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  • Issue 52 | Breaking Space News: May 25 - 31, 2025

Issue 52 | Breaking Space News: May 25 - 31, 2025

Emerging Theory of Everything? Plus, Unprecedented Images of Sun and its Corona—This Week in Space: a Nearly Perfect Cosmic Sphere, Asteroid Landing & Sample Return, Growing Antarctic Ice-Sheets(?), China's Reusable Rocket Tests, Sino-Russian Lunar Power Plant & More.

Author

Maharshi Bhattacharya
June 01, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 49 minutes

Explorer, welcome back!🚀

Space Governance saw a lot happen this week and some interesting updates from Defense and Commerce.

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Hope you enjoy this Space!

PRIMER

 

Chandra X-ray Observatory

The Chandra X-ray Observatory is one of NASA's flagship X-ray space telescope, orbiting high above Earth, designed to detect and study X-rays from the universe's most energetic and violent phenomena and is a cornerstone of modern astrophysics. Here's a detailed overview:

 

Key Facts & Mission

  1. Launch: July 23, 1999, aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-93).

  2. Mission: Designed for a minimum 5-year mission, it's still operational over 25 years later (as of June 2025), testament to its robust design.

  3. Great Observatory: Part of NASA's "Great Observatories" program, alongside Hubble (visible/UV), Compton (Gamma-ray, de-orbited), and Spitzer (Infrared, mission ended).

  4. Name: Honors the Nobel Prize-winning astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, known for his work on stellar evolution and black holes.

 

Why X-rays?

  • Earth's atmosphere absorbs X-rays, making ground-based observations impossible. Space-based telescopes like Chandra are essential.

  • X-rays reveal the universe's most energetic and violent phenomena: regions of extreme heat, gravity, magnetic fields, and explosions.

 

Unique Capabilities

  1. Unrivaled Resolution: Chandra has the sharpest X-ray vision ever created. Its mirrors are so precisely ground and aligned that its resolution is equivalent to reading a stop sign from 12 miles away.

  2. High-Energy Focus: Specialized for detecting high-energy X-rays (0.1 - 10 keV).

  3. Sensitive Instruments: Carries advanced detectors:

    • ACIS (Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer): Primary camera for imaging and spectroscopy.

    • HRC (High Resolution Camera): Provides ultra-sharp images and precise timing.

    • HETG (High Energy Transmission Grating) & LETG (Low Energy Transmission Grating): Spreads X-rays into spectra for detailed chemical and physical analysis of sources.

 

 Orbit

  • Highly Elliptical Orbit: Apogee (highest point) ~86,400 miles (139,000 km), Perigee (lowest point) ~6,200 miles (10,000 km).

  • Why? This orbit allows Chandra to observe continuously for up to 55 hours uninterrupted, far above the radiation belts that interfere with instruments. Only ~3% of its orbit is spent in Earth's radiation belts.

 

Major Scientific Contributions

Chandra has revolutionized our understanding of the high-energy universe:

  1. Black Holes: Mapped the influence of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) in galaxy centers, studied stellar-mass black holes in binary systems, traced the growth of SMBHs over cosmic time.

  2. Supernova Remnants (SNRs): Imaged shock waves and debris from exploded stars (e.g., Cassiopeia A, Tycho, SN 1006) in incredible detail, revealing particle acceleration and element synthesis.

  3. Galaxy Clusters: Studied the hot (millions of degrees) gas filling clusters, used it to map dark matter through gravitational lensing and measure dark energy's influence on cluster growth (e.g., the "Bullet Cluster" collision provided strong evidence for dark matter).

  4. Neutron Stars & Pulsars: Investigated extreme density, magnetic fields, and rotation (e.g., the Crab Nebula pulsar).

  5. Stellar Evolution: Observed star-forming regions, stellar winds, and the end stages of massive stars.

  6. Exotic Objects: Studied magnetars, microquasars, and other bizarre phenomena.

  7. Cosmic Feedback: Traced how energy from SMBHs and supernovas regulates star formation in galaxies and heats intergalactic gas.

 

Legacy & Future

  • Prolific: Has observed tens of thousands of X-ray sources.

  • Enduring: Continues to be a highly sought-after observatory. Its unique resolution remains unmatched.

  • Collaborative: Often works in tandem with Hubble, Spitzer, ground-based telescopes, and newer missions like XMM-Newton (complementary with higher sensitivity but lower resolution) and IXPE (X-ray polarization).

  • Longevity: While components degrade slowly, Chandra is expected to remain scientifically productive for potentially another decade or more with careful management.

  • Successors: Future missions like ESA's Athena (Advanced Telescope for High-ENergy Astrophysics, planned for 2035+) are designed to build upon Chandra's legacy with vastly greater collecting area, though resolution may still be comparable or slightly less.

In essence, Chandra is our premier eye on the hot, energetic, and violent universe, revealing phenomena invisible to other telescopes and fundamentally shaping our understanding of cosmic structure and evolution. Its sharp X-ray vision continues to provide breathtaking discoveries decades after launch.

