Stories this week ranged from NASA’s science mission selection overhaul to shifts in national security launch assignments. Reader interest also centered on new satellite launches and grant programs.
Agency & Program News
NASA overhauls how science missions compete and are selected. NASA said its Science Mission Directorate is overhauling mission selection under Competition Model 2.0 to deliver science faster, per an Oct. 22 letter. Administrator Jared Isaacman directed the directorate to cut competitive process time and focus funding on top-priority missions, NASA said.
EraDrive wins $13 million DoD award for autonomy modules. Payload and Outer Space Today reported that EraDrive won a $13 million DoD award for its Era-Node vision-based autonomy modules for the Space Force on Oct. 19. Lawrence Robertson said the APFIT process let EraDrive win the contract within one fiscal year.
UK Space Agency opens £2 million satellite emissions grant call. The UK Space Agency opened a £2 million grant call on Oct. 19 under Unlocking Space for Business to fund satellite-based emissions monitoring. Awards of up to £400,000 are available across two challenge areas, with applications closing Dec. 11.
Space Force moves six national security launches to SpaceX. The U.S. Space Force said six National Security Space Launch missions shifted from United Launch Alliance to SpaceX on Oct. 21 because Vulcan Centaur remains grounded. Lt. Gen. Philip Garrant disclosed the change during an industry briefing.
Commercial Spaceflight
Starburst-1 flies Zenno superconducting magnetic actuator aboard Falcon 9. Portal Space Systems’ Starburst-1 reached orbit Oct. 20 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 on the Bandwagon-5 rideshare from Cape Canaveral, carrying Zenno Astronautics’ Almighty Magnet. Portal established contact, stabilized the craft, and deployed its solar array; CEO Jeff Thornburg called the first 24 hours remarkable.
Space Policy, Budgets & History
US Space Force grants SpaceX access to restricted orbital tracking data. According to The Guardian, the U.S. Space Force gave SpaceX access to restricted orbital tracking data, including the High Accuracy Catalog with Vector Covariance Messages tracking objects down to 10 centimeters. SpaceX provides access to its Stargaze sensors in exchange.
Launch & Mission Tracking
Rocket Lab launches three Hawk satellites from New Zealand. Rocket Lab launched three HAWK satellites for HawkEye 360 on Oct. 23 from New Zealand on the Electron mission “We’re Not Hawking Around.” Liftoff occurred at 3:11 a.m. Eastern Time, Rocket Lab said.
Satellite & Orbital Infrastructure
SatVu launches HotSat-3 with Leonardo infrared sensor. SatVu’s HotSat-3 launched Oct. 1 aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-18 from Vandenberg, carrying a Leonardo infrared sensor that doubles the company’s thermal imaging capacity. HotSat-3 will join HotSat-2 to enable imaging of any location every 24 hours after commissioning.
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