28 April 2023
Interplanetary commercial activity has begun on the Moon, despite iSpace hard landing - Space News Roundup
Illustration of lunar station (Image:Adobe)
Japanese company iSpace confirmed that their lander likely crashed on the surface on the Moon, as they attempted to become the first commercial company to successfully land on the lunar surface. As we’ve recently seen with Relativity Space’s partially successful Terran-R launch, and the launch of Starship, space exploration is all about risk, and it won’t always go to plan. Hopefully iSpace can use this data to help their next landing attempt, currently scheduled for 2024.
Yet there has been more positive tech news this week, indicating just how much there is to look forwards to. Chinese state media outlet Global Times have reported that China is looking to build a gigawatt-level space power station, in plans that are similar to ESA’s Solaris project. Wang Li of the Chinese Society of Astronautics space solar power commission stated that space-based solar power (SBSP) will become an emphasis for world space in the next 5-10 years, and by 2040 we could see the first gigawatt-level solar power station in orbit. There is still of course much to overcome, such as developing the technology to wirelessly beam power over great distances, and to launch many thousands of tons of payload into orbit. Nonetheless, SBSP could be a major solution for Earth’s energy needs and goals of carbon-neutrality.
SpaceX, still reeling from their relative success of the Starship launch, has this week announced that they have won an approval to add a fifth rocket launch site to their portfolio. Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Space Force Base will used to launch their workhorse Falcon-9 rockets, and takes over a site previously occupied by United Launch Alliance (ULA). Richard Branson’s Virgin Group has also received more positive news, as Virgin Galactic successfully flew their Space Ship Two for the first time in more than two years. The spaceplane was carried 14,300 meters by the mothership, before it was released and successfully glided back to the runway. Virgin Galactic was one of the early players in the space tourism market, but has also recently signed a deal to fly a research flight for the Italian Air Force to conduct experiments in sub-orbit, and could be sign of the company expanding their marketplace.
As well, Airbus have this week released illustrations of their answer to the International Space Station (ISS). Their LOOP station could host four astronauts and will include a centrifuge to simulate gravity. Airbus join a growing list of companies looking to develop new stations, such as Axiom and Blue Origin.
Relations in space continue to shift
As the ISS nears towards the end of its life, it will signal the end of a long, continuously crewed tenure in orbit. However, it may also signify the end of a project that has brought the adversaries of the US and Russia together in space. In the aftermath of the Ukraine conflict, ISS has remained a beacon of hope and neutrality for the troubled partners. However, on Wednesday the head of Russia’s space agency, Yuri Borisov, said that they will continue to operate on ISS until 2028, an apparent backtrack on previous plans to stay until 2024.
Borisov also announced that Russia will be working with numerous international partners, such as Algeria, Myanmar, Vietnam, Egypt and South Africa to establish satellite launch contracts, and stimulate Russia’s space industry. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of space remaining politically neutral, and encouraged cooperation among nations.
In the current global climate this is becoming particularly urgent, especially as space and geopolitics become ever-more intertwined and polarised. Taking the opposite position, NASA administrator Bill Nelson has this week said that he supports continuing restrictions in place to limit the agency’s ability to work with China in space, as he fears a space race already exists between the two nations. The US “Wolf Amendment” was introduced in 2011 and only allows NASA to work with China in limited circumstances. Nelson also acknowledged the rapid growth of China’s space programme over the last ten years.
Current efforts to create universal cooperation in space don’t appear to be enough to bring these sides together. It’s unlikely that the US will join China’s International Lunar Research Station project, or China joining the US-led Artemis Accords (their legal framework for space exploration. The Accords are still however growing in numbers, as next week the Czech Republic will officially sign-on to the framework.
However, it does appear that there may be moves being made in Europe to maintain a role somewhere in-between the US and China. Despite ESA stepping away from working with China on their Tiangong station, citing political reasons, France seem to be trying to build and maintain constructive relations with China. As well as sending equipment to the far side of the Moon on China’s 2025 Chang’e-6 mission, it was revealed this week that China has gifted a 1.5 gram sample of lunar soil to France, with French geologist Thomas Smith at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing saying this is “proof of the strong friendship and partnership between our two countries”. It may be some time before a relationship like this is formed with the US, but for now at least, it seems that France are forging their own path.
