T-Minus: Space-Cyber Briefing

Ruvimbo Samanga is an Africa Space Policy Analyst currently working for Access Partnership and sits on the Board of the Space Arbitration Association. She serves as an Ambassador for the MILO Space Science Institute, and previously served a 2-year term as the National Point of Contact for Zimbabwe in the Space Generation Advisory Council, the latter which is in support of the United Nations Progra...

The African space industry is projected to be worth $22.64 billion by 2026. The launch of 13 Tranche 0 Space Development Agency satellites has been delayed until Saturday at the earliest. An Amazon shareholder sues Jeff Bezos and the board alleging that the company failed to fully vet a decision to award launch contracts, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite p...

Firefly Aerospace and Millennium Space Systems enter a six-month hot standby phase for the US Space Force’s VICTUS NOX mission. QinetiQ's U.S. subsidiary has been awarded a $224 million five-year contract to engineer systems and provide other professional support services for the Space Development Agency’s future layered network of missile tracking satellites in low-Earth orbit. Helsinki-based ReO...

Space cybersecurity firm SpiderOak announces the successful demonstration of its OrbitSecure encryption technology aboard the International Space Station, showing that secure operations traffic could be successfully sent and received between ground and on-orbit stations. SAIC has been awarded a $574.5 million task order to help the US Space Force update and maintain a global network of ground base...

Starfish Space announces the successful stabilization of the Otter Pup. Hurricane Idalia causes delays to ULA’s launch of the NRO Silentbarker satellite. Robotics company GITAI raises an additional $15 million in a Series B Extension round, and more. 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 a...

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-7 docks with the International Space Station, bringing the total number of crew on the ISS up to 11 for the next few days. Japan delays the launch of the XRISM satellite and SLIM lunar probe to later this week due to high winds. India’s Vikram Lander has sent back scientific data from its ChaSTE payload measuring the temperature at the Moon’s south pole, and more. Remember to le...

In a week where India’s space program has made headlines around the world for being the first nation to soft land at the lunar south pole, we speak to the CEO of one of the country’s leading commercial space companies. Dhruva Space is working to build a sovereign network of commercial companies to support a global space market. We spoke with Dhruva Space CEO and Co-founder Sanjay Nekkanti.  You ca...

We have a new survey! What new product/feature do you think we should work on next? Here’s the link to give us your feedback. Now back to your regularly scheduled show notes. The Indian Space Research Organization says its Pragyan rover is on the move and “All planned Rover movements have been verified.” JAXA moves the launch of its SLIM lunar lander and XRISM satellite to Saturday. The US Departm...

Rocket Lab successfully lifts Capella Space satellites to orbit and marks its 40th Electron launch. North Korea’s second attempt to launch a spy satellite ends in failure. Australian startup HEO raises $8 million in Series A funding to develop its space imagery platform, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our weekly...

We have a new survey! What new product/feature do you think we should work on next? Here’s the link to give us your feedback. Now back to your regularly scheduled show notes. Chandrayaan-3 soft lands on the moon making India the first nation to reach the lunar south pole. The target of the European Space Agency ClearSpace-1 space debris removal mission hit by other space debris. NASA announces its...

We have a new survey! What new product/feature do you think we should work on next? Here’s the link to give us your feedback. Now back to your regularly scheduled show notes. EOS Space Systems warns Chinese surveillance satellites were and are keeping a keen eye on two military exercises held in Australia. The Japanese Coast Guard says that North Korea is planning a space launch as early as Thursd...

We have a new survey! What new product/feature do you think we should work on next? Here’s the link to give us your feedback. Now back to your regularly scheduled show notes. The FAA and DoT propose new rules for government and commercial space launches. The Space Development Agency selects Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin for the Tranche 2 Transport Layer contract worth $1.5 billion. Axiom Sp...

