Building the next space network.

Summary

T-Minus Space Daily – “Building the next space network”

Host: Maria Varmazes (N2K Networks)
Date: November 12, 2025
Theme: Critical intelligence on key developments powering, protecting, and connecting the future of space networks and infrastructure.

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Maria Varmazes walks through the latest intelligence from across the global space industry, emphasizing the construction of next-generation space networks. The episode covers Intuitive Machines’ ambitious data network, collaborations driving 5G non-terrestrial networks, European and French space strategy, funding developments in small satellites, the political fight over NASA’s facilities, and the impacts of severe space weather on operations and launches.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Intuitive Machines’ Space Data Network Plans

[01:53–03:18]

• Intuitive Machines is positioning itself as a prime player in space, with a plan to build a robust data network extending from Earth’s vicinity to 2 million kilometers out—including Earth proximity, cislunar, and extended cislunar regions.
  • The network aims to serve a range of customers: commercial operators, national agencies, national security, and scientific institutions.
  • Production is already underway, with D3 chosen to provide the initial spacecraft’s solar array subsystem.
    • D3’s technology is described as a “compact, rigid, deployable array engineered for reliable performance in harsh space environments.”
    • Each spacecraft will include two deployable solar wings rated for 2 kW end-of-life power.
    • The first of six satellites could be deployed as early as next year.

Notable Quote:

“Big plans to become a prime in space. ...The network is being designed to support activity from the surface of the moon to 2 million kilometers from Earth.”
—Maria Varmazes [02:00]

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2. XRCOM & SpinLaunch: 5G Non-Terrestrial Network Collaboration

[03:19–04:01]

• XRCOM and SpinLaunch announced a partnership to enhance testing, analytics, and system readiness for the 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) ecosystem.
  • XRCOM’s AI-native testing and measurement will be combined with SpinLaunch’s Meridium system architecture.
  • Goals: earlier and more intelligent system validation, faster issue detection, and improved real-time analytics for global NTN performance.

Notable Quote:

“Working with an innovator like XRCOM allows us to test and validate our systems earlier and more intelligently, helping us anticipate customer needs, identify and resolve network issues faster, and ultimately strengthen the broader 5G NTN ecosystem.”
—Massey Lativaz, SpinLaunch CEO [03:34]

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3. France's New National Space Strategy

[04:01–05:10]

• President Emmanuel Macron has announced a more defensive French space strategy, emphasizing the growing geopolitical risks in orbit.
  • Macron: “Space is a place of conflict, increasingly intense conflict, which follows the increase in the number of satellites in orbit and is also the subject of extremely aggressive challenges from our competitors and including Russia.” [04:30]
  • The strategy includes investing in military space assets—lasers and electromagnetic jammers to counter hostile satellites.
  • Details on a broader European approach are expected soon.

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4. USpace: Major Funding Round for Smallsats

[05:11–06:03]

• French Smallsat manufacturer USpace closed a €24 million Series A round, following a previous €7 million round in 2022.
  • USpace already has three satellites in orbit, ten more in production, and aims to produce one satellite per week by 2027.
  • They hold contracts with entities like CNES and Safran and are targeting global expansion.

Insight:
This positions USpace as a rising contender for rapid-response small satellite production amid growing European and worldwide demand.

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5. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center Closures Under Scrutiny

[06:04–08:10]

• Congressional pushback arises over NASA’s plan to close and consolidate facilities at Goddard.
  • Rep. Zoe Lofgren sent a letter to NASA’s acting administrator, demanding an immediate halt and congressional oversight before further closures.
    • Lofgren: “NASA must stop what it is doing at Goddard and submit to oversight by Congress and the OIG before it inflicts permanent damage on agency scientific capabilities with severe and lasting consequences.” [07:10]
  • Thirteen major Goddard facilities are marked for closure by March 2026.
  • NASA has been given 24 hours to comply and seven days to provide an accounting of impacts.

Notable Quote:

“NASA must stop what it is doing at Goddard and submit to oversight by Congress and the OIG before it inflicts permanent damage on agency scientific capabilities with severe and lasting consequences.”
—Rep. Zoe Lofgren [07:10]

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6. Space Weather Disrupts Operations

[11:06–12:52]

• A severe geomagnetic storm (G4, potentially G5) is affecting the planet, triggering auroras and operational challenges.
  • Blue Origin has postponed its New Glenn launch due to risk to the EscaPADE spacecraft from heightened solar activity.
    • Blue Origin statement: “Due to highly elevated solar activity and its potential effects on the EscaPADE spacecraft, NASA is postponing launch until space weather conditions improve.” [12:25]

Memorable Moment:

