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  • Issue 71 | Breaking Space News: Oct 05 - 11, 2025

Issue 71 | Breaking Space News: Oct 05 - 11, 2025

In Long‐Term Space Missions, Personality Diversity Improves Crew Resilience. Plus, Phosphine as a Sign of Life? Probably Not. This Week in Space News: 1000 Martian Dust Devils Mapped, DARPA's Guide to a Lunar Economy and a Working Capital Fund for US Defense-Space Projects. US Behind Russia-China on Hypersonic Tech? Plus: Global Space Investment Hits Record $3.5 Billion in Q3 and More.

Author

Lagrangian Despatch
October 12, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 51 minutes

Hello there, Explorer.🚀

Captivating images this week! And the line between defense and commercial space keeps getting blurred. A lot of reports were released, as well. Don’t forget to click below for the full newsletter experience. ⬇️⬇️

Let’s dive in.

IMAGES

 

Comet Lemmon : Astrographers Dan Bartlett and Chris Schur
Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon), discovered on January 3 by the Mount Lemmon Survey in Arizona, is now the brightest comet to grace Earth’s skies since C/2024 G3 (ATLAS). Currently hovering near magnitude +5.7, it’s just at the threshold of naked-eye visibility under dark conditions. The icy body is rapidly brightening in the predawn sky and is expected to reach peak visibility in late October, when it makes its closest approach to Earth on October 21.

Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon), discovered on January 3 by the Mount Lemmon Survey in Arizona, is now the brightest comet to grace Earth’s skies since C/2024 G3 (ATLAS). Currently hovering near magnitude +5.7, it’s just at the threshold of naked-eye visibility under dark conditions. The icy body is rapidly brightening in the predawn sky and is expected to reach peak visibility in late October, when it makes its closest approach to Earth on October 21. (Credit: Dan Bartlett via Space.com)

Its trajectory will carry it through the constellation Boötes before swinging near the sun—its perihelion—on November 8, at a distance of 49.25 million miles (79.25 million kilometers). As solar heating intensifies, the comet’s coma and tail continue to expand, making it a promising target for binoculars and small telescopes. While moonlight may interfere with viewing, observers in the Northern Hemisphere are preparing for what could be the comet’s most dramatic display. The event also underscores the value of early detection and coordinated observation campaigns, especially as transient celestial visitors like Lemmon offer rare opportunities to study cometary behavior up close.

Its trajectory will carry it through the constellation Boötes before swinging near the sun—its perihelion—on November 8, at a distance of 49.25 million miles (79.25 million kilometers). As solar heating intensifies, the comet’s coma and tail continue to expand, making it a promising target for binoculars and small telescopes. While moonlight may interfere with viewing, observers in the Northern Hemisphere are preparing for what could be the comet’s most dramatic display. The event also underscores the value of early detection and coordinated observation campaigns, especially as transient celestial visitors like Lemmon offer rare opportunities to study cometary behavior up close. (Credit: Chris Schur via Space.com)

 

 

2025 TF, Near-Earth Asteroid : Las Cumbres Observatory
This image from October 1 shows the asteroid 2025 TF passing just 428 kilometers/266 miles above Earth, roughly the altitude of the International Space Station (approx. 370—460 km), making it one of the closest known near-Earth approaches. The object, estimated at 1–3 meters wide, flew over Antarctica and was detected only hours later by the Catalina Sky Survey. ESA’s Planetary Defence Office tracked it using the Las Cumbres Observatory in Australia, refining its trajectory with high precision. While such small asteroids pose no serious threat, they can produce fireballs or meteorites upon atmospheric entry.

This image from October 1 shows the asteroid 2025 TF passing just 428 kilometers/266 miles above Earth, roughly the altitude of the International Space Station (approx. 370—460 km), making it one of the closest known near-Earth approaches. The object, estimated at 1–3 meters wide, flew over Antarctica and was detected only hours later by the Catalina Sky Survey. ESA’s Planetary Defence Office tracked it using the Las Cumbres Observatory in Australia, refining its trajectory with high precision. While such small asteroids pose no serious threat, they can produce fireballs or meteorites upon atmospheric entry. (Credit: ESA / Las Cumbres Observatory)

 

 

Dust Cloaked Red Supergiant, SN2025pht in Spiral Galaxy NGC 1637 : James Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have captured a rare pre-supernova image of a red supergiant star cloaked in dust, just months before its explosive death. Located in the galaxy NGC 6946, the star, now designated SN 2023ixf, was observed emitting infrared light through a dense shell of circumstellar material. The discovery, detailed by an international team of researchers at Caltech and NOIRLab, offers new insight into the final stages of massive stellar evolution. JWST’s infrared sensitivity revealed the star’s dust envelope with unprecedented clarity, suggesting that such stars may undergo intense mass loss shortly before collapse, a phenomenon previously difficult to observe. The primary image displays a composite view of spiral galaxy NGC 1637 captured by Webb and Hubble, with the key region located in the upper right. Three accompanying panels focus on a red supergiant star before and after its explosion. The star is absent in Hubble’s pre-supernova image but visible in Webb’s infrared data. By July 2025, Hubble recorded the luminous aftermath of the blast. The discovery sheds light on why massive red supergiants rarely appear to explode: they do, but are obscured by dense dust, making them hard to detect. This helps reconcile theory with observation, as models predict these stars should dominate core-collapse supernovae.

