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- Issue 64 | Breaking Space News: Aug 17 - 23, 2025
Issue 64 | Breaking Space News: Aug 17 - 23, 2025
A Comet May be Responsible Earth’s Water & Starlink to Help Cut Astronomy Interference — This Week in Space: Sun‐Synchronous Orbits, Sinus Issues on the ISS, Uranus’s New Moon; Russian Biosatellite Launch, Korean Cubesat on Artemis 2, Mexican ThumbSat on China’s CAS Space Launch. Plus: Portuguese Spaceport; NASA to Reduce Focus on Climate Science; Schriever Wargames Updates, X‐37B Launch, Space Cotan‐Firefly MoU, Platinum Equity‐Anuvu Takeover, Ancient Starburst Galaxy, Mysterious Radio Bursts & More.
Lagrangian Despatch
August 24, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 43 minutes
Explorer, welcome back!🚀
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Hope you enjoy this Space!
Microgravity Linked to Elevated Rates of Congestion & Ear Pressure Problems in Astronauts
Water Signature in Comet Suggests Earth’s Water May Have Come From Space
NASA & Google are Testing an AI Assistant for Spaceflight Medical Support
Preserved Apollo 17 Lunar Sample Offers New Insights into Origin of Rare Lunar Landslide
Russian Biosatellite Begins Month‑Long Study of Radiation, Microgravity Effects on Organisms
South Korea’s K‑RadCube Prepares for Artemis 2 Radiation Study in Van Allen Belts
NRAO, SpaceX Test Automated Data‑Sharing System to Limit Starlink Interference in Astronomy
PRIMER
Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO)
Altitude: ~600–800 km
Definition: A near-polar orbit that precesses (slowly changing the orientation of the axis of a rotating object) to maintain consistent local solar time at each pass—ideal for imaging under uniform lighting conditions.
Orbital Period: ~96–100 minutes
SSO is a specialized subset of low Earth orbit, optimized for Earth observation. Its sun-tracking geometry ensures satellites pass over the same location at the same solar angle, enabling consistent data collection.
Subtype | Altitude | Inclination | Ground Track | Primary Use Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Classic SSO | 600–800 km | ~98° | Sun-synchronous | Climate monitoring, EO, surveillance |
Dusk-Dawn SSO | ~800 km | ~98° | Terminator-aligned | Thermal imaging, solar studies |
Key Characteristics
SSO satellites maintain consistent lighting—ideal for time-series analysis and change detection.
Near-polar inclination enables global coverage, including high latitudes.
Precession is driven by Earth’s oblateness, allowing passive sun-tracking without propulsion.
Use Cases by Orbit Type
Classic SSO: Landsat, Sentinel, PlanetScope—used for agriculture, forestry, disaster response
Dusk-Dawn SSO: Suomi NPP, Aura—optimized for thermal and atmospheric studies
Defense & Dual-Use: High-resolution imaging for reconnaissance and strategic monitoring
Advantages of SSO
Uniform lighting improves image comparability over time
Global revisit potential with constellation design
Passive sun-tracking reduces fuel needs for orientation
Limitations
Congestion in popular altitudes (~500–800 km) raises debris risks
Limited dwell time over targets without constellation support
Vulnerable to orbital perturbations and atmospheric drag
SSO is increasingly contested as both commercial and defense actors expand imaging capabilities. Key dynamics include:
Commercial Expansion: EO startups and analytics firms are rapidly populating SSO, raising questions about data ownership and privacy.
Dual-Use Complexity: High-resolution imaging blurs lines between civil and military use, complicating transparency and norms.
Debris Mitigation: Polar shells are among the most congested—prompting calls for stricter post-mission disposal and tracking protocols.
Global Access: SSO enables coverage of underserved regions, but launch access and data equity remain uneven across nations.
As Earth observation becomes central to climate action, disaster response, and strategic intelligence, SSO is emerging as a critical orbital commons—ripe for governance innovation.
IMAGES
Previously Unknown Moon Found in Uranus’s Orbit : James Webb Space Telescope
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has identified a previously unknown moon orbiting Uranus, bringing the planet’s total to 29. Designated S/2025 U1, the six-mile-wide object was detected using Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera during a six-hour observation in February. Its nearly circular orbit suggests it formed near its current location, nestled between Ophelia and Bianca.
