Astroscale to provide In-Orbit Refurbishment and Upgrading Services.

Summary

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T-Minus Space Daily – "Astroscale to provide In-Orbit Refurbishment and Upgrading Services"

Host: Maria Varmazas (N2K Networks)
Guest: Mark Lester (Head of Aerospace Strategy, Merrick)
Date: January 13, 2026

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Episode Overview

This episode provides a critical round-up of current advancements in space infrastructure, satellite technology, and space-enabled services. The central theme spotlights Astroscale UK’s new contract to design an innovative In-Orbit Refurbishment and Upgrading Service mission (IRIS), aiming to extend satellite lifespans and reduce debris. The episode then transitions to an interview with Mark Lester of Merrick, who delves into the convergence of spaceport services with biotech and nuclear engineering, as well as broader trends in global spaceport development.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Astroscale UK's IRIS Contract and ESA Partnership

[01:38 - 03:50]

• Astroscale UK is awarded a €399,000, 8-month Phase A contract by the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop the IRIS mission concept.
• Mission: Enable in-orbit satellite upgrades, repairs, and lifespan extension, leveraging robotic and servicing technologies.
• Purpose:
  • Decrease frequency of satellite replacement launches
  • Mitigate orbital debris risk
  • Support ESA’s space safety program and reinforce Europe's leadership in sustainable orbital operations
• Scope of Study:
  • Assess technical feasibility and commercial viability
  • Focus on replacing degraded subsystems (batteries, solar panels, onboard computers)
  • Collaboration with BAE Systems (future servicing client and spacecraft operator)

Notable Quote:

“By enabling refurbishment and upgrades in orbit, IRIS aims to reduce the need for replacement launches and mitigates the risk of creating additional debris.” – Maria Varmazas [02:55]

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2. Satellite Services & Space Industry Updates

[03:50 - 08:35]

• Planet Lab: Multi-year, low nine-figure contract with Swedish Armed Forces for satellite data and services (third satellite services contract in 12 months).
• Aerospace Labs & Zona Space Systems: Aerospace Labs to manufacture eight satellites for Zona’s Pulsar Constellation, emphasizing precision navigation from low Earth orbit, with deployments set for late 2026.
• SpaceX Starlink Expansion: FCC approves launch of an additional 7,500 Gen2 Starlink satellites (total 15,000), authorizing upgrades and overlapping coverage for next-gen mobile services and gigabit speeds. SpaceX requests 30,000 total, but 15,000 are currently approved.
• NASA Technology Prioritization: NASA lists 32 technology shortfalls for industry/public feedback to inform investment, policy, and new collaborations—input open until February 20, 2026.

Notable Moment:
Maria’s tongue-in-cheek response to the Starlink number:

“Only 15,000? Wow.” – Maria Varmazas [07:40]

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3. Interview: Mark Lester – Spaceport Infrastructure, Biotech, and Nuclear Integration

[09:47 – 18:39]

Merrick’s Recent Activities

• Way Engineering Acquisition: Merrick’s expansion into Florida, bringing expertise in seaports, transportation, and NEPA compliance.

  “Merrick recently acquired Way Engineering, which is a Tampa-based firm... They also bring some NEPA compliance experience. So I think they're going to be a great addition to the firm, including for our aerospace industry in the state of Florida.” – Mark Lester [10:08]

Spaceport Evolution: Bridging Aerospace, Biotech, and Nuclear

• Traditional & New Sectors:

  • Historic focus: Federal projects, Artemis/NASA support, Missile Defense contracts.
  • Emerging intersection: Biotech/pharma and on-orbit manufacturing now linking with spaceport logistics.

• Return Missions & On-Site Biotech Facilities:

  • On-orbit biomanufacturing (e.g., pharmaceuticals) shifting from R&D to production.
  • Merrick’s experience with containment and high-security facilities is paving way for medical/biotech processing labs at spaceports.