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have captured a rare pre-supernova image of a red supergiant star cloaked in dust, just months before its explosive death. Located in the galaxy NGC 6946, the star, now designated SN 2023pht, was observed emitting infrared light through a dense shell of circumstellar material. The discovery, detailed by an international team of researchers at Caltech and NOIRLab, offers new insight into the final stages of massive stellar evolution. JWST’s infrared sensitivity revealed the star’s dust envelope with unprecedented clarity, suggesting that such stars may undergo intense mass loss shortly before collapse, a phenomenon previously difficult to observe. The primary image displays a composite view of spiral galaxy NGC 1637 captured by Webb and Hubble, with the key region located in the upper right. Three accompanying panels focus on a red supergiant star before and after its explosion. The star is absent in Hubble’s pre-supernova image but visible in Webb’s infrared data. By July 2025, Hubble recorded the luminous aftermath of the blast.

The discovery sheds light on why massive red supergiants rarely appear to explode: they do, but are obscured by dense dust, making them hard to detect. This helps reconcile theory with observation, as models predict these stars should dominate core-collapse supernovae. (Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Charles Kilpatrick (Northwestern), Aswin Suresh (Northwestern))

 

 

Australian Nanosatellite, SpIRIT’s Selfie
Australia’s SpIRIT nanosatellite has completed its commissioning phase after more than 600 days in orbit, marking a milestone for the country’s space sector. Built by the University of Melbourne in collaboration with the Italian Space Agency, SpIRIT tested novel thermal and propulsion systems and captured its first “selfie” in space. Now transitioning to its core mission, the satellite will use its HERMES X-ray detector to identify gamma-ray bursts—brief, high-energy events linked to stellar collapse. Acting as an early warning system, SpIRIT will alert astronomers to these rare cosmic explosions, contributing to global efforts in transient astrophysics and space-based observation. This first image from SpIRIT’s onboard selfie camera was captured over New Zealand following the deployment of its thermal radiator. It shows the satellite’s underside, featuring printed logos of mission collaborators. Visible components include the cylindrical aperture of its electric propulsion thruster, diamond-shaped telecommunication transceivers and antennae, and the reverse side of its solar panels.

Australia’s SpIRIT nanosatellite has completed its commissioning phase after more than 600 days in orbit, marking a milestone for the country’s space sector. Built by the University of Melbourne in collaboration with the Italian Space Agency, SpIRIT tested novel thermal and propulsion systems and captured its first “selfie” in space. Now transitioning to its core mission, the satellite will use its HERMES X-ray detector to identify gamma-ray bursts—brief, high-energy events linked to stellar collapse. Acting as an early warning system, SpIRIT will alert astronomers to these rare cosmic explosions, contributing to global efforts in transient astrophysics and space-based observation. This first image from SpIRIT’s onboard selfie camera was captured over New Zealand following the deployment of its thermal radiator. It shows the satellite’s underside, featuring printed logos of mission collaborators. Visible components include the cylindrical aperture of its electric propulsion thruster, diamond-shaped telecommunication transceivers and antennae, and the reverse side of its solar panels. (Credit: University of Melbourne)

SpIRIT’s radiators are shown post-deployment as the satellite passes over the Indian Ocean. A copper component known as the “Eagle” is visible on the right radiator, engineered to aid in dispersing heat from the satellite’s thermal control system.

SpIRIT’s radiators are shown post-deployment as the satellite passes over the Indian Ocean. A copper component known as the “Eagle” is visible on the right radiator, engineered to aid in dispersing heat from the satellite’s thermal control system. (Credit: University of Melbourne)

 

 

Newborn Planet WISPIT 2b in a Dusty Protoplanetary Disc Around a Star : Magellan Telescope, Chile and Large Binocular Telescope, Arizona (US)
This image of the WISPIT 2 system, taken by the Magellan Telescope in Chile and the Large Binocular Telescope in Arizona, shows the protoplanet WISPIT 2b as a small purple dot positioned just beyond a bright white dust ring encircling the system’s central star. A second, fainter ring lies farther out, beyond the location of the protoplanet. Astronomers have directly imaged this forming exoplanet, marking a first in planetary science. The discovery offers rare visual evidence of planet formation in progress and may help refine models of how young planets interact with surrounding material. Earlier in August, ESO’s Very Large Telescope had also imaged the system.

This image of the WISPIT 2 system, taken by the Magellan Telescope in Chile and the Large Binocular Telescope in Arizona, shows the protoplanet WISPIT 2b as a small purple dot positioned just beyond a bright white dust ring encircling the system’s central star. A second, fainter ring lies farther out, beyond the location of the protoplanet.

Astronomers have directly imaged this forming exoplanet, marking a first in planetary science. The discovery offers rare visual evidence of planet formation in progress and may help refine models of how young planets interact with surrounding material. Earlier in August, ESO’s Very Large Telescope had also imaged the system. (Credit: Laird Close, University of Arizona)

This artist's concept depicts the protoplanet WISPIT 2b accreting matter as it orbits around its star, WISPIT 2.

