Episode Summary: Expanding the Reach of Space-Based Cellular Broadband

Podcast: T-Minus Space Daily
Host: Maria Varmazis
Release Date: July 3, 2025
Guest: Abigail Glover, Astronaut Scholar for 2024-2025

1. Introduction and Financial Highlights

Maria Varmazis kicks off the episode by presenting the latest developments in the space industry, focusing on significant financial moves and contracts that are shaping the sector.

AST Space Mobile Secures $100 Million Financing

AST Space Mobile has successfully closed a $100 million equipment financing facility led by Trinity Capital. This non-dilutive financing is pivotal for supporting AST Space Mobile’s accelerated manufacturing and network deployment goals slated for 2025 and 2026. Maria explains:

"An equipment financing facility is a type of loan or lease agreement that allows businesses to acquire equipment by borrowing or renting it instead of paying the full purchase price upfront." ([02:30])

Andrew Johnson, Chief Financial Officer of AST Space Mobile, emphasizes the significance of this milestone:

"This facility is the first such type of financing agreement for the company and reflects our stage of rapid growth and transition from research and development to full-scale manufacturing and network deployment." ([04:15])

The injection of capital is expected to bolster AST Space Mobile’s stock price and integrate seamlessly into their long-term capital structure, facilitating future debt capital and continued expansion.

Atomic6 Receives $2 Million Grant from US Space Force

Atomic6 has been awarded a $2 million Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) from the US Space Force Space Systems Command. This grant aims to mature and flight qualify Atomic6's Light Wing solar array for both commercial and defense applications. Key aspects of the grant include:

• Composite Coupon Testing
• Cell Compatibility Demonstration
• Thermal Vacuum and Vibe Testing

Atomic6 claims that their Light Wing solar array delivers "over four times more power per kilo than existing arrays," enabling operations such as orbital compute, high-bandwidth communications, and support for human habitation space stations.

Furthermore, Chris Hadfield, former ISS commander, has joined Atomic6’s advisory board to expedite the technology’s market readiness. Atomic6 also reported receiving $2.7 billion in contract requests from major constellation operators and was selected by Cituspace to power the world’s first lunar data centers in partnership with Lone Star Data Holdings.

LN Space to Manufacture Satellites for Satellite

LN Space has been chosen to manufacture the next five satellites for Satellite’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Network, with launches scheduled for 2026. These satellites will incorporate significant enhancements over existing models, including improved performance and greater payload capacity. Satelliet positions itself as a dual-use civilian and defense 5G satellite connectivity operator, aligning with Europe’s strategic push for space autonomy. The first four commercial satellites were successfully launched in August 2024 aboard a SpaceX rocket.

McLean Engineering’s Contract with NASA

McLean Engineering and Applied Technologies has been awarded a Simulation and Advanced Software Services 2 (SAS2) contract by NASA, valued at up to $150 million from October 2025 through September 2030. This single-award indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract includes:

• Simulation Services for space-based vehicle models and robotic manipulator systems
• Human Biomechanical Representations for the development of countermeasures devices
• Guidance, Navigation, and Control for space-based vehicles across all flight phases
• Onboard Computer System Simulations and Visualization Support for training and engineering analysis

Maria underscores the breadth of McLean’s responsibilities, highlighting their crucial role in supporting NASA’s space missions.

Russian Cargo Spacecraft Scheduled for ISS Lift-Off

A Russian cargo spacecraft, Progress 92, is set to launch uncrewed to the International Space Station from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 3:32 PM Eastern Time. The spacecraft will deliver approximately 3 tons of food, fuel, and supplies to the Expedition 73 crew. After a two-day journey, Progress 92 will dock autonomously to the ISS's Pirs module on July 5 and remain docked for six months before reentry.

2. Interview with Abigail Glover, Astronaut Scholar

Maria engages in an insightful conversation with Abigail Glover, an Astronaut Scholar for 2024-2025, shedding light on her journey, research, and future aspirations in the space sector.

