BUSINESS | POLITICS | PERSPECTIVE AUGUSTT 20211

WILL SUBORBITAL TAKE A SPACE SUBORBITAL TOURISM TRAJECTORY?

INSIDE

n Small launch vehicles grow up n Propulsion underpins sustainability n A schedule better suited for Artemis

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boeing.com/sls CONTENTS AUGUST 2021

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3 QUICK TAKES

25 COMMENTARY Michael Lencion Unlocking new economic frontiers in space

25 COMMENTARY Leo Mondale Space tourism’s environmental price tag

29 CONNECTING THE DOTS Achieving sustainable space 08 14 16 30 ON NATIONAL Is suborbital The proof Powering SECURITY space tourism is in the thrust sustainability In the new space era, on a suborbital More than a dozen satellite Efficient, affordable a changing role for the trajectory? propulsion firms say they thrusters are crucial for U.S. government The era of commercial have successfully fired new ensuring sustainable space 32 FOUST FORWARD suborbital human spaceflight thrusters in the last few years, operations. Propulsion A schedule better may finally be here, signaling a coming of age for advances promise to make suited for Artemis but whether it lasts isn’t a market promising to propel it easier to manage and certain. Neither is its smallsats to new heights. safely deorbit sprawling importance. constellations.

UPCOMING ISSUES 18 21 Starting with our Small launch National security September issue, vehicles grow up launch in transition SpaceNews will be published the first week Relativity Space and The Space Force is starting to of the month. Rocket Lab have plans for look ahead to its NSSL 3 launch rockets that can serve competition even as it faces a medium-class payloads longer wait for ULA's Vulcan for commercial Centaur to begin launching and government NSSL 2 missions. customers.

COVER: Jeff Bezos celebrates his July 20 suborbital spaceflight aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft. Credit: Blue Origin ABOVE: Technicians attempt to repair valves in the propulsion system on Boeing's CST-100 Starliner that have forced an extended delay in the launch of the spacecraft on an uncrewed test flight. Credit: Boeing

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2 | SPACENEWS AUGUST 2021 QUICK TAKES

SIGNIFICANT DIGITS $45M The size of the insurance claim Measat is expected to file for its drifting Measat-3 satellite. The Malaysian operator said it was unable to rescue the aging GEO satellite despite maintaining continuous telemetry and command control since an anomaly first appeared in June.

$46M While NASA showed off a prototype of its Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) lunar spacesuit in 2019, the suits won’t be ready for use on a lunar landing mission until 2025, according to a new report. The amount Japanese lunar lander company ispace raised the Series C round from several Japanese investors, led by ven- MOON SUITS WON’T BE READY IN TIME FOR 2024 LANDING ture capital firm Incubate Fund. The latest obstacle to NASA’s plans to return humans to the moon in 2024 is the spacesuit the The company will use the funding astronauts would wear. NASA’s inspector general concluded in a report released Aug. 10 that the new for its second and third robotic spacesuit NASA is developing for lunar missions, called the xEMU, won’t be ready until at least April 2025. lunar lander missions, scheduled The report blamed funding shortfalls, technical problems and the pandemic for delays that wiped out for launch in 2023 and 2024. The the program’s 12-month schedule reserve. NASA has spent $420 million on spacesuit development company’s first lander, already fully funded, is currently being as- dating back to the Constellation program, and foresees spending $625 million more to complete the sembled in Germany for launch in xEMU. A change in acquisition strategy where NASA will procure spacesuit services, rather than the suits the second half of next year. themselves, could result in suits that don’t make use of NASA’s xEMU investment. $46M CONSTELLATION INFATUATION The Canadian government will invest more than $1 billion into Telesat’s Lightspeed low Earth orbit Coincidentally, also the (LEO) constellation. Telesat said Aug. 12 the Canadian government will provide $1.15 billion for the amount raised by a Chinese company that plans to develop 300-satellite system in exchange for Telesat investing in Canadian infrastructure to build out Lightspeed, hypersonic spaceplanes. Beijing including hundreds of jobs and scholarships. Telesat has now secured commitments for about two-thirds Lingkong Tianxing Technology of the $5 billion cost of the system, with the rest of the funding to primarily come from debt financing from Co., Ltd., also known as Space export-credit agencies. Transportation, said the funds South Korean company Hanwha is investing $300 million in LEO broadband provider OneWeb. will be used for development of commercial suborbital and Hanwha, which plans to build and deploy its own megaconstellation by 2030, is taking an 8.8% stake in hypersonic vehicles. It aims for a OneWeb in a transaction expected to close in the first half of 2022. Hanwha has built its space portfolio by first flight of a suborbital space investing in South Korean satellite manufacturer Satrec Initiative and acquiring British antenna developer tourism vehicle prototype in 2023 Phasor Solutions. OneWeb, which has said its first generation satellite system is fully funded, hasn’t said how followed by a first crewed test in it would use the new investment. 2025, with a “global” hypersonic vehicle to follow by 2030. The Inmarsat, meanwhile, plans to add at least 150 LEO satellites to its global fleet, stepping up competition company performed a flight of against OneWeb, Telesat and others developing megaconstellations for enterprise markets. The British a 3.7-metric ton demonstrator satellite operator is investing $100 million over the next five years to lay the groundwork for deploying named Jiageng-1 in 2019. 150-175 LEO spacecraft, which will join the satellites in its GEO and HEO fleet from 2026 in a constellation it NASA/JOEL KOWSKY calls Orchestra.

SPACENEWS.COM | 3 4 QUICK | Swarm’s launch would smallsats wholly are pair servicing Lockheed LOCKHEED launch two semiconductors, missions raised through Lab bus Rocket ROCKET by In SpaceX SPACEX LM generation program. that vehicle of several 6. Heavy Texas. The HEAVY SPACENEWS FCC Starship SpaceX testing, 2100 part will of from Photons first requires $42 give 12-unit owned first filings and of Lab SpaceX hours perform would of is 2024, technology bus. to that One complete space NASA’s with acquiring million the for Martin including of it was satellite stage demonstrate AUGUST won TAKES x access on LAB Aug. an Global provide an later. of Lockheed cubesats subsidiary each SWARM be two stacked installed manufacturing test three FAA the undisclosed but a CAPSTONE LIFTING called MARTIN last ready will 6, contract 2021 manufacturing cubesats Both x carrying to Starship/Super flights and satellite company’s Swarm Positioning static-fire has license month internet-of-things Electron VARDA demonstrate SpaceX a slated Booster for Martin on personnel. disclosed production of Starship Starship in SpaceX its top disclosed for a yet lunar in sum. built the constellation to “space first EYES resources tests, launches a In-space three goals of to startup 4 System travel Series last and vehicle at cubesat few Swarm the capabilities. by orbital be once tasks of Heavy its ahead year, factory” Tyvak for missions it issued. Super booster to SATELLITE other fiber A Boca reached satellites services, Varda of the Upgrade as LINUSS round. geosynchronous known launch, would associated and late Photon well of vehicle company optic Nano-Satellite deal Heavy details. Chica, developed them will for Space this SpaceX of as Varda a continue is as built closes. and cables, Satellite a deal its fit use synergies servicing spacecraft year. have milestone Ship briefly Rocket before Texas, checks, Photon says with Industries Swarm on Photon appears intends in SERVICING Swarm by at 20 pharmaceuticals July Lockheed the System to orbit satellite test least took the Varda, Lab atop Systems. the from operate and satellite to Technologies. from acquisition to to interested site completed has later operates next be several . shape support use a Rocket lowered SpaceX’s (LINUSS) which Super 2023 Aug. acquired Martin’s launched this the as The in a weeks year 120 the in and from provide suffered GSLV engine (GSLV) an The this 5 2020. seen problems first into D2 a An ROCKET missions X-Bow Lab, were: of indefinite-quantity Services awarded Space ABL out lunar kilograms. and available The lander Intuitive or mission. in with a provider” Planet launch BlackSky will agreement Lab Earth-observation Rocket multi-launch year launches December launch launches India’s Ariane and year. task carry Electron for civil commercial geostationary Aug. Space SpaceX, the on geostationary Mark missions The Aevum, July will did Launch. Mark has failure. in the Eutelsat images Lab that an orders Planet launch payloads over on Program-4. satellites 11 Machines two with under 2024 services. Geosynchronous launch 5 through not NASA’s Intuitive 2 Ariane be upper 30, Systems, designated announced launched launch covered will the earlier since ROUNDUP 2 launches United on Gen-2 nine Firefly, eligible the ignite. failed on successfully of contract for Quantum did All on of flight, the SpaceX’s launch lunar is stage India 5 James transfer payload Falcon its with were 44 11 orbit. launch NASA. a Companies years. the contract not since of Machines 2025. company will Launch U.S. SpaceX inaugural when The by BlackSky Astra Northrop vendors on SuperDove an OSP-4 lander dubbed to are first and a malfunction. reveal earlier SpaceX the lost with three launch Webb combined August Space its failure Earth 9 commincations compete orbits. Transporter-3 as Planet fairing part the of the Space rockets placing agreement. Satellite first Alliance, for in well Falcon is SpaceX company two also the will BlackSky. this flight imaging rocket’s satellites surrounding May IM-3, Space of previously imaging an Grumman, is Force rapid as 2020 a mission The separation as announced the imaging a number before and third indefinite-delivery, compete is year. its in for multi-launch in one mass in EOS-03 the set 9 Launch launch for first that Telescope VOX acquisition 2022 because “go-to a 2010 Orbital Relativity rocket. upper missions satellites. Star has Rocket lunar Each satellite in to commercial rideshare this the in satellites of The for will selected February cubesats of Space, Rocket fly region nearly to space system that One for was 130 was Ariane the Vehicle stage satellites Aug. fall Rocket launch launch two start carry of 20 Lab late also the to on Two for and 5