An artist's render shows the protoplanet WISPIT 2b accreting matter as it orbits around its star, WISPIT 2. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (IPAC))

 

 

Io – The Most Volcanically Active Body in The Solar System : Juno Spacecraft, NASA
This image of Jupiter’s moon Io, the most volcanically active body in the solar system, was captured in December 2023, in vivid detail, by NASA’s Juno spacecraft, possibly for the last time. Launched in 2011 and arriving at Jupiter in 2016, Juno began as a 20-month mission but has far exceeded expectations, delivering nearly a decade of data on the gas giant, its moons, and faint ring system. NASA extended the mission through September 30, 2025, but that deadline has now passed. With the spacecraft in an unexpected spin and the U.S. government shut down, Juno’s fate remains uncertain. Engineers are working to reestablish stable communications, but for now, the probe’s status is unresolved. If this is indeed the end, Juno’s final glimpses of Io serve as a fitting coda to one of NASA’s most productive planetary missions.

This image of Jupiter’s moon Io, the most volcanically active body in the solar system, was captured in December 2023, in vivid detail, by NASA’s Juno spacecraft, possibly for the last time.
Launched in 2011 and arriving at Jupiter in 2016, Juno began as a 20-month mission but has far exceeded expectations, delivering nearly a decade of data on the gas giant, its moons, and faint ring system. NASA extended the mission through September 30, 2025, but that deadline has now passed. With the spacecraft in an unexpected spin and the U.S. government shut down, Juno’s fate remains uncertain. Engineers are working to reestablish stable communications, but for now, the probe’s status is unresolved. If this is indeed the end, Juno’s final glimpses of Io serve as a fitting coda to one of NASA’s most productive planetary missions. (Credit: NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory–Caltech/Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)/ Malin Space Science Systems (MSSS); Image processing: Emma Wälimäki)

SCIENCE

 

Phosphine Found on Brown Dwarf in First-of-Its-Kind Observation Challenges Venus Life Hypothesis

Astronomers using NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope have determined that the changing brightness of brown dwarfs over time is likely caused by uneven cloud bands rotating at varying speeds. This behavior is illustrated in an artist’s concept of the phenomenon.

Astronomers using NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope have determined that the changing brightness of brown dwarfs over time is likely caused by uneven cloud bands rotating at varying speeds. This behavior is illustrated in an artist’s concept of the phenomenon. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

05 October, 2025

Astronomers have detected phosphine in the atmosphere of the cold brown dwarf Wolf 1130C, marking the first significant observation of the molecule beyond our solar system. Using JWST’s NIRSpec instrument, researchers obtained high-resolution spectra of the cold brown dwarf and found phosphorus-containing molecule phosphine (PH3) at levels comparable to Jupiter and Saturn, challenging previous models that predicted low abundance in similar objects.

The detection raises questions about phosphorus chemistry in low-temperature atmospheres and suggests strong vertical mixing or metal-poor conditions may enable phosphine formation. This finding also casts renewed doubt on earlier claims of phosphine as a biosignature on Venus. If phosphine can form abiotically in diverse environments, its presence alone may not indicate life. The Wolf 1130C result underscores the need to refine atmospheric models and understand non-biological pathways for phosphine synthesis. As researchers continue to probe brown dwarfs and exoplanets, the molecule’s ambiguous origins complicate its use in the search for extraterrestrial life. The findings were published in the journal Science.

 

A brown dwarf is a type of astronomical object that sits in a curious middle ground between stars and planets:

What Is a Brown Dwarf?

  • Mass range: Roughly 13 to 80 times the mass of Jupiter.

  • Too small to be a star: Brown dwarfs don’t have enough mass to sustain hydrogen fusion—the process that powers stars like our Sun.

  • Too big to be a planet: They’re much more massive than gas giants like Jupiter and form through gravitational collapse, like stars do—not from leftover debris like planets.

What Do They Do?

  • Fusion of deuterium: Some brown dwarfs can briefly fuse deuterium (a heavier form of hydrogen), but they eventually cool down and fade.

  • Infrared emitters: They’re dim in visible light but glow in infrared, making them easier to detect with telescopes like JWST.

Why They Matter

  • Brown dwarfs help astronomers study atmospheric chemistry, planetary formation, and the lower limits of star formation. They also challenge our definitions of what separates stars from planets.

 

Multi-Probe Constellation with a Solar Sail Spacecraft Proposed to Spot Plasma Tornadoes and Improve Space Weather Detection

An artist’s illustration shows the SWIFT spacecraft constellation arranged in a triangular pyramid configuration between Earth and the Sun. The lead spacecraft, positioned at the pyramid’s apex, uses a solar sail to maintain its location beyond the Lagrange Point L1 without relying on traditional propulsion.

An artist’s illustration shows the SWIFT spacecraft constellation arranged in a triangular pyramid configuration between Earth and the Sun. The lead spacecraft, positioned at the pyramid’s apex, uses a solar sail to maintain its location beyond the Lagrange Point L1 without relying on traditional propulsion. (Credit: Steve Alvey, University of Michigan)

06 October, 2025

A new study from the University of Michigan proposes a multi-spacecraft constellation to improve early detection of solar flux ropes—tornado-like spirals of plasma that can trigger geomagnetic storms. Current space weather monitoring relies on single-point measurements near Earth, leaving gaps in coverage when solar eruptions eject hazardous structures off-axis.