“Hmm, space weather affecting a rocket launch. It is a shame, but also kind of awesome too.”
—Maria Varmazes [12:35]

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7. Cape Canaveral Breaks Launch Records

[12:53–13:40]

• Florida’s Space Coast has hit 94 launches in 2025, shattering previous records, with expectations of hitting or surpassing 100 launches by year’s end.
  • Maria: “Truly, when you think about it, the dream born of the Space Shuttle program was brought to life by the private space sector, especially the SpaceX Falcon 9. Pretty darn remarkable.” [13:38]

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Notable Quotes

• “Big plans to become a prime in space... The network is being designed to support activity from the surface of the moon to 2 million kilometers from Earth.” —Maria Varmazes [02:00]
• “Working with an innovator like XRCOM allows us to test and validate our systems earlier and more intelligently...” —Massey Lativaz, SpinLaunch CEO [03:34]
• “Space is a place of conflict, increasingly intense conflict...subject of extremely aggressive challenges from our competitors and including Russia.” —President Emmanuel Macron [04:30]
• “NASA must stop what it is doing at Goddard and submit to oversight...” —Rep. Zoe Lofgren [07:10]
• “Hmm, space weather affecting a rocket launch. It is a shame, but also kind of awesome too.” —Maria Varmazes [12:35]
• “Truly, when you think about it, the dream born of the Space Shuttle program was brought to life by the private space sector, especially the SpaceX Falcon 9. Pretty darn remarkable.” —Maria Varmazes [13:38]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:53 – Intuitive Machines space data network overview
• 03:19 – XRCOM and SpinLaunch partnership
• 04:01 – Macron unveils France’s national space strategy
• 05:11 – USpace funding news and expansion targets
• 06:04 – Congressional opposition to NASA Goddard closures
• 11:06 – Severe geomagnetic storm and its industry impacts
• 12:53 – Cape Canaveral’s launch record

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Summary Tone:
Straightforward, informative, with an appreciation for the rapid development and challenges in the space industry. The host, Maria Varmazes, brings energy and context, highlighting both technical achievements and sector challenges.

Transcript

[A]

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Today is November 12, 2025. I'm Maria Varmazes and this is T -T/20 seconds to Los Speed Reserve members of Congress are calling for the end of closures at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. SmallSat company USpace has close 24 million euro Series A funding round. French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a new national space strategy. XRCOM and SpinLaunch are collaborating to advance testing, performance analytics and system readiness across the emerging 5G non terrestrial network ecosystem. Intuitive Machines selects D cubed solar arrays to power their space Data Network satellite Happy Wednesday everybody. Thank you for joining me and welcome back. Let's dive into our intel briefing for today. First up, it's not an industry secret anymore that Intuitive Machines have big plans to become a prime in space. And part of that plan is building a space data network that spans Earth proximity, cislunar and extended cislunar regions. The network is being designed to support activity from the surface of the moon to 2 million kilometers from Earth. It aims to serve a diverse set of customers including commercial operators, national space agencies, national security, space and scientific institutions. The production for the start of this network is already underway and Intuitive Machines has selected D3 to provide the solar array subsystem for the initial spacecraft. Now D3 produces a compact, rigid, deployable array engineered for reliable performance in harsh space environments. D3 will provide two rigid, deployable solar wings designed to deliver 2kW of end of life power output for Intuitive Machines spacecraft. Intuitive Machines is aiming to deploy the first of six satellites in the network as early as next year. We do see big things on the horizon for this new network and for intuitive machines as a whole. Next up, XRCOM and SpinLaunch are collaborating to advance testing, performance, analytics and system readiness across the emerging 5G non terrestrial network ecosystem. The companies are planning to partner XRCOM's AI native testing and measurement system with SpinLaunch's Meridium system architecture. The combined effort aims to enhance satellite validation, improve network diagnostics and advance real time analytics for global non terrestrial networks. Massey Lativaz, CEO of SpinLaunch, said, Working with an innovator like XRCOM allows us to test and validate our systems earlier and more intelligently, helping us anticipate customer needs, identify and resolve network issues faster, and ultimately strengthen the broader 5G NTN ecosystem. We do wish them the best of luck with this endeavor and let's head on over to Europe now and French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a new national space strategy. Macron emphasized that space is no longer peaceful and the strategy reflects a more defensive stance. In a statement released before the strategy was delivered at an event in Toulouse, the French president said that space is a place of conflict, increasingly intense conflict, which follows the increase in the number of satellites in orbit and is also the subject of extremely aggressive challenges from our competitors and including Russia, end quote. Among the military assets that France seeks to bolster as part of its strategy are a variety of lasers and electromagnetic jammers in different frequency ranges that can destroy enemy observation satellites. We do expect to hear more details about the collective European strategy in the coming weeks, and for our next story, we are staying in France. Smallsat company USpace has closed a 24 million euros Series A funding round. The new funding builds on an initial 7 million euro funding round announced in 2022. USpace has made a name for itself in the small satellite manufacturing market, as they already have three satellites in orbit and around 10 more are currently in production, with plans to be delivered over the next year ahead. The company does have major contracts signed with companies and organizations such as Cnes and Safran. USpace says it will use the new capital to expand into global markets and ramp up production of their satellites to ultimately produce one satellite per week by 2027. And let's head on over to the United States for this last story. Now members of Congress are calling for the end of closures at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Representative Zoe Lofgren, who is the ranking democrat on the Committee on Science, Space and Technology, has demanded that NASA cease facility closures that have taken place during the government shutdown and immediately halt its consolidation activities at Goddard. Lofgren sent a letter on Monday, November 10th to NASA Acting Administrator Sean Duffy, giving the space agency 24 hours to respond with confirmation that all lab closures and workplace relocations have ceased. It states, and I quote, NASA must stop what it is doing at Goddard and submit to oversight by Congress and the OIG before it inflicts permanent damage on agency scientific capabilities with severe and lasting consequences, end quote. As many as 13 major Goddard campus facilities are currently marked for closure by March 2026. In addition to NASA's 24 hour deadline to comply with Lofgren also gave NASA seven days to provide a full accounting of the damage inflicted on Goddard thus far, and called for both the House Science Committee and NASA's Office of Inspector General to review the find.

