ISS risk is an ASAP concern.

Summary

T-Minus Space Daily: Episode Summary – "ISS Risk is an ASAP Concern"

Release Date: April 19, 2025
Host: Maria Varmazes, N2K Networks

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1. NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel Expresses Concerns Over ISS Safety

Timestamp: [04:30]
Speaker: Maria Varmazes

In this episode, Maria Varmazes delves into the recent public meeting held by NASA's Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP). The panel has voiced significant concerns regarding the safety of the International Space Station (ISS), highlighting that the station has entered "the riskiest period of its existence."

Notable Quote:
Rich Williams, ASAP Board Member:

“The ISS has entered the riskiest period of its existence.”
[Timestamp: 05:45]

Key Points:

• Aging Infrastructure: The ISS is grappling with unresolved leaks and insufficient spare parts for life support systems.
• Budget Constraints: A substantial budget shortfall is exacerbating these safety risks, potentially jeopardizing the Low Earth Orbit transition plan.
• Urgent Action Needed: Varmazes emphasizes the necessity for the new administration to address these budgetary and operational challenges promptly to maintain a sustained human presence in Low Earth Orbit.

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2. ISS Command Transition from Russian to Japanese Astronaut

Timestamp: [07:15]
Speaker: Maria Varmazes

The episode covers the seamless handover of ISS command from Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexei Ovinchin to JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi, marking the commencement of Expedition 73.

Notable Quote:
Maria Varmazes:

“Alexei Ovinchin, Ivan Wagner, and NASA astronaut Don Pettit are returning home after 220 days in space.”
[Timestamp: 07:20]

Key Points:

• Crew Return: The outgoing trio will land in Kazakhstan on April 20, coinciding with NASA astronaut Don Pettit's 70th birthday.
• Handover Details: Expedition 72 concludes as Expedition 73 begins, ensuring continuous human presence on the ISS.
• Mission Continuity: This transition is pivotal for ongoing scientific research and maintenance operations aboard the ISS.

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3. China’s Successful Satellite Rescue Operation

Timestamp: [10:05]
Speaker: Maria Varmazes

Highlighting China's advancements in space operations, Varmazes reports on the successful rescue of two satellites, Dro A and Dro B, which initially failed to reach their intended orbits.

Notable Quote:
Maria Varmazes:

“The CSU says that after 100 days of rescue efforts, those satellites have entered their target orbit and are now working as designed.”
[Timestamp: 10:50]

Key Points:

• Rescue Mission: Utilizing gravitational assists from Earth, Moon, and Sun, the satellites were maneuvered into their designated orbits.
• Constellation Goals: The rescued satellites will join Dro L to form a constellation providing Beidou-like navigation services spanning 100 million kilometers.
• Technological Prowess: This mission underscores China’s growing capabilities in space logistics and satellite management.

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4. Kenya’s Warning on Space Debris Re-entry

Timestamp: [12:30]
Speaker: Maria Varmazes

Addressing space debris concerns, Maria informs listeners about Kenya’s space agency warning regarding the potential re-entry of a large chunk of space debris over Eastern Africa.

Notable Quote:
Kenya Space Agency Representative:

“The object poses a significant risk to life and property owing to its large size.”
[Timestamp: 13:10]

Key Points:

• Re-entry Prediction: The debris, identified as a Chinese-owned spacecraft (NORAD ID: 619092024 205R), is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere between April 19th and 20th.
• Safety Measures: While the agency anticipates that debris will not fall directly on populated areas, they advise heightened public vigilance.
• Historical Context: Recent debris incidents in Kenya have heightened awareness and prompted precautionary advisories.

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5. Atmos Secures Major Investment for Space Logistics

Timestamp: [15:00]
Speaker: Maria Varmazes

The German space logistics company, Atmos, has announced a €1 million investment from Stuttgart-based venture capital firm MatchVC to advance its reusable capsule technology.

Notable Quote:
Maria Varmazes:

“MatchVC brings the 1 million euro investment in the backing of key industrial partners to support Atmos in scaling its reusable capsule technology.”
[Timestamp: 15:40]

Key Points:

• Phoenix 2 Development: The investment will facilitate the development of Phoenix 2, Atmos’s next-generation reusable capsule designed for orbital return logistics.
• Upcoming Missions: Atmos plans to launch its first orbital mission using the Phoenix One prototype aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in the near future.
• Sustainable Logistics: This funding underscores the industry's shift towards sustainable and reusable space logistics solutions.

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6. Astronomical Breakthrough: Possible Supermassive Black Hole in M83

Timestamp: [17:30]
Speaker: Maria Varmazes

Maria explores a recent astronomical discovery suggesting the presence of a supermassive black hole at the center of Messier 83 (M83), also known as the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy.