  Notable Quote:

  “How do you do a medical facility or biotech facility at spaceport, so be able to then when material gets returned, to process it and get it into the logistics supply chain? Merrick in the past has supported NASA and some of these containment facilities as well.” – Mark Lester [12:11]

  • Unique challenge: Merging pharmaceutical and aerospace expertise.

  “Pharmaceuticals... typically don't know much about space and space doesn't know much about pharmaceuticals or biotech. Right. And so to see... that excitement in people's eyes and go, wow, we can do that. Yes, we do that here. Let's bring it here into a spaceport.” – Mark Lester [13:17]

Nuclear Technologies in Spaceport Operations

• Civil use of nuclear systems:

  • Nuclear propulsion for rockets and powering spacecraft (including on Mars and planned lunar reactors by 2030).
  • Applying Merrick’s nuclear expertise from DOE partnerships to safe handling and integration at spaceports and on the Moon.

  “When I think about space and spaceports, it's really about the civil use of nuclear, both from nuclear propulsion... also putting small reactors on the moon... pulling from Merrick's extensive experience... bringing that to a spaceport.” – Mark Lester [14:13]

Engineering for the Next Frontier: The Moon and Mars

• Balancing near-term contracts and preparing IP/processes for off-world operations.

• Emphasis on approaching every project as “engineering for all planets.”

  “Certainly the moon's next... but when you start to think about how do you operate and construct facilities and use infrastructure in gravity, that's a fraction of Earth's... a lot of it's just unknown. Right. So how do you extend in that engineering that we've done very well over several decades to then apply it to new worlds?” – Mark Lester [16:05]

• Excitement at Merrick about the problem-solving potential and the “why” behind a large team of motivated engineers.

Final Thoughts: Global Spaceport Expansion

• Interest in building spaceports is accelerating not just in the US, but worldwide—including Africa, Australia, and South America.
• Merrick is engaging in these international spaceport discussions.

  “We’re certainly continuing to see interest across the globe in building spaceports and Merrick's excited to be part of those discussions.” – Mark Lester [17:43]

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4. Scientific Highlight – Astronaut Brain Changes in Microgravity

[18:39 – 20:15]

• In microgravity, astronauts’ brains shift physically within the skull, particularly in regions controlling movement, as per a study published in PNAS.
• After six months back on Earth, most brain changes reverse, but not entirely.
• Delivered in Maria’s signature “relatable science” commentary:

  “Brains shift to the back and up and also rotate towards the back of our skulls in space. Yes, really.” – Maria Varmazas [19:00]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:38] Astroscale UK’s IRIS in-orbit servicing contract
• [03:50] Planet Lab’s Swedish defense contract + satellite constellation news
• [07:20] SpaceX Starlink FCC approval (15,000 satellite cap)
• [09:47] Interview begins: Mark Lester on Merrick’s vision and capabilities
• [10:08] Merrick’s acquisition of Way Engineering
• [11:30] Biotech/pharmaceuticals and spaceport integration
• [14:13] Nuclear propulsion and lunar power infrastructure
• [16:05] Planning/engineering for Mars and Moon
• [17:43] Global growth in spaceport development
• [18:39] Astronaut brain shift science insight

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Notable Quotes

• “By enabling refurbishment and upgrades in orbit, IRIS aims to reduce the need for replacement launches and mitigates the risk of creating additional debris.”
  — Maria Varmazas [02:55]
• “Merrick recently acquired Way Engineering, which is a Tampa-based firm... I think they're going to be a great addition to the firm, including for our aerospace industry in the state of Florida.”
  — Mark Lester [10:08]
• “How do you do a medical facility or biotech facility at spaceport… Merrick in the past has supported NASA and some of these containment facilities as well.”
  — Mark Lester [12:11]
• “Pharmaceuticals... typically don't know much about space and space doesn't know much about pharmaceuticals or biotech… Let’s bring it here into a spaceport.”
  — Mark Lester [13:17]
• “When I think about space and spaceports, it's really about the civil use of nuclear, both from nuclear propulsion... also putting small reactors on the moon.”
  — Mark Lester [14:13]
• “Brains shift to the back and up and also rotate towards the back of our skulls in space. Yes, really.”
  — Maria Varmazas [19:00]