The image reveals the newly discovered object alongside 13 of the planet’s 28 previously known moons. Cordelia, which orbits just inside the outermost ring, remains obscured by ring glare. To balance extreme brightness contrasts, the image combines three data treatments, highlighting atmospheric features, rings, and moons. Observations used NIRCam’s F150W2 filter, spanning 1.0–2.4 microns. (Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, M. El Moutamid (SwRI), M. Hedman (University of Idaho))
SCIENCE
Microgravity Linked to Elevated Rates of Congestion & Ear Pressure Problems in Astronauts
A new Houston Methodist study has found that 85% of astronauts on the International Space Station between 2000 and 2019 experienced at least one nasal or sinus issue, with 75% reporting congestion. Researchers linked these problems to fluid shifts in microgravity and pressure changes during spacewalks, which also increased risks of barotrauma and Eustachian tube dysfunction. The analysis, covering 754 medical events from 71 astronauts, suggests that even highly fit crews face performance‑impacting respiratory challenges in orbit.
Lead author and chair of the Department of Otolaryngology, Dr. Masayoshi Takashima noted that over‑the‑counter remedies may work differently in space, underscoring the need for targeted treatments. The findings carry implications for future missions, including commercial spaceflight, where participants may have pre‑existing conditions. Preventive screening and minor procedures to improve breathing are proposed as mitigation steps. The study was published on Aug. 5 in the journal Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology.
Water Signature in Devil Comet Suggests Earth’s Water May Have Come From Space
Scientists believe Earth’s water arrived billions of years ago through impacts from comets, asteroids, and meteorites. Recent observations with the ALMA telescope reveal a deuterium-to-hydrogen (D/H) ratio in cometary water that closely matches Earth’s—challenging earlier assumptions and pointing to Halley-type comets as a possible source. (Credit: NASA / Theophilus Britt Griswold)
An international team of scientists, using new ALMA observations of comet 12P/Pons-Brooks also known as the Devil Comet, has revealed a deuterium-to-hydrogen (D/H) ratio in its water nearly identical to Earth’s oceans, the lowest ever recorded in a Halley-type comet. This finding strengthens the long-debated theory that comets may have contributed to Earth’s water and possibly its prebiotic chemistry. By mapping both ordinary and heavy water in the comet’s coma, researchers confirmed the gases originated from the nucleus, not secondary processes.
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, photographed in March 2024, is a ‘Halley-type’ comet with an orbital period of roughly 71 years and a nucleus approximately 30 km wide.
The study, led by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, combined Atacama Large Millimeter/sub-millimeter Array’s (ALMA), spatial resolution with infrared data from NASA’s IRTF to build a more complete chemical profile. Unlike previous comet measurements that showed mismatched isotopic signatures, this result suggests that at least some Halley-type comets carried water compatible with terrestrial origins. As planetary science increasingly probes the conditions for habitability, such findings offer a rare isotopic fingerprint linking early solar system bodies to Earth’s formative environment—and potentially to the emergence of life itself. The finding was reported in the journal Nature Astronomy.
NASA & Google are Testing an AI Assistant for Spaceflight Medical Support
As space agencies prepare for extended human missions beyond low Earth orbit, autonomous medical support is emerging as a critical infrastructure need. NASA and Google are jointly testing an AI-powered medical assistant designed to help astronauts diagnose and manage health issues during deep-space missions, where communication delays with Earth can reach up to 45 minutes. The Crew Medical Officer Digital Assistant (CMO-DA), a proof-of-concept for an automated Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS), is being trained on spaceflight literature and refined with input from medical professionals.
Early results suggest the system may be able to reliably interpret symptoms and propose treatment options. This initiative aligns with NASA’s Artemis program and broader efforts to reduce reliance on Earth-based intervention. While the technology remains experimental, its potential extends beyond spaceflight—offering possible applications in remote terrestrial environments with limited access to healthcare. The collaboration reflects a growing trend: embedding AI into mission-critical systems to enhance crew autonomy and resilience in extreme conditions.
The ability to deliver reliable, context-aware medical support without real-time human intervention could become essential infrastructure in the near future. The project also raises broader questions about trust, oversight, and the role of AI in high-stakes environments.