Notable Quote:
Maria Varmazes:

“Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope may have just found the long sought evidence of a hidden active galactic nucleus.”
[Timestamp: 18:20]

Key Points:

• James Webb’s Revelation: Utilizing the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), scientists detected highly ionized neon gas indicative of an active galactic nucleus.
• Implications: Confirmation of a supermassive black hole challenges previous assumptions about M83 and showcases the unparalleled capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope.
• Future Research: Follow-up studies with ALMA and the Very Large Telescope (VLT) are planned to further investigate this finding.

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7. Space Traffic Report Highlights

Timestamp: [21:00]
Speaker: Alicia Siegel, NASASpaceflight.com

Alicia Siegel provides an extensive overview of the week’s space missions, emphasizing multiple launches and significant milestones.

Notable Quote:
Alicia Siegel:

“The booster for this mission was a veteran, flying for a 24th time and successfully landing on SpaceX's drone ship.”
[Timestamp: 11:45]

Key Points:

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches: Multiple missions, including NROL 192 and several Starlink deployments, highlighted the Falcon 9’s reliability with boosters achieving up to 27 flights.
• Blue Origin’s Milestone Flight: The 31st flight of New Shepard featured the first all-female crew, promoting diversity in space tourism despite receiving mixed media reactions.
• Minotaur 4's Return: After an eight-year hiatus, Minotaur 4 launched a classified mission for the National Reconnaissance Office, demonstrating ongoing defense-related space activities.
• Upcoming Launches: Anticipation for future SpaceX missions, including additional Starlink launches and the return of the Soyuz MS.26 spacecraft with returning ISS crew members.

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Conclusion

In this episode of T-Minus Space Daily, host Maria Varmazes and guest Alicia Siegel provide a comprehensive analysis of current events impacting the space industry. From safety concerns surrounding the aging ISS and international collaborations to groundbreaking astronomical discoveries and advancements in space logistics, the episode encapsulates the dynamic and rapidly evolving landscape of space exploration and utilization. Notably, the discussions underscore the interplay between technological innovation, international cooperation, and the critical importance of safety and sustainability in continued human and robotic endeavors beyond Earth.

For listeners seeking to stay informed on the latest in space intelligence and industry developments, this episode offers valuable insights and detailed reporting on pivotal events shaping the future of space.

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Additional Resources:

• Visit N2K Networks for more information.
• Explore the Space Traffic Report for ongoing updates and detailed mission analyses.

Transcript

[Maria Varmazes]

Foreign you're listening to the N2K space network.

[Alice Carruth]

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[Maria Varmazes]

Today is April 18, 2020 5. I'm Maria Varmazes and this is T minus T Min 20 seconds to Los T drift. Atmos secures 1 million Euro investment in Germany's bid for independent and sustainable space logistics 4. Kenya's space agency issues a warning about the potential re entry of space debris and overflight in the region.

[Alice Carruth]

3. 2.

[Maria Varmazes]

China completes the rescue of two satellites after a launch failure. Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexei Ovinchin hands over the command of the International Space Station to JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi. 1 NASA's Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel is concerned with risks on the international Space stat.

[Alicia Siegel]

Welcome.

[Maria Varmazes]