UAE's Rashid Rover (Image: MBRSC)
Despite iSpace failure, all eyes are on the Moon
Cooperation between adversaries is going to be vital, especially as we see lunar exploration plans come into fruition. Despite the failed landing from iSpace, there is much more lined-up. China have this week outlined their plans to work with international partners to construct a basic version of their ILRS before 2028. Further from that, they anticipate to have an improved version by 2040, and complete version with “applications and functions” by 2050 (Global Times, 2023).
Furthermore, China has announced plans to build a satellite constellation to provide communication and navigate systems for the Moon, similar to the Moonlight initiative proposed by ESA. The constellation, named Queqiao, is expected to become active by 2030, and will also offer its services beyond only the Moon. While these are positive developments for long-term lunar exploration, it will also have to be seen how competition for finite orbital slots takes place.
NASA have this week taken important steps towards establishing a long-term presence on the Moon, by successfully extracting oxygen from simulated lunar soil, using a high-powered laser to simulate heat from a solar energy concentrator "With the successful completion of this demonstration test, NASA has established that oxygen can be extracted from existing lunar material to provide humans with resources critical for survival and transportation on extraterrestrial worlds," the agency said. In-situ resource utilisation (ISRU) is one of the vital steps towards building sustained presence on the Moon, especially in extracting breathable oxygen and water. However, nations are yet to establish a universal, clear and transparent rulebook regarding the fair use of these resources.
Yet these legal challenges don’t appear to be deterring government and commercial entities from pressing on with their lunar plans. US lunar landing company Astrobotic this week announced they have purchased a SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch for their third lunar mission in 2026 to the south pole of the Moon, and can offer hundreds of kilos in capacity for customers. The company is also waiting to launch their first mission this summer on the debut launch of ULA’s Vulcan Centaur rocket.
Also not being deterred by the iSpace and crash landing and losing their lunar rover as a result, the UAE have announced that they are already pressing ahead with plans for their Rashid 2 lunar rover. Sheikh Mohammed talked of the failed lander mission, saying that “The biggest risk is not to take any risk. Risk is an integral part of any space mission, but that has never deterred us from exploring new frontiers of space.” It’s vital to learn from our failures, gather the data and move forwards. As we do move quickly forwards towards our next chapter in space exploration and build a presence on the Moon, it will be equally as important to learn from political failures as well as technological ones, and create a safe and transparent framework for the future.
External Links
This Week
*News articles posted here are not property of ANASDA GmbH and belong to their respected owners. Postings here are external links only.
Our future in space
Illustration of lunar station (Image:Adobe)
28 April 2023
Interplanetary commercial activity has begun on the Moon, despite iSpace hard landing - Space News Roundup
Japanese company iSpace confirmed that their lander likely crashed on the surface on the Moon, as they attempted to become the first commercial company to successfully land on the lunar surface. As we’ve recently seen with Relativity Space’s partially successful Terran-R launch, and the launch of Starship, space exploration is all about risk, and it won’t always go to plan. Hopefully iSpace can use this data to help their next landing attempt, currently scheduled for 2024.
Yet there has been more positive tech news this week, indicating just how much there is to look forwards to. Chinese state media outlet Global Times have reported that China is looking to build a gigawatt-level space power station, in plans that are similar to ESA’s Solaris project. Wang Li of the Chinese Society of Astronautics space solar power commission stated that space-based solar power (SBSP) will become an emphasis for world space in the next 5-10 years, and by 2040 we could see the first gigawatt-level solar power station in orbit. There is still of course much to overcome, such as developing the technology to wirelessly beam power over great distances, and to launch many thousands of tons of payload into orbit. Nonetheless, SBSP could be a major solution for Earth’s energy needs and goals of carbon-neutrality.
