Issue 30 | Breaking Space News: Dec 22 - 28, 2024

Explorer, welcome back!🚀

Thanks for joining us this week!

Holiday season is upon us and today is also the 30th issue of the Lagrangian newsletter. Which means that we’ve been around for ~6 months. Thank you so much for your incredible support and enthusiasm. 🚀🧑🏽‍🚀🎉

Meanwhile, we have some nice images of Martian South Pole and a lot happened in Commercial space. As always, don’t forget to go here for the best reading experience/in case your newsletter gets clipped at the bottom.

Enjoy this Space and see you Next Year!

• IMAGES

  • Martian South Pole

  • Dunes in Mars' Northern Hemisphere

• SCIENCE

  • NASA's Parker Solar Probe Completes Record-Breaking Sun Flyby

  • Djibouti Successfully Launches Second Nanosatellite Djibouti-1B

• GOVERNANCE

  • UK Funds Development of In-Orbit Servicing Regulations

  • Algeria and South Africa Sign MoU to Boost Space Cooperation

• MILITARY

  • True Anomaly Deploys Jackal Satellite for US Military Operations

  • ULA Proposes to Upgrade Vulcan Centaur to a Space Defense Interceptor

• COMMERCIAL

  • Spacecoin Launches First Satellite for Decentralized Connectivity

  • China Suffers Lijian-1 Rocket Malfunction Amid Record Launch Year

  • LandSpace Secures State Funding to Boost Reusable Rocket Development

  • ICEYE Secures Funding to Advance SAR Satellite and Surveillance Platform

  • Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Passes Pre-Launch Engine Test

  • Starlink Adjusts Pricing Structure in Nigeria After Regulatory Reset

• SPOTLIGHT

  • A Fraction of Earth's Hydrogen Deposits Could Sustain Us for 200 Years

  • Astronomers Accidentally Find A New Class of Cosmic Explosions

  • New Theory Suggests Resolution for Black Hole Information Paradox

  • New Theory Explains Free-Floating JuMBOs in the Orion Nebula

IMAGES

Martian South Pole : ESA’s Mars Express, High Resolution Stereo Camera

Dunes in Mars' Northern Hemisphere : NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) Camera

SCIENCE

At 0.064% Light Speed, NASA's Parker Solar Probe Completes Record-Breaking Sun Flyby

NASA's Parker Solar Probe has successfully completed its historic close flyby of the sun, coming within 3.8 million miles of the solar surface on Christmas Eve. This marks the closest approach to the sun by any human-made object, with the spacecraft traveling at an unprecedented speed of 430,000 mph or 692,017.92 kmph (120 miles/s or 192 km/s), setting a record as the fastest object ever built by humanity. After several days of silence, mission control at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory received a beacon tone from the probe on December 26, confirming it survived the encounter and is in good health.

Scientists eagerly await a more detailed status update scheduled for New Year's Day, which will reveal whether the probe collected the expected observations. The mission aims to study the sun's outer atmosphere and understand why its corona is hotter than its surface. The Parker Solar Probe's success is a testament to the engineering behind its heat shield and autonomous systems, which protected it from temperatures reaching up to 1,800°F.

Djibouti Successfully Launches Second Nanosatellite Djibouti-1B

On December 21, 2024, Djibouti successfully launched its second nanosatellite, Djibouti-1B, from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Bandwagon-2 mission. Developed in collaboration with the Space Center of the University of Montpellier (France), Djibouti-1B aims to enhance climate monitoring capabilities under the Hydrosat initiative. The satellite will collect critical data to track water resource availability and assess drought-affected regions, aiding in informed decision-making on water management and climate change impacts.

Exolaunch, a global provider of launch services, integrated and deployed Djibouti-1B into orbit. This launch contributes to Africa's total of 62 satellite launches and 10 countries actively operating Earth Observation satellites.

GOVERNANCE

UK Funds Development of In-Orbit Servicing Regulations

The U.K. Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has allocated $869,000 to support a consortium of in-orbit servicing ventures for an initial “regulatory sandbox” project. The consortium includes the subsidiaries of Japan-based Astroscale, Switzerland-based ClearSpace, and the Italian D-Orbit. This funding aims to develop regulations for rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO), such as space junk removal and satellite refueling. The initial phase, running until March 2025, will produce a report with recommendations for licensing these activities. A second phase is expected to follow, focusing on creating a comprehensive regulatory framework in collaboration with the British government and independent regulators.