[B]

And that.

[A]

Is it for today's intel briefing, my friends. As always, you can find out more about all of today's stories by checking out the show notes in your podcast app as well as by going directly to our website, which is space.n2k.com hello there t minus listeners and whether you've been listening to T minus from the very start or this is your very first episode tuning in, I want to say thank you very much for listening and if you like what we are doing here at T Minus, your support will help us grow and bring you more of the insights and the guest interviews that you enjoy. So if you could take a moment and leave us a five star rating, a short review in whatever podcast app that you use, I would appreciate it so much. Go ahead. Why not just tell us about your favorite can't miss monthly segment like the Aerospace Corporation's Nexus segment which we just ran earlier this week. I'd love to hear what your thoughts are about it all. This kind of feedback really does help and I wouldn't be much of a podcast host if I didn't drop an obligatory like and subscribe now and then. After all. So please do and thank you.

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[A]

Welcome back friends, if you were jealous of the Aurora photos that you saw all over the Internet last May, please keep your eyes to the skies tonight and pray for clear weather. Because according to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction center, as of today at 1:40pm UTC, we are officially in a severe geomagnetic storm watch for November 12th. That's today with expected geomagnetic storm conditions to hit G4 tonight or even greater, we could actually get to G5. Oh my God. Now G4 is the same strength of geomagnetic storming that we saw last May. So this evening if you want to see some gorgeous light shows, look north if you are in the Northern hemisphere and look south if you are in the Southern hemisphere. After all, Australia's Bureau of Meteorology Space Weather Forecasting center put out an Aurora Alert on Tuesday afternoon. In fact, with auroral conditions expected to be quite lovely through to Thursday locally. And you know that space weather is serious business beyond just pretty pictures, especially when it impacts life on the ground and in orbit. In fact, here is a highly relevant update from Blue Origin at the time of this recording and I quote, New Glenn is ready to launch. However, due to highly elevated solar activity and its potential effects on the escapade spacecraft, NASA is postponing launch until space weather conditions improve. We are currently assessing opportunities to establish our next launch window based on forecasted space weather and range availability. Hmm, space weather affecting a rocket launch. It is a shame, but also kind of awesome too. And a last little bit of trivia for you today before we head out because it is space launch related, Florida's Space coast just officially shattered their yearly launch record with a SpaceX Starlink launch on Monday. Cape Canaveral has now had a record 94 space launches this year so far. And yes, more are coming, so do not at all be surprised when you inevitably hear that they hit or surpass 100 launches this year. Yes, we are nearing 100 rocket launches in one year from just one location. Truly, when you think about it, the dream born of the Space Shuttle program was brought to life by the private space sector, especially the SpaceX Falcon 9. Pretty darn remarkable 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 the show, please share a rating and review in your podcast app. Please also fill out the survey in the show notes or send us an email space2k.com we would love to hear from you. We're 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 Carouse. 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 Ibin. Peter Kilpe is our publisher and I am your host, Maria Varmazes. Thank you for listening. We'll see you tomorrow.

[B]

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