Not Safe to Launch
Ukraine forces Russian pause on launch from home cosmodrome and reconsideration of parade; Trump halts Project Freedom but warns Iran; and Musk wanted OpenAI to colonize Mars
After one day of escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz, the United States has paused its Freedom of Navigation enforcement effort. According to President Trump, the U.S. and Iran are closing in on a ‘one pager’ outlining a framework for a peace. The President and his Secretary of State Marco Rubio have provided clashing messages on whether or not Operation Epic Fury has ‘concluded.’ Trump (the one that actually decides this) has said that it would only conclude if Iran ‘agrees to give what has been agreed to.’ Otherwise, Trump wrote, ‘the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before.’ It is unclear what ‘has been agreed to.’
Ukraine has allegedly struck at Russia’s cosmodrome prompting a pause on using it for space launches. That will not have a very large impact on Russia’s launch capabilities as most of its launches still take-off from Baikonur in Kazakhstan. Ukraine has demonstrated an incredible improvement in its long-range strike capabilities over the past 4 years of its war with Russia—to such an extent that Russian President Putin has grown concerned about Ukraine strikes against Russia’s annual Victory Day parade (May 8). To preempt this, Putin announced a ceasefire for the day and his expectation that Kyiv abide by that ceasefire. Ukrainian President Zelensky one-upped the Russian strongman though, and announced it would begin its ceasefire today; but, Zelensky also warned that if Russia failed to cease its attacks at the same time, then the ceasefire was off, opening the door for potential attacks against the Kremlin’s dog-and-pony show.
Astronomers may have found a Planet X, complete with an atmosphere. They’ve also found a potential shortcut to Mars, allowing for much faster flights to and from the Red Planet. Finally, Elon Musk’s courtroom dramas continue, spilling from OpenAI’s not-profit status into SpaceX and compounding. OpenAI’s president Greg Brockman revealed in court that Musk sought full control of the AI endeavor, in part to raise $80B for a Martian colony. SpaceX is also now being sued by homeowners in Texas claiming damages to their homes from Starship launches, as the company prepares for its 12th Starship launch, next week.
Operation Epic Fury
Imagery shows Iran has hit far more U.S. military assets than reported (WP)
Saudi Arabis voices concerns over regional escalation, urges diplomacy (WSJ)
Trump pauses freedom of navigation mission in Strait of Hormuz (AP)
U.S. sinks six Iranian fast craft, shoots down missiles, drones, admiral says (RT)
Iran attacks Emirati oil facility in Fujairah (BBG)
News Headlines
Russia declares a truce in Ukraine to mark Victory Day; Kyiv says it’ll cease fire two days earlier (AP)
U.S. debt officially exceeds GDP for first time since Second World War (CBS)
Satellites
Launches
Upcoming Launches
Space News
Astronomer finds shortcut to Mars by following an asteroid’s journey through space (GZM)
James Webb Space Telescope directly studies an exoplanet’s surface for the first time (SP)
Astronomers detect an atmosphere on a trans-Neptunian object beyond Pluto (N)
U.S. Federal Space News
NASA outlined its lunar base plan, nuclear propulsion effort at Ignition event (SN)
Space Force selects firms to build counter-surveillance payloads for satellites (SN)
Space Force eyes operations ‘hub’ for expansive data transport constellation (ASF)
NRO taps EarthDaily, Iceye, Pixxel to expand commercial data pipeline (SN)
Space Force adds $4B to Andromeda contract for surveillance and recon satellites (ASF)
Commercial Space News
Brockman claimed Musk wanted $80B from OpenAI to colonize Mars (RT)
Blue Origin‘s lunar lander completes key test at NASA vacuum chamber (FUT)
SpaceX faces lawsuit claiming Starship damages homes (SN)
Explosion reported during SpaceX Starship water deluge system test (FUT)
SpaceX proposes $55B to begin Terafab project in Texas (BBG)
Two companies race to begin orbital debris removal in 2027 (SP)
Virgin Galactic reveals new ship but company’s burn-rate may not allow prolonged test phase (AT)
Foreign Space News
Ukrainian forces test direct-to-device satellite imagery for frontline troops (SN)
Russia claims Ukraine is attacking its cosmodrome (AT)
Russia successfully test launches new Soyuz-5 rocket from Kazakhstan (RT)
Indian company Reliance plans response to Starlink (ET)
Space-fermented sake by Japanese brewer Dassai sells for $700,000 (KT)
Korea AeroSpace Administration chief meets with U.S. space firms as it seeks to expand cooperation in satellite development, launch, and control (KH)
Electromagnetic Warfare
U.S. Army breaks ground on major electromagnetic test center in Alabama (TDP)
Army requests funds to speed development, production of EW systems (BD)
Human-hair-thin shielding material blocks both electromagnetic waves and radiation (ETM)
UL Solutions begins construction of new electromagnetic and wireless test lab in Germany (BW)
Deal Flow
VC
Astranis raised a $300M Series E led by Snowpoint Ventures and Franklin Templeton at a $2.8B valuation; the company also secured a $155M credit facility from Trinity Capital (BW)
Starcloud seeks more orbital data center funding at $2.2B valuation (SN)
Finnish space startup Iceye in talks to raise $293M (BBG)
LiveEo raised a $33M Series C adding Helantic, b2venture, and the European Innovation Council to its captable to scale its software for turning satellite imagery into risk intelligence (TFN)
Scout Space raised an $18M Series A led by Washington Harbour Partners to expand orbital tracking technology (SN)
U.K. startup BioOrbit raised a $13.2M seed round led by LocalGlobal and Breega to manufacture cancer therapies in space (PU)
PE / M&A / Exits / Other
Hanwha Aerospace to buy $340M more in KAI shares (UPI)
York Space Systems to acquire ALL.SPACE, to strengthen its multi-domain communications offerings (BW)
Opportunities
The Air Force wants to buy MUOS satellite emulators to use in a test lab (SAM)
The Air Force needs electromagnetic pulse (EMP) test services for its Minuteman III ICBM program (SAM)
SOCOM is looking for candidates to demonstrate during its technical experimentation for maritime operations in contested electromagnetic spectrum environments (SAM)
Editor’s Picks
EMS 2025 explains ‘Barney-style’ the process by which a radio creates and transmits a signal, a critical part of electromagnetic spectrum operations and electronic attack.
CSIS Aerospace Security Project director Kari Bingen hosted former Office of Space Commerce director Kevin O’Connell and former National Space Council director of international space policy Sean Wilson to explore the future of U.S.-Japan space cooperation.
Lighter Side
Keep Building,
BOF