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will be moving to the United States and launching the company.” Although Baghchehsara is only 28, this would not be his first startup. After building a jet engine as a teenager in Iran, Baghchehsara moved to Germany where he earned a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering and is pur- suing a Ph.D. in cognitive systems and artificial intelligence. He was named an Airbus director at 25. When he left Airbus, Baghchehsara founded LISA Group, a government cybersecurity contractor. As a young man growing up in Iran, Baghchehsara saw little opportunity to pursue his passion for propulsion. Since recently becoming a German citizen, he is eager to return to the technology he first explored in his 2014 book, “Electric Space: Space-based Solar Power Tech- nologies & Applications.” Baghchehsara is providing initial financing for AB360 Space. “My intention is to prove that the ABOVE: AB360 rendering of a hybrid chemical and electric propulsion engine designed to shorten in- concept works,” Baghchehsara said. “I terplantary journeys.. Below, right: Ali Baghchehsara, founder of AB360 Space. hate going to investor meetings where they ask if I’m ’m susure e it’ss ggoingg to work.o I want to sowshow theme proof.”” AB360 SpSpaceae plans l s toob beginin electrical testingt ig ofo CLePSCeS AB360 seeks to speed up in SepteSeptember,m , followedoo edb byy Hot Fire ttestingeigof of eecelectrical ca interplanetary travel and chechemicalmcal systemst in NovembeNovember.r. OceOnce thata testingi is completed,comple d, Baghchehsara B hhh a ropulsion company AB360 Space “We are aiming to reduce that trip to 38 plans to movemo e thee com com- is coming to the United States. days,” Baghchehsara told SpaceNews. pany to CoColorado o ado The startup established by Ali Currently, AB360 Space is testing a and begin llookingki g PBaghchehsara, a former Airbus prototype of its patent-pending Com- for investors.investo s. director and cybersecurity firm founder, bined Liquid electric Propulsion System, “So mucmuchh aims to combine elements of electric and CLePS, in Sweden. Swedish Space Corp. capital is avail-aa- chemical engines to improve engine thrust is providing the firm with testing facili- able in thee and efficiency for interplanetary journeys. ties and fuel, under a memorandum of market ttoday,”o ” With existing technology, a trip from understanding. BaghcheBaghchehsarah a Earth to Mars would take about six months. “We are using this infrastructure to said. “It’s “It s a get the concept proven,” Baghchehsara great titimeme too

DEBRA WERNER said. “Once I know the concept works, I be alive.” SN XXXXXXX

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GEOINT2021.com Twenty year after founding Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos celebrates New Shepard’s first crewed flight by breaking out the bubbly (Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut, $51.99 via Amazon Fresh).

WILL SUBORBITAL SPACE TOURISM TAKE A SUBORBITAL TRAJECTORY?

fter an extended launch delay, suborbital space start flying people in 2007 or 2008. tourism is finally ready for liftoff. Many in the A few years turned into more than a decade, as Virgin industry thought that was the case nearly 17 Galactic suffered technical setbacks, including a test stand years ago, when SpaceShipOne, built by Scaled accident that killed three Scaled employees in 2007 and the AComposites and funded by billionaire Paul Allen, won the $10 crash of the first SpaceShipTwo in 2014 that killed the vehicle’s million Ansari XPRIZE. Around the same time, Virgin Galactic co-pilot. Even after reaching space in December 2018, the announced a deal to license the technology, proposing to company encountered more technical delays. The company, though, had little competition. Companies

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8 | SPACENEWS AUGUST 2021 SUBORBITAL SPACE TOURISM

Likee a person whoo waitedaedor for agess ataabus a bus stop, onlyly to have two buses show uppt at once,, suborbitalb bi lspace space tourism’s’s momentoment may have finally arriveda i d thanksh ktob to bothhBl Blue e Originigin and Virgin Galactic.

seshe said, notable since New Shepard is designedsigned to carry six people. SShehe wasn’t complaining about the fgflightht that much, though. “It was great. IIov loveded it. I can hardly wait to go again.”

BUILDINGUILDING THE SUBORBITAL BUSINESSUSINESS Aerospace went out of business long expected,, sendingdi thee capsule calledca ed Of the four people on New Shepard, before they were ready to start flying ““RSSRSS Firsts SStep” oon asuboba suborbital al trajectoryj y DaeDaemenmen was the least well known. people. Other XPRIZE competitors also wtwith an anapogee apogee ofo 10707 kilometers.oees TTene BuBluee Origin announced he would fly faded away (remember The Da Vinci mminutesuesa and d 100 secoseconds ds aafter er liftoff, f ff, thata jjustt five days before the launch, as Project?) All that was left was Blue Origin, ccapsule landedaded udeunder parachutes,, nearlyl smsomethingething of a last-minute replacement. which had the financial wherewithal to tthreeee minutesues aeafter theeboose booster madeade a TThee seat was to go to the winner of an continue development but which worked poweredd landingg oaon a nearbyy pad.d auctionauction that concluded June 12, with at a pace that was more gradatim than Bezoseosad and thee oesothers on boaboard d appeared aan unidentified individual making a ferociter. too enjoyj everyee minuteue ofo theef flight.. winwinningning bid of $28 million. That person, But like a person who waited for ages Videodeo releasedeeased afterwardae adso showed ed theme though,hough, had a “scheduling conflict,” Blue at a bus stop, only to have two buses show ffloatingg aroundaoud thee cabin,bi enjoyingj ig thee OiOrigingin explained, but didn’t identify the up at once, suborbital space tourism’s vview, andadeen even tossingig SkittlesS es candiesca d es perpersonson or the nature of the conflict. The moment may have finally arrived thanks dduringi thee fewe minutesues oof microgravity.i i comcompanypany announced the July 20 date to both Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic. ((Skittles,, eitheeitherr aaeaware ofo thissn in advancead a ce oro oof thehe flight when it started the auction On July 11, it was Virgin Galactic that aiacting witht remarkablee aabe speeddf afterward,, in early early May. flew SpaceShipTwo with six people, announceannouncedd two ddaysays llaterater pplanslans to oofferffer TThehe soft-spoken Daemen wasn’t a big including founder Richard Branson, on limited-edition “Zero-G Skittles” in presence both in preflight interviews the board, demonstrating what a commercial special packaging.) four did with major television networks flight might be like. “My expectations were high, and before the launch or at the post-flight Nine days later, it was Blue Origin’s they were dramatically exceeded,” ceremony. “It felt way cooler than it turn. For the first time, the autonomously Jeff Bezos said in a ceremony a couple looked,” he said at the ceremony. controlled New Shepard would have hours after the flight at Launch Site He was noteworthy, though, for two people on board for this mission, formally One. (The event was billed to the media things. At 18, he is now the youngest designated NS-16. Blue Origin founder in attendance as a press conference person to fly in space, breaking the record Jeff Bezos was joined by his brother lasting an hour, but ended after about set by Gherman Titov in 1961 when he Mark, Wally Funk of “Mercury 13” fame, 45 minutes, having taken only three flew on the second Vostok mission a and Oliver Daemen, an 18-year-old questions from reporters.) Viewing month before his 26th birthday. Dutch person taking a year off before the Earth from suborbital altitudes, he Second, and arguably more importantly, starting college. It also marked the first added, was “very profound.” he is the first commercial suborbital time that the company opened up its Mark Bezos and Daemen offered space traveler. Everyone who has flown Launch Site One in the West Texas similar praise for the experience. Only on SpaceShipTwo have been company desert north of the small town of Van Funk sounded a little disappointed, employees (or, in the case of Branson, Horn to the media. noting at that ceremony that the view the founder.) Jeff Bezos flew his brother The flight itself looked a lot like the out the window wasn’t as expansive as and Funk as guests. Daemen, however, previous, uncrewed New Shepard flights. she expected, and suggesting the cabin paid an unspecified amount for the Taking off at about 9:12 a.m. EDT, the was a little cramped. “There was not flight — or, rather, his father, a private booster’s BE-3 engine performed as quite enough room for all four of us,” equity executive, paid for the ticket.

SPACENEWS.COM | 9 10 flights pay what many customers have prelaunch of flights,” have with 12, auction. sales, instead a $250,000. years Galactic, approach SUBORBITAL ticket | astronaut SPACENEWS I The “Since continues have already many already ago prices starting customers are company Blue taking price said which the at Blue had to going media that of $200,000, Origin signed they AUGUST auction selling sales built Ariane our or to the Origin the with are started be publicly for future SPACE hasn’t paid. briefing it pleasure a at has up 2021 approach quite interested.” that a has robust seats bidders later Cornell, hasn’t Blue for very taken selling “Willingness we customers disclosed high. the signed increasing started than TOURISM July Origin, good held of announced pipeline subsequent a of from Our tickets chatting different director 18. on private Virgin up, price,” sales, early June how “We at that the it or of to 15 to a Bezos what not “What year, It at suborbital expects take backlog that the $100 company signed didn’t strong that said space. Above: Left: will least Virgin Company At demand sure briefing. Bob they’re million time the the New but disclose said. increase we interest.” up, NS-16’s one of to yet. Smith, has Shepard post-flight cadence do by but customers Galactic flights to perform with in is raked not W’ll We’ four-person in “I how officials fly did very, private how think lifts the CEO that trying six them. reveal in. this figure will off much following very many two “We’re ceremony, people we’re has of July because flight sales year, crew eventually said Blue to how high,” more 20 Blue that about isn’t experiences approaching people already, seeing build on including rate on privately Origin, much its out, year it crewed Origin he board. 16th clear. Bezos would a next 600 said. very had and be,” and big I’m the suborbital weightlessness at time that Virgin per reopening earnings the only six future than That $2 the That before of Galactic start of from customers spaceflight its their million in Virgin optimistic Italian person. ticket four. as customer current 100 late flying the a as going SpaceshipIII Galactic, the small ticket. New plans cabin, Galactic flights call September That’s sales ticket in Air and company who Michael Shepard until into revenue SpaceShipTwo, Aug. deposit flight its Force, just Those will Unity backlog sales, to first suggested a have a waited couple 5 next maintenance work reaches one be rate carrying to vehicles Colglazier, attempts starting can producing flight customers for open to announce paid more of until through; fall, will the accommodate the suborbital years one humans. for on will anywhere its take at VSS as company. full will test to per $450,000 a quarterly the even CEO Virgin limited control period. be about Unity, won’t value it more carry while week. flight was call for of at

BLUE ORIGIN CORPORATE OUTING: Virgin Galactic’s Unity 22 mission specialists (from left): Beth Moses, chief astronaut instructor; Richard Branson, Virgin Galactic founder; Sirisha Bandla, vice president of government affairs and research operations; and Colin Bennet, lead operations engineer.