A new simulation from the University of Michigan reveals that tornado-like plasma vortices, known as flux ropes, can carry magnetic fields strong enough to trigger geomagnetic storms. These intermediate-scale features, often missed by current monitoring systems, may form as coronal mass ejections plow through slower solar wind, flinging plasma aside like a snowplow. Researchers say that telescopes focused on solar eruptions alone may not provide sufficient warning, underscoring the need for more advanced detection strategies. A large bubble of plasma (seen in shades of red and yellow) leaves the sun and moves through space. Once the bubble reaches interplanetary space, streams of yellow and red plasma begin to extend from its edges. Yellow and red vortices separate from the streams. Some vortices disappear, but others persist and fly past four space probes arranged in a triangular-pyramid formation.

A new simulation from the University of Michigan reveals that tornado-like plasma vortices, known as flux ropes, can carry magnetic fields strong enough to trigger geomagnetic storms. These intermediate-scale features, often missed by current monitoring systems, may form as coronal mass ejections plow through slower solar wind, flinging plasma aside like a snowplow. Researchers say that telescopes focused on solar eruptions alone may not provide sufficient warning, underscoring the need for more advanced detection strategies.

A large bubble of plasma (seen in shades of red and yellow) leaves the sun and moves through space. Once the bubble reaches interplanetary space, streams of yellow and red plasma begin to extend from its edges. Yellow and red vortices separate from the streams. Some vortices disappear, but others persist and fly past four space probes arranged in a triangular-pyramid formation. (Credit: Chip Manchester, University of Michigan)

This image illustrates how rotating magnetic fields emerge at the edges of a coronal mass ejection (CME) roughly 15 hours after a solar eruption. As the CME collides with neighboring streams of fast and slow solar wind, two plasma streams extend outward. Color shading indicates magnetic field strength and orientation: red regions signal potential to trigger geomagnetic storms on Earth, while yellow regions show strong, positively oriented fields. A red-brown circle marks the ten-million-mile zone around the Sun not included in the simulation.

This image illustrates how rotating magnetic fields emerge at the edges of a coronal mass ejection (CME) roughly 15 hours after a solar eruption. As the CME collides with neighboring streams of fast and slow solar wind, two plasma streams extend outward. Color shading indicates magnetic field strength and orientation: red regions signal potential to trigger geomagnetic storms on Earth, while yellow regions show strong, positively oriented fields. A red-brown circle marks the ten-million-mile zone around the Sun not included in the simulation. (Credit: Chip Manchester, University of Michigan)

The proposed Space Weather Investigation Frontier (SWIFT) would deploy four probes in a pyramid formation between Earth and the Sun, including one stationed beyond the L1 point (Lagrange Point 1) using a solar sail for fuel-free positioning. Simulations show that these vortices, formed within coronal mass ejections, can persist and reach Earth with magnetic fields strong enough to disrupt power grids, satellites, and aviation.

By capturing solar wind dynamics from multiple angles, SWIFT could improve warning times by up to 40%. As solar activity intensifies, there is a growing need for more spatially distributed monitoring to safeguard infrastructure and refine predictive models.

ESA Orbiters Map Over 1,000 Dust Devils on Mars: Study Reveals Unexpected Wind Speeds in Martian Atmosphere

This map displays active dust devils observed during spring and summer in both the northern and southern hemispheres of Mars. Colored dots mark 1,039 events with known locations, while arrows represent 373 dust devils for which both speed and movement direction were recorded. White squares indicate the positions of various Mars rovers and landers.

This map displays active dust devils observed during spring and summer in both the northern and southern hemispheres of Mars. Colored dots mark 1,039 events with known locations, while arrows represent 373 dust devils for which both speed and movement direction were recorded. White squares indicate the positions of various Mars rovers and landers. (Credit: ExoMars TGO data: ESA/TGO/CaSSIS; Mars Express data: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin; Background: NASA Viking colour mosaic)

08 October, 2025

A new global map of over 1,000 Martian dust devils, compiled from two decades of data by ESA’s Mars Express and ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, is offering fresh insights into the Red Planet’s atmospheric dynamics. The study, published in Science Advances, 373 dust devils, tornado-like whirlwinds that make Mars’ invisible winds visible. Some were clocked at up to 158 km/h (98mph), far exceeding previous estimates from surface-based instruments.

“Dust affects everything on Mars – from local weather conditions to how well we can take images from orbit. It’s difficult to understate the importance of the dust cycle.”

Colin Wilson, ESA Project Scientist, Mars Express and ExoMars TGO Missions.
The Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) on board ESA’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) captured these three dust devils tracking across the martian surface on 8 November 2021.

The Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) on board ESA’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) captured these three dust devils tracking across the martian surface on 8 November 2021. (Credit: ESA/TGO/CaSSIS)

These findings suggest that Mars’ near-surface winds are stronger and more variable than current models predict, with implications for climate studies and mission planning. Dust devils play a key role in lifting fine particles into the atmosphere, influencing temperature, cloud formation, and even water loss to space. The new catalogue, publicly available, will help refine landing strategies for future missions like ESA’s Rosalind Franklin rover, which must account for dust accumulation on solar panels and shifting surface conditions.

Mars Mission Simulations Suggest that Personality Diversity Improves Crew Resilience, Mixed Traits Benefit Long-Duration Space Missions

08 October, 2025

As crewed missions to Mars move from concept to planning, researchers are turning attention to the psychological dynamics of long-duration spaceflight. Researchers at the Stevens Institute of Technology, New Jersey, used agent-based modeling to simulate a 500-day Mars mission, as detailed in a study published in PLOS One. The results suggest that teams with diverse personality traits, rather than uniformly high-performing individuals, may be better equipped to handle stress, maintain cohesion, and perform effectively under isolation and operational strain. Agent-based modeling, refers to a simulation technique where individual "agents"—in this case, crew members on a hypothetical Mars mission—are programmed with distinct personality traits, behaviors, and decision-making rules.

