate a 21st century space workforce, and enhance U.S. commercial competitiveness in the space and aerospace industries.

The Space Exploration Research Act authorizes the NASA administrator to lease and lease-back certain property to alleviate roadblocks for the development and use of property adjacent to NASA facilities. The bill also helps Johnson Space Center (JSC) remain as a lead center for training and exploration activities, which will make Texas a hub for job growth in the space and aerospace industry.

The legislation aims to benefit a multitude of educational institutions, commercial space, and surrounding employers. It also enables access to cutting-edge facilities, provides students with hands-on opportunities to solve real-world space problems, and builds up a workforce for the rapidly growing space economy.

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Elsewhere in Washington, the FCC will vote on reforms to accelerate innovation and growth in America’s space economy, especially for startups and new businesses, at its meeting on August 7th. If adopted, the new reforms would eliminate needless paperwork and clear regulatory barriers to Ground-Station-as-a-Service (GSaaS), a business model where a single facility on Earth connects to multiple satellite systems in space.

GSaaS gives satellite operators, especially startups and emerging growth companies, the ability to send and receive signals without having to build their own infrastructure. The FCC’s reforms will give this exciting business model a solid regulatory footing it previously lacked.

The order to be voted on August 7th would:

* Streamline and expedite processes for space stations and earth stations, including removing many requirements to file license modification applications;

* Allow the nascent GSaaS industry to invest and grow with newfound regulatory clarity—without unnecessary or burdensome regulation; and

* Establish a new process for ground station operators to receive a baseline license without first identifying a specific satellite point of communication

For each new point of communication, only a simple FCC notification will be needed. This one change would eliminate approximately 49% of earth station modification applications, the commission says.

And, the proposed reforms would expand the list of license modifications that do not require prior authorization, adopt a 30-day shot clock for earth station renewal applications, and eliminate repetitive requests for special temporary authority for geostationary orbit satellites.

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Why not take a minute to become a paid subscriber to The Journal of Space Commerce. Whether you’re a space professional, investor or an enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com on Substack, and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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Orbit Fab unveiled their next steps to refuel satellites at the recent UK Space Conference in Manchester. The UK Minister responsible for space, Chris Bryant, announced that the company has been selected for about $876,300 of funding from the UK Space Agency. The funding will be delivered through the European Space Agency’s (ESA) ARTES program to work with commercial satellite operators and extend the life of communication satellites.

Named project “RADICAL”, short for “Refueling Architecture Development for In-Orbit Communications and Logistics”, the project will develop comprehensive refueling services for spacecraft, initially targeting the satellite communications (satcom) market. The project will enable telecom satellites in Geostationary orbit to be refueled, extending their life and delivering far greater efficiency, revenue, and reliability of satellite missions.

Orbit Fab will work with a major prime and satellite operator to adapt their mission operations and platform to enable refueling. The project directly supports ESA’s commitment to space sustainability and responsible operations, consistent with Orbit Fab’s signature of the ESA Zero Debris Charter in 2024.

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The parent company of York Space Systems (York) has agreed to acquire Atlas Space Operations (Atlas), a pioneer in Ground Software as a Service (GSaaS) for satellite communications. The move brings York a powerful, software-led ground architecture that simplifies operations, removes integration barriers, and enhances space-to-ground resilience—accelerating York's ability to deliver secure, mission-ready space systems at unmatched speed and value.

Atlas will play a key role in York's Golden Dome architecture, a next-generation defense solution that unifies spacecraft, software, and ground operations to deliver full-spectrum capabilities across contested environments. Atlas will continue to operate independently under its existing brand, serving its diverse portfolio of customers across the space industry.

This acquisition will strengthen York's ability to deliver integrated, mission-ready systems by pairing its high-performance spacecraft and software-defined operations with Atlas's proven ground communications platform, thereby enhancing end-to-end mission delivery and accelerating deployment timelines, improving data flow from space to ground, and enabling more resilient, autonomous operations across both commercial and national security missions.

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There is a lot of work that goes into getting an idea off the drawing board and into space, and often, that process begins with a pitch to potential investors or government granting institutions. Orbital Velocity has won over $2 billion for previous clients, customers, and employers to bring their ideas to fruition.

On this edition of The Journal of Space Commerce podcast, I talked with Jeff Nosanov, the founder and CEO of Orbital Velocity and host of The Space Madness podcast.

Nosanov said that the secret for a space proposal is to know what they want before they do.

"And ideally influence what they want before they do. We call that shaping the opportunity in the space business. And that can be everything from extensive networking well in advance of when you expect an opportunity to be published, to, on the scientific side, effective advocacy of your technology or instrumentation or even your scientific goals are all completed and mutually exclusive in some cases," Nosanov told Ex Terra Media. "So that by the time the contracts people at agencies like NASA and DoD ... are writing something it’s basically for what you want to sell them, or what you've already been working on."

Jeff Nosanov is the founder and CEO of Orbital Velocity.

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And those are some of the top stories we covered for you on The Journal of Space Commerce this week. Space Commerce Week is a production of Ex Terra Media. You can get daily updates on space commerce by subscribing to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack at www.exterrajsc.com. And please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional, investor or an enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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Theme Stock Music Provided by Pond 5

The House Science, Space and Technology Committee took its first look at the NASA 2026 Reauthorization bill in a markup hearing this week.

“The NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026 ensures that America does not merely participate in the next year of space exploration, but that we lead it.” Brian Babin (R-TX)

The full committee markup is the first opportunity for lawmakers to formally vote on the underlying bill, and offer amendments.

