Copernical Team
Space Force Assigns Ursa Space to Deliver Analytics to USINDOPACOM Post-Japanese Disaster
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Ursa Space Systems, Inc., a leader in satellite insights, has completed a U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) task order supporting the US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) in response to Japan's recent natural disaster. Ursa Space has provided analysis of commercial space remote sensing data to assess the damage through Operational Planning Products (OPPs). The products supplied inclu Thales, Spire Global, and ESSP Collaborate on Space-Based Air Traffic Surveillance Service
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Thales (Euronext Paris: HO), Spire Global (NYSE: SPIR), and European Satellite Services Provider (ESSP) have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to introduce global satellite-based surveillance services for the air traffic management (ATM) industry and broader aviation market. These services will use a constellation of over 100 satellites to collect Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS Space Systems Command Grants Contracts for Space Laser Communication Prototypes
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The United States Space Force's Space Systems Command (SSC) has awarded four contracts to Blue Origin, CACI International Inc., General Atomics, and Viasat to develop space laser communication terminal prototypes. This marks the first phase of the $100 million Enterprise Space Terminal (EST) program.
The EST program, part of SSC's Space Domain Awareness and Combat Power Program Executive O Vyoma Awards Aerospacelab Contract for Second Space Surveillance Satellite
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Vyoma has awarded Aerospacelab a contract to build a microsatellite that will carry Vyoma's second Space Situational Awareness (SSA) optical payload, set for launch by the end of 2025. This mission is part of Vyoma's Flamingo constellation, which aims to deliver low-latency, high-fidelity space-based SSA data through a network of 12 satellites.
Under the contract, Aerospacelab will utilize US Space Force Awards Contracts to Blue Origin, SpaceX, and ULA for National Security Space Launch Phase 3
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The U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command (SSC) has awarded National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3 Lane 1 contracts to Blue Origin, SpaceX, and ULA. The base Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) award includes Firm Fixed Price (FFP) Task Orders for each company to conduct an initial capabilities assessment and explain their approach to tailored mission assurance.
Missio Frontier Technology Chosen for $1B Military Satellite Software Contract
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Frontier Technology Inc. (FTI) has been selected by the Space Rapid Capabilities Office (Space RCO) as one of twenty companies to compete for the Rapid Resilient Command and Control (R2C2) indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract. This contract aims to develop a next-generation ground software system for military satellites.
The R2C2 IDIQ, a small business set-aside, aims to Redwire to Lead DARPA SabreSat VLEO Mission
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Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW) announced it has secured a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to act as the prime mission integrator for an air-breathing satellite. This satellite will demonstrate the use of new electric propulsion systems in very low-Earth orbit (VLEO) using Redwire's SabreSat VLEO platform. The program takes advantage of Redwire's expertise in Slovenia to become ESA’s 23rd Member State
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Slovenia signed the Accession Agreement to the ESA Convention on 18 June 2024. Upon ratification, Slovenia will become the 23rd ESA Member State.
Nations realize they need to take risks or lose the race to the moon
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The NASA-led Artemis-3 mission will place the first human boots on the surface of the moon since Apollo 17's Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt left the lunar surface in December 1972.
The goal of the Artemis program is to establish a permanent human presence on Earth's natural satellite and an economy based around the moon. Artemis-3 is scheduled for no sooner than September 2026. However, further delays are likely and there are many technical challenges yet to overcome. Some might wonder whether it is going to happen at all.
I am convinced it will, because unlike the Apollo program, which would be unaffordable in today's climate, the current lunar endeavor will pay off in financial and exploration terms. Extracting water ice from craters at the lunar south pole could facilitate journeys from the moon to other destinations such as Mars, bringing down the cost of space exploration.
This is why the booming space industry seems fixed on the moon as a destination right now—countries simply cannot afford to miss this boat.
Laying the foundation for lunar base construction: Elucidating lunar soil-microwave interactions
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NASA aims to construct a lunar base through the Artemis program, a manned lunar exploration initiative. However, the practical reality of what the general public envisions for the space base differs somewhat from well-known science fiction movies. To build a base on the moon using abundant and diverse construction materials, significant transportation costs are involved. All these materials must be launched from Earth using rockets.
Because transporting construction materials from Earth to the moon is costly and time-consuming, local materials must be utilized in order to establish a lunar base.
One promising method for lunar base construction using local materials is microwave sintering, which solidifies lunar regolith (soil) below its melting point.