The findings challenge traditional selection models that favor dominant personalities, suggesting instead that a mix of conscientious, agreeable, and emotionally stable individuals fosters resilience. With Mars missions expected to last up to three years, the absence of privacy and constant workload pose significant risks to mental health and collaboration. The study came up with the following key conclusions:

  • Personality variation matters: Traits like high conscientiousness with low neuroticism, or high extraversion with high agreeableness, correlated with improved outcomes.

  • Skill diversity alone is limited: Functional heterogeneity had modest effects unless paired with personality diversity.

  • Trait diversity buffers stress: Even without dominant stabilizing traits, diverse teams maintained cohesion and delayed performance decline.

  • Robust across simulations: Monte Carlo analysis (1,000 runs) confirmed consistent benefits of personality-diverse teams across varied conditions.

  • Implications for crew selection: Future missions may benefit from integrating personality assessments into team composition strategies.

  • Model expansion planned: Future enhancements include dynamic traits, cultural/gender factors, and real-time feedback.

  • Operational relevance: Validating with analog or historical mission data could strengthen practical applications for spaceflight planning

As NASA’s Artemis program progresses and international interest in Mars intensifies, these insights shed light on the need for predictive tools that optimize crew composition, not just for technical capability, but for psychological endurance and interpersonal balance.

GOVERNANCE

 

DARPA's Field Guide to Map Lunar Economy, Frames it as a Testbed for Future Space Governance and Markets

Credit: DARPA

Earlier this year, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has released the Lunar Economy Field Guide, edited by DARPA program manager Michael Nayak, as a framework for thinking about how a sustainable lunar economy might emerge. Rather than prescribing specific ventures, the guide maps potential value chains, transportation, energy, communications, construction, and resource utilization, that could underpin long-term activity on the Moon. It stresses modularity, interoperability, and open standards to prevent early infrastructure from becoming siloed or obsolete.

The report also highlights governance and policy as central challenges. Lunar development will unfold in a competitive geopolitical environment, where national interests, commercial ambitions, and international norms will intersect, in ways that could either accelerate or constrain progress. The guide suggests that transparent frameworks and shared technical standards could reduce duplication and lower barriers to entry, while also acknowledging that financing, risk-sharing, and regulatory clarity remain unresolved.

Importantly, the field guide frames the lunar economy not as a single breakthrough but as an iterative process. Progress will depend on incremental advances in robotics, in-situ resource utilization, and data infrastructure, combined with Earth-based market integration. By treating the Moon as a systems testbed, the report positions lunar activity as a proving ground for broader space governance and economic models, less about isolated projects, more about building resilient, interoperable systems that can scale across cislunar space and beyond.

Lagrangian will publish a deeper dive into the report’s findings and implications in the coming weeks.

US FCC Outlines Space Month Agenda to Overhaul Satellite Licensing Process

Chairman of the FCC, Brendan Carr.

Chairman of the FCC, Brendan Carr. (Credit: FCC)

"Big picture — our goal is to make sure that the U.S. is the friendliest regulatory environment in the world for innovators to start, to grow and to accelerate their space operations."

Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission of the United States

06 October, 2025

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has declared October 2025 “Space Month,” unveiling a set of proposals aimed at overhauling how the agency regulates satellite and space-based communications. Chairman Brendan Carr announced the initiative at a satellite manufacturing facility in California, framing it as part of the FCC’s broader “Build America” agenda to strengthen the U.S. space economy.

Central to the plan is a shift from bespoke licensing toward a “licensing assembly line,” designed to simplify applications, establish clearer timelines, and expedite approvals for projects deemed in the public interest. The FCC also intends to revisit rules governing Earth stations in the Upper Microwave Flexible Use bands, where demand for spectrum has surged alongside the growth of satellite broadband and low Earth orbit constellations.

The FCC is an independent U.S. agency that oversees communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable, including spectrum allocation critical to space systems. It has already reduced licensing backlogs and opened proceedings on spectrum allocation and outdated technical rules. The proposals are set for a vote later this month.

 

What Are “Earth Stations in the Upper Microwave Flexible Use Bands”?

  • Earth stations → Ground‑based antennas that connect with satellites, either sending signals up (uplink) or receiving them down (downlink). They’re the terrestrial gateways for satellite networks.

  • Upper Microwave Flexible Use bands (UMFUS) → A set of very high‑frequency spectrum ranges (above 24 GHz, in the millimeter‑wave region) that the FCC opened for “flexible use.” These bands can support multiple services, including 5G mobile broadband, fixed wireless, and satellite communications.

  • Why it matters → Satellite earth stations operating in these bands must share spectrum with terrestrial 5G and other wireless systems. That overlap creates potential interference and coordination challenges.

  • The FCC’s role → By revisiting rules for earth stations in UMFUS, the FCC is trying to balance the needs of satellite operators with the rapid expansion of terrestrial broadband, ensuring efficient spectrum use without sidelining space‑based services.

