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  • Breaking Space News: August 4 - 10, 2024

Breaking Space News: August 4 - 10, 2024

Discover Asteroids with Hidden Moons, Exoplanet Habitability, AI Models to Track Planet-Eating Stars, and Gene Editing for Interstellar Travel. Plus, US Military’s Space Presence, the Challenges of Megaconstellations in LEO and much more.

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Lagrangian Despatch
August 11, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 25 minutes

Dear Lagrangian,

Welcome back!
We’re covering a lot this week, so for a better reading experience, consider heading over here.

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RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

 

X-ray Emissions from Nearby Stars: Chandra and XMM-Newton Offer New Insights on Exoplanet Habitability

Astronomers are leveraging NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and ESA’s XMM-Newton to assess the habitability of exoplanets by examining the radiation emitted from nearby stars. High levels of X-rays and ultraviolet light can damage or strip away a planet’s atmosphere, reducing its potential to support life. Researchers have studied 57 nearby stars, some of them with known planets, analyzing their X-ray emissions to identify those with conditions similar to or milder than Earth’s. This research aims to guide future observations with next-generation telescopes, such as the Habitable Worlds Observatory, to capture the first images of Earth-like planets. The findings were presented at the 244th meeting of the American Astronomical Society.

This graphic depicts a 3D map of nearby stars, potential targets for future planet imaging. Blue haloes indicate stars observed by NASA’s Chandra and ESA’s XMM-Newton. The yellow star at the center represents the Sun, with concentric rings marking distances of 5, 10, and 15 parsecs (1 parsec ≈ 3.2 light-years). (Credit: NASA/Chandra)

When a planet passes directly between a star and its observer, it dims the star's light by a measurable amount. This animation shows a single planet and the corresponding light curve. This is a method used to identify exoplanets in distant stars. (Credit: NASA)

Gaia Telescope Uncovers Hidden Moons Around Hundreds of Asteroids offering New Insights and Planetary Defense Implications

ESA’s Gaia mission has identified moons orbiting over 350 asteroids, nearly doubling the known binary asteroid systems. This showcases Gaia’s precision in tracking asteroids, conducting “blind searches” for new asteroid-moon partnerships and detecting the “wobble” caused by orbiting companions. Led by Luana Liberato from Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur, the study suggests many more asteroid moons could be discovered. Gaia’s data release 3 has already detailed the positions and motions of over 150,000 asteroids, with future releases expected to offer even more information.

[2] utilizes DR3 data to show the 156 823 asteroid orbits. The wider blue and yellow circles in the frame show planetary orbits, while the myriad colorful inner swirls are asteroids. The central region all lies within the orbit of Jupiter (blue circle). [3] shows the orbits of over 150,000 asteroids from Gaia’s data release 3, color-coded by region. The yellow circle represents the Sun. Blue indicates the inner Solar System, green marks the Main Belt between Mars and Jupiter, and red represents Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids. (Credit: ESA/Gaia/DPAC)

This breakthrough is significant because binary asteroids offer unique insights into the Solar System's formation and evolution. Missions like NASA’s DART, which demonstrated asteroid deflection, use such observations to improve planetary defense. The research was published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.

Astronomers Use AI to Discover Planet-Devouring Stars in the Milky Way

Astronomers have discovered hundreds of “polluted” white dwarf stars in the Milky Way, actively consuming planets in their orbit. These stars, identified by the presence of heavy metals (the pollutants) in their atmospheres, offer a unique opportunity to study the interiors of demolished planets. Historically, finding these stars required manually reviewing vast amounts of survey data, but a new AI technique called manifold learning has significantly accelerated the process, achieving a 99% success rate. This breakthrough, led by University of Texas at Austin graduate student Malia Kao, leverages data from the Gaia space telescope.

This illustration shows a white dwarf star siphoning off debris from shattered objects in a planetary system. The Hubble Space Telescope detects the spectral signature of the vaporized debris that revealed a combination of rocky-metallic and icy material, the ingredients of planets. (Credit: NASA, ESA, Joseph Olmsted (STScI))

A study in The Astrophysical Journal underscores the significance of polluted white dwarfs in understanding planetary composition beyond our solar system. By examining heavy metals on these stars' surfaces, astronomers gain insights into distant planets' materials. This research advances planetary system knowledge and showcases AI's potential in astronomical discoveries.

The Role of Lightning in Earth’s Primordial Soup: Harvard Study Links Lightning to Origin of Life

Recent research suggests that cloud-to-ground lightning strikes on early Earth may have played a crucial role in the origin of life. Harvard scientists demonstrated that these lightning strikes could generate high concentrations of reactive molecules, providing essential building blocks for life. This theory aligns with the Urey-Miller experiment from 1953, which showed that electrical discharges could produce amino acids in a primordial atmosphere. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, highlights the potential of lightning to create diverse feedstocks for early life, offering new insights into the conditions that may have sparked life on our planet.