IMAGES

 

Unprecedented Details of the Sun’s Corona : Goode Solar Telescope, Big Bear Solar Observatory, California
This time-lapse video captures a solar prominence, where plasma swirls and twists along the Sun’s magnetic field. Recorded by the Goode Solar Telescope at Big Bear Solar Observatory using the Cona coronal adaptive optics system, the footage showcases hydrogen-alpha light emitted by solar plasma. The image has been artificially colorized to reflect the wavelength of hydrogen-alpha light, with darker shades representing brighter intensities.

This time-lapse video captures a solar prominence, where plasma swirls and twists along the Sun’s magnetic field. Recorded by the Goode Solar Telescope at Big Bear Solar Observatory using the Cona coronal adaptive optics system, the footage showcases hydrogen-alpha light emitted by solar plasma. The image has been artificially colorized to reflect the wavelength of hydrogen-alpha light, with darker shades representing brighter intensities. (Credit: Schmidt et al./NJIT/NSO/AURA/NSF)

Scientists from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) National Solar Observatory (NSO) and the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) have developed a coronal adaptive optics system, producing the clearest images of the Sun’s corona to date. Installed at the Goode Solar Telescope at Big Bear Solar Observatory, the system corrects for atmospheric turbulence, which has historically blurred observations of the corona.

The breakthrough allows researchers to study solar prominences, plasma flows, and coronal rain with unprecedented detail. One time-lapse video captures a rapidly restructuring solar prominence, revealing fine, turbulent internal flows. Another showcases the formation and collapse of a plasma stream, while a third highlights coronal rain, where cooling plasma condenses and falls back toward the Sun’s surface.

These observations provide new insights into the Sun’s dynamic behavior and could improve understanding of space weather, which affects satellite operations and communications on Earth. The team's research was published on Tuesday (May 27) in the journal Nature.

This time-lapse footage captures a solar prominence undergoing rapid, intricate, and turbulent transformations in exceptional detail. The Sun’s textured surface is blanketed with spicules—brief plasma jets whose formation remains a topic of scientific investigation. On the right side of the image, coronal rain can be seen cascading back onto the Sun’s surface.

This time-lapse footage captures a solar prominence undergoing rapid, intricate, and turbulent transformations in exceptional detail. The Sun’s textured surface is blanketed with spicules—brief plasma jets whose formation remains a topic of scientific investigation. On the right side of the image, coronal rain can be seen cascading back onto the Sun’s surface. (Credit: Schmidt et al./NJIT/NSO/AURA/NSF)

This video shows the formation and collapse of a complexly shaped plasma stream traveling at almost 100 kilometers per seconds in front of a coronal loop system. This is likely the first time such a stream, which the scientists refer to as “plasmoid”, has been observed, leaving them wondering about the physical explanation of the observed dynamics.

This video shows the formation and collapse of a complexly shaped plasma stream traveling at almost 100 kilometers per seconds in front of a coronal loop system. This is likely the first time such a stream, which the scientists refer to as “plasmoid”, has been observed, leaving them wondering about the physical explanation of the observed dynamics. (Credit: Schmidt et al./NJIT/NSO/AURA/NSF)

Coronal rain forms when hotter plasma in the Sun’s corona cools down and becomes denser. Like raindrops on Earth, coronal rain is pulled down to the surface by gravity. Because the plasma is electrically charged, it follows the magnetic field lines, which make huge arches/loops, instead of falling in a straight line. This time-lapse video is composed of the highest resolution images ever made of coronal rain. The scientists show in the paper that the strands can be narrower than 20 kilometers.

Coronal rain forms when hotter plasma in the Sun’s corona cools down and becomes denser. Like raindrops on Earth, coronal rain is pulled down to the surface by gravity. Because the plasma is electrically charged, it follows the magnetic field lines, which make huge arches/loops, instead of falling in a straight line. This time-lapse video is composed of the highest resolution images ever made of coronal rain. The scientists show in the paper that the strands can be narrower than 20 kilometers. (Credit: Schmidt et al./NJIT/NSO/AURA/NSF)

 

 

Nearly Perfect Spherical Object, Supernova Remnant : Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder
The newly studied spherical supernova remnant.

The newly studied spherical supernova remnant. (Credit: Filipovic et al.)

Astronomers have discovered a mysteriously perfect spherical object deep in the Milky Way galaxy, likely a supernova remnant (SNR) formed by the shockwaves of a massive stellar explosion. Named Teleios, meaning "perfect" in Greek (officially designated G305.4–2.2), the object was accidentally detected using the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio telescope.

Unlike typical SNRs, which often appear distorted due to environmental interactions, Teleios maintains an extraordinary circularity score of 95.4%, suggesting it expanded in a relatively undisturbed region of space. Scientists estimate its size to be either 46 or 157 light-years across, depending on its actual distance from Earth, which could be either 7,175 light-years or about 25,114 light-years.