New Zealand Space Industry Targets Expansion in Trillion Dollar Market

08 October, 2025

At the New Zealand Aerospace Summit in Christchurch, government officials and industry leaders outlined ambitions to scale the country’s space sector into a significant player in the global economy. Space Minister Judith Collins noted the industry has grown 53% in five years to NZ$2.68 billion (US$1.5 billion), employing 17,000 people, with a goal of doubling by 2030 through regulatory reform, defense partnerships, and foreign investment.

Rocket Lab founder Peter Beck, speaking by video link, urged firms to “think big beyond our borders,” arguing that New Zealand should target 10% of the projected US$2.3 trillion (US$1.3 trillion) aerospace market. He framed Rocket Lab’s improbable rise as proof that ambition, not geography, is decisive: “The hardest part was just deciding to start. Everything after that is work.”

Dawn Aerospace CEO Stefan Powell highlighted progress on the reusable Aurora spaceplane, aiming for high‑altitude tests by 2026, while Aerospace New Zealand president Mark Rocket described the sector as entering a “decade of transformation,” stressing the need for scale and global reach.

Regional strategies, particularly in Canterbury, aim to create 1,500 jobs and add NZ$1 billion to the local economy by 2035. Yet optimism was tempered by protests outside the summit, where activists criticized defense ties and the militarization of space. The juxtaposition shows the dual narrative: a sector positioning itself for global growth while facing scrutiny over its alignment with military and geopolitical agendas.

MILITARY

 

Space Force Launches Working Capital Fund to Help Military Users Access Commercial Satellite Communications

“It allows us to meet the uptick in warfighter demands and enables commercial vendors more flexibility to work with the Space Force, setting the stage for additional commercial services in the future.”

Col. Timothy Trimailo, Head of the Space Systems Command’s Commercial Space Office.

05 October, 2025

The U.S. Space Force has launched a new financial mechanism to expand access to commercial space services, establishing the Enterprise Space Activity Group (ESAG) under the Air Force Working Capital Fund. The initiative begins with a $120 million deposit but is projected to handle more than $1.2 billion annually, creating a revolving, self‑sustaining fund that allows military customers to purchase commercial satellite communications and related services without relying solely on annual appropriations.

The Commercial Satellite Communications Office (CSCO), already responsible for nearly $7 billion in contracts, is the first program authorized to use the fund. Officials argue the model provides greater flexibility for budgeting and faster responses to operational demands, while also giving commercial vendors clearer pathways to work with the military. Analysts note that the move is in line with a shift toward integrating private sector capabilities into national security architectures, though questions remain about oversight, pricing stability, and long‑term sustainability.

Firefly Aerospace to Acquire Defense Contractor SciTec in $855 Million Deal

Credit: Firefly

05 October, 2025

Firefly Aerospace has announced plans to acquire U.S. defense contractor Space Computer Technologies (SciTec) in a deal valued at $855 million, marking one of the company’s most significant moves to date in expanding its role in national security. Firefly, best known for its Alpha launch vehicle and lunar lander development, framed the acquisition as a way to integrate spacecraft, launch, and data exploitation capabilities under one roof. SciTec, a long‑time contractor for the U.S. Department of Defense and intelligence community, specializes in sensor development, data analysis, and mission support.

SciTec reported $164 million in revenue over the year ending June 2025, supported by contracts with intelligence, defense, and commercial clients. In early 2025, it secured a $259 million U.S. Space Force award to advance the Future Operational Resilient Ground Evolution (FORGE) framework, developing scalable, cyber‑secure ground processing to bolster missile warning, tracking, and rapid threat response.

The companies argue that combining Firefly’s hardware platforms with SciTec’s software and analytics expertise will create an end‑to‑end offering for government customers, from launch to on‑orbit operations to data interpretation. Analysts note the deal reflects a broader trend of consolidation in the space and defense sector, where firms are seeking to align more closely with U.S. national security priorities. The acquisition is expected to close pending regulatory review.

Blue Origin Secures $78 Million Space Force Contract for Payload Facility Expansion

Launch Complex 36, home to Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, is situated at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Launch Complex 36, home to Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, is situated at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. (Credit: Blue Origin)

07 October, 2025

The U.S. Space Force has awarded a $78.25 million contract to Blue Origin to expand space vehicle processing capacity at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station by 2028. The funding, part of a Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO), supports construction of a new payload processing facility to serve multiple launch providers. Blue Origin, which operates Launch Complex 36 at the site, will use the facility to streamline final testing, fueling, and integration of payloads before launch.

Space Systems Command has been working to address bottlenecks in satellite readiness infrastructure, which have lagged behind growing launch cadence. Officials emphasized the public-private nature of the partnership, noting that cost-sharing with industry benefits both national security and commercial missions. The contract

follows a similar $77.5 million award to Lockheed Martin’s Astrotech subsidiary for work at Vandenberg. Blue Origin also received a separate $190 million NASA contract in September for a lunar rover mission.

Muon Space Wins $44.6 Million Space Force Contract for Dual‑Use Environmental Monitoring Satellite Constellation

Credit: Muon Space

08 October, 2025

Muon Space has secured a $44.6 million U.S. Space Force contract under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase III program to demonstrate a dual‑use satellite constellation for environmental monitoring. The award, structured through an Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreement, reflects the military’s growing reliance on commercial providers to deliver rapid, scalable capabilities. The agreement provides funding to develop and flight‑test a prototype space‑based environmental monitoring system (SBEM). The capability is intended to support Department of Defense meteorology and oceanography teams in mission planning and operations, while also enabling global applications such as wildfire detection and monitoring.

