29 September 2023
Lunar infrastructure development, US focus on orbital services, Germany builds on future space plans - Space News Roundup
(Image: Adobe)
It appears, at the moment, that India’s Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing mission may be at an end, with their Vikram lander and Pragyan rover yet to wake-up after enduring the long, 2-week lunar night. However, this is certainly not to say it hasn’t succeeded.
As well as discovering iron, titanium, aluminium and calcium, the mission also discovered the presence of sulphur. Although scientists were already aware that a low concentration of sulphur may exist on the Moon, data from the Indian mission suggests there may be much higher concentration than fist thought. This could be good news for in-situ resource utilisation (ILRS), with sulphur potentially being used to produce batteries and lunar concrete.
ISRU and using local resources in space exploration will be vital, removing the need for costly launches from Earth, as well as increasing efficiency.
In-situ resources and scaling up lunar mining
An article from space.com this week highlighted further developments in this area, regarding a fungi that can survive the harsh environment of space. The fungi was initially discovered on the Mir space station in 1988, growing on the outside of the windows. It was discovered that the fungi had travelled into space, clinging onto the astronauts.
ESA scientists have been carrying out hyper-gravity experiments to better understand the fungi and see if it could potentially be used for future off-world settlements. The presence of fungi does of course also pose a threat to astronauts themselves, however it is also uses for fermentation for food production as well as making medicines. This accidental threat may turn out to be a benefit for lasting space exploration.
Furthermore, US company, Starpath Robotics, are entering the field of ISRU on the Moon. The company has delivered plans for the mining and refinement of resources, in particular water, which is vital for sustained living on the Moon, but also for rocket propellants.
Their plan details how they will have a fleet of around 50 mining machines which will rove the lunar south pole region, collecting large quantities of dirt and regolith. This will then be returned to a refinery where the dirt will be purified into water and broken down into molecules.
Starpath plan on having a mining and refinery ready to launch by 2026, but admit that they will be relying on using SpaceX’s Starship to get there. Starship is yet to launch its second demonstration flight and Starpath have not yet booked a launch with them.
Blockchain to prove lunar landing?
NASA are edging closer to their next lunar missions, Aremis-II and III, the latter of which will see humans returning to the surface of the Moon, planned for 2025. They will be working with off-world data storage company, Lonestar, and the British Crown dependency, the Isle of Man, in order to use blockchain technology to provide undeniable proof of a human lunar landing.
In 2024, they will launch a mission to the Moon with a payload containing “data cubes”. The cubes will gather information, which will later be verified using blockchain technology when they return to Earth. This same technology is what NASA plan to use to prove the landing of their Artemis-III mission, with idea being that astronauts could interact with the cubes before they are later verified.
This mission also shows what the potential of blockchain could be for the future space economy. As well as providing clear and undeniable evidence of achievements in space, it could also be central to providing transparency and honesty, say when two parties interact or record a transaction. This in turn could be central to maintaining peaceful and fair uses of outer space.
US building orbital infrastructure, and 1 trillion dollar space industry valuation
The US also seem to be taking a keen interest in building the infrastructure that will service Earth orbit and the vastly increasing number objects that live there. Japan-based orbital debris removal company, Astrocale, have recently won a $25.5 million contract to delver an orbital satellite refuelling vehicle, with a prototype due in 2026.
In-orbit refuelling is not a new idea, and is also being spearheaded by companies such as Orbit Fab, who aim to send a refuelling service into orbit in 2025.
Also, the US Air Force has funded Rogue Space Systems, a company providing space-based orbital robotics, to further the development of its in-orbit servicing technology. The company received two contracts in July in order to work on their universal cubesat dispenser and technology to stabilise tumbling space objects.
Starshield; Starlink for defence purposes
Servicing and providing precise logistical services will be vital for satellite sector to succeed. It is anticipated that as many as 100,000 satellites may be in orbit by 2030, with SpaceX being one company that dominates in the area, with its Starlink mega-contellation.
SpaceX are also in the process of developing a military and defence version of Starlink, named Starshield. This week they received their first confirmed contract for Starshield from the Pentagon, but the company haven’t revealed the details of the full capabilities of the system yet.
After the use of Starlink in Ukraine, and the subsequent US government purchase of Starlink ground terminals for use in the war, it’s clear that access to satellite technology is a vital cog in the defence machine.
OSIRIS-REx capsule recovered (NASA/Keegan Barber)
Nations plan future space strategies, while asteroid Bennu sample is retrieved
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample capsule finally and successful returned to Earth this week, finishing a journey which began back in 2016. According to NASA, the sample of the asteroid (named Bennu) was “an estimated 8.8 ounces, or 250 grams.”