Preserved Apollo 17 Lunar Sample Offers New Insights into Origin of Rare Lunar Landslide
The sample remained sealed and untouched since its original collection during the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. (Credit: Dave Edey and Romy Hanna, UTCT, Jackson School of Geosciences/NASA)
19 August, 2025
More than 50 years after its collection, a sealed Apollo 17 lunar sample has revealed evidence of a rare extraterrestrial landslide on the Moon. Researchers at the Natural History Museum and University of Texas used advanced micro-CT scanning to analyze the core, uncovering clasts (rock fragments) that suggest the Light Mantle region was formed by a long runout landslide. The material’s fluid-like behavior and fine coatings indicate internal fragmentation, not surface erosion.
Oblique image of the Taurus-Littrow Valley on the Moon, where the Light Mantle stands out as a bright, high-reflectance layer overlaying the darker basaltic terrain below. The South Massif, composed primarily of anorthositic breccia, forms part of the elevated rim structure between Mare Serenitatis and Mare Tranquillitatis. (Credit: LROC NAC M1266925685)
The Light Mantle is a geologically distinct, high-albedo deposit on the Moon, located at the base of the South Massif in the Taurus-Littrow Valley, where Apollo 17 landed in 1972. It stretches roughly 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) across the valley floor and is believed to be the result of a long runout landslide—the only such feature ever sampled directly on the Moon.
What makes the material scientifically intriguing is its fluid-like flow behavior despite the Moon’s lack of atmosphere or water. While the exact trigger remains uncertain, one hypothesis links the event to debris from the Tycho crater impact, which may have struck the South Massif and initiated the slide. This discovery not only deepens understanding of lunar geology but also informs future sample handling protocols under NASA’s Artemis program. The study underscores the value of preserving samples for decades, allowing new technologies to revisit old questions and refine planetary science ahead of renewed human exploration of the Moon. The findings were published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.
Russian Biosatellite Begins Month‑Long Study of Radiation, Microgravity Effects on Mice, Insects, Microbes, & Other Organisms
Engineers working on the Bion-M No. 2 satellite, earlier this year. (Credit: Roscosmos)
The rodent-holding unit in Bion-M No. 2. (Credit: Roscosmos)
20 August, 2025
Russia has launched its Bion‑M No. 2 biosatellite from Baikonur Cosmodrome, carrying 75 mice, 1,000 fruit flies, microbes, cell cultures, plant seeds, and simulated lunar soil into a month‑long polar orbit. The mission, delayed nearly a decade from its planned 2016–2017 debut, follows Bion‑M No. 1’s 2013 flight but will expose payloads to higher cosmic radiation by flying over the poles. The program, a successor to Russia’s earlier Bion series that ended in 1996, is designed to study the biological effects of microgravity and radiation on diverse organisms.
The Bion-M No. 1 satellite returned to Earth in 2013. (Credit: Institute of Medical and Biological Problems)
After re‑entry and recovery, scientists will examine physiological and genetic changes, with implications for long‑duration human spaceflight. Russia frames the research as part of its preparation for future lunar exploration, including participation in the China‑led International Lunar Research Station planned for the 2030s.
South Korea’s K‑RadCube Prepares for Artemis 2 Radiation Study in Van Allen Belts
After deployment on Artemis 2, South Korea’s K‑RadCube will use its onboard propulsion system to boost its orbit. (Credit: KASA)
20 August, 2025
South Korea’s K-RadCube satellite has arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center ahead of its scheduled launch aboard Artemis 2, currently planned for early 2026. Developed by the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), the 41-pound cubesat will measure radiation levels across the Van Allen belts using a dosimeter designed to mimic human tissue. The data aims to inform astronaut safety protocols for deep-space missions.
K-RadCube also carries semiconductor components from Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to assess their resilience in high-radiation environments—an experiment with implications for future lunar and Martian infrastructure. Once Artemis 2’s Orion spacecraft separates from the upper stage, K-RadCube and other international cubesats, including Germany’s TACHELES, will be deployed into high Earth orbit.