Algeria and South Africa Sign MoU to Boost Space Cooperation

The Algerian Space Agency (ASAL) and the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), on December 6, 2024, to advance cooperation in space science and technology. The agreement, signed in the presence of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune of Algeria and President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, focuses on fostering collaboration for peaceful purposes.

Key areas of collaboration include joint projects in space technologies and applications, the exchange of expertise and information, and leveraging space science for mutual growth and regional development. Additionally, the partnership aims to contribute to broader scientific innovation and the advancement of space technology in Africa.

MILITARY

True Anomaly Successfully Deploys Jackal Satellite for US Military Operations

True Anomaly, a defense technology startup, achieved a significant milestone with the successful deployment and communication with its Jackal satellite on December 21, 2024. Launched as part of SpaceX's Bandwagon-2 rideshare mission, Jackal is designed for military orbital operations and space domain awareness. This marks the company's third venture into space, following two earlier spacecraft launched in March 2024, which unfortunately lost communication shortly after deployment.

Evan Rogers, co-founder and CEO of True Anomaly, stressed the importance of maintaining uninterrupted satellite communication and control for operational integrity. Jackal is an autonomous orbital vehicle (AOV) designed to transform mission tactics into on-orbit support through advanced maneuvering and modular payload configurations. Its primary purpose is to enhance the U.S. military's ability to conduct rendezvous and proximity operations in space, providing critical information and support for space-based missions. The satellite's second mission serves as a testbed for upgraded hardware and software, incorporating lessons learned from the first launch. True Anomaly is gearing up for a more complex mission under the U.S. Space Force's Victus Haze program in 2025, aiming to demonstrate advanced capabilities in in-orbit rendezvous and proximity operations.

ULA Proposes to Upgrade Vulcan Centaur for Space Defense Interceptor Role

United Launch Alliance (ULA) is proposing an innovative upgrade to its Vulcan Centaur rocket, aiming to transform the Centaur upper stage into a space interceptor. This initiative, unveiled at the recent Spacepower Conference in Orlando, Florida, is designed to defend satellites from potential threats in space. ULA CEO Tory Bruno emphasized the need for a credible space defense, highlighting that current satellites lack the capability to maneuver quickly enough to counteract threats.

The proposed space interceptor would utilize powerful thrusters and an ample energy supply to swiftly neutralize potential satellite killers, preventing them from reaching their targets. Bruno described the interceptor as a "squadron of lightning-fast, long-range, lethal interceptors," likening it to "destroyers in orbit". This upgrade could significantly enhance ULA's competitive edge in the spaceflight industry, especially as the Space Force seeks to ensure its assets can operate in an increasingly congested and contested space environment

COMMERCIAL

Spacecoin Deploys Satellite to Test Decentralized Network Technology

Spacecoin, a company spun out from software firm Gluwa, has sucessfully launched its first satellite, CTC-0, on December 21, 2024, aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket as part of the Bandwagon-2 rideshare mission. This satellite aims to test technology for a decentralized space-based network, potentially providing universal internet access. The satellite is designed to initially demonstrate space-enabled text messaging to specialized handheld antennas, with the long-term goal of direct-to-smartphone connectivity. The company successfully established regular communication with the satellite shortly after launch.

By leveraging blockchain technology and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, Spacecoin aims to eliminate the need for expensive ground infrastructure and offer affordable, decentralized internet access in underserved regions. The company's founder, Tae Oh, emphasized the importance of this mission in bridging the digital divide and ensuring open access to the internet for all. The company expects to deploy a constellation of small satellites to achieve this goal, and CTC-0 is the first step in this ambitious plan. Spacecoin's vision also includes improving communication during natural disasters, and supporting emerging markets.

China Suffers Lijian-1 Rocket Malfunction Amid Record Number of Launch Year

On December 26, 2024, the Chinese commercial Lijian-1 (Kinetica-1) solid rocket experienced a failure, shortly after liftoff, reported CAS Space, the Chinese commercial space launch provider based in Guangzhou. The rocket initiated self-destruction following a malfunction in the third stage ignition. Despite this failure, China set a new record with 68 launches in 2024, surpassing the previous year's total of 67, reflecting its assertive expansion in space activities. A solid rocket, also known as a solid-fuel rocket, uses solid propellants for propulsion and is known for its simplicity and reliability.

