T-Minus: Space-Cyber Briefing

Wendy Lawrence (Captain, US Navy, Retired) is an engineer, pilot (helicopter), and a former NASA Astronaut. She flew on four space shuttle missions, and is now using her experience to inspire the next generation of the space workforce. She tells us about her work with the Challenger Learning Center and Higher Orbits. You can connect with Wendy on LinkedIn. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and...

NASA SpaceX Crew 11 are heading to the International Space Station (ISS). Echostar has selected MDA Space as the prime contractor for a direct-to-device (D2D) satellite constellation. ispace has entered into an agreement with Bridgestone Corporation to advance the application of their tires for lunar rovers, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be...

NASA’s SpaceX Crew 11 launch to the International Space Station (ISS) scrubbed due to weather conditions. Intuitive Machines has secured a $9.8 million Phase Two government contract to advance its Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) through Critical Design Review. Deloitte has unveiled a new system to detect cyber intrusions and anomalies on satellites, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating an...

Firefly Aerospace has been awarded a $176.7 million NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) contract to deliver five NASA-sponsored payloads to the Moon’s south pole in 2029. The US Space Systems Command (SSC) has awarded $37.5 million to five companies for Protected Tactical Satellite Communications. The NASA- ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite launched from India, and more. Re...

The US Space Force’s (USSF’s) X37-B spaceplane is scheduled to lift off for its eighth mission on August 21. Firefly Aerospace is targeting a valuation of about $5.5 billion in its US initial public offering. Boeing’s Defense, Space and Security Division reported $6.6 billion in revenue for Q2, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follo...

Arianespace launched the VV27 mission from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. Thales Alenia Space has signed a contract with the Italian Space Agency to carry out the preliminary design phase of a multipurpose habitation module for the lunar surface. The Australian Government invested $5 million in Gilmour Space to accelerate the development of Eris' next generation liquid rocket engine, and mor...

Etlaq Spaceport is Oman’s first commercial spaceport, strategically located at 18° latitude to maximize launch efficiency. Its equatorial positioning provides a performance advantage, reducing fuel consumption and optimizing satellite deployment to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and beyond. We find out more from Chief Commercial Officer, Julanda Al-Riyami. You can connect with Julanda on LinkedIn, and find...

A Russian Soyuz rocket launched an Iranian-built communication satellite to Earth orbit. SES and the Luxembourg Government are planning to develop a second satellite for GovSat. Cascade Space has raised $5.9 million in seed funding, 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 We are joine...

iRocket plans to go public in the US through a $400 million merger with special purpose acquisition company BPGC Acquisition. Iridium, Honeywell and L3Harris have reported Q2 financial results. Spire Global to expand its space reconnaissance portfolio with new radio frequency geospatial intelligence capabilities, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast ap...

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches two new SES O3b mPOWER satellites to medium earth orbit (MEO). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) postponed the SpaceX Falcon 9 TRACERS launch on Tuesday, July 22 due to a regional power outage. New Zealand has passed legislation to regulate the use of ground-based space infrastructure following concerns about foreign actors using it to harm national securi...

A new bipartisan Congressional Caucus dedicated to US leadership in space exploration has officially been established. DeepSat has selected Redwire Corporation to provide advanced modeling, simulation and design services for a planned dual-use Very Low Earth Orbit satellite constellation. Lockheed Martin has shared financial reports for the second quarter reporting $18.2 billion in sales, and more...

The UK Space Agency’s annual report says UKSA generated £2.2 billion in investment and revenue in FY 2024–25. EUMETSAT has assumed control of the Meteosat Third Generation Sounder 1 spacecraft. The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) has shared its ambitions to establish a lunar base in 2045, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follo...

William ‘Bill’ McArthur is a retired US Army Colonel, a former astronaut and a veteran of three Space Shuttle missions. He’s now  the Chief Astronaut for Titans Space. Bill shares his story about his time in the astronaut office and how it has shaped his role as an advisor for Titans. You can connect with Bill on LinkedIn, and learn more about Titans Space on their website. Remember to leave us a...

The United States Space Force (USSF) has rolled out its new Principles for Space Access Resourcing Decisions. York Space Systems’ parent company plans to acquire ATLAS Space Operations. Viasat has selected SSTL and MDA Space to partner with on developing designs and proposals for a lunar orbiting communications satellite system, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your fav...

SES has completed the acquisition of Intelsat. Planet Labs has announced a multi-year contract expansion with the Instituto Geográfico Agustín Codazzi (IGAC) in Colombia. Solestial has been selected by SpaceWERX for a Direct-to-Phase II contract in the amount of $1.2 million, 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...

The UK Space Agency (UKSA) has awarded new funding to support satellite communications development and boost the nation’s space clusters. Spaceport Cornwall has been selected to join the UK Ministry of Defence’s Hypersonic Technologies and Capability Development Framework. Taiwan has approved a project to drive the development of 6G and low-Earth orbit satellite systems by 2030, and more. Remember...

The Axiom-4 crew splashed down off the coast of California in a SpaceX Dragon capsule. Sierra Space has been awarded a contract by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to deliver key components for spacecraft docking on the ISS. NASA has awarded Astrobotic a SBIR Phase II contract to advance development of its Extra Large Vertical Solar Array Technology, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and r...

The Ax-4 crew has undocked from the International Space Station and started its return to Earth. Firefly Aerospace to propose an initial public offering of shares of its common stock. iLAuNCH Trailblazer, Optus, HEO, Inovor Technologies and the Defence Science and Technology Group to build, launch and operate a sovereign Australian Low Earth Orbit satellite, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star...

The Karman Project Foundation unites global decision-makers to drive urgent, collaborative action for a sustainable and peaceful future in space. The non-government organization recognises the core role of international cooperation to secure the space sector's prosperity, and Earth's critical reliance on it. They're working with Jaguar Space and the upcoming "Earth Seeds for Space" mission to the...

The UK plans to invest $191 million in satellite operator Eutelsat. The European Space Agency (ESA) has established its first optical communication link with a spacecraft in deep space. Intuitive Machines is partnering with Space Forge on a new vehicle, 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-Min...

US President Donald Trump has named Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy as the Interim Head of NASA. Varda Space has raised $187 million in a Series C Funding round. Australia’s Gilmour Space and Japan’s Space BD partner on rideshare opportunities, 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 Gu...

Selected Reading US Space Force unveils International Partnership Strategy to strengthen space security-  Secretary of the Air Force International Affairs  SLD 30 Change of Command 2025 Vandenberg Space Force Base  Mission Delta 2 Conducts Change Command- Space Operations Command (SpOC) Redwire Expands International Collaboration with Japanese Startup SpaceData for Artificial Intelligence and Digi...

Urgent calls to action coming within the US space industry regarding potential massive budget cuts to key US space programs. China is pushing the frontier of in-space reusability. UK moves to clean up space debris. 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 Dorit Dono...

European Launcher Challenge's shortlist announced. Dhruva Space to provide solar panels for Pixxel hyperspectral constellation. US Space Systems Command awards $2.8B in contracts for secure space communications. 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 Aegis Space Law Attorney’s Bail...

Lunar Outpost was founded on the belief that resources from the moon can be used for the betterment of humankind. The space mobility company has recently unveiled its new Eagle Space Truck and has plans for new vehicles to traverse the lunar surface. Find out more from  Lunar Outpost Cofounder and Chief Strategy Officer, Forrest Meyen. You can connect with Forrest on LinkedIn, and learn more about...