The bill brings a particular focus on the role the commercial space industry will play in future NASA missions. It explicitly empowers the NASA Administrator to enter into agreements and public–private partnerships with U.S. commercial providers to support human exploration of the Moon and cislunar space, expanding a model pioneered for cargo and crew to the International Space Station (ISS). The bill directs NASA to “support the development and demonstration of” human-rated lunar landing capabilities and, subject to funding, to procure those capabilities from “not fewer than two commercial providers,” effectively guaranteeing a multi‑vendor market for lunar landers and related services.

The legislation requires that any commercial provider supplying human lunar landing systems be a U.S. commercial provider, reinforcing a domestic industrial base for high‑end human‑spaceflight hardware and operations. By tying these systems directly to NASA’s Moon‑to‑Mars roadmap and Artemis missions, the bill signals steady demand for lunar transportation and surface operations that could anchor long‑term business plans in the commercial space sector.

Committee Chairman Brian Babin of Texas said that passing the reauthorization is essential to America’s future in space.

“The NASA Reauthorization Act of 2026 ensures that America does not merely participate in the next year of space exploration, but that we lead it. It strengthens our commitment to returning astronauts to the moon and building the capabilities needed to send humans onward to Mars,” Babin said. “It supports the systems, the technologies, and partnerships required for deep space missions, while also fueling a growing commercial economy and low Earth orbit that will sustain American leadership for many decades. With China nipping at our heels and investing heavily in its own ambitions beyond Earth, we cannot afford to drift without direction. This legislation ensures the United States sets the pace, establishes the standards, and carries forward the spirit of exploration that has long defined our nation.”

The bill positions commercial space stations and other private platforms as the backbone of U.S. low‑Earth orbit operations once the ISS is retired, directing NASA to spell out its research, development, and operational requirements in orbit and share them with U.S. industry.

Another section orders a report on the risks of any gap in U.S. access to low‑Earth orbit platforms, including the potential impact on “the development of the United States-based commercial space industry,” and explicitly lists “increasing investment in and accelerating development of commercial space stations” as one option to prevent such a gap. By writing commercial platforms into the strategy for replacing the ISS, the bill effectively treats private space stations as critical national infrastructure and a central pillar of the future orbital economy.

While the bill aims to expand commercial roles, it also tightens guardrails by requiring NASA to certify compliance with existing “commercial item” and competition statutes. Collectively, the provisions would entrench commercial companies as indispensable partners in NASA’s exploration, ISS transition, and low‑Earth orbit strategies.

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Blue Origin will pause its New Shepard flights for at least two years, and shift resources to further accelerate development of the company’s human lunar capabilities, the company announced late last week. Blue Origin says the decision reflects its commitment to the nation’s goal of returning to the Moon and establishing a permanent, sustained lunar presence.

New Shepard has flown 38 times and carried 98 humans above the Kármán line to date. New Shepard has also launched more than 200 scientific and research payloads from students, academia, research organizations, and NASA.

Blue Origin’s larger rocket, New Glenn, is slated to fly for the third time in late February, though a launch window has not been announced. That flight is scheduled to deploy the BlueBird 7 communications satellite for AST SpaceMobile.

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A Series C funding round has resulted in a $470 million growth capital raise for CesiumAstro, which the company says cements its position as a mission-critical provider of next-generation space and defense communications. The funding includes $270 million in equity, led by Trousdale Ventures.

The capital will fuel CesiumAstro’s rapid scale-up, including the build-out of a new 270,000-square-foot headquarters, expanded manufacturing capacity, and accelerated deployment of its software-defined, AI-enabled space communications platforms worldwide.

The funding comes amid strong operational execution, as CesiumAstro advances multiple government and commercial programs and expands its portfolio of software-defined communications systems.

Proceeds will support expanded manufacturing, accelerated AI-enabled communications development, scaled production of the company’s fully integrated Element LEO satellite, and growth of global technical and program teams.

The Journal of Space Commerce is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support this work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

A mission order for the fifth private astronaut mission (PAM) to the International Space Station has been signed by NASA and Axiom Space, the fifth consecutive such award granted by the agency.

Axiom Mission 5 (Ax-5) is targeted to launch no earlier than January 2027 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida and is expected to spend up to 14 days docked to the space station. The crew complement is pending final agreements and agency and international approvals and will be announced at a future date.

As part of the NASA award, Axiom Space brings on Voyager Technologies as a teammate participating in payload integration.

In four years, Axiom Space has successfully executed four missions onboard the space station, flying 14 private and government astronauts, who conducted more than 160 science and research activities, and more than 100 outreach and media engagements while on orbit.

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The satellite propulsion market, which encompasses propulsion systems that enable satellites to maintain orbit, change trajectories, control orientation, prevent collisions, or deorbit at mission end, is on track for significant expansion over the coming decade. Stratview Research projects that the market will grow from $3.08 billion in 2024 to $7.82 billion by 2032, achieving a CAGR of 12.3 % during the forecast period (2025-2032).

The single most important growth driver is the expansion in satellite launches for communication and Earth observation services, as the proliferation of satellites-which require reliable and efficient propulsion for accurate orbital placement and station-keeping-boosts demand across commercial, government, and defense sectors.

The electric propulsion segment is expected to be the fastest-growing segment through 2032, propelled by its efficiency, extended mission durations, and lower propellant requirements compared to chemical systems. As satellite platforms-particularly small and medium satellites-prioritize weight and performance, manufacturers and developers are increasingly investing in electric propulsion technologies that support longer operational life and reduced mission costs.

Market drivers include an increasing number of satellite launches for communication and Earth observation services; the rising adoption of efficient electric propulsion systems for extended mission life and reduced propellant needs, and; growth in commercial space activities driving demand for satellite propulsion innovations.

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A stark divide is reshaping the space industry—and it comes down to a decision made back in late 2022.