To avoid atmospheric re-entry, the UK’s SteamJet Space Systems will provide a water-based propulsion unit for K-RadCube, performing a rare 12-hour burn to raise its perigee, potentially marking a milestone in sustainable orbital maneuvering.
NRAO, SpaceX Test Automated Data‑Sharing System to Limit Starlink Interference in Astronomy
The Very Large Array in New Mexico: Radio astronomy observations are currently disrupted hundreds of times each day by satellites operating in low Earth orbit.(Credit: Bettymaya Foott, NRAO/AUI/NSF)
20 August, 2025
An automated coordination system developed by the U.S. National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) and SpaceX aims to mitigate radio interference from Starlink satellites, a growing challenge for observatories worldwide. The Operational Data Sharing platform transmits telescope schedules and frequency bands to Starlink, and the Starlink Telescope Boresight Avoidance algorithm, in real time, enabling satellites to redirect beams or mute electronics when passing overhead. Initial tests at the Very Large Array in New Mexico have shown promising results, with expansion planned to other facilities.
The initiative responds to escalating concerns as low Earth orbit constellations multiply — from roughly 3,000 satellites in 2019 to over 15,000 today, with projections exceeding 100,000 by 2030. Such growth risks overwhelming protected radio astronomy bands and degrading observations beyond them. While the system could be adapted for other, its broader adoption telescopes and operators remains uncertain. The effort underscores the tension between broadband access expanding global and preserving the radio-quiet conditions essential for deep-space research.
GOVERNANCE
Portugal Issues First Spaceport License to Atlantic Spaceport Consortium, to Support Suborbital Flights & ESA Missions
The site for Portugal’s Atlantic Spaceport Consortium (ASC) launch site. (Credit: Atlantic Space Consortium)
18 August, 2025
Portugal has issued its first license to operate a spaceport, authorizing the Portuguese Atlantic Spaceport Consortium (ASC) to establish a launch center in Malbusca on the island of Santa Maria, Azores. The five‑year permit covers site operations but excludes individual launch approvals, which will require separate licensing and safety reviews. Initial activities are expected to focus on suborbital flights from 2026, with infrastructure also planned to support ESA’s Space Rider reusable vehicle return missions by 2027.
The licensing process, conducted by Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações (ANACOM), Portugal’s national regulatory authority for the communications sector, in coordination with the Portuguese Space Agency and local authorities, is part of the Portugal Space 2030 strategy to position the Azores as a European platform for space access. The site’s mid‑Atlantic location offers strategic advantages for varied orbital inclinations. This move places Portugal among a growing group of European nations developing domestic launch capabilities, alongside projects in Scotland, Norway, and Sweden, reflecting a broader push for diversified access to space.
FAA Closes Starship Flight 9 Investigation, Clearing Path for Flight 10, SpaceX Implements Design Changes
Starship’s Flight 9 on May 27, 2025, before the anomaly. (Credit: SpaceX)
18 August, 2025
The FAA has closed its investigation into SpaceX’s Starship Flight 9 failure, clearing the way for Flight 10 as early as Aug. 24. Flight 9, launched May 27 from Starbase, ended with the loss of both stages: Super Heavy Booster 14 exploded during a high‑stress descent after a propellant line rupture, while Ship 35 suffered a methane leak traced to a faulty gas diffuser, destabilizing the vehicle and preventing planned in‑space tests. Weeks later, Ship 36 was destroyed in a ground test explosion caused by a damaged nitrogen Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel (COPV).
SpaceX has implemented design, inspection, and operational changes, including reduced descent angles, COPV shielding, and new testing protocols. Flight 10 and Flight 11 will conclude the current Starship/Super Heavy design iteration before upgrades aimed at meeting NASA’s Artemis 3 lunar lander schedule in 2027. The repeated upper‑stage losses hint at ongoing technical hurdles as SpaceX works toward fully reusable, reliable heavy‑lift capability.
Sean Duffy’s Strategy for NASA Sparks Concern Over Loss of Critical Earth Observation Capabilities
Interim NASA Administrator Sean Duffy. (Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls)
20 August, 2025
Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy has signaled a strategic pivot away from Earth science toward human space exploration, aligning with the administration’s FY 2026 budget proposal that would cut NASA’s science funding by 47% and reduce Earth science by more than half. Speaking on Fox Business, Duffy argued that climate monitoring could be handled by agencies like NOAA, while NASA should focus on missions to the Moon, Mars, and post‑ISS low Earth orbit destinations.
