Issue 31 | Breaking Space News: Dec 29 - Jan 04, 2025

Explorer, welcome back!🚀

Happy New Year and thanks for joining us this week!

The new year is already abuzz with activity in the commercial space sector, but it is also a time for reflection, whether its considering the record number of orbital launches OR how we have managed our climate thresholds. Spoiler alert: we didn't fare well.

As always, don’t forget to go here for the best reading experience/in case your newsletter gets clipped at the bottom.

Hope this space brings you some good insight!

• SCIENCE

  • NASA's Parker Solar Probe Reports Healthy Status A …

  • ISRO Launches Mission to Test Autonomous Docking Tech in Orbit

  • Earth's Hottest Year: 2024 Surpasses Climate Thresholds

  • Unsettling Video Shows Greenland Ice Sheet Melting

• GOVERNANCE

  • Leadership Transition at China National Space Administration

  • Kenya Investigates Space Debris Incident

• MILITARY

  • Defining Roles in U.S. National Security Space Enterprise

  • Vandenberg's SpaceX Launches Under Environmental Review

• COMMERCIAL

  • US FCC Allocates Additional Spectrum for Commercial Space Launches

  • China to Debut New Rockets and Commercial Launch Vehicles in 2025

  • ISRO’s Plans in 2025: 10 Launches and Major Space Missions

  • Eutelsat Resolves Leap Year Glitch After OneWeb Two Day Outage

  • Chinese Satellite Manufacturer Secures $137 Million in Series A+

  • Milestone in Satellite Communications with Astranis MicroGEO Launch

  • UAE's Thuraya 4 Satellite Deployed on SpaceX's First 2025 Mission

• SPOTLIGHT

  • Two Early “Grand Design” Spiral Galaxies Defy Formation Theories

SCIENCE

NASA's Parker Solar Probe Reports Healthy Status After Record-Breaking Solar Encounter

NASA's Parker Solar Probe has successfully completed its closest-ever approach to the Sun, coming within 3.8 million miles (6.1 million kilometers) of the solar surface on December 24, 2024. The spacecraft, traveling at a record-breaking speed of 430,000 miles per hour (692,000 kilometers per hour), endured extreme temperatures exceeding one million °F (555,000°C). In the near-vacuum of space, the probe avoided incineration thanks to its foam carbon shield, which withstands temperatures up to 2,600°F (1,400°C). This shield kept the probe and its instruments at room temperature.

Mission control at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory confirmed the probe's systems and science instruments are healthy and operational after receiving a beacon signal on December 26, 2024. Detailed telemetry data received on January 1, 2025, indicated that Parker Solar Probe executed its commands and collected valuable scientific data during the flyby.

This historic mission aims to enhance our understanding of the Sun's corona and solar wind, with implications for space weather forecasting and the broader field of astrophysics. The probe will continue its mission with four more close encounters this year, promising further groundbreaking discoveries.

ISRO Launches SpaDeX Mission to Test Autonomous Docking Technology in Orbit

India's Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently launched the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission. The mission, which took place on December 30, 2024, involved launching two small satellites using a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The primary objective of SpaDeX is to demonstrate autonomous docking technology in orbit, a crucial capability for future missions, including lunar sample return and the construction of India's own space station, Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS).

The mission includes a secondary payload module with 24 different experiments, such as a small robotic arm, which will be tested after docking. Successful completion of the docking demonstration could position India as the fourth country to develop space docking technology. This advancement is vital for ISRO's planned Chandrayaan-4 mission to the moon and the development of its human spaceflight program.

The broader implications of this technology for India's space sector are profound, potentially boosting the country's space economy and attracting global attention from companies like SpaceX. With plans for ten orbital missions in 2025, including the launch of the NVS-02 navigation satellite and a manned LVM-3 launch, ISRO is aiming to solidify its position as a global leader in space technology.

