T-Minus Space Daily – Ep. “California votes to block SpaceX from increased launches”

Date: August 15, 2025
Host: Maria Varmazis (N2K Networks)
Guests/Contributors: Alice Carruth, Ben Yellen, Alicia Siegel

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a packed lineup of space industry intelligence, focusing on major regulatory and operational developments affecting launches, fiscal impacts on military space spending, lunar power initiatives, and the latest within international spaceflight. Central is the breaking news of the California Coastal Commission's decision to block SpaceX's bid for more Falcon 9 launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base. The show also spotlights NASA's search for industry input on lunar power solutions, recent financial results from a satellite company, operational updates from China’s space station, and the weekly global launch wrap-up.

Key Discussion Points

1. California Blocks SpaceX’s Increased Launches from Vandenberg

Main Segment: 00:30–03:42

• News Recap:
  The California Coastal Commission has voted down SpaceX’s proposal to again nearly double Falcon 9 launches from Vandenberg—from 50 to 95 per year.

  • Last year, SpaceX launched 46 out of 51 total Vandenberg launches.
  • The commission's opposition centers on inadequate data about possible impacts on local wildlife and neighboring communities.

• Broader Context:

  • This isn’t the first hurdle; a similar expansion for 36 to 50 launches was blocked in October, but federal override, as a “federal activity exempt from further state oversight,” could apply again.
  • SpaceX previously sued after the last rejection and may again seek a legal route or depend on federal exemption.

• Quote:

  • “Will this actually stop SpaceX? Though the answer is maybe not. The US government can merely override the objections of California regulators and approve the latest plan as they did following last year’s rejection.” – Maria Varmazis (02:47)

2. US Air & Space Force Budget Cuts

Main Segment: 03:43–04:30

• Budget Cuts:
  • The 2026 US fiscal budget proposes $2.3 billion in Air and Space Force cuts, largely targeting Air Force programs.
  • Drivers: Executive orders from President Trump pushing for agency spending reforms and workforce reshaping.
  • Rough breakdown: ~$2 billion to Air Force; $289 million to Space Force.

3. NASA Seeks Industry Input for Lunar Power

Main Segment: 04:31–05:26

• Moon Nuclear Reactor Initiative:
  • NASA calls for proposals on safe, efficient lunar power supplies, focusing on fission surface power (nuclear reactor) with the intent to put it on the moon by the mid-2030s.
  • Objectives: at least 100 kW electrical output; mass under 15 metric tons; use closed Brayton cycle for power conversion.
  • Ties into broader lunar economy, Mars exploration, and US space security.

4. Insider Space Financial Results & Lunar Product Launch

Main Segment: 05:27–05:55

• Financials:
  • Insider Space posts Q2 2025 revenue of $1.3 million, up 36% YoY.
  • Capital raised is funding developments, notably its Fortis VPX product line and a lunar-dedicated offering ("Liszi Lunar").

5. China’s Shenzhou 20 Crew Plans Spacewalk with New Suits

Main Segment: 05:56–06:17

• Operations Update:
  • The Shenzhou 20 crew preps for their third spacewalk (first with new suits delivered on Tianzhou 9 cargo).
  • Agency states the crew is in “good physical and mental health.”

6. Weekly Space Traffic Report – Global Launches and Trends

Contributor: Alicia Siegel (NASA Spaceflight)
Main Segment: 08:35–18:53

Highlights:

• SpaceX Crew-10 Returns Home

  • Splashdown off San Diego (first NASA Dragon recovery on the West Coast)
  • Crew:
    • Anne McClain (351 days total in space)
    • Nicole Ayers (first trip, 147 days)
    • Takuya Onishi (262 days total)
    • Kirill Peskoff (first trip, 147 days)
  • Notable: Shortest crew rotation yet (5 months).

• Launches:

  • SpaceX Falcon 9 (Amazon Kuiper launch): First use of Falcon Heavy core in “Falcon 9 mode.” (11:40)
  • Ariane 6 (ESA): Third flight, Metop SGA1 weather satellite for enhanced climate and weather data.
  • ULA Vulcan: Third mission, first DoD payload (USSF 106), most powerful ULA rocket to date.
  • China’s Changzhong 5V: Another batch of Guohuang Internet satellites.
  • Two Falcon 9 Starlink launches: Over 9,000 Starlink satellites launched to date.
  • Landspace’s Juche 2E: Reports of probable second-stage failure.
  • Upcoming:
    • Soyuz 21A/Bion M2 mission (biological research in orbit using Vostok-derived spacecraft).
    • More Starlink missions from Vandenberg.
    • USSF’s X-37B spaceplane’s eighth flight (first booster landing back at LZ-2).
    • Possible Rocket Lab Electron launch from New Zealand.

• Memorable Quote:

  • “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Well, in this case, they've been carrying that out now for over 60 years, hence why they're still using a modernized version of the Vostok capsule.” – Alicia Siegel (16:32)

7. Science Spotlight: Webb Telescope Rules Out Atmosphere on TRAPPIST-1d

Main Segment: 19:23–22:14

• Context:
  • James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) data indicates the promising exoplanet TRAPPIST-1d (in the system with several Earth-sized planets in the habitable zone) shows no clear signs of an Earth-like atmosphere.
• Quote from Study Author:
  • “There are a few potential reasons why we don't detect an atmosphere around Trappist 1D. It could have an extremely thin atmosphere that is difficult to detect, somewhat like Mars. Alternatively, it could have very thick high altitude clouds that are blocking our detection of specific atmospheric signatures, something more like Venus. Or it could be a barren rock with no atmosphere at all.” — Caroline Piola Gorab (University of Chicago/Montreal) via Maria Varmazis (21:02)
• Hope remains:
  Potential for outer TRAPPIST-1 planets to still hold on to water or atmospheric gases.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Maria Varmazis [02:47]:
  “Will this actually stop SpaceX? Though the answer is maybe not. The US government can merely override the objections of California regulators and approve the latest plan as they did following last year’s rejection.”

• Alicia Siegel [16:32]:
  “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Well, in this case, they've been carrying that out now for over 60 years, hence why they're still using a modernized version of the Vostok capsule.”

• Caroline Piola Gorab (via Maria Varmazis) [21:02]:
  “There are a few potential reasons why we don't detect an atmosphere around Trappist 1D. ...it could have an extremely thin atmosphere..., very thick high altitude clouds..., or it could be a barren rock with no atmosphere at all.”

Segment Timestamps

• Intro/Headlines: 00:01–00:30
• California blocks SpaceX: 00:30–03:42
• Air/Space Force budget cuts: 03:43–04:30
• NASA lunar power call: 04:31–05:26
• Insider Space business: 05:27–05:55
• China’s spacewalk prep: 05:56–06:17
• Weekly space traffic report (NSF): 08:35–18:53
• JWST/Trappist-1d science news: 19:23–22:14

Tone, Language, and Style

The hosts maintain an intelligent, lively, and slightly informal tone suitable for industry insiders but accessible to broader listeners. Humor and asides (“Har har har,” “Cue the sad trombone...”) lighten complex topics, and technical details are clearly contextualized.

Conclusion

This episode provides a thorough briefing on regulatory, operational, and scientific developments in the world of space, from legal wrangling over launch rights to the latest multi-national launch activity and the ongoing search for habitable worlds. If you’re seeking a sharp, current industry pulse, this episode delivers clear facts, informed analysis, and a dose of optimism despite a few regulatory and scientific setbacks.