Teleios emits only in radio wavelengths, lacking expected X-ray or optical emissions, making it difficult to determine the type of supernova that produced it. Researchers continue to investigate its origins, considering possibilities such as a Type Ia or Type Iax supernova, but further observations are needed. The paper on the findings has been submitted to the Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia.

This image shows the location of Telios in the Galactic plane.

This image shows the location of Telios in the Galactic plane. (Credit: Filipović et al.)

 

 

Sun in 8K, High-Resolution Observations : VTT Camera Technology, Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam, Observatorio del Teide in Tenerife
On the left, a single image of the Sun taken with the Vacuum Tower Telescope in Tenerife provides a standard view. On the right, a high-resolution image, reconstructed from 100 individual exposures using the new advanced camera system, reveals significantly sharper details. This innovative system enables researchers to observe large plasma streams and track the formation, evolution, and movement of sunspots with remarkable precision.

On the left, a single image of the Sun taken with the Vacuum Tower Telescope in Tenerife provides a standard view. On the right, a high-resolution image, reconstructed from 100 individual exposures using the new advanced camera system, reveals significantly sharper details. This innovative system enables researchers to observe large plasma streams and track the formation, evolution, and movement of sunspots with remarkable precision. (Credit: R. Kamlah et al. 2025)

Restored short-exposure Ca II K image of a large, complex sunspot group in NOAA 13691, captured with the VTT on May 28, 2024. The image coloring reflects the observed 393.3 nm wavelength.

Restored short-exposure Ca II K image of a large, complex sunspot group in NOAA 13691, captured with the VTT on May 28, 2024. The image coloring reflects the observed 393.3 nm wavelength. (Credit: R. Kamlah et al. 2025)

Single image of the Sun, taken with the Vacuum Tower Telescope on Tenerife. The image diameter corresponds to approximately 200,000 kilometers on the surface of the Sun.
High-resolution image restored from 100 individual exposures captured by the new advanced camera system. The details are much sharper.

(Top) Single image of the Sun, taken with the Vacuum Tower Telescope on Tenerife. The image diameter corresponds to approximately 200,000 kilometers on the surface of the Sun. (Bottom) High-resolution image restored from 100 individual exposures captured by the new advanced camera system. The details are much sharper. (Credit: R. Kamlah et al. 2025)

SCIENCE

 

Europe’s Apophis Mission Moves Forward With New Plans to Land CubeSat on Asteroid Surface

An artist's rendering of ESA's Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety (Ramses). 

An artist's rendering of ESA's Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety (Ramses). (Credit: ESA-Science Office)

20 May, 2025

The European Space Agency (ESA) has expanded its Ramses (Rapid Apophis Mission for Space Safety) mission to the asteroid Apophis, adding a second CubeSat to enhance scientific observations during the asteroid’s close flyby of Earth on April 13, 2029. The Ramses spacecraft, scheduled for launch in 2028, will accompany Apophis through its approach, studying changes in its orbit, surface cohesion, and rotational dynamics caused by Earth’s tidal forces. The 1,100-foot-wide (340 meters) Apophis, also known as asteroid 99942, was once considered a threat to Earth, is now set to make a very close, but safe, flyby.

The newly added CubeSat, developed by Spanish company Emxys, will attempt a landing on Apophis, a challenging feat due to the asteroid’s irregular shape and weak gravity. If successful, it will measure seismic activity and provide surface composition data. ESA’s Ministerial Council meeting in November 2025 will determine the mission’s final approval and funding.

NASA is also considering repurposing its Janus spacecraft for an Apophis mission, though budget constraints pose challenges. Meanwhile, NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX mission, an extended mission of OSIRIS-REx, which collected samples from the asteroid Bennu and delivered them to Earth, will arrive at Apophis one month after its flyby, offering additional insights.

Antarctica’s Ice Sheet Shows Short-Term Growth Despite Warming Trends

27 May, 2025

A recent study using NASA satellite data from GRACE and GRACE Follow-On satellites, reveals that Antarctica gained ice between 2021 and 2023, despite long-term trends of ice loss due to global warming. Researchers from Tongji University in Shanghai found that the ice sheet’s mass increased by 119 billion tons annually during this period, reversing a decades-long decline. However, scientists emphasize that this is a temporary anomaly, driven by increased precipitation rather than a reversal of climate change.

NASA’s Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) and GRACE Follow-On satellites, which have monitored Antarctica’s ice sheet since 2002, show that the continent has been losing ice at an average rate of 136 billion tons per year. The recent gains do not offset the long-term trend of ice loss, which accelerated between 2011 and 2020. Experts warn that while snowfall temporarily slowed ice depletion, glaciers continue to melt, contributing to rising sea levels and ongoing climate concerns. This study was published in the journal Science China Earth Sciences.