Muon Space, which specializes in climate and Earth observation technologies, will adapt its commercial platforms to support both civilian and defense needs, including monitoring atmospheric conditions and providing data relevant to national security.

The project is tied to the Space Force’s push for more resilient, threat‑responsive architectures, where commercial satellites can augment traditional government systems. By leveraging dual‑use designs, the constellation aims to reduce costs while accelerating deployment timelines. A trend to note here is the blending of environmental and defense priorities in space, as agencies seek to harness commercial innovation for missions spanning climate resilience to missile warning.

Atlantic Council Report Urges US Investment in Hypersonic Technologies to Counter China and Russia’s Arsenal

U.S. Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon launcher positioned during Talisman Sabre 2025 in Australia, part of joint exercises showcasing strategic strike capabilities.

U.S. Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon launcher positioned during Talisman Sabre 2025 in Australia, part of joint exercises showcasing strategic strike capabilities. (Credit: US Army/Sgt. Perla Alfaro)

09 October, 2025

A new Atlantic Council report warns that the United States faces a widening “battlefield asymmetry” as China and Russia accelerate deployment of hypersonic weapons. These systems, capable of traveling at speeds above Mach 5 and maneuvering in flight, are difficult to detect and intercept, threatening to erode long‑standing U.S. military advantages. Russia has already fielded systems such as the Kinzhal, Zirkon, and Avangard, while China has deployed the DF‑17 and DF‑26 families, among others. Both nations are integrating these weapons into broader anti‑access/area‑denial strategies designed to hold U.S. and allied forces at risk.

The Atlantic Council report The Imperative for Hypersonic Strike Weapons and Counterhypersonic Defenses was produced by the Hypersonic Capabilities Task Force. The lead author is Michael E. White, former Principal Director for Hypersonics in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. The task force co‑chairs are Deborah Lee James, former Secretary of the Air Force, and Ryan McCarthy, former Secretary of the Army. The task force director is Stephen Rodriguez, with Clementine Starling‑Daniels serving as program director until her departure in 2025.

The task force argues that incremental improvements will not suffice. Recommendations include rapidly fielding first‑generation U.S. hypersonic strike systems, investing in reusable hypersonic aircraft, expanding test infrastructure, and strengthening industrial capacity. The findings coincide with the Trump administration’s proposed $175 billion “Golden Dome” missile shield, underscoring the urgency of aligning U.S. deterrence and defense strategies with the pace of adversary advances.

As with other Atlantic Council initiatives, the report was funded through a mix of corporate sponsorships and philanthropic support. The Council discloses that its defense and aerospace work is underwritten by industry partners and donors, though it does not list a single exclusive funder for this task force.

Lagrangian will publish a deeper dive into the report’s findings and implications in the coming weeks.

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Inversion Unveils Arc Vehicle for Dual-Use Rapid Orbital Cargo Delivery in Under an Hour

A render of Inversion's Arc cargo-delivery spacecraft in Earth orbit.

A render of Inversion's Arc cargo-delivery spacecraft in Earth orbit. (Credit: Inversion)

05 October, 2025

California-based startup Inversion has unveiled Arc, a reusable orbital reentry vehicle designed to deliver small payloads from space to Earth in under an hour. The 8-foot-long capsule is engineered for autonomous hypersonic reentry, parachute-aided landings, and rapid recovery, with a modular bay sized for compact cargo such as medical kits, encrypted gear, or micro-UAS. Arc’s maneuverability and cross-range capacity allow it to reach austere or denied environments, positioning it as a potential logistics asset for defense and emergency response.

Arc is also positioned as a testbed for hypersonic flight, with potential applications in defense-related trajectory modeling. The vehicle follows Inversion’s earlier Ray demonstrator, which reached orbit in early 2025. Arc’s debut follows the company’s selection for Kratos’ MACH-TB 2.0 program, signaling growing interest in dual-use reentry platforms. Inversion expects a future constellation of Arc vehicles stationed in low-Earth orbit, forming a global logistics network.

Sateliot and Nordic Demonstrate Direct 5G IoT Link Between LEO satellite and a Standard Cellular Device

Credit: Sateliot

08 October, 2025

Barcelona-based Sateliot and Norway’s Nordic Semiconductor have completed what they describe as the first direct 5G IoT connection from a low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite to a standard cellular device. The test, conducted using Sateliot’s network and Nordic’s nRF9160 module, demonstrated that terrestrial 5G NB-IoT devices can connect via satellite without hardware modification. The demonstration involved transmitting a complete message using the nRF9151 module, known for its low power consumption and long battery life. The device successfully connected to Sateliot’s low-Earth orbit satellite network, mimicking the seamless roaming experience typical of terrestrial mobile networks. The companies claim this interoperability could extend coverage to remote areas without relying on proprietary protocols or ground infrastructure.

The milestone builds on Sateliot’s efforts to integrate satellite connectivity into 3GPP-compliant cellular networks, with implications for logistics, agriculture, and emergency response. Nordic Semiconductor emphasized the importance of standards-based design for scalability and cost control. While the demonstration marks progress toward seamless global IoT coverage, it should be noted that commercial viability will depend on latency, bandwidth, and regulatory harmonization. The test follows growing interest in hybrid terrestrial-satellite architectures as operators seek to close connectivity gaps in underserved regions.