SPACE SCIENCE

 

CRISPR and Space: How Gene Editing Could Enable Interplanetary Settlements

To settle on other planets, genome editing may be essential to help humans withstand harsh space environments. Scientists suggest using techniques like CRISPR-Cas9 to insert genes from resilient organisms, such as tardigrades, into humans to combat radiation and other space hazards.

Tardigrades, or water bears, were flown to ISS in 2021 for a study seeking to identify the genes involved in its adaptation and survival in high stress environments. (Credits: Thomas Boothby, University of Wyoming)

This approach could also enhance crops to resist radioactivity and personalize medicine based on genetic makeup. The concept, supported by eminent thinkers like Lord Martin Rees, highlights the potential of gene editing to enable human survival and exploration beyond Earth. Read more about this story here.

NASRDA and Proforce Partnership to Enhance Nigeria’s Space Infrastructure

Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has announced a strategic partnership with Proforce, a Nigeria-based defence manufacturing company, to develop a satellite constellation for Nigeria. This collaboration aims to build NigeriaSAT 3, 4, 5, and a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite, significantly enhancing national capabilities in agriculture, defense, and technology.

Dr. Matthew Adepoju, Director-General of NASRDA, highlighted the transformative potential of satellites in precision agriculture, defense, maritime, and the oil and gas sector, enhancing food security and production. This partnership is expected foster local and international collaborations to advance space science in Nigeria and boost the economy through capacity building and job creation in the aerospace industry.

Signs of Life on Venus Revisited: Phosphine and Ammonia Detected in Atmosphere

Recent studies have reignited the debate over the possibility of life on Venus with the detection of phosphine and ammonia in its atmosphere. On July 17, 2024, two research teams reported the re-detection of phosphine and the tentative discovery of ammonia, both of which are produced by living microorganisms on Earth. These findings were presented at the National Astronomy Meeting in Hull, UK, and were obtained using the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) in Hawaii and the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia.

Venus as imaged by Magellan Spacecraft. (Credit: NASA)

The presence of these gases in Venus’s clouds suggests that if life exists, it would be found high above the planet’s surface, where conditions are more temperate. However, the origin of these gases remains uncertain, with some scientists proposing unknown chemical processes as potential sources. The discovery has sparked renewed interest in Venus, highlighting the need for further research to understand the planet’s atmospheric chemistry and the potential for life.

SPACE GOVERNANCE

 

China’s recent launch of the Long March 6A rocket marked the beginning of the Qianfan broadband megaconstellation, intended to rival SpaceX’s Starlink. The rocket successfully deployed 18 satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO), but its upper stage broke apart shortly after, creating over 300 pieces of trackable debris. The Qianfan constellation, also known as “Thousand Sails,” aims to eventually host up to 14,000 satellites to provide global internet access. However, the environmental impact of these megaconstellations is substantial.

The ESA Space Environment Report 2024, released last month, has highlighted that current space debris mitigation is inadequate, leading to unsustainable debris growth. Slingshot Aerospace, a California, US-based, space domain awareness company has echoed that if future launches generate similar debris, it could lead to a devastating increase in space debris. These events highlight the need for strict space debris mitigation guidelines and robust space domain awareness to detect, track, and catalog new objects. Without stricter measures, space exploration could become hazardous and unsustainable, risking other spacecraft in LEO.

Meanwhile, a new WasteX report highlights the significant environmental risks posed by the rapid increase in satellite launches for internet megaconstellations. The number of satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) has surged by 127 times in five years, driven primarily by companies like SpaceX. Projections estimate an additional 58,000 satellites by 2030, with some proposals suggesting up to 500,000 satellites to create new megaconstellations. This unprecedented growth raises concerns about space debris and pollution.

At peak, 29000 kgs or 29 tons of satellites are expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere daily, equivalent to an SUV entering the skies every hour. The rocket launches required to maintain these megaconstellations will release soot into the atmosphere, comparable to 7 million diesel dump trucks circling the globe annually. Despite these potential harms, the US federal government has not conducted comprehensive environmental reviews to understand the full impact.

The report calls for better safeguards, including pausing new low earth orbit internet satellite launches until the US Federal Communications Commission conducts environmental reviews for mega-constellations, stricter regulations on satellite re-entry, and enhanced international cooperation to manage space debris. Historically, the space industry has not faced stringent environmental regulations due to the low frequency of launches by non-commercial players. However, with the new space race in full swing, these assumptions no longer hold, and the environmental consequences of satellite megaconstellations must be addressed to ensure sustainable space exploration.

