T-Minus: Space-Cyber Briefing

Maritime Launch Services has selected Voyager Space as the first Owner Authorized Representative for the next phase of development for Spaceport Nova Scotia’s launch support infrastructure. Chinese engineers have reportedly recovered two experimental satellites five months after they were left in limbo. Scout Space has announced a new flight partnership with Dawn Aerospace to demonstrate a novel v...

AstroForge has raised $40 million in a Series A round. Mynaric has slashed its 2024 revenue guidance nearly 70% at the midpoint, citing production delays in its laser communications product. Axiom Space has announced a partnership with Nokia to collaborate on next-generation spacesuits, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up...

The European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) spacecraft returned near Earth overnight executing the first-ever lunar-Earth flyby, and the first-ever double gravity assist maneuver. Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) experienced an anomaly during an engine hot fire at SaxaVord Spaceport resulting in an explosion. Planet Labs signed a new contract with the NATO Communications and Inform...

Reuters reports that Sierra Space is currently in negotiations to purchase the United Launch Alliance (ULA). The Space Development Agency awarded $424 million in contracts to York Space Systems and Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems to build 20 T2TL-Gamma prototype satellites. Astroscale announces a $81 million contract with Japan's space agency (JAXA), to remove debris from orbit, and more. Remember to...

In 1984, Dr. Anna Fisher was part of the crew of the second flight of the orbiter Discovery. The STS-51A mission was to rendezvous with two satellites that had failed to make their designated orbits, capture them, and return them to Earth. It was the first space debris clean up mission. Now Dr. Fisher has joined the Board of Advisors for Kall Morris Inc. (KMI). She tells us what drew her to suppor...

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launched 116 payloads for the Transporter 11 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Maxar confirms that its third and fourth WorldView Legion satellites are performing well after deployment. The ISS National Lab and NASA are collaborating on a solicitation for space-based research, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast...

Terran Orbital has signed an acquisition agreement worth $450 million dollars with Lockheed Martin. Redwire Space is acquiring spacecraft developer Hera Systems. The US Space Development Agency (SDA) and commercial partners York Space successfully demonstrated a Link 16 network entry from Tranche 0 satellites in LEO to a U.S. Navy ship in international waters, and more.  Remember to leave us a 5-s...

NASA says they still have time to decide on the fate of Starliner, and continue to float the idea of extending the crew's stay on the International Space Station. Roscosmos’ Progress 89 spacecraft is scheduled to launch this evening on a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Florida Tech joins a consortium with University of Florida, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Flor...

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 plans to launch Dragon’s sixth commercial astronaut mission, Fram2, later this year. NASA has signed an agreement with bp America to work on common goals in space exploration and energy production. Airbus and Astroscale UK have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore collaborative opportunities in the field of on-orbit servicing and space debris removal, and more. Remembe...

NASA's Office of the Inspector General released a report with major concerns about the Space Launch System Block 1B's development and management by Boeing. SpaceX launched two satellites as part of the Space Norway Arctic Satellite Broadband mission (ASBM). Brazil and Chile have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on space cooperation, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in...

NASA’s Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) program is a series of analog missions that simulate year-long stays on the surface of Mars. Each mission will consist of four crew members living in Mars Dune Alpha, an isolated 1,700 square foot habitat. Kelly Haston, PhD, was the Commander of the last mission which ended on July 6, 2024. She shares her experience with us. You can co...

US Space Command has confirmed that China’s Long March 6A rocket upper stage broke apart after delivering satellites to LEO, creating a cloud of debris. Eutelsat and Rocket lab report positive financial updates. NASA’s Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) team commanded the spacecraft to turn its transmitter off for the last time on Thursday, concluding more than 10 year...

SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission is scheduled to launch on August 26. Dawn Aerospace have completed another flight test campaign of the Mk-II rocket-powered aircraft. Rocket Lab has scheduled a 14-day launch window that opens on August 11th for its 52nd Electron mission which will deploy a satellite for Capella Space, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast...

NASA and SpaceX are now targeting no earlier than Tuesday, Sept. 24, for the launch of the agency’s Crew-9 mission to the International Space Station. China launched the first 18 satellites for its “Thousand Sails Constellation” which aims to deploy more than 15,000 satellites to LEO. Firefly Aerospace has signed a second multi-launch agreement with L3Harris Technologies, and more.  Remember to le...

Russia's space agency Roscosmos says that the break in ties with the West following Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has cost it nearly 180 billion rubles ($2.1 billion). Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft docked with the International Space Station after having some initial burn issues. SmallSat is moving from Logan to Salt Lake City, Utah next year as the event continues to expand, and...

NASA and Axiom Space have signed a mission order for the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo vehicle experiences issues on its way to the International Space Station. Muon Space has raised $56.7 million in Series B funding round, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode?...

Attorney Michael Listner walks us through his thoughts on what the end of the Chevron Deference means to the space industry. You can connect with Michael on LinkedIn. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our weekly intelligence roundup, Signals and Space, and you’ll never miss a beat. And be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn an...

The US Government Accountability Office releases a new report on NASA’s Gateway program. Boeing reports an additional $125 million in losses on the Starliner Program.  Sierra Space is in the final testing and launch preparations phase for its Dream Chaser® spaceplane and Shooting Star® cargo module, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an epi...

VAST have unveiled their plans for the Haven-1 Lab, scheduled to be the world’s first microgravity research, development, and manufacturing platform on a commercial space station. Viasat has announced a new partnership with Orbit Communications Systems for the engineering and supply of advanced satellite communication Multi-Purpose Terminals for airborne platforms. Booz Allen Hamilton has announce...

Boeing has reported second quarter financial results, as the Starliner makes progress on propulsion testing. Astroscale Japan’s Active Debris Removal by Astroscale-Japan (ADRAS-J), has completed two controlled fly-around operations of space debris. NordSpace is investing $5M  towards the development of the first phase of Spaceport Canada, and more.  Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review...

The United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V carried out its final National Security Space Launch (NSSL). SpaceX is reportedly in talks with US and Australian officials to land and recover one of its Starship rockets off Australia's coast. Redwire plans to culture bioprinted vascularized liver tissue constructs on the ISS to determine if liver cells bioprinted on Earth can properly form functioning blood...

India’s Minister of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences says that an ISRO astronaut will be going to the International space station some time “after August”. US lawmakers fail to pass FY2025 appropriations bills affecting NASA, NOAA and the FAA. Rocket Lab has completed integration and testing of two spacecraft destined for Mars orbit, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and revi...

Our guest today is Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell. In his day job, Jonathan is an astronomer at the Center for Astrophysics, Harvard and Smithsonian working on the Chandra X ray Observatory Space Telescope, but it’s his out of hours work that attracts the most attention. Jonathan has become the leading voice in the US for chronicling the history of the space program and keeping track of space de...

SpaceX has submitted its mishap report to the Federal Aviation Administration regarding Falcon 9’s launch anomaly on July 11, and the company’s investigation team, with oversight from the FAA, was able to identify the most probable cause of the mishap and associated corrective actions to ensure the success of future missions. NASA’s Perseverance Rover captures images of rocks on Mars that indicate...

NASA and Boeing are continuing testing on the Starliner and have said that the capsule may remain on the ISS until September. NASA’s Glenn Research Center streamed 4K video footage from an aircraft to the International Space Station and back for the first time using laser communications. Sierra Space passes a seventh key validation test, and second full-scale structural test of its expandable spac...