2024 Potentially the First Year in Recorded History to Surpass 1.5°C Pre-Industrial Temperature Threshold

In 2024, Earth experienced its hottest year on record, surpassing the 1.5°C (2.7°F) limit above the pre-industrial average set by the 2015 Paris Agreement. Data from the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service confirmed this trend, marking a continuation of escalating global temperatures. Global temperatures averaged 14.10°C, 0.73°C above the 1991-2020 average. Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, emphasized the urgency of ambitious climate action to mitigate these alarming trends.

The year's extreme heat contributed to more frequent and intense weather events, including record-breaking hurricanes, severe storms, and prolonged heatwaves. Deadly floods ravaged Nigeria and Europe, devastating wildfires swept through the Americas including Canada, Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay, and the Atlantic hurricane season set new records in both frequency and intensity. The scientific community is sounding alarms, calling for immediate and significant measures to curb greenhouse gas emissions and prevent further environmental degradation.

The escalating impacts of climate change highlight the need for robust international cooperation and innovative strategies to build resilience and ensure sustainable futures. As the world faces these challenges, the urgency for transformative climate action has never been greater.

In an Unsettling Video, a Joint ESA-NASA Study Reveals Greenland's Rapid Loss of Ice

In a significant development, ESA and NASA satellites have delivered the first joint picture of the Greenland Ice Sheet's melting, using data from CryoSat-2 and ICESat-2. This collaboration has enabled scientists to track changes in the ice sheet's thickness with unprecedented accuracy. Between 2010 and 2023, the Greenland Ice Sheet thinned by an average of 1.2 meters, with more extreme thinning at the margins, reaching up to 6.4 meters. This loss is equivalent to 2,347 cubic kilometers (563 cubic miles) of ice, which is enough to fill Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake, Space.com points out. The most substantial losses occurred at outlet glaciers, with peak thinning of 67 meters at Sermeq Kujalleq and 75 meters at Zachariae Isstrøm.

Since 1998, the Greenland Ice Sheet has been losing mass, as reported by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It is currently the second-largest contributor to sea level rise, following the thermal expansion of water due to increasing temperatures, posing a threat to coastal communities worldwide. As ice continues to melt at an accelerated rate, the space sector's role in providing crucial data for climate research and policy decision-making becomes increasingly critical. The data gathered paints a concerning picture of the ongoing and accelerating impacts of climate change, necessitating immediate and sustained global action.

GOVERNANCE

Leadership Transition at China National Space Administration

China's space agency, the China National Space Administration (CNSA), is undergoing a leadership transition with Kejian Zhang expected to step down after being removed from his position as Party Secretary of the State Administration for National Defense Science, Technology, and Industry (SASTIND). Shan Zhongde, previously vice minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), has been appointed as his replacement. This change comes amid broader organizational shifts within China's space sector, reflecting the country's strategic priorities and efforts to enhance its global space leadership. Zhang's tenure saw significant achievements, including China's first landing on the far side of the moon and the construction of the Tiangong space station. The leadership change is expected to influence China's ongoing space projects and international collaborations, including the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS).

Mysterious Metallic Ring from Space: Kenya Investigates Space Debris Incident

On December 30, 2024, a large metallic ring, believed to be a fragment of space debris, crashed into Mukuku village in Kenya's Makueni County. The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) secured the area and retrieved the 2.5-meter-wide, 500-kilogram object for further investigation. Preliminary assessments suggest it is a separation ring from a rocket, though its exact origin remains uncertain. Experts are divided on whether it is space debris or aircraft hardware. This incident highlights the growing concern over space debris and the need for stricter regulations to ensure safe reentry and disposal of space objects. The KSA issued a statement as it continues to analyze the fragment and work with international agencies to identify its source.

MILITARY

Streamlining Operations in U.S. National Security Space Sector

The following is a summary of an opinion piece by Todd Pennington for Space News. Pennington is the Senior Research Fellow for Space Strategy and Policy at National Defense University's Institute of National Strategic Studies. A retired U.S. Air Force colonel, he has served as a legal advisor for DoD space programs with OSD, U.S. Space Command, and the U.S. Space Force. He is also affiliated with Georgetown Law Center on National Security and teaches law at Georgetown.