Through cutting-edge technologies and collaborative partnerships, Skyrora is reshaping the landscape of space exploration and positioning Scotland as a key player in the global space industry. Join us as we discuss Skyrora with Head of Business Development, Derek Harris. You can connect with Derek on LinkedIn and find out more about Skyrora on their website. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating an...

We have a new survey! What new product/feature do you think we should work on next? Here’s the link to give us your feedback. Now back to your regularly scheduled show notes. Axiom and GU Energy Labs partner on astronaut food for spacewalks. iQPS contracts with Rocket Lab to launch its Earth observation satellite. Sierra Space has been awarded over $22 million by the Department of Defense to matur...

We have a new survey! What new product/feature do you think we should work on next? Here’s the link to give us your feedback. Now back to your regularly scheduled show notes. UK defense contractor BAE agreed to buy Ball Aerospace for $5.6 billion. Momentus announces layoffs and cuts to budgets in its Q2 financial report. The Indian Space Research Organization tweets “Thanks for the ride, mate!” af...

Russia’s Luna-25 vehicle has reached lunar orbit according to Roscosmos. The Indian Space Research Organisation has announced that the Chandrayaan-3 is in its final lunar orbit. SpaceX hands over its mishap report to the Federal Aviation Administration following its April 20 Starship flight test, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episod...

Intuitive Machines says their IM-1 lunar lander is complete and will be prepared for delivery in September with a launch date set for November. AST SpaceMobile says the first five of its BlueBird satellites are fully-funded with a planned launch in Q1 of 2024 with a plan to offer initial commercial service 3 months after launch. Astra announces the first 4 shipments of their Spacecraft Engines out...

The Russian Space Agency says that they are already processing data from Luna-25. The Indian Space Research Organisation successfully conducted a series of drogue parachute deployment tests which will help their astronauts land safely from space. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp also announced that it launched the first geosynchronous orbit synthetic aperture radar satellite for dis...

AIAA has dedicated itself to shaping the future of the aerospace industry. The organization believes that aeronautic and astronautic professionals and students and STEM educators are the drivers of global innovation. Learn more about the mission of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and upcoming events with AIAA Executive Director Dan Dumbacher. You can connect with Dan on Lin...

Russia’s Luna 25 lander launched on a Soyuz 2.1 rocket and is expected to soft land at the lunar south pole on August 21. The European Space Agency has released its 2023 space environment report. The French national space agency is seeking partners with BPI France to purchase demonstration missions aboard French microlaunchers. Spire Global achieved its highest-ever quarterly revenue of $26.5 mill...

Virgin Galactic takes its first three space tourists on a flight from Spaceport America. Viasat reported $780 million in revenue during the last quarter, a 36% increase compared to the same period last year. BlackSky Technology made $19.3 million in revenue in the second quarter of 2023, and booked five new launches with Rocket Lab. NASA has renewed its contract with Spire Global to provide earth...

Rocket Lab releases positive second quarter financial results and announces 10 new contracts. Firefly Aerospace has announced a new partnership with Xtenti to conduct a responsive space demonstration for the National Reconnaissance Office in 2024. The Artemis 2 crew got their first look at the Lockheed Martin built Orion capsule that will carry them around the moon next year, and more. Remember to...

Boeing says its Starliner spacecraft will be ready by early March, but has not decided on a launch date with NASA. Amazon plans to launch the first Kuiper satellites on ULA’s Atlas V in September. Firefly Aerospace announces an expansion of its on-orbit services with its new Elytra fleet, and more.  Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign...

US private equity giant KKR buys a minority stake in German space and technology company OHB. SpaceX held a Super Heavy booster static fire with mixed results. The Federal Communications Commission launches an inquiry to advance its understanding of non-federal spectrum usage, and more.  Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Miss an episode? Sign-up for our...

What do architects think of when designing spaceports? Francis Walker is the Director of Corgan's London studio. Corgan is a large U. S. based architect with core expertise in aviation, data centers, commercial healthcare, education. Francis and his team design spaceports around the world and walk us through the process of designing the gateway to space. You can connect with Francis on LinkedIn an...