SpaceX, still reeling from their relative success of the Starship launch, has this week announced that they have won an approval to add a fifth rocket launch site to their portfolio. Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Space Force Base will used to launch their workhorse Falcon-9 rockets, and takes over a site previously occupied by United Launch Alliance (ULA). Richard Branson’s Virgin Group has also received more positive news, as Virgin Galactic successfully flew their Space Ship Two for the first time in more than two years. The spaceplane was carried 14,300 meters by the mothership, before it was released and successfully glided back to the runway. Virgin Galactic was one of the early players in the space tourism market, but has also recently signed a deal to fly a research flight for the Italian Air Force to conduct experiments in sub-orbit, and could be sign of the company expanding their marketplace.
As well, Airbus have this week released illustrations of their answer to the International Space Station (ISS). Their LOOP station could host four astronauts and will include a centrifuge to simulate gravity. Airbus join a growing list of companies looking to develop new stations, such as Axiom and Blue Origin.
Relations in space continue to shift
As the ISS nears towards the end of its life, it will signal the end of a long, continuously crewed tenure in orbit. However, it may also signify the end of a project that has brought the adversaries of the US and Russia together in space. In the aftermath of the Ukraine conflict, ISS has remained a beacon of hope and neutrality for the troubled partners. However, on Wednesday the head of Russia’s space agency, Yuri Borisov, said that they will continue to operate on ISS until 2028, an apparent backtrack on previous plans to stay until 2024.
Borisov also announced that Russia will be working with numerous international partners, such as Algeria, Myanmar, Vietnam, Egypt and South Africa to establish satellite launch contracts, and stimulate Russia’s space industry. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of space remaining politically neutral, and encouraged cooperation among nations.
In the current global climate this is becoming particularly urgent, especially as space and geopolitics become ever-more intertwined and polarised. Taking the opposite position, NASA administrator Bill Nelson has this week said that he supports continuing restrictions in place to limit the agency’s ability to work with China in space, as he fears a space race already exists between the two nations. The US “Wolf Amendment” was introduced in 2011 and only allows NASA to work with China in limited circumstances. Nelson also acknowledged the rapid growth of China’s space programme over the last ten years.
Current efforts to create universal cooperation in space don’t appear to be enough to bring these sides together. It’s unlikely that the US will join China’s International Lunar Research Station project, or China joining the US-led Artemis Accords (their legal framework for space exploration. The Accords are still however growing in numbers, as next week the Czech Republic will officially sign-on to the framework.
However, it does appear that there may be moves being made in Europe to maintain a role somewhere in-between the US and China. Despite ESA stepping away from working with China on their Tiangong station, citing political reasons, France seem to be trying to build and maintain constructive relations with China. As well as sending equipment to the far side of the Moon on China’s 2025 Chang’e-6 mission, it was revealed this week that China has gifted a 1.5 gram sample of lunar soil to France, with French geologist Thomas Smith at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing saying this is “proof of the strong friendship and partnership between our two countries”. It may be some time before a relationship like this is formed with the US, but for now at least, it seems that France are forging their own path.
UAE's Rashid Rover (Image: MBRSC)
Despite iSpace failure, all eyes are on the Moon
Cooperation between adversaries is going to be vital, especially as we see lunar exploration plans come into fruition. Despite the failed landing from iSpace, there is much more lined-up. China have this week outlined their plans to work with international partners to construct a basic version of their ILRS before 2028. Further from that, they anticipate to have an improved version by 2040, and complete version with “applications and functions” by 2050 (Global Times, 2023).
Furthermore, China has announced plans to build a satellite constellation to provide communication and navigate systems for the Moon, similar to the Moonlight initiative proposed by ESA. The constellation, named Queqiao, is expected to become active by 2030, and will also offer its services beyond only the Moon. While these are positive developments for long-term lunar exploration, it will also have to be seen how competition for finite orbital slots takes place.
NASA have this week taken important steps towards establishing a long-term presence on the Moon, by successfully extracting oxygen from simulated lunar soil, using a high-powered laser to simulate heat from a solar energy concentrator "With the successful completion of this demonstration test, NASA has established that oxygen can be extracted from existing lunar material to provide humans with resources critical for survival and transportation on extraterrestrial worlds," the agency said. In-situ resource utilisation (ISRU) is one of the vital steps towards building sustained presence on the Moon, especially in extracting breathable oxygen and water. However, nations are yet to establish a universal, clear and transparent rulebook regarding the fair use of these resources.