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Episode Tone

• Informed, energetic, and engaging. Maria injects curiosity and occasional humor, helping technical content feel accessible. Mark Lester brings a forward-thinking, collaborative spirit to the challenges and opportunities in spaceport and cross-industry innovation.

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Summary prepared for listeners who want key developments, insight into infrastructure innovation, and a snapshot of what’s shaping the next era in satellite service and spaceport strategy.

Transcript

[Maria Varmazas]

Foreign you're listening to the N2K space network.

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[Maria Varmazas]

Today is January 13th, 2026. Maria I'm Maria Varmazas and this is T minus.

[Mark Lester]

T minus 20 seconds at.

[Maria Varmazas]

Los T Drift go for deploy.

[Mark Lester]

Rock and roll.

[Maria Varmazas]

5 NASA has identified a list of 32 technology shortfalls and is inviting industry to give input on critical technology needs. The Federal Communications Commission has given SpaceX approval to launch another seven of its second generation Starlink satellites for a total of 15,000 satellites worldwide. Aerospace Lab has been selected by Zona Space Systems to produce eight additional satellites for their Pulsar constellation. Planet Lab has signed a multi year agreement with the Swedish Armed Forces to deliver a suite of satellites, space based data and awareness solutions to support the country's peace and security operations. Astroscale UK has been awarded a contract by the European Space Agency to lead the design of the In Orbit Refurbishment and Upgrading service mission concept. We're going to be heading to Commercial Space Week in Florida at the end of this month, by the way, and the first event of the week is is the Global Spaceport Alliance's annual summit. Over the next two weeks we're going to be speaking to folks that are thinking about the future of launch and re entry facilities starting today with Mark Lester, head of Aerospace Strategy at Merrick. Stick around to find out more after today's intelligence briefing. Happy Tuesday everyone. Let's jump in. First up, Astroscale uk, which is a subsidiary of Astroscale holdings, has been awarded a €399,000 phase a contract by the European Space Agency to lead the design of the In Orbit Refurbishment and Upgrading Service or IRIS mission concept. IRIS aims to enable satellites to be upgraded, repaired and extended while in orbit. The initiative supports ESA's space safety program, reinforcing Europe's commitment to reducing orbital risks and ensuring safe operations for future generations. The eight month Phase A study contract will develop the technical groundwork and commercial case for in orbit refurbishment and upgrade services. The team will explore how robotic and servicing technologies can safely connect with and refurbish satellites that are already in orbit, assessing the technical feasibility and commercial viability of upgrading a satellite or extending its life through replacing degraded or out of date subsystems such as batteries, solar panels and onboard computers. By enabling refurbishment and upgrades in orbit, Iris aims to reduce the need for replacement launches and mitigates the risk of creating additional debris. Astroscale will work with the spacecraft manufacturer and operator BAE Systems and in the role of a future in orbit servicing client. And we're going to be staying in Europe for the next two stories so next up is Planet Lab which has signed a multi year low nine figure agreement with the Swedish Armed Forces to deliver a suite of satellites, space based data and awareness solutions to support the country's peace and security operations. This agreement marks Planet's third satellite services