In Depth this week, the industry split between adaptive commercial operators and constrained government programs. (Paywall)

When pandemic-era supply shortages hit satellite manufacturers, they faced a choice: wait for supply chains to recover, or rebuild them from scratch. Four years later, the companies that chose to rebuild are deploying satellite constellations on schedule. The ones that waited? They’re still waiting.

This isn’t just about pandemic recovery. An analysis published this week shows the space industry has fundamentally restructured into two tiers—where organizational agility matters more than component availability for well-funded operators, while material constraints continue to strangle everyone else.

Back in mid-2022, the crisis was severe. Semiconductor lead times stretched to 40 to 52 weeks—triple the pre-pandemic baseline. Optical terminals for satellites required 18 months. Radiation-hardened processors? Also 18 months. As one production manager told Via Satellite: “After COVID, there are no more miracles.”

Fast forward to 2026, and some constraints have actually worsened. Rare earth elements, critical for satellite control systems, still face 12 to 18 month delays. China controls up to 93 percent of global rare earth processing. Heat pipe manufacturers can produce 200 to 300 units annually, but constellation demand sits at 600 to 1,000 units. The math simply doesn’t work.

So how are some companies succeeding? Vertical integration. SpaceX, for example, now manufactures roughly 85 percent of its components in-house—from engines to satellite systems. The result? 62 Starlink launches in just the first half of 2025.

But this strategy requires massive capital most companies lack. And it doesn’t solve the geology problem—dysprosium deposits concentrate in China, and no amount of in-house manufacturing changes that reality.

Government programs face additional constraints. Procurement regulations prevent the rapid supplier switching that commercial operators employ. The Space Development Agency experienced 6 to 8 month delays on its Tranche 1 constellation, partially due to propulsion supply chain issues.

Meanwhile, China has commissioned 37 satellite manufacturing plants, with more under construction—creating competitive pressure through sheer manufacturing scale.

The analysis concludes that organizational structure now determines competitive positioning as much as technology capability. Market consolidation appears inevitable, with only vertically-integrated players able to maintain schedule reliability. For the rest of the industry, the constraints persist.

Paid subscribers can read the full analysis on The Journal of Space Commerce under the Supply Chain tab, where you can also find a report on how power system supply chains are constraining the mega-constellation era.

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The U.S. Space Force Space Development Agency (SDA) has awarded a $52.5 million contract to Starfish Space to provide Deorbit-as-a-Service (DaaS) for satellites within the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). The award is the first such contracted mission for end-of-life satellite disposal service for any provider.

Under the contract, Starfish Space will build, launch, and operate an Otter spacecraft in low Earth orbit (LEO) to safely and efficiently dispose of SDA satellites at the end of their operational lives. The mission begins with an initial deorbit, with options for multiple additional deorbits, enabled by Otter’s significant capacity and ability to service several satellites in a single mission.

As LEO constellations continue to expand and require refresh cycles, operators must put more emphasis on managing end-of-life disposal safely, reliably, and at scale. Until now, operators have only had two options for managing end-of-life: actively deorbit satellites prematurely to mitigate risk of early failure and resulting operational hazards, or fly satellites for longer and contend with increasing debris and collision risks across their constellation. With Deorbit-as-a-Service, operators have a better alternative: maximize the operational life and value of their constellations and rely on vendors to dispose of any satellites which cannot dispose of themselves.

The mission, which is targeting a 2027 launch date, will demonstrate how commercial Deorbit-as-a-Service can support both government and commercial constellation operators, maximizing the value and capabilities LEO operators can derive from their constellations as they continue to scale.

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In a related development, the European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded a contract valued at more than $475,000 to Astroscale UK to lead the design of the In-Orbit Refurbishment and Upgrading Service (IRUS). The novel mission concept is designed to lead to technology that will enable satellites to be upgraded, repaired, and extended while in orbit. This initiative supports ESA’s Space Safety Program, reinforcing Europe’s commitment to reducing orbital risks and ensuring safe operations for future generations.

With the involvement of the spacecraft manufacturer and operator BAE Systems in the role of a future in-orbit servicing client, IRUS represents a major step towards a circular space economy, where satellites are maintained, repaired and enhanced in orbit rather than treated as single-use. Developing this new capability will pave the way for more complex In-Orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM) capabilities – as refurbishment and upgrading are essential precursors to assembling and manufacturing platforms in space.

The eight-month Phase A study contract will develop the technical groundwork and commercial case for in-orbit refurbishment and upgrading services. The team will explore how robotic and servicing technologies can safely connect with and refurbish satellites already in orbit, assessing the technical feasibility and commercial viability of upgrading a satellite or extending its life through replacing degraded or out-of-date subsystems such as batteries, solar panels and on-board computers.

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The Optical (laser) Satellite Communication Market is projected to grow from $620 million in 2025 to $1.56 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 20.4%, according to a new report from MarketsandMarkets. The market is growing steadily, driven by a growing need for secure, high-capacity data links across space missions, defense applications, and commercial satellite networks. Improvements in laser terminal pointing and tracking systems, along with AI-based link management, are making these systems more reliable and easier to operate.

The demand is rising for high-capacity inter-satellite links, secure data transmission, and low-latency connectivity across LEO and multi-orbit satellite constellations. The optical (laser) satellite communication market is driven by the need for high-throughput and secure data links to support growing satellite data traffic. There is an increase in the adoption of laser inter-satellite links in LEO constellations, and demand for low-latency connectivity across defense and commercial missions is a key growth factor.

By component, the Pointing, Acquisition, and Tracking (PAT) module segment is projected to account for the largest market share during the forecast period. By application, the network backbone and relay communications segment is expected to see the highest growth, driven by the use of optical intersatellite links to build space-based mesh networks that reduce dependence on ground stations.