the demand for seats versus the supply throughout the coverage of the New to many, and factored into the criticism of flights, but didn’t give an estimate of Shepard flight. of Bezos, Blue Origin, and commercial how many the company will sell. Bezos didn’t help matters much at the spaceflight that followed. post-flight ceremony, at least at first. After Perhaps anticipating that criticism, Bezos thanking the employees of Blue Origin for used part of the ceremony for something SURVIVING A BACKLASH building New Shepard, he said, “I want unrelated to Blue Origin. He announced a When SpaceShipOne won the XPRIZE in to thank every Amazon employee and new “Courage and Civility Award” he was 2004, there wasn’t much criticism of the every Amazon customer, because you funding, giving the first two to activist and role of the wealthy in backing the project. guys paid for all this.” While true — Bezos political commentator Van Jones and to If one billionaire — Allen — wanted to bankrolled Blue Origin thanks to his stake chef and humanitarian José Andrés. Each bankroll a suborbital spaceplane and another in Amazon — it came off as tone-deaf received $100 million. — Branson — wanted to commercialize it, so be it. Virgin Galactic has about 600 customers who Billionaires, though, have gotten even wealthier and, given growing discussion have paid anywhere from a small deposit to the of income inequality, bigger targets. None full value of their ticket. That customer backlog is bigger than Bezos, whose net worth is now more than $200 billion, according will take more than 100 flights to work through. to Forbes. How billionaires like Bezos That’s a couple years even at the optimistic accumulate and spend their wealth, or flight rate of one per week. GALACTIC even that they have that wealth in the

VIRGIN first place, became a theme of criticism

SPACENEWS.COM | 11 12 for Moses, who conducted tests of the of tests conducted who Moses, for secondtheflight.wereAll pilots except MosesBeth received themfor beingon while David Mackay, Mike Masucci, and wingsfrom hisfour shuttle missions), NASA had astronaut, NASA former a flightbeyond 80 kilometers (Sturckow, received them for the SpaceShipTwofirst next wings: Mark and Stucky CJ Sturckow agencythough,awardedwhenthethe their suborbital flights. It wasn’t until Melvill2019, and Brian Binnie received them for in 2004, when SpaceShipOne pilots Mike astronaut wings that the agency awards. in on who would be eligible for commercial people for the first time, the FAA weighed The same day that New Shepard carried CLIPPED WINGS should in turn support the public good.” and that don’t have a scientific purpose, done purely for tourism or entertainment, are that “However,spaceflight. things commercial of said he innovation,” be applied to orbital flights. second, “significantly higher” rate would would go toward suborbital flights while a constitute scientific research.) One tax rate purpose. (He didn’t disclose what would on commercial flights with no scientific introduced — would levy per-person taxes (SPACE)Emissionsbe to yet — Tax Act a statement. do the same, and then some,” he said in value of should produce nothing scientific tickets, billionaires who fly into space to Americans pay taxes whennormal as they Just wealthy. buy the for airlineholiday to tax suborbital or orbital spaceflights. announced he would introduce legislation of the Ways House Committee, and Means Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), a member Moments New after safely Shepard landed, weighing in on suborbital space tourism. though,one member ofCongress was SUBORBITAL SPACE TOURISM | SPACENEWS “I’m not opposed to this type of space The FAA started awarding those wings His Securing Protections Against Carbon “Spaceexploration isn’t tax-freea Even Even before took Bezos the stage, AUGUST 2021 the FAA added a third: “Demonstratedthird: aadded FAA the kilometers). In the July 20 update, though, to an altitude of at least 50 miles (about asdefined 80 in federal regulations and go considered part of the crew of the vehicle theFAAestablished for thosewings: be SpaceShipTwo cabin interior. Colin Bennettakes intheview. Top: All appeared to fit the original criteria Virgin GroupfounderRichardBransonfloatscabin. throughVSSUnity’s designed to carry humans,” the FAA the humans,” carry to designed mission to promote the safety of vehicles crew members who furthered the FAA’s in 2004, its focus was to recognize flight space flight safety.” to public safety, or contributed to human flight that during were activities essential “When the program was first created Above: Virgin Galactic’s Galactic’s Virgin

VIRGINXXXX GALACTIC XXXX “This is“This an autonomous vehicle. There’s controlledwhichwas fromground.the vehicle, the flying were them of None as would crew qualify under FAA regulations. clear anyone who flew on New Shepard perhaps. Reality is a little more complex. degreetingedaofschadenfreude,with would not become astronauts; coverage rules, declared in news reports that they nor wouldBranson under the qualify new on New Shepard? space flight safety? And what about those workrelatedhumanpublicorto safety the “experience” of the flight, performing SpaceShipTwoonflewwho evaluateto people on the recent flights. Was Branson, among other criteria.” contributed to human space flight safety, flight that were essential tocrew who demonstratepublic activities during safety, or changedfocusthetorecognize flight nowstatement.hasFAA a in“The said First, even under the old rules, it’s not Some, concluding that neither Bezos That appeared to exclude some of the a rapidly flight increasing rate, supported spaceflight. Its financial projections foresee growing demand for suborbital human different directions. there. Moreover, they’re heading in very time but took very different paths to get spaceflighthumansameaboutat the the starting line of commercial suborbital Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic reached PATHS DIVERGING NASA astronaut. Crisis averted. beingdeniedchancethe tobecome a eligible for astronaut wings 60 years after theoldrules, Wally Funkwouldn’t be erupt if the FAA concluded that, under might that outrage the avoid would it flights, given their historic nature. And both the SpaceShipTwo and Newon Shepardeveryone to wings give to desired, the official criteria. don’tmeet but industry” flight space human commercial the to service extraordinary contribution or beneficial wings to “individuals who demonstrated astronaut commercial “honorary” award revised rules give the FAA the ability to and Branson get astronaut wings. The rules make it more likely people like Bezos them astronauts. space,butinfewwould notconsider flown yet not have they since wings astronaut NASA have don’t example, members of NASA’s astronaut corps, for flying on commercial vehicles.) Someaboutissuesgovernment employees address to law federal to fix 2015 a of part as law. is, astronaut” the (“Government in defined not is “astronaut” awards “astronaut wings,” and the term it which for conditions the out lays instead It all. at “astronaut” term the prelaunch briefing. do,”go BlueOrigin’s theatsaidSmith to member crew a for nothing really Virgin Galactic is betting its on is future Galactic betting Virgin so it if FAA, the allowwould That Most the though, importantly, revised Second, the FAA order doesn’t define for a suborbital tourism vehicle,” Bezos said Bezos vehicle,” tourism for a suborbital details.) no the past but about which it has disclosed vehiclecompanythe mentionedhas in NewArmstrong,evenlargerorbitalthe post-flightceremony, mentionedeven at the (Bezos, projects. other and vehicle orbital Glenn New its for Shepard New how it developing has used the experience only about a talked has step. The company foresees. it as profitable as be to proves at achievable all unless suborbital tourism likelymanyyears theinfuture, andnot point-to-point transportation, but that is for high-speed that technology leveraging spaceports. The company has talked about by development of new vehicles and new neither is its importance. its is neither and certain, isn’t lasts it whether but be here, may finally spaceflight human followed. largely has industry the offered an alternative path that most of SpaceX and smallsats of combination The development vehicles. of the such support to enough big market one the reusable space transportation by tapping XPRIZE, as the Ansari key the toof unlockingdays the low-cost in back touted, have little relationship to New Shepard.) delays in developmentlike issues, of thecurrent BE-4(whose Glenn engine, New supporttoenoughit experienceflying have Shepard.Presumablythey’ll New trouble, Blue Origin may pull the plug on where it’s not profitable, or simply too much where,demandifdrops offtopointthe initially be lucrative, one can see a future stage of New Glenn.” mission, we’re practicing flying the second Glenn. So, every time we fly this tourism New of stage second the basically is me over you the audience. see “What behind propulsiontoweringShepardmodule, New Shepard. He then pointed to a New of the BE-3powers that the fuel on engine For Blue Origin, though, suborbital is And while that tourism mission may “You would never choose liquid hydrogen Theera of commercial suborbital once was tourism space Suborbital SPACENEWS S N .COM | 13 IN!SPACE PROPULSION

SMALL SATELLITE PROPULSION BEGINS TO PROVE ITSELF

Luis Gomes was fed up with propulsion promises. As chief technology officer for Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. in 2018, Gomes told his assistant to halt all meetings with spacecraft propulsion companies. years, more than a dozen companies Benavides, a researcher and engineer “Two companies a week were coming have reported successful firing of in the NASA Glenn Research Center’s in with the same designs and talking to new satellites thrusters, among them: Electric Propulsion Systems branch. “At me about the same things,” said Gomes, Enpulsion of Austria; Germany’s the moment, we still have fairly limited now CEO of Sweden’s AAC Clyde Space. Morpheus Space; French firms flight data on these systems.” “They were just trying to get potential Exotrail and ThrustMe; Denmark’s customers so they could go back to their GomSpace; D-Orbit and T4i of Italy; MORE TESTING COMING investors and get money to develop it. I Dawn Aerospace of the Netherlands; The first thrusters from Accion Systems told them, ‘I will wait until prove your NanoAvionics of Lithuania; and and Benchmark Space Systems reached technology and then you can come U.S. companies Apollo Fusion, orbit June 30 on satellites launched as back to me.’” Bradford Space, Momentus, Phase rideshares on the SpaceX Transporter-2 Three years later, Gomes along with Four, Rocket Lab, Stellar Exploration flight. The two companies do not yet the rest of the small satellite community and Tethers Unlimited. (Momentus have flight data to share. is starting to see that proof. thruster performance claims were “These are paying customers with “There are advancements being later questioned by the U.S. Securities operational missions,” said Benchmark made across the waterfront,” Bruce Yost, and Exchange Commission.) CEO Ryan McDevitt. “They are going to director of the NASA Small Spacecraft Still, it’s too soon to say much about use it when they need it over the next Systems Virtual Institute, said Aug. 10 the performance of many of the new weeks and months.” at the virtual Small Satellite Conference. cubesat and small satellite thrusters. Even when customers begin firing Five years ago, cubesats and “There are a lot of missions that thrusters, it can take years to observe microsatellites had few inexpensive recently launched or are known to be the full range of propulsive capabilities INC.