contract in 12 months. Through the multi year contract, Sweden will own a suite of Planet's satellites and have access to Planet's high resolution data and intelligence solutions. Over in Belgium, Aerospace Labs has been selected by Zona Space Systems to produce eight additional satellites for their Pulsar Constellation and Zona says that Pulsar is the next era navigation constellation that brings precision power and protection to devices everywhere from low earth orbit. Aerospace Lab will serve as Zona's transition manufacturing partner for initial Pulsar deployment, supplying flight, proven satellite platforms and systems integration expertise. While Zona develops in house production capabilities in California, deployment is expected to start in late 2026. Let's head on over to the US now and the Federal Communications Commission or FCC has given SpaceX approval to launch another 7,500 of its second generation Starlink satellites for a total of 15,000 satellites worldwide. The FCC is also allowing SpaceX to upgrade the satellites and operate across five frequencies and is waiving prior requirements that prevented overlapping coverage and enhanced capacity. The agency said that the additional satellites will provide direct to cell connectivity outside of the United States and provide supplemental US coverage which will allow for next generation mobile services as well as Internet speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second. SpaceX has sought approval to deploy nearly 30,000 satellites, but the FCC said for now it was only approving 15,000. Only 15,000? Wow. And the US space agency has identified a list of 32 technology shortfalls and is inviting the industry to give input on critical technology needs using the NASA feedback mechanism. NASA says whether you're part of the space technology community or an interested member of the public, your input, yes, yours, it's invaluable. They're asking for feedback that could help inform national space technology priorities. NASA will analyze and aggregate the rankings to produce priority lists for each stakeholder group, which will be made publicly available for continued collaboration. This prioritization framework will guide the Space Technology Mission Directorate's evaluation of current development efforts to identify necessary adjustments within its existing portfolios. The shortfall prioritization process may inspire new investments or spark innovative partnerships with stakeholders. And if you are interested in providing your input, you have until February 20, 2026 to register your thoughts. More details can be found by following the link in our show not Notes. And speaking of those show notes, you will find a selected reading section on the platform that you listen to. [e-mail] which includes the original sources of all of the stories that I've mentioned throughout today's episode. Go and check them out. Hi T minus listeners. You know, we here at T minus do ask a lot of questions and I bet you do too. Is there something that you've been wondering about lately that you would love Some answers to? Space related, my friends. Let's keep it space related. Maybe a particularly confounding new technology concept or hard to decipher bit of governmental regulation that could use some context. And what exactly is Goldendome anyway? Write or you know, fill that in. I'm sure there's something on your mind. And honestly, we here at T minus want to know what are you mulling over? What's the workplace debate of the day? All of that could be a great topic for us to cover on T minus. So tell us about it. Email [e-mail] and thank you. Our guest today is Mark Lester, Head of Aerospace Strategy at Merrick. Mark will be presenting at the Global Spaceport Alliance's annual summit coming up on January 27th in Orlando, Florida. Hope to see you all there.