China Launches Tianwen-2 Mission to Collect Samples from Near-Earth Asteroid & Study a Comet

An artist's rendering of Earth's "quasi-moon" Kamo'oalewa, the first stop of China's Tianwen 2 asteroid-comet mission.

An artist's rendering of Earth's "quasi-moon" Kamo'oalewa, the first stop of China's Tianwen 2 asteroid-comet mission. Using the Large Binocular Telescope, astronomers have shown that it might be a lost fragment of the moon. (Credit: Addy Graham/University of Arizona)

28 May, 2025

China has launched the Tianwen-2 mission, aiming to retrieve samples from the near-Earth asteroid Kamoʻoalewa (2016 HO3) before continuing to study the comet 311P/PANSTARRS. The spacecraft lifted off aboard a Long March 3B rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on May 28, 2025.

Tianwen-2 will reach Kamoʻoalewa in 2026, conducting close-range observations before attempting to collect 100 grams of material using two sampling methods—touch-and-go and anchor-and-attach, the latter being a first-of-its-kind approach. Scientists believe Kamoʻoalewa may be a fragment of the Moon, ejected by a massive impact within the last 10 million years. After delivering the samples to Earth in 2027, the probe will use Earth’s gravity to slingshot toward 311P/PANSTARRS, arriving in 2035 to study its dust tails and composition.

The spacecraft carries eight science instruments, including spectrometers, cameras, a magnetometer, and a dust analyzer, to investigate the asteroid’s surface properties, composition, and magnetic environment. The mission is expected to provide insights into planetary defense strategies and the origins of water on Earth

29 May, 2025

Separately, China launched the classified Shijian-26 satellite aboard a Long March 4B rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. While details remain undisclosed, the satellite is expected to support national land surveys and environmental monitoring

GOVERNANCE

 

China & Russia Plan Lunar Nuclear Power Plant as Part of Joint Space Initiative

12 May, 2025

China and Russia have signed a memorandum of cooperation to build a nuclear power plant on the Moon, a key component of their International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) project. The agreement, announced by Roscosmos and the China National Space Administration (CNSA), outlines plans for an autonomous reactor to support long-duration lunar operations. The facility is expected to be completed by 2036 and will be located at the Moon’s south pole.

The ILRS, first proposed in 2021, has attracted 17 participating nations, including Egypt, Pakistan, Venezuela, Thailand, and South Africa. China’s Chang’e-8 mission, scheduled for 2028, will lay the groundwork for the station’s construction. The project is part of a broader China-Russia space roadmap extending to 2050, with ambitions to support manned Mars missions.

The announcement comes as NASA faces budgetary setbacks, potentially delaying its Artemis program and Gateway lunar station, raising concerns about U.S. leadership in lunar exploration.

NASA Workforce & Science Missions Face Cuts as Scientists, Unions Raise Concerns

A rendering of the Chandra X-ray Space Observatory, the most advanced X-ray telescope ever built, offering eight times greater resolution and the ability to detect sources more than 20 times fainter than its predecessors.

A rendering of the Chandra X-ray Space Observatory, the most advanced X-ray telescope ever built, offering eight times greater resolution and the ability to detect sources more than 20 times fainter than its predecessors. (Credit: NASA/CXC & J. Vaughan)

27 May, 2025

The Trump administration’s 2026 budget proposal introduced earlier this month includes deep cuts to NASA and climate science programs, sparking concerns among scientists and policymakers. The plan would reduce NASA’s funding by 24%, eliminating 41 science missions, including Mars Sample Return, New Horizons, and Juno. Additionally, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) faces a $1.52 billion reduction, threatening research on satellite air pollution and atmospheric changes. The proposed budget would end several ongoing astrophysics missions, including the Chandra X-Ray Observatory and the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope.

NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York City, a facility known for its climate research and atmospheric modeling.

NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York City, a facility known for its climate research and atmospheric modeling. (Credit: NASA)

28 May, 2025

One of the most controversial moves is the closure of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York City, a facility known for its climate research and atmospheric modeling. NASA’s largest union, IFPTE (International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers), has condemned the decision, calling it an attack on scientific research. The administration claims the closure is part of a government-wide efficiency review, but critics argue it will disrupt critical climate studies and force scientists into remote work without proper resources.

30 May, 2025

As per more information released this week, the budget proposal also includes mass layoffs, cutting NASA’s workforce by nearly one-third, from 17,391 to 11,853 employees. Scientists warn that these reductions will weaken U.S. leadership in space exploration and slow advancements in planetary science. NASA proposes a $3.9 billion budget for science in fiscal year 2026, a 47% cut from 2025.

Amid these cuts, researchers and climate scientists are organizing resistance efforts, including a 100-hour YouTube livestream that started on May 28, to highlight the importance of climate and space research. As Congress reviews the budget, the scientific community continues to push for funding restoration, emphasizing the long-term consequences of dismantling key research programs.

China’s AI Expansion & Space-Based Computing Initiatives Under Scrutiny in Latest US Think Tank’s Competitive Studies Report

The cover of the report shows a section of a map of AI data centers in the PRC.