Scientists have now opened the capsule and discovered “black dust and debris” but have yet to confirm whether it is actually from asteroid Bennu. Nonetheless, referring to a post on X.com, NASA scientists “gasped” when they opened the sample canister, and referred to it as a “Scientific treasure box”. NASA teams will now carefully dissemble the capsule and begin analysing the sample.
UK and Germany represent a new space era
The NASA OSIRIS-REx mission represents the role played by leading space nations, carrying out grand, publicly-funded missions, capturing the imaginations of the public, in our quest to learn more about space.
However, announcements this week from both Germany and the UK go to show us just how the space sector is changing, no longer populated only by major space powers.
The German government this week released a new strategy, looking to energise their private space sector, a tactic being adopted throughout the world. They are doing so in order to “..continue to remain a strong and innovative space location," with a focus on launchers, an innovation hub and international partnerships.
The paper also highlighted that the US and China are engaged in “…a new race for leadership in space…” while cooperation from their previous partner, Russia, has ended due to the invasion on Ukraine. In the paper they specifically mention Canada, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore as expanding space nations and could be potential new partners.
Interestingly, in August this year, the UK announced the first recipients of its International Bilateral Fund, aimed at progressing “space research and catalyse investment in new technologies”, also working with partners from nations such as Canada, Australia, Japan, India, Singapore.
Space is changing. While the US is gaining more partners for its vision for the future of space through its Artemis Accords framework, and China does the same through its International Lunar Research Station project, there may be a third way.
Smaller and newer space nations will play a key role in New Space, with the growth of their innovative and competitive commercial sectors. Leadership may not any longer be proven through grandiose, national scientific missions, but through those who build the new space economy; New Space.
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
(Image: Adobe)
29 September 2023
Lunar infrastructure development, US focus on orbital services, Germany builds on future space plans - Space News Roundup
It appears, at the moment, that India’s Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing mission may be at an end, with their Vikram lander and Pragyan rover yet to wake-up after enduring the long, 2-week lunar night. However, this is certainly not to say it hasn’t succeeded.
As well as discovering iron, titanium, aluminium and calcium, the mission also discovered the presence of sulphur. Although scientists were already aware that a low concentration of sulphur may exist on the Moon, data from the Indian mission suggests there may be much higher concentration than fist thought. This could be good news for in-situ resource utilisation (ILRS), with sulphur potentially being used to produce batteries and lunar concrete.
ISRU and using local resources in space exploration will be vital, removing the need for costly launches from Earth, as well as increasing efficiency.
In-situ resources and scaling up lunar mining
An article from space.com this week highlighted further developments in this area, regarding a fungi that can survive the harsh environment of space. The fungi was initially discovered on the Mir space station in 1988, growing on the outside of the windows. It was discovered that the fungi had travelled into space, clinging onto the astronauts.
ESA scientists have been carrying out hyper-gravity experiments to better understand the fungi and see if it could potentially be used for future off-world settlements. The presence of fungi does of course also pose a threat to astronauts themselves, however it is also uses for fermentation for food production as well as making medicines. This accidental threat may turn out to be a benefit for lasting space exploration.
Furthermore, US company, Starpath Robotics, are entering the field of ISRU on the Moon. The company has delivered plans for the mining and refinement of resources, in particular water, which is vital for sustained living on the Moon, but also for rocket propellants.
Their plan details how they will have a fleet of around 50 mining machines which will rove the lunar south pole region, collecting large quantities of dirt and regolith. This will then be returned to a refinery where the dirt will be purified into water and broken down into molecules.
Starpath plan on having a mining and refinery ready to launch by 2026, but admit that they will be relying on using SpaceX’s Starship to get there. Starship is yet to launch its second demonstration flight and Starpath have not yet booked a launch with them.
Blockchain to prove lunar landing?
NASA are edging closer to their next lunar missions, Aremis-II and III, the latter of which will see humans returning to the surface of the Moon, planned for 2025. They will be working with off-world data storage company, Lonestar, and the British Crown dependency, the Isle of Man, in order to use blockchain technology to provide undeniable proof of a human lunar landing.
In 2024, they will launch a mission to the Moon with a payload containing “data cubes”. The cubes will gather information, which will later be verified using blockchain technology when they return to Earth. This same technology is what NASA plan to use to prove the landing of their Artemis-III mission, with idea being that astronauts could interact with the cubes before they are later verified.
This mission also shows what the potential of blockchain could be for the future space economy. As well as providing clear and undeniable evidence of achievements in space, it could also be central to providing transparency and honesty, say when two parties interact or record a transaction. This in turn could be central to maintaining peaceful and fair uses of outer space.
US building orbital infrastructure, and 1 trillion dollar space industry valuation
The US also seem to be taking a keen interest in building the infrastructure that will service Earth orbit and the vastly increasing number objects that live there. Japan-based orbital debris removal company, Astrocale, have recently won a $25.5 million contract to delver an orbital satellite refuelling vehicle, with a prototype due in 2026.