[Mark Lester]

Mark Lester I'm Head of Aerospace Strategy for Merrick and Company. Merrick is a design architecture engineering firm, supports a wide range of customers, including the aerospace industry.

[Maria Varmazas]

Mark, thank you so much for joining me today and I appreciate that. Intro and I know that Merrick has some interesting news recently about an acquisition. Can you tell me about that?

[Mark Lester]

Yeah, absolutely. So Merrick recently acquired Way Engineering, which is a Tampa based firm in Florida Their background's been largely on seaports and transportation systems, and they also bring some NEPA compliance experience. So I think they're going to be a great addition to the firm, including for our aerospace industry in the state of Florida.

[Maria Varmazas]

So, Mark, I'm wondering if you can fill me in on what Merrick's up to right now in the context of spaceports, especially. Especially in ways that people may not necessarily expect.

[Mark Lester]

Yeah. So I think what's interesting about where Merrick is at today and where we're headed in the aerospace sector is Merck's been supporting largely federal and government customers, in particular in the aerospace industry for decades. And, you know, our work with Artemis has been an enduring support into NASA. Also. We bid and won, along with lots of others on the Missile Defense Agency SHIELD contract. Right. For Golden Dome. So that's been what I would consider a traditional Merrick type of area. Now, other parts of merit support commercial customers from manufacturing facilities to cities as well. So it's natural then, that as the space industry evolves and grows, that we can at Merrick, bring together different areas of our expertise. So two areas in particular that come to mind is one on return missions from space, as well as the increase in nuclear materials that are going to space and be operating in space and on the planet. So to pull that threat a bit. So when I think about return return missions, a lot of work. Right. In developing a pharmaceuticals and biotech on orbit. We're starting to see that transition from research and development on the space station and initial missions like that. Varda has been accomplishing and bringing back some pharmaceuticals to in the future here, near future, going to be really transitioning to production. And so Merrick has been supporting the pharma industry, supporting biotech, high containment facilities for many customers over the years. And so we see that intersecting at Spaceport. So how do you do a medical facility or biotech facility at spaceport, so be able to then when material gets returned, to process it and get it into the logistics supply chain. Merrick in the past has supported NASA and some of these containment facilities as well. So that's kind of a natural growth for Merrick in two areas that in the past didn't have to come together and now it's going to.

[Maria Varmazas]

Yeah, I was going to say that must represent a very unique challenge and opportunity for you all because again, that's. It's one of those things where maybe on the outset, people might not think of these areas intersecting, but in terms of on the ground, infrastructural Support, that's got to be a fascinating challenge to take on.

[Mark Lester]

It is, and it's what's exciting to see is both sides of the pieces coming together. Right. And so on. Pharmaceuticals, they typically don't know much about space and space doesn't know much about pharmaceuticals or biotech. Right. And so to see these areas and to see that excitement in people's eyes and go, wow, we can do that. Yes, we do that here. Let's bring it here into a spaceport and it's going to be slightly different. I think that's great. And just to see a new growth area and see really see that space economy grow as well.

[Maria Varmazas]

Yeah. And you mentioned nuclear also. And that is an area where I would imagine there's been a little more strategic alignment, maybe especially on the military side. But I mean, as we're seeing, you know, more interest from the commercial sector, I mean, certainly there's always going to be a lot of government and military involvement on that side of things. But again, very fascinating challenges and opportunities there, I would imagine.

[Mark Lester]

Yeah, absolutely. So, you know, when I think about space and spaceports, it's really about the civil use of nuclear, both from nuclear propulsion. Right. So we're going to start seeing nuclear rockets powered rockets. It's also powering spacecraft. We already see that in some of the rovers and Mars. Right. We see that happening. But also putting small reactors on the moon and with NASA and this administration's aim to put a small nuclear reactor on the moon By I think 2030, you know, that's a near term type of target to be thinking about. And so pulling from Merrick's extensive experience in working with Department of Energy and with nuclear reactors here on Earth, taking that expertise and then bringing that to a spaceport, saying, okay, how do we handle safely and reliably and efficiently nuclear material at a spaceport to get a nuclear reactor integrated with a rocket and then what do we do with it on the moon? So, you know, we've been recently talking about, you know, how do we construct infrastructure on the moon to support habitats, but in particular around the nuclear reactors and related infrastructure. So that's, that's exciting to see those two elements come together as well.

[Maria Varmazas]

Yeah, it's a, it's really fascinating thinking about these things that I think for many people, especially who aren't really thinking about what's going on in the world of space, these seem all very abstract and very far in the future, but they're really much more immediate. And of course people need to be planning around these things. Now and I'm thinking also in terms of things people might think are way in the future is off world exploration like Mars. Again, these are not abstracts anymore. These are things that people need to be planning. So I'm curious your thoughts on things like Mars exploration and planning for things like that.

[Mark Lester]

Yeah, absolutely. It's a balancing act, right, Maria? It's about looking at what's right in front of you as a business. Right? Yeah. And saying, okay, here are the near term contracts, the contracts today. But also then thinking about the intellectual property and the processes and methods of it then extending to off planet. Right. We like to say aerospace is all about engineering for all planets. And so certainly the moon's next and we got some near term targets that are priorities of the administration and of NASA to put people onto the moon in an enduring manner and have the power capabilities, which involves nuclear capabilities, then yeah, Mars is after that, certainly further down the road. But when you start to think about how do you operate and construct facilities and use infrastructure in gravity, that's a fraction of Earth's. Right. If with materials that some behave like what we see here on Earth, but a lot of it's just unknown. Right. So how do you extend in that engineering that we've done very well over several decades to then apply it to new worlds?