The proposal places nearly 40 active and planned science missions at risk, including long‑term climate data programs such as the Orbiting Carbon Observatory series. While no cancellations have been finalized, “at risk” notices have been issued to some project staff, heightening uncertainty ahead of congressional appropriations in October.
The shift underscores a broader debate over NASA’s role in climate research, with potential implications for global data continuity and the resilience of Earth observation capabilities.
UK Space Agency to Be Integrated into Department for Science, Innovation and Technology by 2026
21 August, 2025
The UK government will merge the UK Space Agency (UKSA) into the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) by April 2026, retaining the UKSA name but integrating policy and delivery teams under direct ministerial oversight. Officials frame the move as a way to cut duplication, improve accountability, and align strategy with execution, while industry leaders caution it could dilute transparency and distract from European funding negotiations.
The merger coincides with regulatory work on Rendezvous and Proximity Operations, a market projected at £2.7 billion by 2031, and the UK’s first active debris removal mission planned for 2028. Analysts note UKSA’s longstanding lack of a clear niche, overlapping with other agencies on licensing and research, and warn structural changes alone will not address chronic underfunding or the absence of a coherent national space program. The outcome will hinge on whether integration delivers sustained investment and strategic focus.
MILITARY
Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory Strengthens Ties with US Space Force Through Research Center Oversight Change
Credit: USU
17 August, 2025
Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) has a new Department of Defense sponsor, marking a shift in its long‑standing University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) role. The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration (SAF/SQ) will now oversee SDL’s UARC activities, succeeding the Missile Defense Agency after nearly three decades.
Established as one of the original six UARCs in 1996, SDL provides specialized expertise in areas such as advanced sensing, autonomous systems, space mission design, integrated command and control, modeling and simulation, and cyber systems. The lab has supported U.S. defense space programs since its first Air Force contract in 1959. The new affiliation with the U.S. Space Force aligns SDL’s core competencies with the service’s space technology priorities, potentially broadening opportunities across the DoD enterprise. SDL maintains its headquarters in North Logan, Utah, (U.S.) with additional offices in Virginia, New Mexico, Alabama, and Ogden, Utah.
Space Force’s Schriever Wargame 2025 Was the Last U.S.‑Planned Iteration, With Allies to Jointly Set 2027 Objectives
The U.S. Space Force conducted the Schriever Wargame Capstone 2025 from August 10–21. Set a decade in the future, the tabletop exercise challenges participants to address a notional conflict scenario, evaluate strategic and policy options, and explore how emerging technologies might enhance coalition operations. (Credit: US Space Force)
21 August, 2025
The U.S. Space Force’s Schriever Wargame 2025, held Aug. 10–21 at Maxwell AFB, brought together over 350 participants from the Department of Defense, nine partner nations, and industry to test strategies for a notional Indo-Pacific conflict a decade in the future. Led by Space Delta 10, the exercise examined coalition decision‑making, interoperability, and the integration of five classified “notional” technology concepts focused on space domain awareness, communications, and collaboration tools.
US Air War College students took part in a Pacific‑themed wargame on Dec. 21, 2023. (Credit: US Space Force)
This year marked a shift toward broader inclusion of enlisted personnel, commercial expertise, and allied perspectives, with Italy and Norway joining as observers. Officials signaled that 2025 will be the last iteration planned solely by the U.S., with Schriever 2027 objectives to be set jointly by participating nations. The wargame’s outcomes are intended to inform future force design, multinational operational concepts, and investment priorities, reinforcing a move toward an “allied by design” approach in space security planning.
Amentum Begins $4 Billion Space Force Contract to Modernize Launch Operations
21 August, 2025
Engineering services provider, Amentum has begun work under a $4 billion, 10‑year Space Force Range Contract (SFRC) to modernize launch operations at Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg, following the withdrawal of a protest by former contractor RGNext. The contract covers systems engineering, cybersecurity, logistics, and infrastructure support across both ranges, aiming to reduce cycle times and enable higher launch cadence amid growing commercial and defense demand.
