T-Minus: Space-Cyber Briefing

Japan’s HTV-X cargo spacecraft has arrived at the International Space Station for the first time ever. Japan’s SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding with Korea’s KT SAT to jointly develop and test 5G Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) technologies. The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to kick off two proceedings that will impact satellite licensing, and m...

The UK Space Agency (UKSA) has selected Slingshot Aerospace for a Provision of Optical Delivery Partner contract to expand the UK’s satellite tracking capabilities. The University of Florida, in collaboration with NASA, MIT, Vanguard Automation, AIM Photonics and Germany’s Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute, have a suite of photonic AI chips en route to the International Space Station (ISS). The...

JAXA successfully launched a cargo spacecraft for its first mission to deliver supplies to the International Space Station (ISS). The European Council calls for an accelerated joint development of space assets and services that serve security and defence purposes. Firefly Aerospace is set to expand and add 300 jobs to its Cedar Park, Texas location, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating a...

 The region of space at 550,000 kilometers above Earth poses unique physical engineering challenges for space flight and operations. We explore cislunar space on the Nexus. Parker Wishik, Senior Communications Specialist at The Aerospace Corporation, is joined by Kelli Kedis Ogborn, Vice President of Global Space Programs at the Space Foundation, Walter Schroeder, PhD, Co-Founder & CPO at Cislunar...

The United States Space Force (USSF) expects to award $905 million in contracts over the next five years through a new Maneuverable GEO program. Hughes Network Systems, an EchoStar company, has acquired Anderson Connectivity. Hungary signs the Artemis Accords and shares plans to send another astronaut to the ISS, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast ap...

Airbus, Leonardo, and Thales have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at combining their respective space activities into a new company. The Republic of Cyprus has signed an Associate Agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA), and is expected to become an Associate Member in the coming months. SatVu has announced its participation in NATO’s Alliance Persistent Surveillance from S...

Vantor, formerly Maxar Intelligence, has been awarded a contract to support the US Space Force (USSF) in tracking high-interest objects that pass through "blind spots" in space. Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and Texas A&M University have secured a $1 million grant from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research for cislunar tracking. The European Space Agency (ESA) is addi...

NASA to open the US lunar landing contract to new bidders with acting Administrator Sean Duffy citing delays with SpaceX’s Starship as the reason behind the move. Oman’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has introduced a framework to approve commercial space launch activities. China's Zhuque-3 reusable rocket has completed major ground tests ahead of its maiden flight, and more. Remember to leave us...

Suspected space debris has been discovered in Western Australia (WA). Innospace has received Korea's first private commercial launch permit from the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA). Pakistan has sent its first-ever hyperspectral satellite into orbit, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-...

Rick Tumlinson is the Founder of New Worlds. New Worlds is the only event on Earth where science, exploration, technology, art, music, and literature are melded together with the business of exploring space. This year’s event will introduce a bold new format spotlighting frontier startups and university teams in a “Space Tank” pitch competition, while featuring renowned voices like Dr. John Olson,...

HyImpulse has raised €15 million in a Series A funding round and secured an additional €30 million in financing. Indra Group has signed two new contracts with the European Space Agency that aim to reinforce Spain’s and Europe’s position in space surveillance and satellite navigation. Lockheed Martin is reportedly offering NASA to change their contract for Orion to a commercial transportation optio...

The Department of Air Force has agreed to increase the annual SpaceX launch cadence at Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB) in California. Germany and France have signed an implementation agreement for satellite-based early warning system Odin's Eye II. Sateliot plans to test a system that allows its satellites to connect with IoT devices without relying on satellite navigation systems, and more. Re...

Rocket Lab launched its 15th mission of the year and the first of 21 new launches for Synspective. Germany’s Exolaunch and India’s Skyroot have announced a new partnership to provide launch access. The World Economic Forum (WEF) has released a National Space Strategy Toolkit, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on Linked...

New research shows around half of geostationary satellite signals are vulnerable to eavesdropping. China’s Space Pioneer raises approximately $350 million in its latest funding rounds. Impulse Space announces its new lunar lander plans, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our gues...

John Herrington was the first enrolled member of a Native American tribe to fly in space. He is a member of the Chickasaw Nation, a retired US Naval Aviator and Test Pilot, and a retired NASA Astronaut. Herrington was selected as a mission specialist for STS-113 and flew to the International Space Station on November 23, 2002. You can connect with John on LinkedIn. Remember to leave us a 5-star ra...

The European Rocketry Challenge (EuRoC) is being held October 9-15 in Portugal. EuRoC is the first rocket launch competition for European university teams. The Portuguese Space Agency created the competition in 2020 and has since hosted teams from various European countries in the Alentejo region. We find out more about the 2025 competition from Marta Gonçalves, Science & Education Officer at the...

Rocket Lab has signed a direct contract for two dedicated Electron launches with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Viasat has been selected for a prime contract award by the US Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command (USSF SSC) for the Protected Tactical SATCOM-Global (PTS-G) program. The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded a contract extension to Creotech Instruments for the dev...

Stoke Space has raised $510 million in Series D funding. Muon Space has been awarded $44.6 million by the US Space Force for environmental monitoring. Momentus has been selected for two NASA demonstration flights, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guest today is Mark Wheatle...

Verizon signs deal with AST SpaceMobile to deliver cellular service from space. Space Capital’s Q3 2025 Space IQ report shows a $5.8 billion surge in private space investment. Blue Origin awarded a $78.25M Space Force contract to expand launch processing at Canaveral.  Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram....

Italy to open one of Europe’s largest satellite factories. Europe’s satellite mega-merger hits a snag. The FCC declares “Space Month” to fast-track U.S. satellite reforms.  Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Torsten Kriening from SpaceWatch. Global brings us his insights from World Space B...

Firefly Aerospace announces its $855 million acquisition of SciTec. The U.S. Space Force awards SpaceX and ULA the first post-2027 launch contracts. Japan’s ispace completes key vibration tests for its Series 3 lunar lander.  Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Bailey Reichelt from Aegis Sp...

Space has long been considered bi-partisan domain in the US, but is it becoming more political? Our guest is Kevin Kelly. Kevin is a former Senate appropriations staffer who oversaw funding for NASA, the NSF, and 25 other agencies. Now a partner at Actum, he advises some of the most influential players in science and defense. His career has spanned everything from nuclear tech and climate systems...

The UK Space Agency (UKSA)  and UK Space Command have announced a new project to detect and analyse lasers being used against UK satellites. Safran Federal Systems has been awarded a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Cosmic Shielding Corporation (CSC) has been awarded a $4M Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) contract from the US Department of War. Remember to leav...

Intuitive Machines has completed a previously announced acquisition of KinetX, Inc. Varda Space Industries has reached an agreement with Southern Launch to extend their partnership for 20 reentries into the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia through 2028. Belgium’s Space Applications Services has joined Starlab Space as a joint venture partner and investor, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-s...

Thales Alenia has signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) for the Secure And cryptoGrAphic (SAGA) mission. Blue Origin has unveiled the Project Oasis program to map lunar resources. Portal Space Systems has successfully tested a solar thermal propulsion system, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on Linked...