[Maria Varmazas]

Yeah, there's some fascinating problem solving to be done and fascinating engineering challenges. But I mean that's what we all live for.

[Mark Lester]

That's exciting. Right? That's what Merrick does. Right, right. That's why we have a thousand engineers. Right. That keeps people going.

[Maria Varmazas]

That's right.

[Mark Lester]

Exactly right. It's exciting.

[Maria Varmazas]

Well, Mark, thank you for walking me through just a little bit of some of the strategic thinking here. I want to make sure that if there's anything I missed that you wanted to let the audience know that I give you that opportunity to have the last word.

[Mark Lester]

Well, thank you. Yes. So look, this industry continues to grow. It's fun to talk about the moon and Mars. But certainly what's here today also is about building out more spaceports to address Earth orbital missions. Right. And so it's exciting to continue to see states here in the US wanting to explore new spaceports. We're also seeing new spaceports being talked about overseas as well, so in Africa, in Australia, in other parts in South America. Right. So that's. We're certainly continuing to see interest across the globe in building spaceports and Merrick's excited to be part of those discussions.

[Maria Varmazas]

We'll be right back. Welcome back. Humans, our bodies Minus the bones part, they're mostly pretty squishy. We evolved to live in gravity on terra firma. So news at 11. Being in space for a while does really funny things to our insidey bits. We knew this. You knew this. Astronauts know this. Well, we know in space, our eyes go wonky, our bones relax, our muscles take a vacation, but our brains, the gray matter, should be all good, right? Well, he knew there'd be a. Well. Well, it ends up in space, our brains get a bit shifty. As in they actually physically shift in our skulls. Brains shift to the back and up and also rotate towards the back of our skulls in space. Yes, really. And that is according to a new published study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Otherwise, and better known by an acronym that I don't want to say out loud on a family podcast, this study examined the brains of 26 astronauts using MRIs and found that the longer you spent in space, the more your brain moved. Okay, not a huge surprise there. Kind of stands to reason. But the kicker is that not all brain regions moved equally or even in the same direction uniformly. For example, crew that spent a year or more in space saw larger physically upward shifts in a part of their brain called the supplementary motor cortex, which controls planned and coordinated movement. Wild. Right now, we don't know what this means long term. Is this a good or a bad thing, or is it a neutral thing? Well, the good news is that after six months back on Earth, all astronaut brains returned pretty much back to normal. Mostly not entirely, but pretty much. I'm sure it's fine. Just don't think about it too hard. And that's T minus. Brought to you by N2K CyberWire we'd love to know what you think of this podcast. Your feedback ensures we deliver the insights that keep you a step ahead in the rapidly changing space industry. If you like our show, please share a rating and review in your podcast app. Please also fill out the survey in the show notes or send an email to space2k.com we are proud that N2K Cyberwire is part of the daily routine of the most influential leaders and operators in the public and private sector. From the Fortune 500 to many of the world's preeminent intelligence and law enforcement agencies, N2K helps space and cybersecurity professionals grow, learn, and stay informed. As the nexus for discovery and connection, we bring you the people, the technology, and the ideas shaping the future of secure innovation. Learn [e-mail] N2K's senior producer is Alice Carruth. Our producer is Liz Stokes. We are mixed by Elliot Peltzman and Trey Hester with original music by Elliot Peltzman. Our executive producer is Jennifer Ivan. Peter Kilpe is our publisher and I am your host, Maria Ramazes. Thank you for listening. We'll see you tomorrow.

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