The U.S. national security space enterprise is undergoing significant deliberations regarding the division of roles and responsibilities among various agencies. The term "space control" traditionally refers to ensuring friendly access to outer space, but it now encompasses decisions about who controls what within the U.S. national security space enterprise. Following the establishment of the U.S. Space Force and U.S. Space Command in 2019, similar discussions are taking place to define the roles of these new entities alongside existing organizations like the Space National Guard.

The U.S. Space Force is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping space forces to protect U.S. and allied interests in space. It focuses on developing space capabilities and ensuring the country's dominance in this domain. On the other hand, U.S. Space Command is a combatant command that conducts space operations, providing command and control of space forces to support global operations. This distinction between operational control and organizational development has sparked extensive discussions on "the other space control," referring to the nuanced and multifaceted responsibilities within the national security space enterprise.

According to Pennington, these deliberations are crucial for streamlining operations and enhancing the efficiency of national security space missions. The outcome will likely influence future space policy decisions and the integration of advanced technologies into national security operations. This evolving landscape underscores the importance of clear and effective space control mechanisms to maintain strategic advantages in space.

The progress and clarity in roles will significantly impact the effectiveness and future direction of the U.S. space strategy. To know more about the intricacies of these discussions and understand their broader implications, you can read the full article on Space News, here.

Environmental Study will Evaluate Impact of Increased SpaceX Launches at Vandenberg, US

A new environmental study is being conducted to assess the impacts of increased SpaceX launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), announced by the Department of the Air Force, will evaluate the environmental consequences of SpaceX's growing launch cadence and the use of a second launch pad. This comes after SpaceX accounted for nearly all orbital launches from Vandenberg in 2024, marking a significant increase from just one launch in 2020 to 46 in 2024.

In 2023, the Space Force granted SpaceX access to Space Launch Complex 6 (SLC-6), also known as 'Slick Six,' following the final launch of United Launch Alliance’s Delta 4 from the site. The study will inform decisions on expanding launch capacity and ensuring sustainable operations, balancing the need for increased launch frequency with environmental protection.

COMMERCIAL

US FCC Report Details New Spectrum Band Allocation for Commercial Space Launches

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has recently allocated additional spectrum for commercial space launches, fulfilling a provision in the Launch Communications Act (LCA) of 2024, which was signed into law by President Biden in September 2024. The Act aims to facilitate access to the electromagnetic spectrum for commercial space launches and reentries, requiring the FCC to adopt service rules and allocate additional frequencies within 90 days of its enactment. The newly allocated spectrum, between 2360 and 2395 megahertz, will be used for communications to and from commercial launch and reentry vehicles on a secondary basis, meaning that commercial operators have permission to use the spectrum, but they do not have primary rights to it and must not interfere with primary users, such as aircraft and missile testing communications.

The FCC's report, published on December 31, 2024, outlines the allocation of three bands on a secondary basis: the 2025-2110 MHz band for vehicle uplinks, the 2200-2290 MHz band for vehicle downlinks, and the 2360-2395 MHz band for both uplinks and downlinks. This move is expected to accommodate the growing demand for bandwidth as commercial space activities increase. The FCC's decision aims to streamline the licensing process and provide regulatory certainty for commercial space operators. However, potential interference with existing aircraft and missile testing communications remains a concern. The FCC has stated that launch operators will need to take steps to avoid causing interference with aerospace testing.

Companies like SpaceX and Virgin Galactic have already begun using parts of this new spectrum for their launches. The FCC's action is expected to facilitate consistent access to the spectrum needed for future commercial space operations.

Enhanced Payload and Reusability for China's New Rockets and Commercial Launches in 2025

China is gearing up to debut new Long March rockets and commercially-developed launch vehicles in 2025, aiming to boost its overall launch capabilities, SpaceNews reports. The new rockets, including the Long March 8A, developed by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) and 12A developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), both subsidiaries of the state-owned main space contractor CASC, will feature enhanced payload capacities and reusability, supporting China's megaconstellation projects (Thousand Sails and Guowang) and space station cargo missions.