North American accounted for a 67.9% market revenue share in 2024. However, the Asia Pacific region is expected to be the fastest-growing region during the forecast period.

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A milestone year has been reported by Astra, showing $45 million in revenue for 2025, breakeven EBITDA and 100% satellite engine mission reliability. The company says it has shipped 110 satellite engine systems in the past calendar year, surpassing a key operating milestone set when the company went private in 2024.

Astra shipped the 110 systems with a team of approximately 100 employees, reflecting operating leverage driven by tighter process gating, increased automation, and execution discipline across manufacturing, test, and their supply chain. All systems are designed, manufactured, and tested at Astra’s Alameda, California facility.

A series F funding round coming in at just under $130 million has been closed by Interstellar Technologies through a third-party allotment of new shares. The round was completed with the investments from SBI Group, Nomura Real Estate Development, B Dash Venture, SMBC Edge, and existing shareholders, in addition to the previously announced investors, and represents one of the largest fundraising efforts to date by a privately held space startup in Japan.

The round, led by Woven by Toyota, raised $95.5 million through a third-party allotment of preferred shares in an up-round. In addition, the company secured just over $34.2 million in debt financing from financial institutions, including loan facilities with stock acquisition rights provided by the Japan Finance Corporation.

Alongside the fundraising, secondary transactions with existing shareholders were also conducted to optimize the company’s capital structure. Nomura Securities provided advisory support in this series, including the introduction of several potential investors, some of which resulted in fundraising.

The funds raised in this round will be used primarily for the development of first ZERO orbital launch vehicle, strengthening the manufacturing system toward future commercialization, and the research and development of satellites, thereby driving further expansion of both businesses.

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Launch timing for the BlueBird 7 mission has been announced by AST SpaceMobile. The launch is currently scheduled for late February from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Blue Origin’s New Glenn launch vehicle.

Identical to BlueBird 6, BlueBird 7 is the second satellite in AST SpaceMobile’s next-generation campaign. At nearly 2,400 square feet, it features the largest commercial communications array in low Earth orbit, 3.5 times larger than BlueBirds 1-5. Its size and design, built on significant technical innovation and supported by more than 3,800 patent and patent-pending claims, enable peak data rates of up to 120 Mbps space-based broadband connectivity for voice, data, and streaming.

The next generation BlueBirds are designed to be compatible with all major launch vehicles. Future missions on New Glenn are expected to deliver up to 8 next generation BlueBirds per flight, with its seven-meter fairing enabling twice the payload volume of five-meter class commercial launch systems.

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In depth this week, the satellite industry faced a supply chain nightmare in 2022, with critical components like optical communication terminals and radiation-hardened processors backordered for 18 months. Industry analysts predicted widespread deployment delays that would cripple the booming constellation business. But those delays never materialized—at least not for commercial operators. (Paywall)

According to industry data, constellation operators achieved 94% of their planned launch targets despite the crisis. SpaceX launched 96 missions in 2023 alone, more than all other launch providers worldwide combined. OneWeb finished deploying its 648-satellite constellation on schedule by 2023.

The secret? Commercial operators rebuilt their supply chains from scratch rather than waiting for global markets to recover. Companies like SpaceX doubled down on vertical integration, manufacturing critical components in-house at their Redmond, Washington facility—a strategy industry veterans initially dismissed as inefficient.

The approach created what one analysis calls “a parallel manufacturing economy” built on three pillars: making components internally, stockpiling critical parts, and simplifying satellite designs to reduce dependencies.

The strategy worked. While component shortages were real—German optical terminal maker Mynaric nearly went bankrupt before being acquired—commercial operators maintained their production pace through manufacturing flexibility unavailable to competitors.

The exception highlights the rule: The Space Development Agency, bound by government procurement regulations, experienced exactly the delays commercial operators avoided on their Tranche 1 satellite constellation.

Industry observers say these manufacturing changes aren’t temporary fixes but represent a permanent shift in constellation economics, widening the gap between operators controlling their own production and those relying on traditional supply chains.

Paid subscribers can read the full analysis on The Journal of Space Commerce under the Supply Chain tab, where you can also find deep dives on Supply Chain Sovereignty in Rare Materials, The Strategic Premium on Supply Chain Gaps, and The CEO Playbook for Supply Chain Resilience.

Theme Stock Music Provided by Pond 5

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Inside Orbital Reef (Paywall)

Without much fanfare, President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social and X that he was renominating Jared Isaacman to be the next NASA Administrator.

In the social media post, Trump said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has “done an incredible job as Interim Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). I am pleased to nominate Jared Isaacman, an accomplished business leader, philanthropist pilot and astronaut, as Administrator of NASA.

Isaacman was nominated earlier this year for the post, and appeared to be poised for easy Senate confirmation before his nomination was abruptly withdrawn by Trump, who said the action was due to a “thorough review of prior associations.” He then added NASA Administrator to the fairly long list of duties assigned to Transportation Secretary Duffy.

Trump said Isaacman’s “passion for space, astronaut experience and dedication to pushing the boundaries of exploration, unlocking the mysteries of the universe, and advancing the new Space economy make him ideally suited to lead NASA into a bold new era.”

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A definitive agreement has been reached for the acquisition of Lanteris Space Systems, formerly Maxar Space Systems, from Advent International LLC by Intuitive Machines. Lanteris is a spacecraft manufacturer with a record of delivering a highly reliable family of spacecraft for national security, civil, and commercial customers.

The transaction is priced at $800 million, consisting of $450 million in cash and $350 million in Intuitive Machines Class A common stock, subject to adjustment. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions. As a stand-alone company, Lanteris is a cash generating business. As a combined company, Intuitive Machines expects to have adequate cash on hand for continued operations.