Amentum plans to retain most of the 1,200 personnel from the previous contract and introduce digital tools, intelligent asset management, and commercial‑style spaceport operations to streamline launch readiness.
Separately, the company broke ground on a Radiation Combined Environment Test Facility in Indiana, in partnership with U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NSWC Crane). The site will support microelectronics testing under extreme conditions, contributing to national defense and future mission resilience.
US Space Force Launches Eighth X-37B Mission to Test Quantum Navigation & Laser Communications
X-37B orbital test vehicle after the conclusion of its sixth mission, in November 2022. (Credit: U.S. Space Force)
21 August, 2025
The U.S. Space Force launched its eighth X-37B mission on August 21 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9, continuing its pattern of classified orbital experimentation. Designated USSF-36, the flight carries two publicly acknowledged payloads: a quantum inertial sensor and a laser communications system. The quantum sensor, based on atom interferometry, aims to demonstrate GPS-independent navigation by detecting motion (acceleration, rotation and velocity) through quantum interference patterns. This capability is increasingly relevant in GPS-denied or contested environments, including cislunar space.
The laser communications test will assess data transmission via proliferated commercial satellite networks in low Earth orbit, potentially including Starlink. These systems promise higher bandwidth and greater resilience than traditional radio-frequency architectures.
While mission duration and full payload details remain undisclosed, the X-37B continues to serve as a testbed for technologies with strategic implications. Its dual focus on autonomous navigation and secure communications reflects broader efforts to enhance operational flexibility and survivability in contested orbital regimes.
COMMERCIAL
Italian-Dutch Revolv Space Wins US Contract to Supply Solar Array Drive Assembly Units for RTX Owned Blue Canyon’s Cubesat Mission
Revolv Space’s SARA solar array drive assembly. (Credit: Revolv Space)
17 August, 2025
Italian‑Dutch firm Revolv Space has secured its first U.S. contract, marking a step into a competitive new market. The company will supply six units of its SARA solar array drive assembly to Blue Canyon Technologies for an upcoming cubesat mission. SARA is designed to optimize solar panel positioning for small satellites, improving power generation efficiency in orbit.
Revolv Space, which operates from facilities in Italy and the Netherlands, focuses on modular, high‑reliability components for spacecraft. The deal with the Colorado-based spacecraft manufacturer, Blue Canyon, follows the firm’s efforts to expand beyond European customers, where it has supported missions for both commercial operators and institutional programs. Blue Canyon Technologies (BCT) has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies (RTX), the aerospace and defense company, since its acquisition in December 2020.
While financial terms were not disclosed, the contract signals growing transatlantic collaboration in the smallsat supply chain. For Revolv, entry into the U.S. market offers both new revenue opportunities and exposure to a broader set of mission profiles, as demand for compact, precise satellite subsystems continues to rise globally.
Japan’s Space Cotan & Firefly Aerospace Sign MoU to Study Alpha Rocket Launches from Hokkaido Spaceport
Firefly’s Alpha rocket launching to orbit. (Credit: Firefly Aerospace/Trevor Mahlmann)
18 August, 2025
Firefly Aerospace and Japan’s Space Cotan, operator of the Hokkaido Spaceport (HOSPO), have signed a memorandum of understanding to study the feasibility of launching Firefly’s Alpha rocket from the site in Taiki, Hokkaido. The assessment will examine operational concepts, infrastructure compatibility, and licensing requirements, with no launch commitments yet in place.
HOSPO, backed by Japan’s Space Strategy Fund, is developing an orbital launch complex alongside its existing suborbital pad, aiming to host frequent missions from multiple providers. Its location offers open sea to the east and south and room for expansion, supporting access to polar and sun‑synchronous orbits.
For Firefly, which currently launches Alpha from California and is adding sites in Virginia and Sweden, a Japanese base could strengthen its Asia‑Pacific market reach and provide additional launch resiliency for U.S. allies. The move reflects intensifying competition among small‑ and medium‑lift providers to secure positions in emerging Asian space markets.
Anuvu Set for Platinum Equity Takeover While SpinLaunch Advances Meridian Constellation with $30 Million Funding
18 August, 2025
Two developments this week highlight how private capital is shaping satellite connectivity strategies across distinct market segments.