The cover of the report shows a section of a map of AI data centers in the PRC. (Credit: striderintel.com scsp.ai)

29 May, 2025

A new report titled “China’s AI Infrastructure Surge”, released by the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) and Strider Technologies, outlines China's rapid push to dominate artificial intelligence, including its strategic expansion into space-based computing.

The report details China’s state-led initiative to build over 250 AI-focused data centers, supporting both economic and military objectives. These facilities enable large-scale machine learning models, reinforcing China's bid for global AI leadership. Additionally, China is deploying AI-powered satellites, marking a significant shift toward on-orbit data processing. Companies like ADA Space and Zhejiang Lab have launched the first 12 satellites of a planned 2,800-satellite supercomputing network, connected through high-speed laser links to analyze data in space, reducing dependence on Earth-based infrastructure.

Christopher Gragg, an intelligence analyst at Strider Technologies, notes that China’s AI investments, particularly in space-based capabilities, could reshape international competitiveness in AI-driven defense technologies, raising concerns in the West over data security and strategic advantages. These developments signal a broader effort by China to establish technological superiority, leveraging AI for military, economic, and space applications while challenging Western dominance in emerging AI ecosystems.

The Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) is a U.S. think tank founded by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, focusing on technology and national security, with strong ties to U.S. defense policy. Meanwhile, Strider Technologies is a strategic intelligence firm specializing in state-sponsored threats, backed by venture capital and aligned with U.S. counterintelligence efforts. Both organizations frame China’s AI expansion through a U.S. national security lens, suggesting a potential bias toward American strategic interests.

New Space Policy Center at University of Colorado Boulder (US) to Focus on Governance and Security

Daniel Baker, director of the newly established Colorado Space Policy Center (CSPC) at the University of Colorado Boulder. (Credit: Barbara David)

Daniel Baker, director of the newly established Colorado Space Policy Center (CSPC) at the University of Colorado Boulder. (Credit: Barbara David)

30 May, 2025

The University of Colorado Boulder is set to launch the Colorado Space Policy Center (CSPC), a new research institute focused on space governance, commercialization, and national security. The center, led by Daniel Baker, a distinguished professor of planetary and space physics, aims to provide policy analysis and recommendations on critical issues such as low Earth orbit regulation, planetary protection, and international space partnerships.

CSPC will integrate expertise from aerospace engineering, astrophysics, geosciences, and business, leveraging Colorado’s space industry and proximity to major aerospace organizations. The university is committing hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to support the center’s operations.

Baker, formerly director of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP), emphasizes the need for faster policy development to match the rapid pace of space advancements. CSPC seeks to become a nationally recognized hub for space policy analysis and formulation.

FAA Investigates SpaceX Starship Break-Up After Uncontrolled Reentry

Flight 9 launched from SpaceX’s Starbase site in South Texas on May 27, but both stages of Starship—the Super Heavy booster and the Ship upper stage (sometimes also referred to as Starship)—were ultimately destroyed. Seen here is the stage separation.

Flight 9 launched from SpaceX’s Starbase site in South Texas on May 27, but both stages of Starship—the Super Heavy booster and the Ship upper stage (sometimes also referred to as Starship)—were ultimately destroyed. Seen here is the stage separation. (Credit: SpaceX)

30 May, 2025

SpaceX’s Starship Flight 9, its latest test flight launched on May 27, reached space but suffered a loss of attitude control, leading to an uncontrolled reentry and breakup over the Indian Ocean. The Super Heavy booster, which was reused for the first time, also failed to complete its landing burn, resulting in a hard splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. In this test the engines operated normally, unlike previous flights, shutting down as expected after placing the vehicle in its planned suborbital trajectory. However, video showed the vehicle venting propellants and in a slow roll immediately after engine shutdown.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched a mishap investigation, requiring SpaceX to analyze the failure of the upper-stage vehicle. While the booster’s loss was pre-approved under test-induced damage exceptions, the FAA is focusing on why Starship lost control and failed to complete its planned reentry.

Despite setbacks, SpaceX gathered valuable flight data, including heat shield performance and engine behavior. CEO Elon Musk stated that future launches will occur every three to four weeks, aiming for rapid iteration and improvements. The investigation’s findings will determine corrective actions before the next flight.

MILITARY

 

ExoTerra Delivers Propulsion Modules for US SDA’s Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture

An image showing the test firing of ExoTerra Resources' xenon fueled microsatellite thruster.

An image showing the test firing of ExoTerra Resources' xenon fueled microsatellite thruster. (Credit: ExoTerra Resources)

May 27, 2025

Colorado-based ExoTerra has delivered 21 Iris250 propulsion modules to York Space Systems for the Space Development Agency’s (SDA) Tranche 1 Transport Layer. These modules, equipped with Halo electric propulsion technology, will enhance microsatellite maneuverability, supporting low-latency data communications across air, sea, and terrestrial domains.