Although carrying an undisclosed number of satellites, some notable payloads included CASAA-Sat from the Marseille Astrophysics Laboratory (LAM), a cubesat supported by CNES, the French space agency, to study the South Atlantic Magnetic Anomaly, and DEAR-3 (B300-L01), a 300-kilogram cargo spacecraft from AZSpace, a Chinese commercial space firm.

This rapid growth is driven by China's ambitions to establish new megaconstellations and offer competition in the global satellite launch market. CAS Space, a key player in China's commercial space sector, has announced plans to move forward with the development and launch of its next vehicle, the kerosene-liquid oxygen Lijian-2 rocket, in 2025. Additionally, the government’s support for the industry has been pivotal in fostering innovation and advancing China's capabilities in space technology. Read more on the story at SpaceNews.

LandSpace Secures Chinese Government Funding to Advance Reusable Rocket Development

LandSpace, a China-based private launch startup, has secured 900 million yuan ($123 million) in state-backed funding to advance its development of reusable rockets. This funding is part of a broader initiative to boost China's capabilities in the commercial space sector and reduce reliance on foreign technology. LandSpace plans to use the funds to enhance its Zhuque-3 rocket, which has already demonstrated successful vertical take-off and landing tests. The funding aims to propel China into a competitive position within the global space industry by enabling high-capacity, low-cost, and high-frequency space launches.

The Zhuque-3 rocket is designed to be a methane (CH4)-liquid oxygen (LOX) launch vehicle, promising increased efficiency and reusability, designed for at least 20 reuses. For comparison, SpaceX's rockets use LOX-rocket-grade kerosene (RP-1) for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, and LOX-CH4 for Starship, with reusability of 10+ times for Falcon 9 boosters and both stages of Starship.

ICEYE Secures $65 Million Funding Boost for SAR Satellite Constellation and Surveillance Platform Growth

ICEYE, the Helsinki-based satellite imaging company, has raised an additional $65 million, bringing its total funding for 2024 to $158 million and $503 million to date. The Series E funding round was led by Finnish sovereign wealth fund Solidium Oy, with participation from BlackRock, Seraphim, Plio Limited, and Christo Georgiev. The new funding, a mix of debt and equity, will support the continued expansion of ICEYE’s synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation, as well as its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platform and related systems.

This investment aims to enhance ICEYE's capabilities to meet the growing global demand for space-based technology in defense and ISR markets. The company builds and operates a constellation of SAR satellites, providing imagery at resolutions as sharp as 25 centimeters for a variety of civil and defense applications. ICEYE also sells dedicated satellites for customers, primarily governments. The funding announcement came just before the launch of two new ICEYE satellites on SpaceX’s Bandwagon-2 rideshare mission on December 21. The two satellites will operate in mid-inclination orbits, providing improved revisit times for mid-latitude regions.

Blue Origin Completes New Glenn Rocket Test Following FAA Launch License, Ahead of First Launch

Blue Origin has successfully completed a major pre-launch test of its New Glenn rocket, firing all seven of its first-stage BE-4 engines for 24 seconds at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This milestone comes just after receiving a five-year launch license from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The first launch, which hasn't been officially scheduled yet, will carry Blue Origin's Blue Ring Pathfinder spacecraft and is expected to take place soon. The New Glenn rocket, designed to generate 3.8 million pounds of thrust, aims to compete in the orbital payload market and support missions for NASA, as well as Amazon's 3,000+ global broadband satellite constellation project, Kuiper.

Starlink Implements New Pricing for Nigerian Market Post-Regulatory Review

Starlink has announced a revised pricing structure for its satellite internet services in Nigeria, following a regulatory reset by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The new pricing, effective immediately for new customers and starting January 27, 2025, for existing users, includes a significant increase in subscription fees.

The standard residential plan now costs NGN 75,000 (USD 48.6) per month, up from NGN 38,000 (USD 24.6). The mobile regional plan (Roam Unlimited) has risen to NGN 167,000 (USD 108.3) per month, and the mobile global roaming service is now priced at NGN 717,000 (USD 464.8) per month. Starlink attributes these changes to inflation and the need to enhance network infrastructure. The NCC had previously challenged Starlink's earlier attempt to adjust tariffs in October 2024, citing unauthorized price modifications. This latest adjustment follows proper regulatory channels and aims to address long-standing tariff disputes in Nigeria's telecommunications sector.