Yet these legal challenges don’t appear to be deterring government and commercial entities from pressing on with their lunar plans. US lunar landing company Astrobotic this week announced they have purchased a SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch for their third lunar mission in 2026 to the south pole of the Moon, and can offer hundreds of kilos in capacity for customers. The company is also waiting to launch their first mission this summer on the debut launch of ULA’s Vulcan Centaur rocket.
Also not being deterred by the iSpace and crash landing and losing their lunar rover as a result, the UAE have announced that they are already pressing ahead with plans for their Rashid 2 lunar rover. Sheikh Mohammed talked of the failed lander mission, saying that “The biggest risk is not to take any risk. Risk is an integral part of any space mission, but that has never deterred us from exploring new frontiers of space.” It’s vital to learn from our failures, gather the data and move forwards. As we do move quickly forwards towards our next chapter in space exploration and build a presence on the Moon, it will be equally as important to learn from political failures as well as technological ones, and create a safe and transparent framework for the future.
Share this article
External Links
This Week
*News articles posted here are not property of ANASDA GmbH and belong to their respected owners. Postings here are external links only.
28 April 2023
Interplanetary commercial activity has begun on the Moon, despite iSpace hard landing - Space News Roundup
Illustration of lunar station (Image:Adobe)
Japanese company iSpace confirmed that their lander likely crashed on the surface on the Moon, as they attempted to become the first commercial company to successfully land on the lunar surface. As we’ve recently seen with Relativity Space’s partially successful Terran-R launch, and the launch of Starship, space exploration is all about risk, and it won’t always go to plan. Hopefully iSpace can use this data to help their next landing attempt, currently scheduled for 2024.
Yet there has been more positive tech news this week, indicating just how much there is to look forwards to. Chinese state media outlet Global Times have reported that China is looking to build a gigawatt-level space power station, in plans that are similar to ESA’s Solaris project. Wang Li of the Chinese Society of Astronautics space solar power commission stated that space-based solar power (SBSP) will become an emphasis for world space in the next 5-10 years, and by 2040 we could see the first gigawatt-level solar power station in orbit. There is still of course much to overcome, such as developing the technology to wirelessly beam power over great distances, and to launch many thousands of tons of payload into orbit. Nonetheless, SBSP could be a major solution for Earth’s energy needs and goals of carbon-neutrality.
SpaceX, still reeling from their relative success of the Starship launch, has this week announced that they have won an approval to add a fifth rocket launch site to their portfolio. Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Space Force Base will used to launch their workhorse Falcon-9 rockets, and takes over a site previously occupied by United Launch Alliance (ULA). Richard Branson’s Virgin Group has also received more positive news, as Virgin Galactic successfully flew their Space Ship Two for the first time in more than two years. The spaceplane was carried 14,300 meters by the mothership, before it was released and successfully glided back to the runway. Virgin Galactic was one of the early players in the space tourism market, but has also recently signed a deal to fly a research flight for the Italian Air Force to conduct experiments in sub-orbit, and could be sign of the company expanding their marketplace.
As well, Airbus have this week released illustrations of their answer to the International Space Station (ISS). Their LOOP station could host four astronauts and will include a centrifuge to simulate gravity. Airbus join a growing list of companies looking to develop new stations, such as Axiom and Blue Origin.
Relations in space continue to shift
As the ISS nears towards the end of its life, it will signal the end of a long, continuously crewed tenure in orbit. However, it may also signify the end of a project that has brought the adversaries of the US and Russia together in space. In the aftermath of the Ukraine conflict, ISS has remained a beacon of hope and neutrality for the troubled partners. However, on Wednesday the head of Russia’s space agency, Yuri Borisov, said that they will continue to operate on ISS until 2028, an apparent backtrack on previous plans to stay until 2024.