In alignment with the Intuitive Machines vision, the acquisition of Lanteris positions Intuitive Machines as a vertically integrated, next generation space prime that can design, manufacture, deliver, and operate missions from Earth orbit to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

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The 18th edition of the Novaspace ‘Earth Observation Data and Services Market’ report signals a decisive market shift: geopolitical instability and AI integration are accelerating demand for defense-grade EO capabilities. Sovereign control and precision intelligence now dominate buyer priorities, with customers demanding uncompromised access to both premium resolution and rapid revisit rates, reshaping the commercial EO landscape for the decade ahead.

Over the past year, geopolitical tensions have prompted nations to seek sovereign observation capabilities, fueling demand for commercial EO solutions. This surge has pushed the EO data market to $2.2 billion in 2024, growing at a 7% CAGR since 2019, with defense applications accounting for over 65% of data demand. Simultaneously, the EO Value-Added Services (VAS) market reached $3.2 billion, also growing at 7% CAGR, and projected to reach $5 billion by 2034.

Despite potential budget realignments in the United States, Novaspace anticipates no major slowdown in EO activity. Instead, a more coordinated use of EO data across government agencies is expected, extending its application from strategic planning to tactical-level operations.

The next frontier in EO lies in data fusion, the seamless integration of multi-sensor inputs into actionable intelligence. This evolution is giving rise to specialized service providers capable of orchestrating complex, multi-source architectures.

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A new world record for wireless optical power transmission has been set by Star Catcher at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The demonstration surpassed the previous benchmark set by DARPA.

In less than eight months since debuting its power beaming technology, Star Catcher recently completed a series of historic optical power beaming tests at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center to validate core technologies for its orbital energy grid, the Star Catcher Network. Using an advanced suite of multi-wavelength lasers, the team delivered more than 1.1 kW of electrical power to commercial off-the-shelf solar panels at Space Florida’s Launch and Landing Facility. The most recent record high was 800 watts set by DARPA in May 2025. Star Catcher delivered more than 10 megajoules of energy throughout the test campaign.

To date, Star Catcher has signed six Power Purchase Agreements collectively valued in the tens of millions of dollars in annual recurring revenue through the end of the decade. These agreements have been signed with organizations operating across core markets including orbital data infrastructure, remote sensing, and satellite platforms.

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is being applied to spacecraft propulsion with a new physics AI foundation model that is being designed by Northrop Grumman and Luminary Cloud. The model is capable of rapidly designing a spacecraft thruster nozzle.

Using Luminary Cloud’s Physics AI platform, with help from NVIDIA’s Computer Aided Engineering product team, Northrop Grumman will leverage its experience in propulsion physics to build an AI foundation model capable of designing a higher-performing spacecraft thruster nozzle.

Through this collaboration with Luminary Cloud, Northrop Grumman says it is continuing to leverage NVIDIA’s expertise to accelerate development of AI in its advanced systems, as well as pushing the boundaries of innovation, laying the foundation for breakthroughs in space from optimizing propulsion systems to developing next-generation spacecraft.

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A component purchase order valued at $1.5 million has been placed with GomSpace North America, a subsidiary of GomSpace Group AB, by a leading global service provider.

The order includes advanced spacecraft subsystem components to support a forthcoming satellite mission. Delivery is scheduled for the first half of 2026.

GomSpace will supply components from its established line of high-performance nanosatellite power and command systems, known for their flight heritage and suitability for complex commercial and government applications.

This order contributes to GomSpace’s ongoing footprint expansion in the Americas and strengthens its role enabling resilient multi-satellite mission architectures around the world.

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All that, from AI design to spacecraft components, has to do with supply chains. And In Depth this week, we take a comprehensive look at the Eutelsat/OneWeb supply chain ecosystem.

Initially launched in 2012 as WorldVu Satellites Ltd., OneWeb has survived bankruptcy and multiple mergers to be reborn as Eutelsat/OneWeb, boasting a constellation of 648 satellites in low Earth orbit at an altitude of approximately 745 miles, arranged across 12 polar orbital planes following a Walker-Star configuration that ensures consistent global coverage.​

The transformation of OneWeb’s supply chain reflects broader industry trends toward vertical integration, outsourced component manufacturing, and multi-orbit satellite architectures. Unlike SpaceX’s Starlink, which maintains strict internal production controls for critical satellite components, OneWeb adopted a highly outsourced supply chain model that delegates production to regional Tier 2 parts manufacturers, creating opportunities for diverse supplier engagement while introducing coordination complexity.

OneWeb’s manufacturing ecosystem centers on the Airbus OneWeb Satellites joint venture, established in 2016 as a strategic partnership between Airbus Defense and Space and OneWeb to design and manufacture the satellite fleet. In January 2024, Airbus completed acquisition of Eutelsat’s 50% stake in the Airbus OneWeb Satellites joint venture, making Airbus the sole owner and consolidating manufacturing control.

The outsourced supply chain model creates distinct tiers of supplier engagement. Tier 1 suppliers include major aerospace contractors responsible for critical subsystems, while Tier 2 component manufacturers execute production of discrete electronic components, power systems, structural elements, and thermal management systems.

The July 2022 announcement of Eutelsat and OneWeb’s merger fundamentally restructured OneWeb’s supply chain strategy and competitive positioning.The merger was finalized in September 2023, creating Eutelsat Group with dual-orbit capabilities enabling multi-orbit service delivery across complementary frequency bands and coverage patterns.​

The consolidation delivered immediate supply chain rationalization. Eutelsat Group now operates as a single integrated company, maintaining OneWeb as the designated brand name for LEO constellation operations and services. This structural clarity eliminated redundancies in ground operations, customer support infrastructure, and regulatory coordination while maintaining separation of GEO and LEO satellite operations and supporting infrastructure.