Lockheed Martin’s 2044 Lunar Blueprint: Paving the Way to Mars

Lockheed Martin’s vision for lunar exploration, detailed in their recent novella and white paper, outlines a sustainable, water-based lunar architecture aimed at establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon by 2044. The plan leverages the Moon’s water-ice for essential resources such as water, air, radiation shielding, and rocket propellants, reducing dependency on Earth and making space exploration more cost-effective.

An artist’s rendition of a Lunar outpost. (Lockheed Martin

The envisioned infrastructure includes the Artemis Base Camp at the lunar south pole, equipped with landing pads, refueling stations, habitats, and resource facilities. The use of nuclear technologies for power and propulsion is emphasized, along with a collaborative effort between space agencies and private companies to build a robust lunar economy. This architecture is seen as a critical step towards enabling Mars exploration and returning valuable resources to Earth. Read more about Lockheed Martin’s Vision here.

Amid US FAA’s Private Spaceflight Forecast, SpaceX Crew-9, Polaris Dawn, and Starliner Plan Upcoming Missions

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) forecasts a significant rise in private space launches, predicting up to 338 U.S. commercial launches annually by 2028. This surge is driven by the increasing demand for reusable vehicles, commercial satellite services, and human spaceflight missions. The FAA emphasizes the importance of safety and regulatory measures to support this growth, ensuring public safety and compliance with national security concerns. One such measure is implementing the licensing rule known as Part 450 - a performance-based system with multiple flexibilities.

In line with these projections, several notable missions are being scheduled. SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, set to launch on September 24, will mark a historic milestone as the U.S. Space Force launches its first active servicemember from its own launch complex. Additionally, SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission, targeting an August 26 launch, will feature the first-ever private spacewalk. This mission will take four nonprofessional astronauts to Earth orbit, further demonstrating the capabilities of private spaceflight.

Meanwhile, Boeing’s Starliner program faces challenges, with NASA considering alternative options, such as SpaceX Dragon, for returning astronauts from the International Space Station due to thruster issues.

SpaceX’s new direct-to-cell Starlink satellites, designed to connect directly to smartphones, are significantly brighter than their predecessors, raising concerns among astronomers. Recent research indicates that these satellites shine nearly five times brighter in the sky compared to traditional Starlinks. This increased luminosity is partly due to their lower orbit, at just 217 miles (350 kilometers) above Earth, compared to the 340 miles (550 kilometers) altitude of regular Starlink satellites.

SpaceX satellites crossing the sky as seen by the Global Meteor Network from Farra Observatory, Italy. Stars trail in the back from the lower left to the upper right. (Credit: Global Meteor Network)

The higher brightness of these satellites poses a potential threat to astronomical observations, as their trails can interfere with telescope images. SpaceX has acknowledged the issue and plans to work with astronomers to assess the impact and implement hardware adjustments to mitigate the brightness. Despite these challenges, SpaceX continues to expand its constellation, aiming to provide global connectivity through its direct-to-cell technology. Read the complete space.com story here.

MILITARY IN SPACE

 

U.S. Military’s Comprehensive Space Ambitions: $6 Billion Missile Defense System, Army’s Space Warfare Strategy, and New Career Field for Enlisted Soldiers

The U.S. Space Force has initiated the second phase of its missile defense satellite program, known as Missile Track Custody Epoch 2. This phase involves a “request for prototype proposals” for satellites to be deployed in medium Earth orbit (MEO). The program aims to enhance missile tracking capabilities, building on the foundation laid by Epoch 1, the first version of the MEO missile warning and tracking constellation being built by Millennium Space Systems, which is set to launch between late 2026 and early 2027. The Space Force projects a budget of approximately $6 billion over the 2025-2029 period for the development and procurement of up to 18 satellites.

Credit: Space Systems Command

Simultaneously, the U.S. Army is preparing for space-based warfare by learning from the Ukraine conflict, focusing on integrating space capabilities into ground operations and disrupting adversary space systems. This strategy aims to maintain access to vital satellite services while denying similar capabilities to adversaries.

To support these efforts and in keeping with broader strategic goals to maintain and advance technological superiority in space, the Army is considering the creation of a dedicated space career field for enlisted soldiers. This initiative, backed by the Space and Missile Defense Command, seeks to expand the pool of space experts and better equip land forces for modern warfare. The proposed Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) would allow soldiers to specialize in space operations throughout their careers, enhancing the Army’s overall space capabilities.

Spanish Defense Giant Indra Expands Space Portfolio with Deimos Acquisition

Indra, a major Spanish defense contractor, announced plans on August 7 to acquire Deimos, a European small satellite mission specialist owned by Elecnor. Deimos, with over 500 employees, offers satellite integration and ground segment technologies. Financial details were not disclosed, but the deal is expected to close by year-end, pending regulatory approvals.

