by Douglas Messier
Managing Editor

The Chinese government recently formed a company to develop a satellite mega-constellation that would exceed SpaceX’s rival Starlink communications network in size, according to media reports.

The newly created China Satellite Network Group Co. will oversee the development of a communications satellite constellation that will include 12,992 satellites. China has filed for spectrum allocation for the constellation with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

The Chinese constellation would be the largest in the world with 1,049 more satellites than the 11,943 Starlink satellites approved by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Together, the Chinese and Starlink satellites would place 24,935 satellites into Earth orbit.

NASA FACT SHEET
FY 2022 Budget Request
Science
($ Millions)

NASA’s Science budget, managed by the Science Mission Directorate, includes five major science areas as well as the James Webb Space Telescope which is funded separately from Astrophysics. These areas include:

• Earth Science to enhance understanding of Earth systems and to observe the effects of climate change. The Budget invests heavily in climate and applications research, begins formulation of the first four Designated Observable missions, and initiates the Earth System Explorers program (consistent with Decadal Survey recommendations). The Budget also supports the ongoing development of the Earth System Observatory including PACE, CLARREO Pathfinder, NISAR, SWOT, and Landsat 9.

The solar electric propulsion upper stage opens a path to cis-lunar space, GEO, and beyond for Virgin Orbit’s small satellite customers

LITTLETON, Colo., June 1, 2021 (ExoTerra Resource PR) — NASA has awarded Littleton, CO-based ExoTerra Resource a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award for the firm’s solar electric propulsion upper stage, currently under development in partnership with California-based launch services provider Virgin Orbit.

NASA FACT SHEET
FY 2022 Budget Request
Space Technology
($ Millions)

The Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) develops transformative, cross-cutting technologies that lead to research and technology breakthroughs to enable NASA’s missions and is broadening its focus on cross-cutting space technologies that will support creating good jobs in a growing space industry.

This week on The Space Show with Dr. David Livingston: Tuesday, June 01 — 7 PM PST (9 PM CST; 10 PM EST): We welcome back DR. MARTIN ELVIS to discuss his new book, “Asteroids: How Love, Fear, and Greed will determine our Future in Space.” Wednesday, June 03 — Hotel Mars pre-recorded. See the Upcoming Show Menu at www.thespaceshow.com for details. Friday, June 04 — 9:30-11 AM PST; 11:30 […]

Imagine driving down a road which has more broken cars, bikes and vans lining the street than functioning vehicles. This is the scene our satellites face in Earth orbit. In fact, since the start of the space age there has been more debris, “space junk”, in orbit than operational satellites.

So how do we clean up this mess?

by Douglas Messier
Managing Editor

The combination of an ambitious schedule, technical challenges and immature technology will make it difficult for NASA to meet its goal of landing two astronauts on the moon in 2024, according to a new assessment by the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (NASA PR) — New Zealand has joined a growing list of countries to sign the Artemis Accords. Dr. Peter Crabtree, head of the New Zealand Space Agency, signed the document during a ceremony May 31 in Wellington. New Zealand is the second nation to sign the Artemis Accords under the Biden-Harris Administration, following the Republic of Korea’s signature May 24.

NASA FACT SHEET
FY 2022 Budget Request
Space Operations
($ Millions)

The FY 2022 Budget for the Space Operations account consists of four areas: International Space Station (ISS), Space Transportation, Space and Flight Support (SFS), and Commercial LEO Development.

by Douglas Messier
Managing Editor

Virgin Galactic filed paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to issue up to $1 billion in additional stock on Friday at the start of the long Memorial Day weekend. Friday is a traditional day to dump news you don’t want a lot of media coverage about; a long holiday weekend is especially useful for that purpose.

There was an interesting report from Interfax about Russia and China’s plans to explore the moon. Roscosmos and the China National Space Administration (CNSA) have reached a verbal agreement to adapt their crewed spacecraft to each other’s super heavy-lift launch vehicles (LV), the Russian state space corporation’s Executive Director for Science Alexander Bloshenko told Interfax. “We have already had a discussion on the possibility of adapting our super heavy-lift launch […]

NEW YORK (Colgate-Palmolive PR)– Today Colgate-Palmolive (Colgate)announced plans to send the first-ever private sector oral care experiment to the International Space Station (ISS), under the sponsorship of the ISS U.S. National Laboratory (National Lab). Driven by innovation and committed to take oral care research and development to new heights, Colgate designed the experiment to learn more – in a unique microgravity environment – about the bacteria that affect oral and overall health. The experiment will travel to the orbiting laboratory aboard SpaceX’s 22^nd  commercial resupply services mission (SpaceX CRS-22), contracted by NASA, in the Dragon spacecraft launching no earlier than June 3, 2021 from Kennedy Space Center, FL.

“Colgate’s purpose is to reimagine a healthier future for all people, their pets and the planet,” says Pat Verduin, Chief Technology Officer at Colgate-Palmolive. “We constantly strive to push the limits of research and development – and now we’re pushing even further, into space. Our unique partnership with ISS National Lab and the University of Nevada – Las Vegas will help us go beyond what’s expected, beyond what’s known and even beyond our planet to test and accelerate the science of oral health,” saysVerduin.