OneWeb supply chain optimization directly supports penetration of premium service verticals where operational performance justifies elevated service costs. Aviation and maritime services, as well as government and military applications are examples of those verticals.

OneWeb’s supply chain is entering a critical expansion phase as Eutelsat executes a comprehensive modernization program targeting a 2026-2030 horizon. Current operational performance validates OneWeb’s technical architecture and ground segment integration, with demonstrated capability to deliver superior latency and polar coverage supporting premium service verticals including aviation, maritime, and government communications. Manufacturing scaling through Airbus OneWeb Satellites’ Merritt Island facility combined with specialized supplier partnerships has enabled production rates previously unprecedented in satellite manufacturing.

Looking forward, OneWeb’s supply chain success depends on maintaining supplier performance through expansion cycles, managing geopolitical disruption risks, and integrating advanced digital technologies while controlling cost escalation.

Paid subscribers can read the full analysis on The Journal of Space Commerce under the “In Depth” tab. And while you’re there, learn how LEO satellite constellations are solving the rural broadband crisis, and check out our profile of The Institute of Space Commerce.

And those are some of the top stories we covered for you on The Journal of Space Commerce this week. Space Commerce Week is a production of Ex Terra Media. You can get daily updates on space commerce by subscribing to The Journal of Space Commerce on Substack at www.exterrajsc.com. And please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Whether you’re a space professional, an investor or enthusiast, paid subscribers have first access to premium articles and podcasts focused on the new space economy. Just visit www.exterrajsc.com and help keep The Journal of Space Commerce independent as we chronicle, cajole and, when necessary, critique the commercial space industry.

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Worth a Second Look

* Colombia Launches National Wildfire Monitoring Program

* Copernicus Sentinel-1D Satellite Placed in Orbit

* Voyager Reports Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results

* MDA Space Makes $10 Million Investment in Maritime Launch

* LEO Satellite Constellations Are Solving the Rural Broadband Crisis (Paywall)

The Photon spacecraft for Eta Space and NASA’s LOXSAT mission has been completed by Rocket Lab. The final piece to be cleared was the Systems Integration Review (SIR) which allows the spacecraft to proceed with payload integration. Rocket Lab will now move the mission into environmental testing – the next phase before its launch on Electron in early 2026.

LOXSAT is an on-orbit technology demonstration of a cryogenic fluid management system, that will inform the design of Cryo-Dock, a full-scale cryogenic propellant depot in low Earth orbit to be operational in 2030.

Despite being one of the most efficient and energetic propellants for spacecraft, cryogenic propellants can vaporize as temperature rises, causing critical loss on orbit. LOXSAT will test the ability to store liquid oxygen (LOX) in a zero-loss configuration, with the goal of creating a larger scale model in the future that could serve as a commercial cryogenic propellant depot in space. This would enable reuse and refueling of spacecraft on orbit.

The basis of the spacecraft is the company’s Photon platform, which gained flight heritage in 2022 with NASA’s CAPSTONE mission to the Moon.

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Of course, refueling requires spacecraft to be connected via a docking mechanism. In that realm, a Letter of Intent (LOI) has been signed outlining a strategic collaboration to integrate the Enduralock OneLink docking interface into future Space Ocean platforms as a standardized in-orbit connection for fluid, data and power transfer.

As part of the agreement, Space Ocean intends to adopt Enduralock’s passive male receive port, which is available for Assembly, Integration & Test (AI&T) immediately, as a core interface across its fluid delivery and servicing ecosystem. The OneLink system enables secure transfer of power, data, and fluids, and is designed to support significant axial loads, making it a key enabler for mission-critical operations such as refueling, resource offloading and modular infrastructure support.

Enduralock, recognized for its contributions to space-qualified fasteners and advanced mechanical systems, brings a proven track record to this collaboration. The company’s OneLink system enables plug-and-play interoperability across a range of mission profiles, from orbital labs and habitats to fuel depots and cargo haulers.

The LOI is non-binding and outlines mutual objectives for technology integration, joint project evaluation and interface standardization across upcoming platforms. Discussions are also underway to explore co-development opportunities, mission-specific customization and feedback-driven enhancements.

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From fuel and data transfer to inter-satellite communications, an agreement has been reached to integrate SpaceX Starlink mini laser terminals into the Muon Space high-performance Halo satellite platform.

Starlink’s mini lasers are designed to achieve link speeds of 25 Gbps at distances up to about 2,500 miles, and are capable of higher link speeds at shorter distances. By connecting to Starlink’s global satellite network, Muon will offer persistent, real-time access to their satellite constellations and data on-orbit — eliminating the latency associated with traditional ground networks and enabling real‑time tasking, payload operations, and ultra-high bandwidth data streaming to anywhere on Earth.

This agreement integrates Muon’s satellites into Starlink’s global digital infrastructure, delivering critical insights and services, and opening new business models where constellations operate with the same Internet speed and responsiveness as cloud providers and telecom networks on the ground.

Traditional ground station architectures provide brief contact windows; Starlink’s mini lasers can be easily installed into Muon Halo spacecraft, creating near‑continuous connectivity by routing traffic through SpaceX’s in‑orbit optical network to terrestrial Points of Presence.

Muon-built missions like Earth Fire Alliance’s FireSat constellation for wildfire detection and monitoring will benefit from the real-time high-bandwidth communications that Starlink provides. Incorporating mini lasers into future FireSats further enhances the global impact of this constellation on the growing wildfire and land management challenges around the world.

The Journal of Space Commerce is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support this work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

The United Kingdom Space Agency has awarded a Provision of Optical Delivery Partner contract to Slingshot Aerospace to expand the UK’s satellite tracking capabilities. This award strengthens the UK’s sovereign space domain awareness, expanding the Space Agency’s ability to track and characterize satellites and orbital debris.