Background and Educational Journey

Abigail shares her transition from a small town in West Virginia to Florida in 2015, where she initially pursued interests in theater and the arts. A pivotal summer led her to reassess her career path, culminating in a passion for engineering and space exploration. She recounts:

"Art to me is something that I can always have with me regardless of where I am. And so I decided, okay, if I could do anything in the world, what would that be? What would I want to accomplish?" ([10:48])

This introspection led her to enroll at Lake Sumter State College, where she founded the astronomy club and connected with the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) at the University of Central Florida (UCF).

Research Involvement and Projects

Abigail’s proactive approach led her to Exolith Lab, a nonprofit focused on producing high-fidelity lunar, asteroid, and Martian regolith simulants. Initially tasked with manually crushing and packaging simulant materials, her dedication earned her a position on the radar for future research opportunities.

"She was like, are you serious? I get to use this mining equipment. I get to use heavy machinery. This is so cool." ([13:56])

Her involvement with the Sparta toolkit, a comprehensive geotechnical toolkit developed by Jet Propulsion Labs (JPL), enabled her to contribute valid data to a tool crucial for lunar and Martian surface simulations. Abigail describes the toolkit as the "Swiss army knife of geotechnical toolkits," highlighting its versatility for various rocky surfaces.

Future Plans and Graduate Studies

Looking ahead, Abigail is set to pursue a PhD in Space Resources at the Colorado School of Mines. Her research will delve deeper into the quantification of regolith simulants, aiming to enhance the accuracy and applicability of these materials for future space missions. She emphasizes the importance of:

"Understanding how to use machine learning to take that data and make it more robust and how to connect these different geotechnical properties and physical properties so that we can better understand how our simulants are related to the real thing." ([19:04])

Abigail’s work is poised to contribute significantly to NASA’s database of simulant materials, leveraging artificial intelligence to bridge gaps in geotechnical and physical property data.

3. Late News Updates

Interstellar Comet 3 Joins Our Solar System

In a follow-up to a previous story, Maria announces that the interstellar object previously designated A11PL3Z has been officially named Interstellar Comet 3. The comet continues its journey through our solar neighborhood with an updated orbital eccentricity of approximately 6, a revision from the earlier estimate of 10.

Sports Partnership: Colorado Rockies and York Space Systems

Breaking into the realm of sports, the Colorado Rockies baseball team has entered a patch partnership with York Space Systems, marking York as the first aerospace company to feature on a regular team jersey in professional sports. This five-and-a-half-year partnership distinguishes York in the aerospace industry. Maria notes:

"That is York. There have been other aerospace companies on non-regular team jerseys though Lunar Outpost had their logo on the Juventus football or soccer jersey at one point..." ([22:10])

She also teases an upcoming episode featuring Forest Mayan, co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Lunar Outpost, slated for the Deep Space episode on July 5th.

4. Conclusion

Maria wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to engage with the podcast through ratings, reviews, and feedback. She highlights the role of N2K CyberWire in keeping space and cybersecurity professionals informed and connected.

Notable Quotes:

• Andrew Johnson, AST Space Mobile CFO:
  “This facility is the first such type of financing agreement for the company and reflects our stage of rapid growth and transition from research and development to full-scale manufacturing and network deployment.”
  [04:15]

• Abigail Glover, Astronaut Scholar:
  “Art to me is something that I can always have with me regardless of where I am. And so I decided, okay, if I could do anything in the world, what would that be? What would I want to accomplish?”
  [10:48]

• Abigail Glover, on Sparta Toolkit:
  “So it is so robust. It's absolutely phenomenal that this is something that's being developed.”
  [15:48]

• Abigail Glover, on Future Research:
  “Understanding how to use machine learning to take that data and make it more robust and how to connect these different geotechnical properties and physical properties so that we can better understand how our simulants are related to the real thing.”
  [19:04]

This episode of T-Minus Space Daily provides a comprehensive overview of the latest financial developments in the space industry, an inspiring interview with an emerging astronaut scholar, and exciting updates on interstellar discoveries and unique sports partnerships. Whether you're a space enthusiast or a professional in the field, this episode delivers valuable insights and forward-looking perspectives on the expanding horizons of space-based technologies.