propulsion options. In the last couple of coming in the next year or so,” said Gabriel including initial orbit maneuvers, XPLORE

14 | SPACENEWS AUGUST 2021 Left: Accion Systems will supply miniature ion thrusters for Xplore’s XLEO satellite scheduled to launch in 2023. Above: Brennan Bryant, Stellar Exploration design engineer, is shown with the Stellar Exploration propulsion module that helped propel an EchoStar nanosatellite to secure its claim to a global S-band slot.

customers in space. That all was realized Even if a thruster produces a specific in a feeling.” change in velocity for one cubesat or NASA considers propulsion systems small satellite in low Earth orbit, it may with space flight heritage to be lower risk mean that the physics involved is sound than systems tested exclusively on the but it does not necessarily mean future ground, making the technology with thrusters produced by the company will flight heritage more likely to win space work equally well. agency funding and to be included in “Propulsion systems need to be long-term stationkeeping and deorbit missions, Yost said. considered in the context of the at the conclusion of missions. Certain technologies, though, can anticipated mission,” Benavides said. “A How important are flight tests for be adequately tested on the ground. lot of missions get into trouble when they thrusters? Experts offer a range of For some chemical propulsion and assume substantial similarity between opinions. heritage electric propulsion systems, their mission and other missions, which Extensive ground-based testing “we’ve developed a lot of good ground may or may not exist. Then, late in their can verify 80 to 85 percent of thruster test facilities and methodologies,” mission development they find that performance and behavior, said Natalya Benavides said. In those cases, “it’s there are issues with propulsion that Bailey, Accion Systems co-founder and logical to do as much testing as you they didn’t perceive.” CTO. In-orbit demonstrations verify can feasibly within your budget on the “I strongly encourage any mission that last 15 to 20 percent and show that ground to reduce the cost,” he added. considering one or more propulsion thrusters work as designed, she added. technologies to do a deep dive and Umair Siddiqui, Phase Four CTO, saw JUST OPEN A VALVE understand the technology readiness that firsthand. Despite his conviction When companies report thruster firings level of any propulsion system within that Phase Four’s Maxwell engine would in orbit, it’s important to understand the context of your mission and your work in orbit exactly as it had in extensive exactly what they have shown. mission’s requirements,” Benavides testing on the ground, he felt intense “If you open a valve with a liquid said. “Do that early and it’ ll save a lot of relief when he saw proof earlier this year. to outgas, it will provide some thrust,” costs and headaches in the long run.” “I had the most unexpected visceral said Tomas Svitek, Stellar Exploration reaction,” Siddiqui said. “In five years, we president. “That does not automatically TECHNICAL READINESS EXPLORATION went from a figment of imagination to imply that this is a useful propulsion Propulsion is often a spacecraft’s most

STELLAR a unit that’s serving mission needs for system.” expensive and complex system.

SPACENEWS.COM | 15 IN!SPACE PROPULSION

POWERING SUSTAINABILITY Satellite propulsion underpins orbital stewardship

mall satellite propulsion has a spent satellites faster as constellations critical role to play in keeping grow, enabling them to be replaced space sustainable. more efficiently and maintain or even Enpulsion’s Nano R3 is roughly the size of a Rubik’s While in-orbit debris cleaners improve service levels. Cube, weighs about a kilogram, and produces 350 S and other emerging capabilities capture Constellations relying on intersatellite micronewtons of nominal thrust. imaginations, thrusters underpin a links, in particular, will want to “If you want to buy low-power healthy operating environment in space. minimize costs by limiting the number processors, you can get them from huge Onboard thrusters can help ensure of satellites they send to space, he said, terrestrial markets,” said Brad King, Orbion a satellite safely reaches its assigned but risk “serious outages” if a spacecraft Space Technology CEO and founder. “If orbit, moves out of harm’s way, relocates is lost and the network cannot be you want to buy GPS receivers, you can as market and mission requirements adjusted to compensate.“[T]o replace get them from terrestrial markets. But the warrant, and dispose of itself when a malfunctioning satellite, you would iPhone doesn’t yet have a thruster,” he said, the time comes. have to remove it first, and obviously making propulsion systems “one of the It is partly why the rise of smallsat you want to perform that as fast and last remaining purely space technologies.” constellations has spawned dozens of as coordinated as possible,” he said. Since propulsion can claim a large propulsion startups promising more But for now, and in the absence of share of a satellite budget, some efficient thruster as concerns over globally accepted orbital stewardship companies are eager to find inexpensive congested orbits grow. rules and incentives, he said spending options. Ensuring space sustainability resources to speed up a retired satellite’s “Everyone wants fast, cheap and means giving satellite operators more atmospheric reentry is more about risky until something happens,” said propulsion capabilities for managing burnishing an operator’s corporate Alexander Reissner, Enpulsion CEO their constellations, according to István image than its bottom line. and founder. Lőrincz, co-founder and president of Still, there are growing calls for To evaluate risk, customers often ask propulsion startup Morpheus Space. international cooperation to enforce propulsion suppliers about the technical “You cannot talk about space standardized rules for space operations. readiness level (TRL) of thrusters. sustainability without talking about The World Economic Forum is Some companies fire thrusters propulsion,” Lőrincz said. developing a Space Sustainability Rating in space for the first time and begin As more satellites are added to system, which scores companies based “shouting around from the rooftops ‘I’m low Earth orbit, he believes it will be on factors including post-mission TRL 9 because I’m working in space,’” increasingly crucial for smaller spacecraft deorbit plans and collision-avoidance Reissner said. to have the means to maneuver within measures. Missions that voluntarily Technology does not earn the moniker their constellations. participate in the system would earn a TRL 9, however, until it completes a full Smallsats might need to dodge certification and rating based on how mission. If it’s a thruster-demonstration malfunctioning spacecraft and debris, they contribute to space sustainability. mission, that’s far easier to complete or shift their position to heal an issue than a multiyear Earth-observation or somewhere else on the network. NEW OPERATING communications mission. Lőrincz believes operators will be ENVIRONMENT “Putting your product in orbit and increasingly incentivised to deorbit While onboard propulsion is typical turning it on for an hour does nothing for large satellites that have provided to prove that you can meet a 5,000-hour JASON RAINBOW vital services for decades, it is not as lifetime,” King said. SN

16 | SPACENEWS AUGUST 2021 commonplace among smallsats that enough on-demand thrust to avoid a Or even better, that adopting propulsion have relatively only recently graduated collision without substantial lead time. is helping the business and this is what from experimental to commercial roles. “Most electric propulsion technologies we set out to do.” The satellites AAC Clyde Space is just can’t get out of the way in time Morpheus was the only space building for Eutelsat will use onboard even if you stomp on the accelerator,” mobility propulsion venture to win propulsion for phasing, stationkeeping he said. “We have a feature we added LEO constellation operator OneWeb’s and collision avoidance. to our system that resolves that issue.” innovation challenge in July. “I think we’ll start seeing that more Five years ago when Austria’s Lőrincz said it is in a co-engineering and more,” said Luis Gomes, AAC Clyde Enpulsion began developing nanosatellite phase with OneWeb to support the Space CEO. thrusters, cubesats had few propulsion operator’s second-generation constellation. “I suspect collision avoidance will options. Now, companies are beginning become a mandatory requirement from to flight test a wide variety of chemical AVOIDING SPACE licensing countries.” and electric propulsion systems sized EXPLOSIONS Rules for avoiding collisions may apply, for a growing population of relatively More power-efficient thrusters could for example, to satellites operating at tiny satellites. mean a satellite can move while altitudes above 400 kilometers. Similarly, At the same time, regulators are imaging or communicating without satellites operating at 600 kilometers or beginning to insist satellites actively putting undue strain on its batteries higher may be required to have some deorbit at the end of missions. or solar cells. way to deorbit, or at least to move below That opens up new applications for the International Space Station’s altitude OIL SPILLS ARE BAD FOR different types of satellites, according before deorbiting passively. BUSINESS to space propulsion startup Accion Increasingly, nanosatellites programs Companies concerned about their Systems, which recently sold a majority backed by U.S. or European government reputations don’t want to be seen as bad stake of the venture to private equity agencies require some propulsion. for the environment. for $42 million. “They want to see how we are going to A satellite that crashes into something The type of propulsion is also an mitigate the risk of collision with space during deorbit because it does not have important factor in space sustainability, junk,” said Vytenis Buzas, NanoAvionics sufficient propulsion to control its descent noted Accion Chief Technology Officer CEO and co-founder. would be a business-hurting PR disaster, Natalya Bailey. “People are starting to talk about that to say the least. Oil spills on Earth, after Using a combination of liquid and and about ways to reduce the orbital all, tend to be bad for business. electric propulsion for thrusters enables altitude after the satellite is no longer But adding more propulsion capabilities Accion’s system to be unpressurized, operational, including propulsion, means additional costs for a satellite unlike some others that have to manage tethers and other deorbiting devices.” operator. pressurized gas containment technology. If agencies mandate collision A satellite devoting more of its power Bailey said the ability of its Tiled Ionic avoidance capabilities, they will need to budget to thrusters has less available for Liquid Electrospray (TILE) thrusters offer clear explanations of the scenarios running cameras, transponders, or other to eliminate the need for pressurized they envision, noted Brad King, Orbion payloads central to generating revenue fuel tanks and high energy systems Space Technology CEO and founder. or meeting its mission. will become increasingly important as “If I’m trying to avoid a collision Propulsion startups targeting the satellite population grows. that might happen next month, that smallsat market aim to introduce affordable, “We’re not needing to launch little maneuver is very different than if I’m efficient thrusters that provide plenty bombs into orbit that have the potential trying to avoid a collision that might of boost without overtaxing a satellite to not only destroy a customer’s own happen in the next hour or so,” King said. operator’s finite resources — namely constellation, if there’s a chain reaction Orbion is developing a thruster money, mass, onboard power and fuel. of explosions, but they could also really uniquely designed for collision avoidance. Morpheus co-founder Lőrincz said muck up LEO for everybody else as well,” While electric propulsion is extremely propulsion companies like his “should she said. SN fuel-efficient — and thus a popular be obligated to make their offering so option for especially volume-constrained enticing that sustainable operations have DEBRA WERNER CONTRIBUTED TO THIS satellites — it is unlikely to provide no significant impact on the bottom line. STORY FROM SAN FRANCISCO.