As orbital traffic surges—about 12,000 active satellites in orbit today and 100,000 expected by 2030—maintaining a persistent, independent view of orbit is now mission-critical.

“We at Slingshot Aerospace will be delivering 13 sensor systems for the UK Space Agency and the UK National Space Operations Center across 5 global sites for them to then have a sovereign space domain awareness network,” said Dr. Mekhi Dhesi, an account executive in the international business unit at Slingshot Aerospace. “We launched our sovereign space domain awareness sensor offering earlier this year. So this is a real milestone now of us being able to deploy this sensor offering to an international customer. and being able to bring that advanced space domain awareness tracking to the UK and help them get this sovereign capability up and running.”

Slingshot will partner with Baader Planetarium to equip each site with AllSky Domes to provide environmental protection and enable resilient, autonomous, 24/7 operations across diverse conditions.

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Staying on the east side of the Atlantic, a trio of space heavyweights are partnering to form a new company aiming to strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy in space. If approved, Airbus, Leonardo and Thales will unite to enhance capabilities by combining the companies’ respective activities in satellite and space systems manufacturing and space services.

Space is a major sector that underpins critical infrastructure and services related to telecommunications, global navigation, earth observation, science, exploration and national security. This new company will bolster Europe’s space economy, and also intends to serve as a trusted partner for developing and implementing national sovereign space programs.

This new company will pool, build and develop a comprehensive portfolio of complementary technologies and end-to-end solutions, from space infrastructure to services, excluding space launchers. It will accelerate innovation in this strategic market in order to create a unified, integrated and resilient European space player, with the critical mass to compete globally and grow on the export markets.

The project is expected to unlock incremental revenues, leveraging an expanded portfolio of end-to-end products and services leading to a more competitive offering, and greater global commercial reach.

The combined entity will employ around 25,000 people across Europe. Ownership of the new company will be shared among the parent companies.

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In Depth this week, there is a new space race underway. And this time, the winner will capture the economic and strategic advantages that space promises. As 2025 draws to a close, the United States confronts intensifying competition from China; a resurgent commercial space industry reshaping traditional approaches; and pressing questions about how to maintain technological superiority while managing constrained budgets and evolving geopolitical realities.

The global space economy reached an unprecedented $613 billion in 2024, according to Space Foundation, and industry analysts project it could surpass $800 billion by 2027. This explosive growth is attracting entrepreneurs, engineers, and investors who recognize that space represents not just a frontier for exploration but a critical domain for economic competitiveness, national security, and technological innovation.

America’s space infrastructure rests on three pillars: civil exploration led by NASA, national security missions coordinated by the U.S. Space Force, and an increasingly dominant commercial sector, where SpaceX has emerged as the dominant player. The government space agency is facing significant budget pressures, and Space Force is rightfully focused on national defense. Most of the exciting developments are coming from the private sector, where agility and best practices allow for much faster innovation.

Along with SpaceX, Blue Origin has been methodically building capabilities with its New Shepard suborbital vehicle and developing the New Glenn orbital rocket expected to compete directly with SpaceX for heavy-lift missions. Blue Origin is also developing the Blue Moon lunar lander and partnering with Sierra Space and Boeing on Orbital Reef, a commercial space station that received $172 million in NASA funding.

Across the Pacific, China has emerged as America’s most formidable space competitor, pursuing an integrated civil-military strategy backed by substantial state resources and long-term planning. The China Manned Space Agency announced in March 2025 that the nation is steadily advancing toward landing astronauts on the Moon before 2030, with major hardware including the Long March-10 rocket, Mengzhou spacecraft, and a lunar lander and rover all in development stages. China operates the Tiangong space station, providing continuous human presence in orbit independent of Western partnerships, and has completed successful robotic lunar sample return missions demonstrating sophisticated capabilities. Beyond exploration, China has established a network of 16 space-supporting facilities across Latin America and is building an International Lunar Research Station in partnership with Russia and other nations.

Meanwhile the European Space Agency is pursuing greater strategic autonomy and resilience, responding to geopolitical tensions and recognizing space’s critical role in European security and economic competitiveness.

Issues driving the new space race include national security imperatives and infrastructure challenges, policy recommendations, and a framework for sustained leadership.

The period from 2025 through 2035 will likely determine space leadership for the remainder of the century. NASA aims to land astronauts on the Moon through Artemis III, currently scheduled for mid-2027, and establish sustainable lunar presence enabling eventual Mars missions, though budget constraints and technical challenges create uncertainty about timelines. The cislunar economy—economic activity spanning low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond—presents opportunities in satellite servicing, space manufacturing, resource extraction, and permanent habitats at strategic locations.

America’s space leadership faces genuine challenges from international competitors investing heavily, commercial dynamics disrupting traditional approaches, and policy debates about priorities and funding levels. The United States retains significant advantages including the world’s most innovative commercial space sector, unmatched launch capabilities, extensive ground infrastructure, experienced workforce, and integrated military-civil-intelligence space architecture. However, these advantages are not permanent and require sustained commitment, strategic vision, regulatory modernization, and the willingness to adapt legacy programs when better alternatives emerge.

You can read the full analysis on The Journal of Space Commerce under the ‘In Depth’ tab.

Worth a Second Look

Starship Development Accelerates Toward Lunar Missions

Global GPS Device Protection Now Available on a Chip

Strategic Partnership Hopes to Advance Lunar Mobility-as-a-Service

Earth Observation Market Seeing Significant Expansion: Report

U.S. Space Force Space Domain Awareness Contract Awarded to Vantor

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A comprehensive security study has exposed significant vulnerabilities in geostationary satellite communications. The study found that sensitive data from corporations, governments and millions of consumers can be intercepted using equipment costing just a few hundred dollars.