In-orbit refuelling is not a new idea, and is also being spearheaded by companies such as Orbit Fab, who aim to send a refuelling service into orbit in 2025.
Also, the US Air Force has funded Rogue Space Systems, a company providing space-based orbital robotics, to further the development of its in-orbit servicing technology. The company received two contracts in July in order to work on their universal cubesat dispenser and technology to stabilise tumbling space objects.
Starshield; Starlink for defence purposes
Servicing and providing precise logistical services will be vital for satellite sector to succeed. It is anticipated that as many as 100,000 satellites may be in orbit by 2030, with SpaceX being one company that dominates in the area, with its Starlink mega-contellation.
SpaceX are also in the process of developing a military and defence version of Starlink, named Starshield. This week they received their first confirmed contract for Starshield from the Pentagon, but the company haven’t revealed the details of the full capabilities of the system yet.
After the use of Starlink in Ukraine, and the subsequent US government purchase of Starlink ground terminals for use in the war, it’s clear that access to satellite technology is a vital cog in the defence machine.
OSIRIS-REx capsule recovered (NASA/Keegan Barber)
Nations plan future space strategies, while asteroid Bennu sample is retrieved
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample capsule finally and successful returned to Earth this week, finishing a journey which began back in 2016. According to NASA, the sample of the asteroid (named Bennu) was “an estimated 8.8 ounces, or 250 grams.”
Scientists have now opened the capsule and discovered “black dust and debris” but have yet to confirm whether it is actually from asteroid Bennu. Nonetheless, referring to a post on X.com, NASA scientists “gasped” when they opened the sample canister, and referred to it as a “Scientific treasure box”. NASA teams will now carefully dissemble the capsule and begin analysing the sample.
UK and Germany represent a new space era
The NASA OSIRIS-REx mission represents the role played by leading space nations, carrying out grand, publicly-funded missions, capturing the imaginations of the public, in our quest to learn more about space.
However, announcements this week from both Germany and the UK go to show us just how the space sector is changing, no longer populated only by major space powers.
The German government this week released a new strategy, looking to energise their private space sector, a tactic being adopted throughout the world. They are doing so in order to “..continue to remain a strong and innovative space location," with a focus on launchers, an innovation hub and international partnerships.
The paper also highlighted that the US and China are engaged in “…a new race for leadership in space…” while cooperation from their previous partner, Russia, has ended due to the invasion on Ukraine. In the paper they specifically mention Canada, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore as expanding space nations and could be potential new partners.
Interestingly, in August this year, the UK announced the first recipients of its International Bilateral Fund, aimed at progressing “space research and catalyse investment in new technologies”, also working with partners from nations such as Canada, Australia, Japan, India, Singapore.
Space is changing. While the US is gaining more partners for its vision for the future of space through its Artemis Accords framework, and China does the same through its International Lunar Research Station project, there may be a third way.
Smaller and newer space nations will play a key role in New Space, with the growth of their innovative and competitive commercial sectors. Leadership may not any longer be proven through grandiose, national scientific missions, but through those who build the new space economy; New Space.
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.
29 September 2023
Lunar infrastructure development, US focus on orbital services, Germany builds on future space plans - Space News Roundup
(Image: Adobe)
It appears, at the moment, that India’s Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing mission may be at an end, with their Vikram lander and Pragyan rover yet to wake-up after enduring the long, 2-week lunar night. However, this is certainly not to say it hasn’t succeeded.
As well as discovering iron, titanium, aluminium and calcium, the mission also discovered the presence of sulphur. Although scientists were already aware that a low concentration of sulphur may exist on the Moon, data from the Indian mission suggests there may be much higher concentration than fist thought. This could be good news for in-situ resource utilisation (ILRS), with sulphur potentially being used to produce batteries and lunar concrete.
ISRU and using local resources in space exploration will be vital, removing the need for costly launches from Earth, as well as increasing efficiency.
In-situ resources and scaling up lunar mining
An article from space.com this week highlighted further developments in this area, regarding a fungi that can survive the harsh environment of space. The fungi was initially discovered on the Mir space station in 1988, growing on the outside of the windows. It was discovered that the fungi had travelled into space, clinging onto the astronauts.
ESA scientists have been carrying out hyper-gravity experiments to better understand the fungi and see if it could potentially be used for future off-world settlements. The presence of fungi does of course also pose a threat to astronauts themselves, however it is also uses for fermentation for food production as well as making medicines. This accidental threat may turn out to be a benefit for lasting space exploration.
Furthermore, US company, Starpath Robotics, are entering the field of ISRU on the Moon. The company has delivered plans for the mining and refinement of resources, in particular water, which is vital for sustained living on the Moon, but also for rocket propellants.