Platinum Equity has agreed to acquire Anuvu, a Lombard, Illinois–based provider of in‑flight entertainment and high‑speed connectivity for airlines, VIP aircraft, and cruise lines. The deal follows Anuvu’s activation of its first two small geostationary satellites, part of a turnaround effort that began in 2021 under lender control. Anuvu serves more than 150 airlines and 30 cruise operators, operating both media licensing/distribution and satellite broadband divisions. The company recently launched the Anuvu Constellation to provide dedicated aviation capacity over North America, positioning itself to meet rising demand for passenger connectivity. Financial terms were not disclosed; closing is expected in Q4 2025 pending regulatory approvals.
An animation showing the deployment of the Meridian Space constellation. (Credit: SpinLaunch)
19 August, 2025
In parallel, SpinLaunch announced it has raised $30 million to accelerate development of its Meridian Space low Earth orbit broadband constellation. The round includes existing backers led by ATW Partners and a previously disclosed strategic investment from Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, which is also building the satellites via its NanoAvionics unit. SpinLaunch has completed full‑scale testing of a proprietary multi‑band reconfigurable reflectarray antenna, designed to reduce cost and complexity compared to conventional systems. The company targets its first customer link in the second half of 2026, citing early commercial interest in an open‑architecture satcom platform.
SpinLaunch plans to launch its constellation using its ambitious kinetic launch system once it's operational, initially launching them with conventional rockets to accelerate deployment.
Investor appetite in unique connectivity options, from GEO mobility services to LEO broadband, has been growing, as operators aim to capture passenger demand growth, diversify revenue, and compete on technical flexibility in a crowded market.
Mexican ThumbSats Launched on China’s CAS Space Kinetica‑1 Rocket
On 19 August 2025, a CAS Space Kinetica‑1 (Lijian‑1) rocket launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, transporting seven satellites—among them two Mexican ThumbSats. (Credit: CAS Space)
19 August, 2025
China’s commercial launch firm CAS Space has delivered its first Latin American payloads, marking a new phase in cross‑regional space cooperation. A Kinetica‑1 (Lijian‑1) solid‑fuel rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on 19 August 2025, carrying seven satellites, including Mexico’s first domestically built spacecraft to fly on a Chinese commercial vehicle.
The two ThumbSat femtosatellites, each under 100 grams, were developed by Mexican company ThumbSat in partnership with CAS Space. ThumbSat‑1 carries a mirror‑based “selfie” experiment, while ThumbSat‑2 hosts an artistic payload blending science and culture. CAS Space engineered a dedicated deployer and will install free ground stations in Mexico to enable public tracking, aiming to promote STEM engagement.
The mission, CAS Space’s eighth Kinetica‑1 flight, adds to more than 70 satellites launched by the company to date. It also emphasizes China’s growing role in commercial launch services and the potential for expanded Latin America–Asia collaboration in space technology.
RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT
Ancient Starburst Galaxy Reveals High Oxygen Levels Soon After Big Bang
Artist’s rendering of JADES‑GS‑z14‑0, currently the most distant confirmed galaxy. (Credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser)
Astronomers studying galaxy JADES‑GS‑z11‑0 have found it contains unexpectedly high levels of oxygen—about 30% of that in present‑day galaxies—despite existing just 400 million years after the Big Bang. Initially estimated at only 100 million years old, refined measurements place it within the era when the first stars and galaxies emerged. The discovery, made with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and followed up by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), suggests multiple generations of massive stars had already lived and died, enriching the galaxy’s gas with heavy elements far earlier than models predict.
JADES‑GS‑z11‑0 is also forming stars at a rate several times higher than the Milky Way, making it unusually active for its epoch. The rapid buildup of oxygen, carbon, and silicon raises questions about how quickly the conditions for rocky planets—and potentially life—could have arisen. While the finding does not overturn current cosmology, it challenges timelines for early chemical evolution and underscores the need for further high‑resolution studies of the universe’s first billion years. The findings were reported in a preprint paper submitted to the Open Journal of Astrophysics.