SPACENEWS.COM | 17 Relativity Space’s Terran R, while similar in performance to the Falcon 9, looks more like SpaceX’s Starship vehicle, from its metallic finish to the aerodynamic design of the upper stage. And, like Starship, both stages of Terran R are intended to be reusable.

SMALL LAUNCH VEHICLES GROW UP

or years after Boeing and Lockheed Martin are looking to move into larger markets. In recent months, combined their launch vehicle businesses into a both Relativity Space and Rocket Lab have unveiled plans for joint venture, United Launch Alliance had a lock rockets that can serve medium-class payloads for commercial on the medium- to heavy-lift launch market in the and government customers. The two companies, while UnitedF States. SpaceX would eventually challenge that, but sharing similar ambitions, are taking different approaches it would take years of effort, including a lawsuit, for that to developing larger vehicles. company to win national security launch business. That created a SpaceX/ULA duopoly that survived competition BUILDING A MEDIUM!CLASS WORKHORSE from Blue Origin and Northrop Grumman to win National For most of the company’s history, Rocket Lab and its founder, Security Space Launch Phase 2 contracts last year. Peter Beck, showed no interest in rockets larger than its The next time around, SpaceX and ULA may face even Electron, which can place up to 300 kilograms into low Earth more competition. Besides the prospect of Blue Origin and orbit. The closest Beck came to discussing a larger rocket perhaps Northrop Grumman bidding on future contracts, was when he tweeted a photo of himself standing next to a startups that originally focused on small launch vehicles version of Electron with three first stages: Electron Heavy, SPACE analogous to the Delta 4 Heavy and Falcon Heavy. It was an

JEFF FOUST April Fool’s joke. RELATIVITY

18 | SPACENEWS AUGUST 2021 ROCKET RELATIVITY

“The image you see of That changed in March. At the same time Rocket Lab announced it Neutron…is a bit of a was going public through a merger ruse. Neutron looks with a special-purpose acquisition nothing like that,” ccorporationporation (SPAC), it also unveiled NNeutron.eutron. That rocket will be far more Rocket Lab CEO Peter popowerfulwerful than Electron, capable Beck said. “Basically, ooff placing up to 8,000 kilograms we’re sick of people iintonto orbit. Illustrations of Neutron show a copying us all the time.” relatively nondescript vehicle with a conical payload fairing 4.5 meters in diameter. The only features that stand out are what appear to be landing legs folded up at the base of the first stage, like those on the Falcon 9 (Rocket Lab plans to land the first stage on a ship and reuse it.) However, those public images don’t represent the true shape of Neutron. “The image you see of Neutron there is a bit of a ruse. Neutron looks nothing like that,” Beck said in a webinar by the Space Generation Advisory Council in early August. “Basically, we’re sick of people copying us all the time.” He said the company would reveal the actual design of Neutron “in time.” With that unwillingness to show what Neutron looks like, it’s nnotot surprising that Rocket Lab has ssharedhared few technical details about the rocket, including its engines. The company says that Neutron will use the same propellant combination as Electron, liquid oxygen and kerosene, but hasn’t discussed the performance or even the number of engines on each stage of the rocket. In an interview shortly after the announcement of Neutron, Beck said the company would leverage the technology it developed for the Rutherford engines on Electron. Those engines make extensive use of Relativity Relativity Rocket Lab Rocket Lab SpaceX ULA 3D printing as well as battery- Terran R Terran 1 Neutron Electron* Falcon 9* Vulcan Centaur powered pumps, and produce Height: 65 meters 35 meters 40 meters 18 meters 70 meters 61 meters SPACENEWS GRAPHIC BY ROBIN MCDOWALL up to 56,000 pounds-force *OPERATIONAL*

SPACENEWS.COM | 19 20 U.S. with satellites can a it for Rocket maximum not last a optimize of of nicely,” combustion engine some manufacturing.” “We company development, ROCKET looks comparable to a $500 date, plan contracts first million. designed Relativity A vehicle our it payloads with much first “workhorse” secured has 3D place 3D the | late SPACENEWS Beck Rocket Work One “Engines Terran In The the second bases,” launch launch government know of to NASA, $650 Neutron million. June, no printing. more launch ! aspects thrust. larger company PRINTED August. challenge, Lab’s use that of right he larger Although said more on current forecast on the from has to Space that Lab financing R, million, how said. reusability RELATIVITY Relativity the Beck is as of like will the Neutron to AUGUST place it. stability while are SPAC way he engine. performance scheduled from as That specific much he for than rocket, satellite believes class the focused rocket of Beck to Space power SpaceX’s That expects soon also always he plans will said. said, frequent to is to the the build Falcon a up merger flying 2021 REUSABLE similar funding acknowledged, 20,000 that already little launch go,” as before also said announced started and new Rocket will as company the to to Force, and operators Rutherford “There’s Neutron. impulse but to 98% that, for on engines. replenish 2024. isn’t he 1,250 the Rocket more more human-rate Starship launch the 9. Terran injectors, likely is engine maximum launches. emphasized in late of deploying of kilograms starting said. through will a completed, NRO with small, long company rated Lab, performance commercial major the than than this kilograms out no like “We has go Lab shift its people R. “What DISRUPTER We may and engine Electron vehicle, will pole” though, their point year for of engine with largest toward That 200 Iridium so six yet Neutron, did the customer to “For know an Neutron, reliability.” into be human DARPA into a also constellations. months wanted incorporate — to Rutherford LEO the we’re a lot which on in end engine its the rocket building lot us, Relativity into but fly funding and from high of LEO, development isn’t likely launch how it. and and design Terran experience to turbomachinery of constellations. of extracting Terran that with “I’m looking instead all spaceflight.” the orbit work government even is of after to Telesat, the is Neutron, its seeking is to gear a launching scheduled make wait Electron, designed will a Falcon covering probably capacity a scale engines. round metallic 1 has vehicle decade, for launch at around though for 1 raising goal rocket — once build for scale least until The won who the use $12 the the the up to of of to is 9, it that company have 302,000 of use versions the we executive possibilities to And, finish Rocket Terran be Terran “That see next liquid engine a like reusable. single to Lab the pounds-force decade.” of architecture R Starship, the R of expects CEO oxygen will commercial the will as for Relativity, vacuum-optimized Peter aerodynamic soon Aeon have Terran be Beck and to powered both as seven 1 begin standing engine methane really said of the R,” market thrust, stages Tim Aeon end in testing by inside opens design an it of Ellis, Aeon demand developed propellants. R of while version interview. this a engines, Neutron Terran a up co-founder prototype R of year, the engines, a of the is lot payload upper for that R each “It today a The upper of schedule are serves Terran engine. long-term fairing. version producing first and upgraded stage intended and stage. where 1 chief stage over that that The will of

ROCKET LAB supports a first launch of Terran R as and larger rockets. Firefly Aerospace, Resupply Services (CRS) program. early as 2024. whose Alpha small launch vehicle is “We are continuing to pursue sales Both Terran R and its Aeon R engines will nearing its first launch, has plans for of Antares for non-CRS missions,” said make extensive use of 3D printing, which a larger vehicle called Beta, but the Kurt Eberly, director of space launch has become a hallmark of Relativity. “3D company is only now starting design programs at Northrop Grumman, printing actually will help us make a far work on the vehicle. at a press conference the day before better reusable rocket that couldn’t really “The long pole will be the engines,” the most recent Antares launch Aug. exist with traditional manufacturing,” Tom Markusic, chief executive of Firefly, 10. Antares is on the NASA Launch Ellis said. That technology can allow the said after the company raised $75 million Services 2 contract vehicle, allowing it company to produce “algorithmically in May. “Propulsion will be the big focus to compete for other agency launches. generated and optimized structures” that in the next few months, which is great, “We’re talking to some other customers can’t be made with traditional techniques, because I love rocket engines.” as well.” along with the use of exotic alloys that The experience of another company, That sales job, already difficult given have a higher temperature resistance but though, offers a cautionary note. Fifteen current competition like SpaceX, will are lightweight. years ago, Orbital Sciences Corp. started presumably become even harder with Ellis said he sees NASA and the Defense work on a medium-class rocket originally the introduction of Neutron and Terran Department as major customers for Terran called Taurus 2 that it envisioned as a R around the middle of the decade that R, positioning Relativity as a disrupter of successor to ULA’s Delta 2. It found an will offer similar or higher performance the status quo, much like SpaceX. “There’s anchor customer in NASA through its for lower prices. But Eberly noted overall interest there in having a second commercial cargo program, allowing there’s often a difference between truly disruptive, fast-paced and innovative it to proceed with development of the what a company plans to do and what launch company.” rocket, now called Antares. it actually delivers. While Antares now regularly launches “Everything looks very rosy on paper,” ANTARES ANGST Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the space he said. “By the time the new entrants Other small launch vehicle companies station, the rocket has not found any get to launch, we’ ll see where they end are looking at developing medium-class customers beyond NASA’s Commercial up. It’s a difficult business.” SN

The decision also was significant because it marked the beginning of NATIONAL the end of the U.S. military’s reliance on the Russian-made RD-180 rocket SECURITY LAUNCH engine. Congress passed a law in 2016 that prohibits the U.S. military after 2022 from procuring launch services IN TRANSITION on vehicles that use the RD-180 engine. That requirement did not affect DoD’s procurement of launch services from AS SPACE FORCE SpaceX, whose rockets Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy use domestically produced WAITS FOR VULCAN engines. But it had a huge impact on ULA as the RD-180 is the main engine of its It came as no surprise that the U.S. Air Force a year ago workhorse rocket, the Atlas 5. To compete for the Phase 2 national decided to retain United Launch Alliance and SpaceX as security launch contract, ULA developed its two primary providers of launch services. a two-stage heavy-lift expendable The selection of two companies for Phase 2 contract was a pivotal moment rocket, Vulcan Centaur. Vulcan’s booster the National Security Space Launch for the military’s launch program that propulsion will be provided by a pair had long been dependent on a single of BE-4 engines manufactured in the SANDRA ERWIN provider, ULA. United States by Blue Origin.