ExoTerra has expanded production, hiring 100 employees and opening a 36,000-square-foot facility to meet growing demand. The company aims to scale deliveries to 24 units per month later this year.

York Space Systems, alongside Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, is building 42 satellites each for Tranche 1. The SDA’s Transport Layer is part of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, designed to provide secure, real-time connectivity for military operations.

US Space Force Expands GPS Constellation with New Lockheed Martin Contract & Rapid SpaceX Launches

May 28, 2025

The U.S. Space Force continues to expand its GPS satellite constellation, ordering two additional GPS IIIF satellites from Lockheed Martin under a $509.7 million contract. These satellites, part of the GPS III Follow-On series, will enhance positioning, navigation, and timing services for both military and civilian users. The latest order brings the total number of GPS IIIF satellites under contract to 12, with delivery expected by 2031.

A video showing the deployment of GPS III-7 payload.

A video showing the deployment of GPS III-7 payload. (Credit: SpaceX via X)

May 30, 2025

Meanwhile, SpaceX has launched another GPS III satellite for the Space Force in a record turnaround of less than three months. The National Security Space Launch (NSSL) GPS III-7 mission Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, deploying the GPS III SV-08 (Space Vehicle - 8) spacecraft into orbit, which was initially assigned to United Launch Alliance (ULA) but later switched to SpaceX. This accelerated timeline demonstrates the Space Force’s ability to rapidly deploy satellites, a significant improvement over the typical 18–24 months required for national security missions. The GPS III satellites, built by Lockheed Martin, offer three times greater accuracy and eight times more resistance to jamming compared to previous models.

23 May, 2025

Last week, the U.S. Space Force awarded Raytheon a $380 million contract extension to continue work on the Next Generation Operational Control System (OCX), a critical software upgrade for GPS infrastructure. This modification brings the total contract value to $4.52 billion, covering pre-operational acceptance support and post-operational interim contractor support.

Despite being eight years behind schedule, OCX is considered essential for commanding and controlling GPS III satellites, which provide enhanced positioning, navigation, and timing services. Work will primarily take place at Aurora, Colorado, Schriever Space Force Base, and Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Apex Unveils Comet Satellite Bus for Large-Scale Defense Constellations, Next-Gen Space Infrastructure

A rendering of Apex’s Comet satellite platform that has a flat form factor.

A rendering of Apex’s Comet satellite platform that has a flat form factor. (Credit: Apex)

28 May, 2025

U.S.-based satellite manufacturer Apex has unveiled Comet, its largest satellite bus, designed to support commercial constellations and U.S. national security missions. The flat-pack design allows more satellites to fit within a 5-meter launch vehicle fairing, reducing deployment costs. Comet delivers over 5 kilowatts of continuous power, making it suitable for direct-to-device networks, sensing missions, and defense applications.

Apex sees Comet as a potential space-based interceptor platform for the Golden Dome missile defense architecture, highlighting its role in national security initiatives. The company has also expanded its product line with Aries and Nova, supporting various payload sizes.

Earlier this year, Apex secured $200 million in funding to scale production and meet growing demand. As the space industry shifts toward high-rate satellite manufacturing, Comet positions Apex as a key player in large-scale constellation deployment.

Japanese Defense Ministry Contracts Space One & Space BD for Satellite Launch

In March 2024, Japan’s Space One launched its small, solid-fueled Kairos rocket from its Kii Peninsula pad in Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture, before the vehicle exploded shortly after liftoff.

In March 2024, Japan’s Space One launched its small, solid-fueled Kairos rocket from its Kii Peninsula pad in Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture, before the vehicle exploded shortly after liftoff. (Credit: Reuters, Kyodo)

29 May, 2025

Japan’s Ministry of Defense has awarded a contract to the Japan-based spaceflight company, Space One and space services provider, Space BD for the launch of a multi-orbit observation demonstration satellite. The satellite, built by Canon Electronics, will support national security initiatives and advance Japan’s commercial space industry.

Under the agreement, Space BD will oversee launch services, while Space One will conduct the mission using its Kairos small launch vehicle. Kairos, a four-stage solid-fuel rocket, has faced two previous launch failures, but the company expects to increase launch frequency.

The satellite will launch from Spaceport Kii, Japan’s first private rocket launch site, as part of efforts to expand domestic space capabilities. Despite setbacks, Space One aims to conduct up to 20 launches annually by the end of the decade.

COMMERCIAL

 

MinoSpace Wins Provincial Satellite Contract as Commercial Space Investments Grow in China

26 May, 2025

Chinese commercial satellite manufacturer MinoSpace has secured a major contract to build a remote sensing satellite constellation for Sichuan Province. The 804 million yuan ($111 million) project, approved by China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), marks a shift toward greater commercial involvement in national space infrastructure.

MinoSpace, founded in 2017, will develop 10 satellites, including six synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites and four optical satellites. The company will also oversee launch, networking, and commissioning. This contract signals growing provincial investment in space technology, with Sichuan’s National Public Resources Trading Platform facilitating the bid.