New Technique Captures First‑Light of Supernova Spectra, Within Hours of Explosion
Artistic rendering of a supernova, illustrating findings from a new rapid‑detection study. (Credit: Galbany et al., JCAP, 2025)
Astronomers have demonstrated a rapid‑response method to capture some of the earliest spectra of supernovae, the explosive death of a star, aiming for observations within 24–48 hours of “first light.” Led by Lluís Galbany of the Institute of Space Sciences (ICE‑CSIC) in Barcelona, the pilot study used the Gran Telescopio de Canarias and modern wide‑field surveys to identify candidates absent in previous night’s images but located within galaxies. Early‑phase data are critical for distinguishing between thermonuclear supernovae—originating from white dwarfs in binary systems—and core‑collapse events from massive stars exhausting nuclear fuel.
The team observed ten supernovae, half of each type, most within six days of explosion, two within 48 hours. Early spectra, combined with photometry from facilities such as the Zwicky Transient Facility in California (ZTF) and Asteroid Terrestrial‑impact Last Alert System in Hawaii (ATLAS), provided insights into progenitor systems (the original star (or stars) that eventually produce a transient event like a supernova) and explosion mechanisms. The results suggest coordinated spectroscopic and photometric efforts could soon deliver routine sub‑day observations, supporting next‑generation surveys like LS4 and LSST in probing the universe’s most transient stellar deaths. The study was published on Aug. 19 in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics.
Astronomers Identify Exact Origin of Exceptionally Bright Fast Radio Burst
JWST captures NGC 4141 along with the identified source of RBFLOAT, designated NIR‑1. (Credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/CfA/P. Blanchard et al.; image processing by CfA/P. Edmonds)
An international team of astronomers has precisely traced one of the brightest fast radio bursts (FRBs) ever recorded—FRB 20250316A—to a compact region in the outskirts of galaxy NGC 4141, about 130 million light-years away. Detected in March by Canada’s CHIME/FRB telescope and localized using its new continent-spanning “outrigger” array, the burst’s position was narrowed to within 45 light-years, enabling follow-up with the James Webb Space Telescope. JWST imaging revealed an unexpected near-infrared source at the site, dubbed NIR-1, that is likely a red giant star or possibly a middle-aged massive star, raising questions about whether it is a stellar object or a transient light echo.
“The precision of this localization, tens of milliarcseconds, is like spotting a quarter from 100 kilometres away.”
The event, nicknamed “RBFLOAT,” for Radio Brightest FLash Of All Time, challenges prevailing assumptions: despite its extreme brightness, no repeat signals have been detected over six years of monitoring, prompting renewed consideration of more explosive, non-repeating FRB models.
The outrigger network—antenna clusters positioned thousands of kilometers apart—gives the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment. or CHIME, the interferometric baseline needed to pinpoint even fleeting, one-off FRBs with unprecedented accuracy. Researchers say the ability to pinpoint even single bursts with such precision marks a turning point, offering a new pathway to investigate the environments and mechanisms behind these millisecond cosmic flashes. Two papers regarding the discovery of RBFLOAT have been published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
How much smaller has Mercury become over time?
Enterprise Rupes, a prominent fault slicing through Mercury’s Rembrandt Basin crater (right), is among many that may have formed as the planet contracted during cooling. (Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of Washington)
New research refines long‑standing uncertainty over Mercury’s gradual contraction as it cools from its formation 4.5 billion years ago. The planet’s surface bears thrust faults—fractures where crustal blocks have been pushed over one another—interpreted as evidence of this shrinkage. Earlier estimates, based on fault length and relief, ranged widely from 1 km to 7 km of radial loss, partly due to variations in fault datasets.
A study by planetary geologists, Stephan R. Loveless, Christian Klimczak, introduces a method that scales shrinkage from the displacement of the largest fault, reducing dependence on dataset size. Applying it to three fault inventories—from 100 to nearly 6,000 features—yielded consistent results of 2–3.5 km contraction from faulting. When combined with other cooling‑related processes, total shrinkage since formation is estimated at 2.7–5.6 km.
Beyond Mercury, the approach could inform tectonic analyses of other fault‑scarred worlds, such as Mars, offering a more stable metric for reconstructing planetary thermal and geological histories. The findings were published in AGU Advances.
Despatch Out. 👽🛸
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