SPOTLIGHT

Earth May be Hiding Massive Hydrogen Reserves, with a Fraction Capable of Powering the Planet for 200 Years, Study Reveals

Recent research has unveiled that trillions of tons of hydrogen gas are likely buried beneath Earth's surface. Scientists estimate that just a fraction of this hydrogen could power the planet for 200 years, potentially replacing fossil fuels. The study, published in Science Advances, suggests Earth holds around 6.2 trillion tons of hydrogen in rocks and underground reservoirs. Although much of this hydrogen is too deep or offshore to access economically, even a small fraction could meet global energy needs for centuries. This discovery could revolutionize clean energy, but significant challenges remain in locating and extracting these reserves.

Astronomers Unexpectedly Discover Millinovae - A New Class of Cosmic Explosions

Astronomers have recently discovered a new class of cosmic explosions called millinovae, which are 100 times brighter than the sun. This unexpected find emerged while searching 20 years' worth of Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE) data for gravitational microlensing events indicating primordial black holes in the Milky Way's dark matter halo—a spherical region extending beyond the visible galaxy, predominantly composed of dark matter and influencing the galaxy's gravitational field. Using X-ray observations, the team identified 28 millinovas in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), which are neighboring dwarf galaxies of the Milky Way. These explosions are caused by interactions between white dwarfs and their swollen companion stars.

The team detected soft X-rays, theorizing that they were produced by gas heated to over 1 million degrees Fahrenheit (600,000 degrees Celsius), making it 100 times hotter than the sun's surface and 100 times brighter if observed from our solar system. This temperature is three times hotter than WR 102, the hottest known star in the universe. The findings, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, suggest that millinovae could be precursors to Type Ia supernovae, potentially aiding in predicting these cosmic events. Type Ia supernovae are crucial for producing heavy elements and serve as standard candles in measuring cosmic distances.

Primordial black holes (PBHs) are hypothetical black holes that are thought to have formed in the very early universe, shortly after the Big Bang. Unlike black holes that form from the collapse of stars, PBHs could have originated from extremely dense regions of space that collapsed under their own gravity. These black holes are called "primordial" because they would have formed before stars and galaxies came into existence.

Caltech Scientists Propose Novel Solution - Introduce Non-violent Nonlocality, to Black Hole Information Paradox

Researchers at Caltech have proposed a potential solution to the black hole information paradox, a longstanding puzzle in astrophysics first identified by Stephen Hawking. Their theory, known as non-violent nonlocality, suggests that quantum correlations in spacetime could preserve information that falls into black holes.

The black hole information paradox arises from the conflict between general relativity and quantum mechanics. According to general relativity, nothing can escape a black hole's event horizon, but quantum mechanics suggests information cannot be destroyed. Hawking's discovery that black holes emit radiation (Hawking radiation) complicates this, as the radiation doesn't carry information, leading to the paradox: where does the information go when the black hole evaporates? In this context, "information" refers to the detailed properties and data about the particles and quantum states that fall into a black hole, which according to quantum mechanics, should be conserved and not lost.

Non-violent nonlocality proposes that quantum information is transferred via nonlocal interactions, generating metric perturbations around black holes. These perturbations would leave unique signatures in gravitational waves, which could be detected by advanced detectors. This theory, if validated, would not only resolve the paradox but also provide new insights into the nature of spacetime and quantum mechanics.

In the context of quantum mechanics, "non-local" refers to interactions or correlations between particles that are not confined to a specific location in space or time. Essentially, it means that changes to one particle can instantaneously affect another particle, regardless of the distance between them. Here, "non-violent" means that the transfer of quantum information occurs without causing any disruptive or destructive effects typically associated with interactions in or near black holes. Essentially, it proposes a more gentle and stable method of information preservation. The preprint paper is yet to be peer-reviewed.

New Theory Explains Free-Floating Jupiter-Sized Binary Objects in the Orion Nebula

Scientists have recently proposed a theory to explain the mysterious JuMBOs (Jupiter-mass Binary Objects), discovered in October 2023 using the James Webb Space Telescope in the Orion Nebula. These free-floating planetary mass objects, found in 42 pairs, are not associated with any star and exist in binary pairs, challenging traditional planet and star formation theories. The new theory suggests that JuMBOs are actually stellar cores that have been violently stripped of their outer layers by high-energy radiation from massive stars, a process known as photo erosion. This radiation compresses the remaining core material, forming low-mass objects that resemble brown dwarfs. This explanation could revolutionize our understanding of planetary dynamics and the diversity of celestial bodies in the universe. The research was published in the Astrophysical Journal.

Happy Holidays! Despatch Out. 👽🛸