Commercial firms like LandSpace and Space Pioneer are also preparing their rockets, such as the Zhuque-3 and Tianlong-3, for their first orbital launches. LandSpace, a Beijing-based startup founded in 2015, has already made history by launching the world's first methane-fueled orbital rocket, the Zhuque-2. The company is now developing the Zhuque-3, a reusable stainless steel rocket designed for medium-to-heavy lift missions. Space Pioneer, another Chinese private aerospace manufacturer, is working on the Tianlong-3, a medium-lift orbital launch vehicle designed to be partially reusable.

Other commercial rockets set to debut include Galactic Energy’s Pallas-1 and Ceres-2, Deep Blue Aerospace’s Nebula-1, CAS Space’s Kinetica-2, and iSpace’s Hyperbola-3. These rockets are designed to be reusable and feature advanced technologies like 3D-printed engines and kerosene-liquid oxygen propellants.

ISRO’s Plans in 2025: 10 Launches and Major Space Missions, Including Gaganyaan, NISAR and a New Space Station Development

India's space sector is gearing up for a record-breaking year in 2025, with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) planning 10 orbital launches. This ambitious schedule includes four Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) missions, an LVM-3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3) rocket launch for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program, three Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) missions, and a launch of the SSLV (Small Satellite Launch Vehicle). Another LVM-3 will carry Texas-based AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird 6, which is part of a constellation aimed at providing direct-to-smartphone connectivity.

Additionally, the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (Indian Space Station), a modular space station set to be operational by 2035, is in development. This station will weigh 52 tonnes and maintain an orbit of approximately 400 kilometers above Earth, with astronauts staying for 3-6 months.

A notable collaboration between NASA and ISRO is the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, set to launch in 2025, which will use radar frequencies to measure ecological changes on Earth's surface. Meanwhile, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO, is preparing for its first PSLV launch, marking a significant step towards enhancing India's capabilities in commercial space missions. Read more on this story at SpaceNews.

Eutelsat Resolves 48-Hour Outage Caused by Leap Year Software Issue, Resumes OneWeb Operations

Eutelsat recently resolved a software glitch in its OneWeb Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite service, which caused a 48-hour outage starting on December 31, 2024. The outage was attributed to a failure to account for the 2024 leap year, resulting in a disruption to the ground segment software. The constellation is now operating normally, and a full investigation is underway to prevent future occurrences, according to Eutelsat.

Eutelsat, which merged with OneWeb in 2023, is working to expand its global connectivity services and recently ordered 100 additional OneWeb satellites from Airbus, with deliveries starting at the end of 2026. Eutelsat operates 35 geostationary and over 600 LEO satellites, serving broadcasters, media, telecoms, ISPs, and governments. It plans to launch full services for government and enterprise customers, including aviation, this spring.

Chinese Megaconstellation Satellite Manufacturer, Genesat Secures $137 Million in Series A+ Funding

Shanghai Gesi Aerospace Technology (Genesat), a satellite manufacturer for China's Qianfan (Thousand Sails) megaconstellation, secured 1 billion yuan ($137 million) in Series A+ funding. Announced on December 30, 2024, SpaceNews reports that the funding might support research and development, manufacturing facilities, product innovation, and market expansion. Investors included China’s National Manufacturing Transformation and Upgrading Fund, China Development Bank Science and Technology Innovation, Guosheng Capital, SIMIC Capital and Shanghai FTZ Fund.

Genesat, founded in 2022 by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Innovation Academy for Microsatellites (IAMCAS) and Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (Spacesail), develops satellites for the Qianfan low Earth orbit communications project, aiming to deploy 14,000 satellites, with 600 expected in orbit by year-end. The project, supported by the Shanghai government, seeks to provide global connectivity and compete with satellite communications providers like Starlink

Astranis’ Four MicroGEO Satellites’ Launch Signals Breakthrough in Scaled GeoDeployments

Four Astranis-built MicroGEO satellites were successfully launched by SpaceX from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on December 29, 2024. This launch followed a last-second abort on December 21, necessitating a booster swap. The satellites, part of Astranis' "From One to Many" mission, are designed to provide affordable, high-capacity satellite communications services.