The deal highlights China’s evolving space sector, where commercial firms are increasingly integrated into state-backed initiatives. While state-owned enterprises (CASC, CASIC and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)) have traditionally dominated, companies like MinoSpace are now playing a vertically integrated role in satellite development, potentially aligning with national satellite internet and Earth observation goals.

Bulgarian EnduroSat, Firefly from US, & China's Astronstone Secure Funding for Advanced Satellites & Launch Systems

The commercial space sector is seeing a surge in investment, with companies across the globe securing funding to advance satellite and launch vehicle technologies.

EnduroSat stated that its cableless satellite bus design allows for rapid assembly and functional testing within a matter of hours, enabling it to keep pace with the growing demand for constellation deployment.

EnduroSat stated that its cableless satellite bus design allows for rapid assembly and functional testing within a matter of hours, enabling it to keep pace with the growing demand for constellation deployment. (Credit: EnduroSat)

27 May, 2025

Bulgarian satellite manufacturer EnduroSat has raised $49 million to scale production of its Gen3 satellites, which are significantly larger and more capable than its previous models. The funding, led by Founders Fund, will help expand manufacturing capacity with a 17,500-square-meter facility in Sofia, Bulgaria. EnduroSat plans to scale up and produce up to 60 satellites per month weighing 200-500 kg, by the end of the year, up from 12–15 cubesats per month, each weighing no more than 36 kilograms. These satellites are designed for Earth observation and broadband connectivity, catering to growing demand for constellation programs.

In 2025, it plans to launch two Gen3 Endurance validation missions—one to test propulsion technology and another to evaluate an Earth observation system with in-orbit processing and a multispectral payload. The Gen3 Endurance satellites will provide up to 3.5 kW of power and 2 Gbps downlink capability, a major upgrade from EnduroSat’s current satellites, which offer 50 watts of power and 1 Gbps downlink.

Northrop Grumman invests $50M in Firefly Aerospace to advance Eclipse (formerly known as MLV), a medium-class launch vehicle designed for space station resupply, national security, and commercial missions.

Northrop Grumman invests $50M in Firefly Aerospace to advance Eclipse (formerly known as MLV), a medium-class launch vehicle designed for space station resupply, national security, and commercial missions. (Credit: Firefly Aerospace)

29 May, 2025

Meanwhile, Northrop Grumman has invested $50 million into Firefly Aerospace to accelerate development of their Eclipse medium launch vehicle. Built on technology from Northrop’s Antares 300 and Firefly’s Alpha rockets, Eclipse is designed to carry 16 metric tons (16,300 kilograms) to orbit and support space station resupply, U.S. national security missions, and commercial payloads. The first launch is expected in 2026 from Wallops Island, Virginia. This funding joins a $175 million Series D round that Firefly announced in November.

The Yushi Space/Astronstone stainless steel common bulkhead tank.

The Yushi Space/Astronstone stainless steel common bulkhead tank. (Credit: Astronstone)

29 May, 2025

In China, Astronstone (also referred to as Beijing Yushi Space Technology Co. Ltd. or Yushi Space), a new commercial launch startup, has secured early-stage funding of more than 100 million yuan ($13.9 million) for its AS-1 stainless steel reusable rocket. The methane-liquid oxygen rocket features a “chopsticks” recovery system for first-stage reuse, similar to the technique developed by SpaceX, aiming to reduce launch costs. Investors see stainless steel as a key material for reusability due to its high-temperature resistance.

The AS-1 rocket measures 4.2 meters in diameter and 70 meters in length, with a 570,000 kg takeoff mass. It can deliver 15,700 kg to low Earth orbit in expendable mode or 10,000 kg in reusable mode. Astronstone estimates launch costs at 10,000 yuan ($1,340) per kg when reused and 20,000 yuan ($2,680) per kg when expendable. The company also plans a larger AS-2 rocket with an 8-meter diameter for future missions.

The AS-1 rocket will use a customized variant of the 80-ton-thrust Longyun engine, developed by commercial rocket engine maker Jiuzhou Yunjian (JZYJ). JZYJ also provided Longyun engines to another Chinese rocket startup, Sepoch, which recently conducted a test using its stainless steel test vehicle.

A video of China's Space Epoch completing its first sea-based vertical landing of reusable rocket

A video from Beijing-based Sepoch captures the Yuanxingzhe-1 (YXZ-1) rocket, also known as Hiker-1, reigniting its engine mid-descent, hovering briefly above the sea surface, and executing a soft vertical landing. (Photo: Space Epoch) (Credit: via Andrew Jones, X)

29 May, 2025

Sepoch (also referred to as Beijing Jianyuan Technology Co., Ltd., or Space Epoch) has successfully conducted a vertical takeoff and splashdown test, with the Yuanxingzhe-1 (YXZ-1) verification rocket lifted off from Haiyang spaceport in Shandong Province, reaching 2.5 kilometers in altitude before shutting down its engines.