This acquisition is part of Indra’s strategy to strengthen its newly created space business, Space NewCo, which aims to generate over one billion euros in revenue by the end of the decade. Indra’s shareholders approved the spin-off of space assets in June, and the company has also invested in other space ventures, including Sateliot - Spanish LEO satellite operator, and Startical - Spain’s proposed air traffic surveillance and communications constellation. Indra’s move underscores its commitment to becoming a major player in domestic, European, and international space programs.

SPACE COMMERCE

 

Funding, Contracts, and Growth: Dcubed’s $4.8M Fueled Expansion, BAE’s $48M USAF Contract, and Viasat’s Market Success

In recent developments within the space sector, German startup Dcubed has secured €4.4 million ($4.8 million) in Series A funding to expand its in-space manufacturing capabilities. The investment will facilitate production expansion, in-space manufacturing demonstrations, and the opening of a U.S. office. Dcubed plans to launch multiple missions in collaboration with SpaceX and Exotrail to showcase its innovative technologies.

Meanwhile, US defense contractor, BAE Systems has been awarded a $48 million contract by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to enhance its data analytics platform, Insight, which was initially managed by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). This platform integrates data from various sources, including satellites and drones, to provide actionable intelligence for military operations. The contract aims to improve the system’s capabilities, leveraging machine learning and automation.

Additionally, the California, US-based geostationary fleet operator, Viasat’s shares surged by 38% following a positive revenue outlook driven by growth in government and aviation broadband sectors. The company reported a 6% year-on-year revenue increase, bolstered by strong performance in its Defense and Advanced Technologies business unit.

Impulse Space Unveils Cost-Effective GEO Rideshare Service

Impulse Space, a California, US-based, in-space, orbital transportation provider, has announced a new GEO rideshare program, leveraging its Helios tug and an upgraded version of its Mira vehicle. The program, unveiled at the Small Satellite Conference, aims to provide cost-effective and timely access to geostationary orbit (GEO) for small satellites. The first mission is scheduled for 2027, utilizing the Helios vehicle on a dedicated launch.

Helios, a high-energy kick stage powered by liquid oxygen and methane propellants, can transport satellites weighing up to 5,000 kilograms from low Earth orbit (LEO) to GEO within a day. The rideshare program will support multiple payload ports, each capable of hosting at least 300 kilograms. Exolaunch, the German launch services provider, will market payload opportunities and provide deployment systems.

Impulse Space will collaborate with Exolaunch to provide GEO rideshare missions using its Helios tug. (Credit: Impulse Space)

Impulse Space’s initiative marks a significant milestone in the satellite industry, offering a transformative solution for accessing high-energy orbits. The upgraded Mira vehicle will further enhance the program’s capabilities, providing reliable and rapid deployment of small satellites. Read more about this on SpaceNews.

Safran’s U.S. Thruster Production and PLD Space’s French Guiana Launch Facilities

France based, Safran Electronics & Defense has announced plans to establish a new production line for satellite electric propulsion systems in the United States. The facility, set to open in Colorado, US, will produce EPS X00 electric thrusters for smaller spacecraft in low Earth orbit (LEO). This move aims to serve both U.S. government and commercial customers, with the first systems expected to be ready by early 2026. The new production line will mirror an existing one in France, ensuring identical thrusters with components sourced locally for each market.

A Safran EPS X00 electric thruster. (Credit: Safran)

Meanwhile, Spanish company PLD Space is preparing to build launch facilities for its Miura 5 rocket at the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana. Construction is slated to begin in October, with the goal of becoming the first non-institutional launcher to reach orbit from the base next year. This initiative is part of PLD Space’s broader strategy to expand its launch capabilities and support the growing demand for small satellite launches.

Both initiatives emphasize international collaboration and investment in the space sector. Safran’s U.S. market expansion and PLD Space’s development in French Guiana highlight the global industry's focus on small satellite technology, aiming to enhance capabilities and offer cost-effective satellite deployment and propulsion solutions.

Virgin Galactic Unveils Financial Prospects of Delta-Class Spaceplanes, Projects $990M in Revenues

Virgin Galactic has been proactively highlighting the profitability potential of its upcoming Delta-class suborbital spaceplanes. In an August 7 earnings call, CEO Michael Colglazier and CFO Doug Ahrens shared financial projections for these vehicles, expected to start commercial operations in 2026. Assembly at a new Phoenix facility is set to begin in early 2025.

Credit: Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic projects that each Delta-class vehicle will carry six customers per flight, with an average ticket price of $600,000. The company expects to conduct approximately 125 spaceflights per year, generating $450 million in annual revenue. With an expanded fleet, including four spaceships and two motherships, the company estimates it can perform 275 flights annually, resulting in $990 million in revenue. These projections highlight the significant profit potential and the transformative impact of the Delta-class vehicles on Virgin Galactic’s business model. Read more about this story on SpaceNews.

 

Despatch Out. 👽🛸