Stoke Space Raises $510 Million to Scale Fully Reusable Nova Launch Vehicle

Credit: Stoke Space

08 October, 2025

U.S.-based Stoke Space has raised $510 million in Series D funding to accelerate development and manufacturing of its fully reusable Nova launch vehicle. The round, led by Thomas Tull’s US Innovative Technology Fund and supported by Silicon Valley Bank’s $100 million debt facility, brings the company’s total capital raised to $990 million. Investors cited Stoke’s relevance to national security and the U.S. space industrial base amid growing demand for medium-lift launch capacity.

Nova is designed for high-frequency orbital access, with both stages engineered for reuse. The vehicle targets missions ranging from satellite deployment to in-space mobility and downmass (the amount of cargo or payload that can be safely returned from orbit back to Earth). Stoke has completed engine testing and structural qualifications, and is refurbishing Launch Complex 14 at Cape Canaveral for activation in 2026.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Space Force selected Nova for its National Security Space Launch program, alongside Rocket Lab’s Neutron. The award reflects interest in resilient launch systems suited to emerging architectures like Golden Dome.

Global Space Investment Hits Record $3.5 Billion in Q3 2025 as Investment Broadens Beyond Major Players - Growth Across U.S., Europe, and China

Key quarterly highlights from the report. (Credit: Generation Space)

Key quarterly highlights from the report. (Credit: Generation Space)

10 October, 2025

Global investment in the space sector reached a record $3.5 billion in Q3 2025, according to the Generation Space Index, bringing the trailing twelve‑month total to $10.4 billion, just shy of the 2021 peak. Reuters reports that the surge reflects a broadening investor base, with capital flowing beyond established players like SpaceX toward hardware‑focused scale‑ups in launch, manufacturing, and dual‑use technologies. Notable U.S. deals included Hadrian, Apex, and Hermeus, while China accounted for two of the quarter’s largest rounds, highlighting the intensifying U.S.–China competition.

Public markets also showed mixed but significant movement: Planet Labs posted 113% growth on record revenues, Rocket Lab rose 63% amid heavy‑lift progress, while Firefly Aerospace’s IPO faltered after a test failure. Europe, meanwhile, is ramping defense‑related space spending, with Germany pledging €35 billion by 2030. Analysts note that while investor enthusiasm has rebounded from the 2022 pullback, sustainability will hinge on balancing capital intensity with proven demand across both commercial and defense markets.

The Q3 2025 report lists senior figures at Seraphim Space Manager LLP, the London‑based venture capital firm behind the index, as its authors. Funding for the report comes from Seraphim Space, which manages dedicated space investment funds and runs the Seraphim Space Accelerator. While the data is widely cited, it’s worth noting that the perspective reflects a venture capital lens, emphasizing deal flow, valuations, and investor sentiment.

Momentus Secures $7.6 Million NASA Award for In‑Orbit Tech Demonstrations Using Vigoride

A rendering of Momentus’ Vigoride orbital service vehicle.

A rendering of Momentus’ Vigoride orbital service vehicle. (Credit: Momentus)

10 October, 2025

Satellite and in-space transportation provider, Momentus Inc. has secured two new NASA contracts. The first, valued at $5.1 million, will see Momentus’ Vigoride orbital service vehicle host the Commercial Orbital System for Microgravity In-Space Crystallization (COSMIC) experiment, a microgravity crystallization project aimed at advancing semiconductor and pharmaceutical manufacturing. The second, worth $2.5 million, tasks the company with flying Juno Propulsion’s Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE), a compact thruster using non‑toxic propellants designed to improve efficiency over conventional chemical engines.

Both missions fall under NASA’s TechLeap Prize framework, which accelerates flight testing of emerging technologies. By leveraging Vigoride’s modular design, NASA and its partners aim to validate concepts that could reduce costs and expand commercial activity in low Earth orbit. For Momentus, the awards mark a continuation of its strategy to position itself as a key infrastructure provider, though the company still faces the challenge of proving its long‑term financial and technical resilience.

China’s Orienspace Gravity‑1 Sea Launch Places Satellites In Orbit as CAS Space Outlines Larger Rocket Plans

On October 11, 2025 (UTC), the Gravity‑1 rocket lifted off from a barge in the Yellow Sea.

On October 11, 2025 (UTC), the Gravity‑1 rocket lifted off from a barge in the Yellow Sea. (Credit: via China-in-Space)

11 October, 2025

Chinese aerospace company, Orienspace’s second Gravity‑1 mission was launched from a sea platform off Shandong province. The October 11 flight placed three satellites into a sun-synchronous orbit, including two from Geespace, the 50-kilogram Shutianyu 01 and 02, for debris monitoring and a geological remote sensing payload for the Jiangsu Provincial Geological Bureau. Company officials described the mission as a step toward routine operations, though the vehicle’s long‑term reliability remains to be demonstrated.

The launch highlights the increasing role of private firms in China’s space program, complementing state‑run providers. CAS Space, a commercial spin-off from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), another commercial entrant, has been developing its own sea‑launched rockets and is positioning to compete in the medium‑lift market. At last week’s International Astronautical Congress, CAS Space executives outlined ambitions for larger vehicles and expanded commercial services, emphasizing how Chinese firms are seeking to scale beyond small payload launches.

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