During descent, the rocket relit its engines, performed a controlled vertical landing, and softly splashed down in coastal waters. Sepoch aims to launch Hiker-1, a reusable rocket capable of carrying 10,000 kg to low Earth orbit, later this year.

Rocket Lab Expands Space Portfolio with Geost Acquisition & BlackSky Launch, Poised to Strengthen Defense Contractor Role

Rocket Lab is expanding its role in the space industry with strategic acquisitions and launches, positioning itself as a key player in both commercial and defense sectors.

Rocket Lab Expands Space Portfolio with Geost Acquisition & BlackSky Launch, Poised to Strengthen Defense Contractor Role

Credit: Rocket Lab

27 May, 2025

The company recently announced a $275 million acquisition of Geost, an electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) payload manufacturer specializing in missile warning, surveillance, and Earth observation. This move marks Rocket Lab’s formal entry into the satellite payload market, strengthening its position as a provider of end-to-end national security space solutions. By integrating Geost’s technology, Rocket Lab aims to reduce costs, accelerate delivery timelines, and enhance spacecraft capabilities for defense applications.

Rocket Lab’s acquisition of Geost expands its access to satellite sensor technology used by the U.S. Department of Defense for missile warning and space surveillance, boosting its prospects for future Pentagon contracts. The company already has a $515 million deal to build and operate 18 data-relay satellites for the SDA’s Transport Layer. The Geost acquisition strengthens its bid for the SDA’s Tranche 3 Tracking Layer, which is expected to involve over 50 satellites equipped with advanced missile-tracking sensors.

28 May, 2025

Meanwhile, continuing its commercial launch operations, Rocket Lab has delayed the deployment of a BlackSky Gen-3 Earth-observing satellite aboard an Electron rocket. The satellite mission, "Full Stream Ahead," scheduled to lift off on May 28 at 9:15 p.m. EDT from New Zealand, is now aiming to launch no earlier than June 2 EDT. It aims to provide high-resolution imagery and AI-enabled analytics for intelligence operations. This mission is part of a four-launch contract with the Virginia-based, real-time, space-based intelligence provider, BlackSky, reinforcing Rocket Lab’s role as a leading provider of dedicated small satellite launches.

29 May, 2025

With these developments, Rocket Lab is positioning itself as a disruptive prime contractor for U.S. national security missions. The company has pursued multiple acquisitions, including Mynaric, a laser communications firm, to vertically integrate critical satellite technologies. These moves align with U.S. defense initiatives like the Golden Dome missile defense architecture and the Space Development Agency’s Tracking Layer, signaling Rocket Lab’s growing influence in military space operations.

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

 

Scientists Explore New Path to Reconciling General Relativity and Quantum Physics

25 May, 2025

Physicists have proposed a new approach to quantum gravity, aiming to reconcile Einstein’s general relativity with quantum mechanics—a challenge that has persisted for decades, often referred to as the ‘theory of everything’. The theory, developed by researchers at Aalto University in Finland, reinterprets gravity as being mediated by four interrelated fields, rather than the traditional curvature of space-time. This framework mirrors quantum field theory, allowing gravity to be described in a way that avoids mathematical inconsistencies, such as infinite probabilities.

Unlike string theory, which requires extra dimensions, this model relies solely on known physical constants, making it testable with existing experiments. The researchers claim their approach eliminates negative probabilities and other issues that arise when attempting to quantize gravity. While promising, the theory remains in its early stages, requiring further validation. If successful, it could provide a new foundation for physics, potentially challenging Einstein’s long-standing gravitational model. The study was published in the journal Reports on Progress in Physics.

Astronomers Discover Mysterious Object Emitting Radio and X-Ray Pulses Every 44 Minutes

An image of the sky showing the region around ASKAP J1832-0911. X-rays from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, radio data from the South African MeerKAT radio telescope, and infrared data from NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope.

An image of the sky showing the region around ASKAP J1832-0911. X-rays from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, radio data from the South African MeerKAT radio telescope, and infrared data from NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope. (Credit: Ziteng Wang, ICRAR)

28 May, 2025

Astronomers from the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) have discovered a mysterious cosmic object, ASKAP J1832-0911, that emits radio waves and X-rays every 44 minutes—a phenomenon never observed before. The object, located 15,000 light-years away in the Milky Way, was detected using Australia’s ASKAP radio telescope and NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, which coincidentally observed the same region at the same time.

ASKAP J1832-0911 belongs to a rare class of long-period radio transients (LPTs), which emit pulses at unusually long intervals. Scientists speculate it could be a magnetar—a highly magnetized neutron star—or a binary system containing a magnetized white dwarf, but neither theory fully explains its behavior. The discovery challenges existing astrophysical models and suggests the presence of new physics or unknown stellar evolution processes. Further observations are needed to determine its true nature. The research was published on Wednesday in the journal Nature.

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