Top, eccentric space dude busted as fraudster--at least in gaming
Space Technologies
Good morning,
We are now nearly 48 hours into President Trump’s second administration. It’s going to be an interesting few years, for sure.
The president seems poised to disband the National Space Council, after SpaceX lobbying. Now, this is an interesting move as President Trump reestablished the council in 2017, after a 24 year hiatus. The council had responsibility in policy formulation and sought to pull together representatives of commercial, governmental, and military space communities, chaired by the Vice President.
We are agnostic as to what organization achieves that aim, but the effort is what matters. Ensuring stakeholders are each represented in policy is critical to ensuring the long term success and viability of our efforts in space. Having said that, then it becomes logical that the function can easily pass from the National Space Council to another entity (of which there are several with very similar composition inside the White House, already).
Space remains a critical component of our economic future and national security.
Let’s blast off into the news around Space Technology!
News Headlines:
Senate panel advances Hegseth's SecDef bid in a vote along party lines (NYT)
Acting chiefs named for national security agencies (DO)
Acting FBI chief says 'no thanks', unexpectedly retires while Trump's pick awaits confirmation (CBS)
Space Force officer who was fired from command tapped to be Undersecretary of the Air Force (TP)
President Trump grants clemency to all 1,500 Jan 6 criminals and defendants (AX)
Musk outed as fraudster—at least in video games (FUT)
Roman salute or ‘awkward gesture’: Doesn’t matter as right-wing extremists claim Musk as their own (AP)
Trumps launch pair of meme-coins just before inauguration in apparent cash grab, sours mood in crypto-land (AP)
Satellites:
Launches:
Upcoming Launches:
Space News:
Trump's Air Force picks show clear and growing importance of Space to military (DN)
Trump's second term: the space priorities and players (SN)
Musk convinces Trump to axe the National Space Council (RT)
Second Trump administration begins with confusion on acting NASA leadership (SN)
SpaceX loses spacecraft after catching rocket booster at the launch pad in latest Starship test (AP)
FAA investigating Starship debris reports (SN)
Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket debuts (DN)
Defense spending propels space budgets to new heights (SN)
K2 Space joins ExLabs in planning larger satellite buses to push beyond LEO (DO)
Voyager Space rebrands to expand focus on national security (SN)
Sierra Space satellite passes milestone in Space Force program (SN)
Finland is latest country to join the Artemis Accords (SN)
Foreign Space News
China plans to rule the heavens (DO)
India executes first space docking, key for future missions (RT)
Deal Flow:
VC
Stoke space raised a $260M Series C round from new and existing investors including Point72, Industrious Ventures, Seven Seven Six, and others to advance development of a fully reusable medium-lift launch vehicle and launch site (SN)
PE / M&A / Other
Redwire announces $925M acquisition of Edge Autonomy, creating a multi-domain, scaled and profitable space and defense tech company (BW))
Opportunities
The Air Force Research Lab is soliciting help in developing space technology under the Space Systems and Hardware Integration for Novel Experiments or SSHINE program (SAM)
Space Systems Command is looking for technical assistance as they attempt to help Sweden develop a space launch system and commercial spaceport (SAM)
SpaceCom is next week on the 29th and 30th in Orlando. This is one of the largest conventions / expos in the field (SC)
Editor’s Picks
Former NSA Space Policy Director Audrey Schaffer outlines the importance of organizing the White House to maintain U.S. space leadership.
Former NASA Deputy Technologist David Steitz suggests transforming the Technology Directorate will be necessary for commercial dominance in space.
Soraya Lennie explores the Anti-Defamation League’s voiced support of Musk, in light of his ‘awkward gesture’.
Lighter Side:
Keep Building,
BOF