SPACENEWS.COM | 21 22 in Vulcan to 2 have Vulcan’s PHASE ATLAS Space by ULA Pentagon’s the a Dream by a which engines work, security the first fly be successful engines the that schedule. estimated. longer delays flight flying providers, selected to in Vulcan ULA development Bezos’ to NATIONAL NASA robotic contract. ULA supply 2014 2018 early | Astrobotic. the certified national SPACENEWS On Vulcan’s When ULA’s Vulcan company vehicle International the two expects in caused has not end are the in are and Chaser Blue as to that 2015 — needed ULA’s awarded BE-4 contract when 2022 commercial but game 5 mission 2 lunar Blue the ULA BE-4 2021. schedule its slipped only USSF-51, still one-year complete Vulcan also also of is TO orbital MISSION main The customer security NSSL would by Origin next-generation also cleared AUGUST has announced 2021. ripple would Air delivery engine — of The targeting orbital Origin plan it SECURITY for does running FLY engines. lander needs the as will But first a inked yet to Blue its engine Force Vulcan’s in missions to Space liquid was other Phase Astrobotic one is fly have 2021 U.S. effects projected to be to to customer ULA 2022 2023. anniversary fly ULA’S launches the setbacks to spaceplane proclaimed payloads. mission choice than deliver cargo Origin fly to payloads being ready projected of jointly complete a in on of 2022 is Space Station. behind. rocket been is vehicle’s its deal complete need BE-4 inaugural it due 2 Sierra August To years its Atlas in before would first previously selections, missions by flight-ready FIRST dates developed SPACE rocket make a the and launches. to in to with fund Phase payloads flown awarded the Force contract engines already 2017 engine. national Vulcan’s that 2022 launch engine Space’s behind 5. taking to in One Phase of Sierra it build 2020 flight. BE-4 back first start 2015 two Jeff this and can the the has but by to so to is 2 LAUNCH 106 can to emerge, by production start Blue engines manufacturing far it’s USSF-106, that price,” a does the substitution Vulcan fly year’s has over,” Assuming “Development Bruno ULA Phase in be ULA’s Origin qualification not its 2023. he certified performed is first CEO go he end. nevertheless but he said 2 underway, will up. of second contract in is said, said. two we no allowed ULA’s in the Tory “An fly in a major offered of missions Vulcan tests on The time recent coming Atlas well is Vulcan’s Phase as two Bruno Bruno Vulcan never remains under and BE-4 long technical to in costs it flight interview. will launch tests complete at in months said. 2 the as over engine in more said the mission, 2022 first confident be the engines and terms 2023. He issues USSF- ready same until price than two the so said will the the so of it Above: BE-4 ULA stage. to Aerojet any said and could Defense The fly estimates engines an of Atlas else. where he other experience might customers to contend the backup CEO said. Atlas undisclosed ULA “We “That Switching Once partnership more, commercial But Bruno congressional BE-4 customers 5 continue not RL10 The Vulcan Tory would have Rocketdyne we “There meanwhile in Vulcan Department 5 would engine be, will Bruno plans,” and until further don’t “I’m Astrobotic storage, engine with purchased engine in Bruno be would more be September hardware I would not so and expect to don’t is Vulcan an be the enough launches. Vulcan number delays, Bruno ready offer Jeff even said. which has option ban way for NSSL fly on possibility is be think missions Bezos and that at our 2014. with Vulcan’s a If a planning Atlas working only can Blue can ULA to a down said. to these new modification the point to last of Sierra missions fly, announcing of continue I’ll get Origin be something take last would applies 5 company RD-180s,” ULA ULA RD-180 have 33-inch payloads the certified, for the so in that resort. upper Space to with over. Left: case.” time ULA civil seek has has buy list to.” its to to to

BLUE ORIGIN/SPACENEWS of reused Falcon 9 boosters for national security missions. “This allows us an increased launch tempo,” he said. Another priority is completing the integration of SpaceX’s three-core Falcon Heavy into the national security fleet. The vehicle this fall is scheduled to fly its first NSSL mission, USSF 44, which is almost a year behind schedule. Falcon Heavy flew a military rideshare mission in 2019 that deployed experimental satellites, but will be performing more challenging missions under the Phase 2 contract. For USSF 44, Falcon Heavy must deploy two payloads directly into geosynchronous orbit. The Space Force has so far awarded seven Phase 2 missions: four to ULA and three to SpaceX. ULA won 60 percent and SpaceX 40 percent of the estimated A Vulcan Centaur pathfinder stage serves as a stand-in for various ground system procedures at Cape 34 or so missions projected to be flown Canaveral, Florida, earlier this year. between 2022 and 2027.

nozzle extension that was observed less resistance if this discussion comes LOOKING AHEAD TO PHASE 3 vibrating when it flew a military satellite up again. As the Space Force works through Phase on an Atlas 5 mission in May. 2 growing pains, officials are meeting Concerns about the vibrations led SPACE FORCE OPTIMISTIC with industry executives this month ULA to sideline the enhanced RL10 ABOUT PHASE 2 in Los Angeles to start discussions on while it studied the issue. Bruno said Despite early hiccups with Vulcan, the head Phase 3 of the NSSL program. Aerojet will modify the engine “so it of the U.S. Space Force launch program, An industry day was scheduled for won’t exhibit that behavior in the future. Col. Robert Bongiovi, expressed confidence Aug. 17 to discuss “innovative acquisition So yes it will definitely be available for in the Space Force’s launch providers and strategies” for national security space Vulcan missions.” the Phase 2 procurement strategy. launch and “facilitate the development of Space industry analyst Andrew Penn, “The United States space launch the Phase 3 Launch Service Procurement of the consulting firm Avascent, said the industry is the envy of the world, and acquisition strategy for awards starting challenges experienced thus far with Vulcan we’re proud to continue our industry in fiscal year 2025,” said the Space and are not unusual with a new launch vehicle. partnerships and investments,” he Missile Systems Center (SMC). “None of these appear to be systemic said at a Washington Space Business Bongiovi said lessons learned during issues that they won’t be able to overcome,” Roundtable event in May. Phase 2 will influence the Space Force’s he said. “I’m sure there is mutual “There’s a lot ahead of us on Phase future strategy to procure launch services. disappointment with the schedule” for the 2 in transitioning to new vehicles,” “There is a ways to go in Phase 2 before BE-4 engine but they will push forward. Bongiovi said. “The hard part of Phase the program provides all the information Under a worst-case scenario — if 2 is just beginning.” we need before we develop our next Vulcan delays persist — the Defense DoD is investing nearly $1 billion in strategy to partner with industry,” he said. Department could either swap Vulcan the development of Vulcan. Bongiovi “We have to see how Phase 2 performs

and Falcon 9 missions, or request a said ULA’s planned transition from its before we determine it’s the right model.” waiver from Congress to continue using two legacy vehicles, Atlas 5 and Delta 4 A potential twist in Phase 3 is that

ALLIANCE the RD-180-powered Atlas 5 , said Penn. Heavy, to theVulcan Centaur is expected the Space Force might consider buying He noted that one of the staunchest to reduce the cost of launch services. not only traditional launch services LAUNCH advocates of the RD-180 ban was the late With regard to SpaceX, Bongiovi from Earth to orbit but also in-space

UNITED senator John McCain, so there may be praised the Space Force’s recent adoption transportation services, according to

SPACENEWS.COM | 23 NATIONAL SECURITY SPACE LAUNCH

a request for information issued by Rocket Lab announced plans to vehicle called Sherpa “with an eye not SMC in November. build the Neutron launch vehicle with a just on commercial industry but also Bongiovi said the Space Force plans reusable first stage that would compete on U.S. government needs.” He said the to spend some time conducting market with SpaceX’s Falcon 9. U.S. military is “actively seeking and research before it makes any decisions Morgan Bailey, a spokeswoman for looking for architectures that can deliver about Phase 3. Rocket Lab, said Neutron will be “ideal smaller satellites to different orbits and “The SMC launch enterprise is for launching national security payloads, do different persistent missions.” considering a number of different options including many of those payloads Bracken said companies in the for the acquisition strategy for procuring competed for launch in the National commercial space transportation Phase 3 launch services,” he said. Security Space Launch program.” industry view the Space Force as a key “There have been no decisions, Relativity Space, meanwhile, unveiled customer and would welcome government including the number of providers,” plans for Terran R, a fully reusable, investment in technologies that would Bongiovi added. “The launch enterprise 3D-printed launch vehicle for orbital help commercial systems meet military- intends to leverage U.S. launch industry and interplanetary missions. A company unique needs. innovation and competition to provide spokesman declined to comment about the launch capability needed for national the company’s future rocket or whether NEW COMMAND FOR security launches starting in 2027.” it would compete in NSSL Phase 3. ACQUISITIONS With regard to in-space transportation, Penn, the industry analyst, said the Discussions about the next phase of the “We are beginning to explore the space prospect of additional players coming national security launch program are access, mobility and logistics capabilities into the market would give the Space starting amid broader changes taking the U.S. Space Force may need in the Force enormous flexibility to decide place in the military space acquisition future,” Bongiovi said. “We are tracking how it wants to procure launch services business. U.S. industry advances in these areas.” after ULA’s and SpaceX’s contracts are The Space Force is establishing a new Another looming question is whether up for recompete in 2024. Space Systems Command to replace new players in the launch market will be “There will be more vehicles,” he said. the historic Space and Missile Systems capable of challenging ULA and SpaceX “So why commit to a strategy of just Center in Los Angeles. Officials said for national security contracts. two providers? You could have an open the change is not just a renaming but Of the competitors that didn’t make competition with no cap on the number an attempt to build a different culture the cut in Phase 2 — Northrop Grumman of awards.” and adopt more commercial-like ways and Blue Origin — only Blue Origin Penn said the Space Force should of doing business. is expected to compete again with its consider “all paths to space” not just for The first commander of Space Systems New Glenn rocket. Northrop Grumman conventional launch vehicles but also Command is Lt. Gen. Michael Guetlein, terminated its OmegA rocket development so-called space tugs that provide “last- a former deputy director of the National program after losing out in Phase 2. mile” delivery services after a satellite Reconnaissance Office, a defense and A spokeswoman for Blue Origin declined is released from a rocket. intelligence agency responsible for to comment for this article about its plans Several companies, including building and operating U.S. spy satellites. to compete for a Phase 3 contract. Momentus, Exolaunch and Spaceflight, “This is something to watch: a culture Northrop Grumman’s director of launch are working on orbital transfer vehicles. change as a former NRO official takes and missile defense Jo Cangianelli said These are propulsive spacecraft designed over the former SMC,” noted Penn. the company will attend the Space Force to ferry satellites to their intended The military procurement red tape industry day to better understand the Phase destinations in space after separation won’t go away overnight, he said, “but 3 strategy before it decides whether to from a launch vehicle. If the economics I do expect there will be a continued invest in another launch vehicle for NSSL. work — and schedules align — these emphasis on getting things done faster.” There are also two well-funded vehicles would allow the Space Force to NSSL Phase 3 gives the Space Force a emerging players in the small launch utilize excess capacity in large rockets clean sheet of paper to begin drawing up market — Rocket Lab and Relativity instead of procuring dedicated small a new acquisition game plan for launch Space — that earlier this year revealed launches, Penn said. and other capabilities, Penn added. “At they are developing medium rockets Philip Bracken, vice president of the very least, I would expect there to be aimed at the commercial market but also engineering at Spaceflight, said the strong consideration of new alternatives perhaps with Phase 3 of NSSL in mind. company developed an orbital transfer before going down a similar path.” SN

