Commercial vs Government Space
Space Technologies
Good morning,
Everything that goes up, must come back down—except for Voyager spacecraft. This includes Starlink satellites, one of which provided a spectacular display this week as it burned up on reentry. But worry not, that one deorbited Starlink was offset by the 67 new Starlink satellites sent into orbit this week.
China is continuing to make strides in its burgeoning space industry, boosting support to commercial space and space tourism. The importance of commercial space is clear, as we continue to see government programs fall behind schedule. For example the Space Force’s GPS IIIF program (not to be confused with the new Resilient GPS program awarded in September) is months behind. The $7.8B program was awarded in 2018 but won’t meet their 2026 launch schedule.
Now let’s blast off!
News Headlines:
President-Elect Trump may have military's top general in his cross-hairs (POL)
China has increased military flights near Taiwan by 300%: U.S. general (NBC)
Satellite images and documents indicate China working on nuclear propulsion for new aircraft carrier (AP)
Boeing reportedly reached a settlement this week to avoid civil trial over a 737 Max crash that killed 157 (F24)
Satellites:
Launches:
Upcoming Launches:
Space News:
Space Force expands top secret intel-sharing program with industry to support new mission areas (DS)
Rocket Lab confirms plan to bid for Pentagon launch contracts with new medium rocket (SN)
Once upon a time, the Air Force really wanted to nuke the moon (T&P)
Dragon spacecraft boosts ISS for first time (NASA)
NGA's first Chief AI Officer shares details about pursuit of frontier AI models to support the agency (DS)
AI-enhanced model could improve space weather forecasting (PHYS)
Minuteman III test launch showcases readiness of U.S. nuclear force system (SF)
Starlink satellite falls to Earth, burns up as stunning fireball over U.S. (SP)
Space Force new GPS satellites are running months behind schedule (PHYS)
NASA explores laser beam welding for in-space and lunar-surface manufacturing (NASA)
NASA extends ISS cargo contracts through 2030 (SN)
GlobalStar is already working on new comms constellation for Apple (VS)
Millennium Space delivers two spacecraft for upcoming NASA mission (SN)
Sierra Space successfully completes key development milestone for SDA missile warning and tracking satellites (BDT)
Foreign Space News
Hopes dim for China and U.S. space agencies to exchange moon samples (SCMP)
The space tourism dream is inching closer to reality - and China is at the forefront (TT)
China's space agency to boost support for commercial space sector (SN)
Chinese commercial Lijian-1 rocket launches 15 satellites (SN)
China planning to build its own version of SpaceX's Starship (SP)
India launches its first-ever military space exercise (TDP)
Axiom Space looks to India, Europe for rockets to help build private space station (SP)
Deal Flow:
Funds
Apparently we missed this one yesterday: Coatue is seeking to raise $1B for its flagship fund to invest in AI (TC)
VC
GalaxEye secures $10M in Series A funding led by MountTech to deliver a satellite in 2025 for defense, agriculture, and maritime support (TIA)
Phase Four closes in on its $10M Series C with committed participation from Artemis Group to manufacture Valkyrie, an electric thruster for LEO spacecraft (PL)
PE / M&A
Boeing exploring possible $6 bln sale of Jeppesen navigational unit (BBG)
BlackSky buys out Thales Alenia's stake in their JV for satellite manufacturing, LeoStella (SN)
Opportunities
NASA's Civilian Commercialization Readiness Pilot Program has been reauthorized to accelerate transitioning SBIR/STRRR funded technologies to commercialization through additional grants and NASA or non-NASA equity sponsor investment (SAM)
The Space Development Agency is interested in support to their Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture Tranche 3 program integration effort, which will extend the PWSA through the acquisition and integration of hundreds of space vehicles and associated ground segment elements (SAM)
The Navy is looking for information on localization techniques for AUVs and USVs in GNSS-degraded environments and when a priori maps are unknown (SAM)
Editor's Picks:
Mark Whittington offers a few helpful suggestions for President-Elect Trump on NASA space policy.
Lighter Side:
Keep Building,
BOF