The University of California, San Diego and University of Maryland research team observed 411 transponders across 39 geostationary satellites over a seven-month period, capturing unencrypted traffic that included cellular backhaul data, military communications, corporate networks and consumer internet activity using a consumer-grade satellite dish, positioning motor and TV tuner card mounted on the roof of a building at UCSD.

The captured data revealed extensive security gaps. Cellular backhaul transmissions from T-Mobile and other telecom providers exposed unencrypted calls, text messages, subscriber internet traffic, hardware identifiers and even encryption keys for cell towers in remote areas. Military and government communications included unprotected voice-over-internet-protocol calls, vessel tracking data and police operations. In-flight Wi-Fi systems transmitted passenger web browsing unencrypted, while multiple voice-over-internet-protocol providers broadcast call audio without protection.

Commercial entities including Walmart and financial institutions transmitted internal network traffic without encryption, exposing login credentials, corporate emails, inventory records and ATM networking information. Critical infrastructure operators—power utilities and oil and gas pipeline companies—used unprotected satellite links for remotely operated supervisory control and data acquisition systems and repair communications.

The findings were published in the peer-reviewed ‘Proceedings of the 32nd ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security’.

The researchers recommend treating satellite links like unsecured public wireless networks. The study’s custom protocol-parsing code has been released as open-source software on GitHub.

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A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop, test, and deploy Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technologies that will advance autonomous mobility and smart city infrastructure across the United Arab Emirates has been signed by Space42 an e& UAE, the flagship telecom arm of global technology group e&.

The partnership combines Space42’s Sovereign Mobility Cloud and autonomous vehicle (AV) solutions with e& UAE’s 5.5G, edge computing, and secure communication protocols, with a roadmap to 6G. Together, the companies will co-develop pilot projects, regulatory frameworks, and business models to enable connected and autonomous mobility nationwide.

Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technology enables vehicles to communicate with their surroundings, including other cars, road infrastructure, and pedestrians, to make driving safer and more efficient.

This collaboration builds on both companies’ commitment to advancing the mission of the national Smart Autonomous Systems Council.

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A procurement contract to build an Earth observation satellite constellation for security, civilian, and commercial use has been signed between Japanese corporation IHI and ICEYE.

Under the terms of the contract, IHI has placed an initial order for four satellites and associated image acquisition system, with the option to procure a further 20 satellites in the future. The first satellites are expected to begin phased commissioning and data delivery from around April 2026.

Two of the initial four satellites are planned to be assembled and tested in Japan, with preparations already under way between IHI and ICEYE. Subject to successful demonstration results, IHI plans to exercise options for the remaining 20 satellites in phases, beginning in 2026 and targeting completion of the 24-satellite constellation by fiscal year 2029.

The Journal of Space Commerce is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Private investment in space technology companies reached a record $3.5 billion in the third quarter of 2025, marking a sustained rebound in an industry that has matured beyond a handful of mega-rounds to a broader base of hardware-focused scale-ups. That’s according to a quarterly report by Generation Space, the U.S. division of Seraphim Space Group.

The third-quarter figure represents an increase from $3.1 billion in the second quarter, bringing trailing 12-month investment to $10.4 billion—just short of the all-time high of $10.9 billion set in the second quarter of 2021. The recovery reflects growing investor confidence across the space technology sector after a pullback through 2022.

The United States continues to dominate global investment volumes, accounting for 55% of total investment in the 12 months ending in the third quarter, while China accounted for 16% and saw the two largest deals of the quarter. Investment activity in the third quarter remained concentrated in businesses with significant hardware components.

Unlike the 2020-21 cycle driven by a few deals exceeding $1 billion, the third quarter of 2025 was defined by a broader set of raises between $100 million and $300 million across multiple businesses, marking what the report characterizes as a more balanced and mature phase for the sector.

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The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) has awarded a contract to Planet under the Luno B indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract. The $12.8 million initial award is for Advanced Analytics for Maritime Operations and Reconnaissance.

Under this award, Planet will provide the NGA with AI-enabled Maritime Domain Awareness solutions, which include vessel detections and monitoring over key areas of interest in Asia-Pacific. The contract was won with Planet partner SynMax.

Luno B was developed to provide the national security community with timely access to high-quality commercial Geospatial Intelligence.

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A system that allows satellites to connect with IoT devices without relying on GNSS satellite navigation systems ... such as the American GPS ... will be tested by ESA and Sateliot. This development may open new opportunities in sectors such as Defense and Security, where Europe’s technological autonomy and operation in “GNSS-denied” environments are strategic priorities.

The FreeGNSSNetwork project, signed with the European Space Agency (ESA) and led jointly with Spanish technology company GMV, eliminates GNSS dependency by using advanced algorithms that enable devices to calculate their position directly from the satellites’ signals. This maintains a stable and accurate connection even under complex conditions such as wartime scenarios. According to the company, this project represents a paradigm shift and lays the groundwork for developing 6G technology, in which Sateliot actively contributes within the 3GPP framework.

FreeGNSSNetwork enables device positioning with an accuracy of approximately 10 meters and provides extremely precise time synchronization services of 50 nanoseconds. The system is currently being tested in laboratories that replicate real satellite communication conditions and will be demonstrated in orbit with prototype satellites and terminals, sending Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) data directly to IoT devices.

Worth a Second Look

* Researchers Demonstrate Centimeter-Level Positioning Using Smartwatches

* Researchers Developing Autonomous Lunar Transportation System

* Solar Array Mechanism Production Capacity Expanded by Beyond Gravity

* Trinity Mission will Deploy Satellites to Three Different Orbits

* New CEO Named at Axiom Space