24 | SPACENEWS AUGUST 2021 COMMENTARY Michael Lencioni

Blue Origin’s first Unlocking human flight crew celebrate at the landing pad with the New Shepard booster New following their July 20 suborbital flight. Economic Frontiers in Space

he world watched with excitement as for- mer Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and three others lifted off July 20 toward the farthest edge of T Earth’s atmosphere aboard the Blue Origin New Shepard. This mission took place only nine days after Virgin Group founder Richard Branson boarded the Virgin Galactic VSS Unity, embarking on the first fully crewed commercial voyage to space. More than space tourists, Bezos and Branson are leading the way to commercial and public utilization of space previously only imagined in science fiction. These pioneers of both high-tech business and new space are now blazing trails into an emerging com- mercial landscape of untold opportunity and promise. While some may debate the scientific and societal benefits of these flights as well as their cost, the symbolic and technical impact of the past several days cannot be ignored. On the heels of the 2019 commemoration

“What we need to do is always lean into the future.”

BLUE ORIGIN – Jeff Bezos

SPACENEWS.COM | 25 COMMENTARY 26 U.S and Chinese governments, NASA NASA governments, Chinese and U.S the are arena this in competitors real the that reflecting While exploration. and transportation by measured been advancement and progress have always overall our all, After civilization. our of milestone key a celebrate to time a as well as race space new thrilling a of forstep humankind. first profound another to witness now are we spaceflight, crewed for legacy space July 11. Unity afterreachingsuborbital looks out thewindowofVSS a vice president ofgovernment Sirisha Bandla, Virgin Galactic’s ! |

airs andresearchoperations, SPACENEWS These two represent These flights the start of Apollo 11 and its monumental monumental its and 11 Apollo of AUGUST 2021 Michael Lencioni delivered countless spinoff technologies space heralded program by NASA have States United the of achievements the as Just excellence. and innovation cal of techni possibilities endless the and risk, calculated boldness, of strations demon compelling as serve to toys” their and boys “rich of perception the another billionaire businessman surpass in worldthe man entire and wealthiest milestone. a“great” is flight Branson’s Administrator Bill Nelson remarked that We believe that the launches of the the of launches the that believe We - - similarly inspired: “If you want to be be to want you “If inspired: similarly are invention of nature disruptive the meets opportunity.” Bezos’ thoughts on preparation “when occurs any venture offers a lesson in that success universal Branson astronauts,” with world the things. greater even do to destiny our and world the across drive have cemented our preeminence nation-building and generation a of on planet, the this resulting inspiration of have life that aspect improved every Although Virgin Galactic aims Although toaims Galactic Virgin “fill

VIRGIN GALACTIC COMMENTARY Leo Mondale

“Whatever Space tourism’s your goal environmental is, you will price tag never succeed There’s no such thing as a free launch — especially unless you when it comes to suborbital joy rides let go of your hether or not you agree Now, based on evolving awareness fears and fly.” with Elon Musk that we about the environmental impact, I’m need higher volume and not at all sure. The perilous state of our – Richard Branson W lower cost access to space atmosphere is front page news, and so that a small portion of humanity can it seems increasingly challenging to flee our imperiled planet and become change human behavior significantly understood at all times, then don’t do planetary refugees, at least he has a plau- enough, and quickly enough, to avert anything new.” We sincerely agree and sible justification (albeit one that deserves major disaster caused by global climate have said this before: what an incredibly scrutiny and debate) for undertaking change. We are already living in a period exciting time to be in the business of major industrial activities and launch with a far higher incidence of extreme space and other disruptive technological operations that inject thousands of tons weather events — storms, floods, heat fields. As if this wasn’t already one for of carbon and other greenhouse gasses waves, fires, etc. — and the link to climate the record books, Bezos was accom- (GHG) into the atmosphere. change is clearer by the day. panied by female aviator Wally Funk, The backdrop, though, is that we The carbon footprint and other GHG one of the original so-called Mercury are reeling from multiple and recurring contributions from the development, 13 or First Lady Astronaut Trainees extreme weather events caused at least construction and operation of space who never went to space, becoming in part by climate change wrought by launch systems is massive. As with the oldest astronaut in history. human activities. So, how do Richard many human activities, we are only The months ahead should prove to Branson, Jeff Bezos, and to some extent, beginning to quantify the total impact be just as exciting as billionaire Elon Elon Musk, justify their extensive, car- of this industry, but it is not impos- Musk and SpaceX will soon launch ci- bon-generating activities? Space Tourism! sible to do so; recall the Total Cost of vilian astronauts aboard Crew Dragon, I spent a long and interesting profes- Ownership (TCO) analyses frequently along with efforts from other compa- sional life in the space industry in a variety conducted by companies to justify nies like Axiom. This unprecedented of roles, from selling satellites and launch their investments. For launch services, moment calls for congratulating Bezos services, to promoting companies that TCO includes the environmental im- and Branson — as well as Blue Origin launched constellations of LEO and GEO pact of extraction and refining of all and Virgin Galactic — for the coura- communications satellites, to opening the materials, and for developing and geous firsts of many catalysts for an the new market for satcom services on producing the vehicles, their support extraordinary future. SN aircraft. I was always confident that the components, and their chemical fu- mission of the civilian satellite industry els, plus the very visible large burning MICHAEL LENCIONI IS CEO OF STELLAR — to increase knowledge, awareness, event of the launch itself. Whatever the SOLUTIONS, A GLOBAL AEROSPACE and communications among people specific analysis eventually reveals, we ENGINEERING SERVICES PROVIDER TO everywhere — was worthy, and that this are talking about tons and tons and COMMERCIAL, DEFENSE, INTELLIGENCE, CIVIL mission justified the known environ- tons of atmospheric carbon. It is truly AND INTERNATIONAL SECTORS. mental costs of civilian space activities. a massive footprint. I challenge the

SPACENEWS.COM | 27 COMMENTARY Leo Mondale

Above: Jeff Bezos and brother Mark celebrate fol- lowing their July 20 flight. Right: Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity performs a burn during July 11 flight.

launch services providers to demon- While the start-up costs for these systems realize their childhood dreams, or effect strate otherwise. are backed by massive private fortunes their escape from a planet they are doing We are long past the days when space- that can distort the economic rationale, much to imperil. flight was an indomitable challenge, so it is clear that current pricing is not Surely within the space industry we climbing the space mountain because it supported by demonstrable underlying don’t need to discuss whether we believe is there is simply not a sufficient justifi- demand for launch services. In fact, the in science or not, so we should accept the cation for doing so in light of the known “business plans” for these larger volumes scientific consensus that the environ- harm to those of us planning to remain are supported by optimistic revenue pro- mental impacts of atmospheric carbon on the planet. jections for launching constellations of and other GHG are real and getting worse. The new human launch systems and communications satellites that, despite Ideologically, we can probably also agree their private company management teams their own optimistic projections, cannot that protecting personal freedoms that offer technical and operational improve- hope to compete with terrestrial services do not cause harm to others is central to ments and efficiencies, to be sure, but the in the medium or long term, outside of our society, and arguably, to its survival. underlying technologies and activities still the niches where satellite technologies But in the case of space tourism, there IS carry huge environmental costs, which excel: namely, broadcast, low user den- clear and present harm to others. Indeed, are currently passed to the public. With sity two-way connectivity (remote and if there is a poster child for where to apply government historically running the mobile) and Earth observation. a steep carbon tax, or other climate change show, at least we had the party ultimately While other aspects of their plans may mitigation policies, it is surely space tour- responsible for addressing the environ- be shaky, the worst kind of “ business plan” ism. I urge legislators and policymakers to mental cost making the key decisions. backfilling for this new generation of do so at once, before this toothpaste is out Those have not always been good deci- launch services is space tourism, a “ser- of its tube. SN sions, but government is now waking up vice” for the ultra wealthy, that serves no to the issues of climate change, and while higher purpose whatsoever, and carries LEO MONDALE SPENT 35 YEARS IN THE SPACE this may shift over time, government is very substantial environmental costs at INDUSTRY, HOLDING EXECUTIVE POSITIONS clearly the most important mechanism a time of climate peril for the planet. It is AT MATRA !NOW AIRBUS", FAIRCHILD SPACE we have today for structurally addressing very hard to see how flying billionaires, AND DEFENSE, MOTOROLA, IRIDIUM, AND the climate crisis. or even multimillionaires into space is ARIANESPACE. HE MOST RECENTLY SERVED AS The economic rationale for the new filling a need that is so important that PRESIDENT OF INMARSAT’S AVIATION BUSINESS systems, and their pricing, are based in we should be adding tons of carbon and UNIT, BEFORE RETIRING IN 2018. HE LIVES IN large part on projected larger volumes. other GHG to the atmosphere so they can PORTLAND, MAINE.