Borisov also announced that Russia will be working with numerous international partners, such as Algeria, Myanmar, Vietnam, Egypt and South Africa to establish satellite launch contracts, and stimulate Russia’s space industry. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of space remaining politically neutral, and encouraged cooperation among nations.
In the current global climate this is becoming particularly urgent, especially as space and geopolitics become ever-more intertwined and polarised. Taking the opposite position, NASA administrator Bill Nelson has this week said that he supports continuing restrictions in place to limit the agency’s ability to work with China in space, as he fears a space race already exists between the two nations. The US “Wolf Amendment” was introduced in 2011 and only allows NASA to work with China in limited circumstances. Nelson also acknowledged the rapid growth of China’s space programme over the last ten years.
Current efforts to create universal cooperation in space don’t appear to be enough to bring these sides together. It’s unlikely that the US will join China’s International Lunar Research Station project, or China joining the US-led Artemis Accords (their legal framework for space exploration. The Accords are still however growing in numbers, as next week the Czech Republic will officially sign-on to the framework.
However, it does appear that there may be moves being made in Europe to maintain a role somewhere in-between the US and China. Despite ESA stepping away from working with China on their Tiangong station, citing political reasons, France seem to be trying to build and maintain constructive relations with China. As well as sending equipment to the far side of the Moon on China’s 2025 Chang’e-6 mission, it was revealed this week that China has gifted a 1.5 gram sample of lunar soil to France, with French geologist Thomas Smith at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing saying this is “proof of the strong friendship and partnership between our two countries”. It may be some time before a relationship like this is formed with the US, but for now at least, it seems that France are forging their own path.
UAE's Rashid Rover (Image: MBRSC)
Despite iSpace failure, all eyes are on the Moon
Cooperation between adversaries is going to be vital, especially as we see lunar exploration plans come into fruition. Despite the failed landing from iSpace, there is much more lined-up. China have this week outlined their plans to work with international partners to construct a basic version of their ILRS before 2028. Further from that, they anticipate to have an improved version by 2040, and complete version with “applications and functions” by 2050 (Global Times, 2023).
Furthermore, China has announced plans to build a satellite constellation to provide communication and navigate systems for the Moon, similar to the Moonlight initiative proposed by ESA. The constellation, named Queqiao, is expected to become active by 2030, and will also offer its services beyond only the Moon. While these are positive developments for long-term lunar exploration, it will also have to be seen how competition for finite orbital slots takes place.
NASA have this week taken important steps towards establishing a long-term presence on the Moon, by successfully extracting oxygen from simulated lunar soil, using a high-powered laser to simulate heat from a solar energy concentrator "With the successful completion of this demonstration test, NASA has established that oxygen can be extracted from existing lunar material to provide humans with resources critical for survival and transportation on extraterrestrial worlds," the agency said. In-situ resource utilisation (ISRU) is one of the vital steps towards building sustained presence on the Moon, especially in extracting breathable oxygen and water. However, nations are yet to establish a universal, clear and transparent rulebook regarding the fair use of these resources.
Yet these legal challenges don’t appear to be deterring government and commercial entities from pressing on with their lunar plans. US lunar landing company Astrobotic this week announced they have purchased a SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch for their third lunar mission in 2026 to the south pole of the Moon, and can offer hundreds of kilos in capacity for customers. The company is also waiting to launch their first mission this summer on the debut launch of ULA’s Vulcan Centaur rocket.
Also not being deterred by the iSpace and crash landing and losing their lunar rover as a result, the UAE have announced that they are already pressing ahead with plans for their Rashid 2 lunar rover. Sheikh Mohammed talked of the failed lander mission, saying that “The biggest risk is not to take any risk. Risk is an integral part of any space mission, but that has never deterred us from exploring new frontiers of space.” It’s vital to learn from our failures, gather the data and move forwards. As we do move quickly forwards towards our next chapter in space exploration and build a presence on the Moon, it will be equally as important to learn from political failures as well as technological ones, and create a safe and transparent framework for the future.
Share this article
External Links
This Week
*News articles posted here are not property of ANASDA GmbH and belong to their respected owners. Postings here are external links only.