Two of the satellites will serve Anuvu for in-flight connectivity over the Americas, while one, Agila will support a Philippine internet service provider. The fourth satellite, UtilitySat, is designed for multi-mission use. This launch was the first time a commercial manufacturer flew four of its own satellites to GEO in one mission, signaling a shift toward scaled geodeployments, with the San Francisco-based manufacturer planning over 100 satellites by 2030.

The launch also follows the failure of Astranis' previous Arcturus mission in 2023, which suffered a post-deployment malfunction with its solar array drive assembly (SADA), preventing it from maintaining consistent power. Astranis has responded by designing a new gimbal and deployable main reflector for the Block 2 satellites, extending their operational life and increasing throughput. Astranis repurposed the Arcturus satellite to support Spacecom, an Israeli operator, helping it maintain its claim to an orbital slot in the region.

Successful Launch of Thuraya 4 on SpaceX's First 2025 Mission Advances UAE Satellite Communications

Thuraya 4, a mobile connectivity satellite built by Airbus for the U.A.E., was successfully launched by SpaceX on January 3, 2025, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, marking the first Falcon 9 mission of 2025 and 341st recovery of an orbital-class rocket. This satellite is part of Space42's strategy to expand its mobile communications capabilities across Europe, Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Space42, a UAE-based, AI-powered SpaceTech company formed through the merger of Bayanat Smart Solutions and Yahsat Space Services, aims to provide innovative satellite communications, geospatial analytics, and AI capabilities.

Thuraya 4 is expected to provide mobile connectivity in regions with limited access to terrestrial networks, supporting innovative AI-powered services and contributing to the growing demand for reliable communications infrastructure.

SPOTLIGHT

Discovery of Two Early “Grand Design” Spiral Galaxies Challenge Existing Models

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has uncovered two massive "grand design" spiral galaxies that are challenging current understanding of galaxy formation, in the early universe. The first, designated A2744-GDSp-z4, exhibits a redshift of 4.03 indicating that it formed just 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang and its light has traveled for over 12 billion years. The rapid formation of A2744-GDSp-z4, which amassed about 10 billion solar masses in a few hundred million years, defies conventional theories that spiral galaxies of this age should be clumpy rather than well-ordered. Researchers speculate that the presence of a stellar bar or the merger of smaller galaxies might explain A2744-GDSp-z4's formation, but further studies are needed to confirm these hypotheses. The discovery was made at the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, Pune, India and findings of the yet to be peer-reviewed study, were published on the preprint database arXiv.

Another discovery, named Zhúlóng, was also identified using JWST by a group of astronomers led by Mengyuan Xiao of the University of Geneva in Switzerland, as part of the PANORAMIC survey. With a redshift of 5.2, Zhúlóng is the most distant spiral galaxy known, formed around one billion years after the Big Bang. Its mass is comparable to the Milky Way, and it features a quiescent core and a star-forming disk. The finding was detailed in a paper published on the pre-print server arXiv.

The PANORAMIC survey is an extragalactic imaging program using the James Webb Space Telescope's (JWST) Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam). It aims to capture deep-field images of the universe, helping astronomers study distant galaxies and understand their formation and evolution. Grand-design spiral galaxies are distinguished by their prominent, well-defined arms extending outward from a distinct core. These arms are believed to be regions of higher density within the galactic disk, where incoming material is compressed, triggering star formation. A stellar bar is a structure composed of stars that extends across the central region of a galaxy, often resembling a straight or slightly curved bar. This feature is common in many spiral galaxies, including our Milky Way. Bars are significant because they channel gas from the outer regions of the galaxy towards the center, which can trigger star formation and fuel the growth of a supermassive black hole at the galaxy's core. The presence of a bar can influence the overall dynamics and evolution of a galaxy.

These discoveries raise questions about the early universe's dynamics and the processes that led to the formation of such structured galaxies. This finding underscores the importance of JWST's advanced capabilities in peering into the distant past and reshaping our understanding of cosmic evolution.

Despatch Out. 👽🛸