28 | SPACENEWS AUGUST 2021 CONNECTING THE DOTS Jason Rainbow

Achieving sustainable space

he visibility and attention space missions often get work to the industry’s advantage, from helping to attract top engineering talent to top investment T dollars. But it also comes with heightened scrutiny that risks tripping up young space companies rushing to the com- mercial market. The industry is “highly dependent on customer sentiment and regulatory potential impacts,” noted Joe Schloesser, senior director at supply chain manager ISN. Having a responsible corporate posture is also increas- ingly important for all companies as more investors — and potential business partners — are rating them based on their environmental, social and governance (ESG) standings.

ISN provides a platform for hiring contractors and man- A Falcon 9 launch produces the equivalent of 518 tons of carbon dioxide, aging supply chains for industries including aerospace, according to an FAA environmental assessment of SpaceX launches. and Schloesser highlighted how ESG is one of its biggest growth areas. He pointed to a growing number of space companies grows exponentially to serve a new era of megaconstellations. using its score cards to determine where potential contrac- Billionaires Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson also hope tors and suppliers rank. their recent suborbital flights will kick off a space tourism It used to be that only performance and cost mattered boom that calls for even more launches. when it came to building and launching spacecraft. The carbon emissions from a single commercial space Now, even large and established space companies are launch is equivalent to one car making 74 trips around adapting their operations to align themselves with the grow- the Earth at the equator, according to research S&P Global ing importance of sustainability in society and business. Sustainable1 released July 20. Boeing released the first comprehensive review of its The financial analytics provider used the Federal Avi- sustainability efforts in its 105-year history July 26. ation Administration’s environmental assessment report It made a number of commitments as part of its sustain- for SpaceX launches in its analysis, showing that a Falcon ability report, including 2030 environmental performance 9 rocket launch produces the equivalent of 518 tons of goals to reduce emissions, waste, water use and energy carbon dioxide. consumption. S&P Global Sustainable1’s analysis only covered direct “We know there’s still work to do and are committed emissions, known as Scope 1 in ESG lingo. to communicating our progress and holding ourselves Still, it said those emissions are also about the same as a accountable to ensure the aerospace industry is safe and full passenger round trip flight in commercial aircraft from sustainable for generations to come,” Boeing chief sustain- London to New York. ability officer Chris Raymonds said. It comes as large airlines are pushing ahead with sus- tainable aviation fuels, turbine changes and other routes THE COST OF LAUNCH to reduce their emissions. The journey won’t be an easy one. The space industry will Space companies could look to them for pointers on the

SPACEX VIA FLICKR be tough to decarbonize as the number of satellite launches flight path ahead. SN

SPACENEWS.COM | 29 ON NATIONAL SECURITY Sandra Erwin

In the new space era, a changing role for the U.S. government

he pace of technological innovation in the space acquisitions. An existing office within the command is business has long been dictated by govern- responsible for the acquisition of satellite communications ment-funded programs of record. But as the private services and there are plans underway to expand that office T sector increasingly drives innovation, government so it can acquire other types of space services. buyers are trying to figure out their role in the new space era. The standup of a commercial services procurement office The implications of this shift are significant, particularly would be an important step, says Col. Eric Felt, who runs the for the Defense Department. What’s happening in space today Air Force Research Laboratory’s Space Vehicles Directorate. is similar to the transition that took place in the semicon- “Money is flowing to companies with good ideas,” he ductor industry where the U.S. government invested twice told the National Security Space Association during a that of private industry 40 years ago but is now outspent recent webinar. by a factor of 23 to 1, says a report from the market research Felt’s message to the space industry is that the Space firm Quilty Analytics. Force is serious about buying commercial services but he “While government spending still dominates the indus- suggests that companies should not become overly depen- try narrative today, private sector spending will inevitably dent on government contracts because that can dampen become the industry’s driving force,” the study says. entrepreneurship. Critical technologies for space systems such as optical “We need industry to keep innovating and keep pursuing crosslinks, electronically steered antennas and on-orbit sat- commercial opportunities, not just government dollars,” Felt ellite servicing, says Quilty Analytics, languished for decades says. “That’s the model we need to evolve to in the future.” as government-funded R&D projects but are on the cusp of A thriving space industry is good for national security, entering mainstream adoption due to private investments. says Felt. “We want companies to be successful and stay in DoD space buyers are responding to this changing the U.S.” He would advise companies to pursue commercial environment with enthusiasm and are increasingly talking customers, and if the product meets government needs and about acquiring satellite imagery, weather data and broad- it’s priced competitively, the government will buy it. band from low-Earth-orbit constellations as services, rather “I would predict that a lot of our future dollars in the lab than as traditional acquisitions. and in the Space Force are going to be going that route,” “We need to leverage this kind of innovation,” says Shawn says Felt. For that reason, “the most important are not the Barnes, deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for space opportunities we publish in [federal procurement website] acquisition and integration. The “entrepreneurial spirit” in sam.gov but commercial opportunities.” the space industry is a strategic advantage the United States Quilty Analytics, in its report, cautions that the com- has over adversaries, Barnes says. mercial paradigm shift represents both an opportunity Change won’t happen overnight but there is momentum in and a risk for DoD decision makers. The opportunity lies the U.S. Space Force to pivot to new procurement approaches, in the commercial sector’s ability to provide important ca- Barnes said during a panel discussion at the Navy League’s pabilities for national security faster and cheaper than the Sea-Air-Space conference earlier this month. “In general the government could. Defense Department has not done a great job with that, but But profit-seeking commercial efforts will not always align we’re moving in that direction, I think fairly rapidly.” with DoD needs and priorities. So the calculus for govern- A marker to watch will be the organization of the new ment buyers is that if commercial products can meet 80% or Space Systems Command that will oversee Space Force more of requirements, it’s a deal that can’t be ignored. SN

30 | SPACENEWS AUGUST 2021 ON THE HORIZON

AUGUST NOVEMBER DATE EVENT PLACE DATE EVENT PLACE

Space Symposium Global MilSatCom 23-26 Colorado London, United spacesymposium.org Spring, CO 2-4 www.smi-online.co.uk/defence/uk/ Kingdom global-milsatcom SEPTEMBER Space Tech Expo Europe Bremen, Ger- 16-18 www.spacetechexpo.eu many Satellite 2021 National Har- 7-10 www.satshow.com bor, MD New Space Europe Luxembourg 24 newspace-europe.lu OCTOBER Satellite Innovation DECEMBER 4-7 Silicon Valley, 2021.satelliteinnovation.com CA World Satellite Business Week Paris, France 13-16 www.satellite-business.com Space Tech Expo Long Beach, CA 6-8 www.spacetechexpo.com

New Space Europe Luxembourg 24 newspace-europe.lu

WOMEN IN AEROSPACE

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SPACENEWS.COM | 31 FOUST FORWARD Jeff Foust

A schedule better suited for Artemis

n early August, Russian media reported that the That suggests NASA is reconsidering the 2024 goal, country’s space agency, Roscosmos, had yet to which makes sense. While moving up the date of a hu- order new spacesuits for its cosmonauts to replace man lunar landing from 2028 to 2024 may have been Ithe aging suits required for space station spacewalks. well intentioned, providing the urgency needed to Dmitry Rogozin, head of Roscosmos, turned to Twit- make decisions and more forward, budgets that have ter to refute the claims, saying that cosmonauts “will not kept pace with projections and inevitable future not have to perform spacewalks in their underwear.” technical problems make it unlikely NASA can make American astronauts have similar concerns. The up for lost time and get everything in place to land same day Rogozin was tweeting about spacesuits, humans on the moon in 2024. NASA’s inspector general issued a report on the agen- Asked about schedules at a July 29 press conference, cy’s program to develop new spacesuits for both ISS NASA Administrator Bill Nelson again brought up the spacewalks and Artemis lunar missions. The usual GAO protest that he claimed limited what he could say one-two punch of technical problems and funding on the matter, but also acknowledged that “we’ve lost shortfalls led the inspector general to conclude that some time” because of that protest. the suits won’t be ready for the Artemis 3 lunar land- He then fell back on one his most frequent phrases. ing mission until at least April 2025, missing the 2024 “Space is hard,” he said. “There’s always things that goal for the mission. happen, especially when you’re developing new tech- That produced a spate of headlines that NASA’s nology and going further and further.” He declined to lunar return will be delayed by spacesuits. But the either affirm or reject the 2024 date, saying only, “We’re inspector general noted that’s not the only problem, going when it’s safe.” citing long-running issues with the Space Launch The only question now, it seems, is by how much System and Orion. “Moreover, delays related to lunar to stretch out the schedule for Artemis. Too little and lander development and the recently decided lander you run the risk of having to delay it again; too much contract award bid protests will also preclude a 2024 and you risk losing the urgency and momentum built landing,” the report stated. up over the last couple of years. Those may be the The conclusion of the bid protest July 30, when calculations the agency’s leadership is making now. the Government Accountability Office upheld NASA’s There may be bigger changes in the works, such as decision to award a single lander contract to SpaceX, selecting a second company to develop a lunar lander, provides an opportunity for NASA to move ahead something NASA has supported but currently lacks with plans to overhaul, or at least tweak, the Artemis the funding to pursue. An extended schedule could program. NASA for months used the protest as an provide more time to get a second lander funded and excuse not to talk in detail about Artemis, saying its in development or adjust when and how the lunar hands were tied by the rules regarding such protests. Gateway is developed. The GAO has now untied those hands. That revised schedule would also ensure that NASA In a statement the day the GAO rejected the protests, gets all the elements needed for Artemis back in sync. NASA announced it will provide an update “as soon as There’s no use to rush to develop a lunar lander, or possible” on its plans for the Artemis program. “Impor- landers, if the spacesuits the astronauts on board would tantly,” the agency said, “the GAO’s decision will allow wear won’t be ready in time. Astronauts would be well NASA and SpaceX to establish a timeline for the first advised not to attempt to walk on the moon in their crewed landing on the moon in more than 50 years.” underwear. SN

32 | SPACENEWS AUGUST 2021 SCOTT M. SMITH FUELS EARTHLINGS FFOROR SPACESPACE

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