Their plan details how they will have a fleet of around 50 mining machines which will rove the lunar south pole region, collecting large quantities of dirt and regolith. This will then be returned to a refinery where the dirt will be purified into water and broken down into molecules.
Starpath plan on having a mining and refinery ready to launch by 2026, but admit that they will be relying on using SpaceX’s Starship to get there. Starship is yet to launch its second demonstration flight and Starpath have not yet booked a launch with them.
Blockchain to prove lunar landing?
NASA are edging closer to their next lunar missions, Aremis-II and III, the latter of which will see humans returning to the surface of the Moon, planned for 2025. They will be working with off-world data storage company, Lonestar, and the British Crown dependency, the Isle of Man, in order to use blockchain technology to provide undeniable proof of a human lunar landing.
In 2024, they will launch a mission to the Moon with a payload containing “data cubes”. The cubes will gather information, which will later be verified using blockchain technology when they return to Earth. This same technology is what NASA plan to use to prove the landing of their Artemis-III mission, with idea being that astronauts could interact with the cubes before they are later verified.
This mission also shows what the potential of blockchain could be for the future space economy. As well as providing clear and undeniable evidence of achievements in space, it could also be central to providing transparency and honesty, say when two parties interact or record a transaction. This in turn could be central to maintaining peaceful and fair uses of outer space.
US building orbital infrastructure, and 1 trillion dollar space industry valuation
The US also seem to be taking a keen interest in building the infrastructure that will service Earth orbit and the vastly increasing number objects that live there. Japan-based orbital debris removal company, Astrocale, have recently won a $25.5 million contract to delver an orbital satellite refuelling vehicle, with a prototype due in 2026.
In-orbit refuelling is not a new idea, and is also being spearheaded by companies such as Orbit Fab, who aim to send a refuelling service into orbit in 2025.
Also, the US Air Force has funded Rogue Space Systems, a company providing space-based orbital robotics, to further the development of its in-orbit servicing technology. The company received two contracts in July in order to work on their universal cubesat dispenser and technology to stabilise tumbling space objects.
Starshield; Starlink for defence purposes
Servicing and providing precise logistical services will be vital for satellite sector to succeed. It is anticipated that as many as 100,000 satellites may be in orbit by 2030, with SpaceX being one company that dominates in the area, with its Starlink mega-contellation.
SpaceX are also in the process of developing a military and defence version of Starlink, named Starshield. This week they received their first confirmed contract for Starshield from the Pentagon, but the company haven’t revealed the details of the full capabilities of the system yet.
After the use of Starlink in Ukraine, and the subsequent US government purchase of Starlink ground terminals for use in the war, it’s clear that access to satellite technology is a vital cog in the defence machine.
OSIRIS-REx capsule recovered (NASA/Keegan Barber)
Nations plan future space strategies, while asteroid Bennu sample is retrieved
NASA’s OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample capsule finally and successful returned to Earth this week, finishing a journey which began back in 2016. According to NASA, the sample of the asteroid (named Bennu) was “an estimated 8.8 ounces, or 250 grams.”
Scientists have now opened the capsule and discovered “black dust and debris” but have yet to confirm whether it is actually from asteroid Bennu. Nonetheless, referring to a post on X.com, NASA scientists “gasped” when they opened the sample canister, and referred to it as a “Scientific treasure box”. NASA teams will now carefully dissemble the capsule and begin analysing the sample.
UK and Germany represent a new space era
The NASA OSIRIS-REx mission represents the role played by leading space nations, carrying out grand, publicly-funded missions, capturing the imaginations of the public, in our quest to learn more about space.
However, announcements this week from both Germany and the UK go to show us just how the space sector is changing, no longer populated only by major space powers.
The German government this week released a new strategy, looking to energise their private space sector, a tactic being adopted throughout the world. They are doing so in order to “..continue to remain a strong and innovative space location," with a focus on launchers, an innovation hub and international partnerships.
The paper also highlighted that the US and China are engaged in “…a new race for leadership in space…” while cooperation from their previous partner, Russia, has ended due to the invasion on Ukraine. In the paper they specifically mention Canada, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore as expanding space nations and could be potential new partners.
Interestingly, in August this year, the UK announced the first recipients of its International Bilateral Fund, aimed at progressing “space research and catalyse investment in new technologies”, also working with partners from nations such as Canada, Australia, Japan, India, Singapore.
Space is changing. While the US is gaining more partners for its vision for the future of space through its Artemis Accords framework, and China does the same through its International Lunar Research Station project, there may be a third way.
Smaller and newer space nations will play a key role in New Space, with the growth of their innovative and competitive commercial sectors. Leadership may not any longer be proven through grandiose, national scientific missions, but through those who build the new space economy; New Space.
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.