And it is Friday. Hooray. So today we have the weekly space traffic report from our [e-mail] they will be reflecting on the launch news that was from the last week and taking a look at what's to come in the next seven days later in the show. So stay with us for that. You made it. Happy Friday everybody. Honestly, it's been a really quiet week as the industry gets back to business after a series of big space conferences. But today we still have a strong lineup of space stories that we're keeping an eye on for you to keep you ahead in this rapidly changing space industry. So let's dive into today's intel briefing, shall we? First up, NASA's Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, or ASAP, held a public meeting yesterday. According to the NASA website, the ASAP bases its advice on direct observation of NASA operations and decision making. US Congress requires that the ASAP submit an annual report to the NASA Administrator and to Congress, but maybe not always as soon as possible. The annual report examines NASA compliance with the recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board as well as NASA's management and culture related to safety. And among the topics of discussion at yesterday's meeting was the condition in operations on the International Space Station. The panel noted that they were deeply concerned about the safety of the aging orbital lab. Board member Rich Williams stated that the ISS has entered the riskiest period of its existence. One of the cited issues was the leaks that have been reported on station without resolution being proposed about how best to address them. It's not new news, admittedly, but the lack of resolution is definitely of concern. The station is dealing with several other issues, such as keeping sufficient spare parts for life support systems and delays with cargo resupply vehicles. Williams also noted that overarching all of these risks is a large ISS budget shortfall. All of these risks are actually a derivative of this budget shortfall and collectively contribute to potential compromise of the Low Earth Orbit transition plan. All of this, needless to say, is yet to play out with the budget proposal still in the early phases. We believe that the risks to the iss, although not new, should be addressed quickly by the new administration in order to continue our presence in Low Earth orbit in the immediate future. And speaking of the wonderful orbiting lab, Roscosmos cosmonaut and Expedition 72 commander Alexey Ovinchin has handed over command of the ISS to JAXA astronaut and Expedition 73 commander Takuya Onishi. Expedition 72 will come to an end and segue into the Expedition 73 mission after three crew members depart the International Space Station on Saturday. Alexei Ovinchin, Ivan Wagner and NASA astronaut Don Pettit are returning home after 220 days in space. The trio will undock their Soyuz MS.26 spacecraft from the Rassvet module and make their way back to terra firma. They're due to land in Kazakhstan on Sunday, April 20, which is both Easter and Pettit's 70th birthday. A wonderful and happy early birthday to our favorite space photographer. Chinese media is reporting that two satellites that failed to enter orbit after abnormalities after liftoff have now been rescued. The Technology and Engineering center for Space Utilization, also known as the csu, is leading the space mission and they told Chinese media that the satellites were spinning like an out of control discus and were much closer to Earth than planned. The team say they used the gravity of the Earth, Moon and the sun like a slingshot to shoot the satellites to their destination. The spacecraft were named Dro A and Drob and are due to operate with the previously launched Dro L spacecraft to form a constellation covering roughly 100 million kilometers of space between Earth and the moon to provide beidou like navigation services for spacecraft. The CSU says that after 100 days of rescue efforts, those satellites have entered their target orbit and are now working as designed. Kenya's space agency has issued a warning about the potential re entry of space debris and overflight in the region from the morning of April 19th through the afternoon of April 20th. What's been described as a significant body of debris is expected to re enter Earth's atmosphere and the projected flight trajectory is over the Eastern Africa region. The object, which is identified with NORAD ID number 619092024 205R in the public warning, is a Chinese owned spacecraft which launched five months ago. The agency says that while debris is not expected to drop in Kenya out of an abundance of caution, and given the recent debris landing in that country, we cannot blame them. The organization is advising the public to be vigilant. Kenya's space agency says that the object poses a significant risk to life and property owing to its large size and we genuinely really hope that we don't have to report on anything about that Next week, German space logistics company Atmos has announced a new 1 million euro investment and the investment comes from Stuttgart based venture capital firm MatchVC. MatchVC brings the 1 million euro investment in the backing of key industrial partners to support Atmos in scaling its reusable capsule technology and the development of Phoenix 2, which is the company's next generation reusable capsule for orbital return logistics. Atmos is expected to conduct its first orbital mission with the Phoenix One prototype aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in the coming months. And that concludes our intel briefing for this lovely Friday. A quick programming note for you. I will be at the MIT New Space Age Conference next Friday, April 25, so if you're going to be there, I look forward to seeing you there as well. But otherwise I will actually be out on vacation next week. And in the meantime you will be in the good hands of N2K senior producer Alice Carruth, who will be on the mic for me. And for today, Alice has more on the stories that didn't make today's Top five.

[Alicia Siegel]

Alice Maria we have three additional links today in the selected Reading section of our show Notes. The first is a white paper from Seraph in Space on the role of space tech in Europe. The second is a report on an exercise on space weather preparedness. Then we have an in depth blog on Don Pettit's astrophotography. You can also go back and listen to his live chat with nsf, which we shared back in December. And an early Happy birthday to Don.

[Maria Varmazes]

Indeed. And all of those links can also be found on our website space.n2k.com hey t minus crew, Tune in tomorrow for T Minus Deep Space. It's our show for extended interviews, special editions, and deep dives with some of the most influential professionals in the space industry. And tomorrow we actually have two episodes for you, an AWS In Orbit show on automated satellite management with cognitive space recorded at Space Symposium, by the way. And we also have a deep space chat with Jim Myers talking about space vulnerabilities. Check them both out while you're preparing for the egg hunt, dyeing your eggs, eating all the candy collected in said egg hunt, or simply recovering from eating all the candy from the egg hunt, or just relaxing, whatever. Or in my case, getting ready to roast some lamb. For those celebrating Happy Easter, and for those that aren't, go and enjoy the discount candy from Sunday. Either way, you don't want to miss Foreign.

[Alice Carruth]

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[Maria Varmazes]

And now with our weekly Space Traffic Report is alesia Siegel from NASASpaceflight.com Foreign.

[Alicia Siegel]

I'm Alicia Siegel for NSF, and this is your weekly Space Traffic Report for T Minus Space. Starting off the week, we had the launch of a Falcon 9 from Vandenberg lifting off on April 12th at 12:25 UTC. The mission, NROL 192 carried the latest batch of Starshield satellites for the NRO's proliferated space architecture constellation. This was the ninth Falcon 9 launch in support of that Constellation, with the agency expecting a handful more before the end of the year. The booster for this mission was a veteran, flying for a 24th time and successfully landing on SpaceX's drone ship. Of Course I Still Love youe Next Moving to Florida we had another two Falcon 9 launches this week. The first one lifted off from Launch Complex 39A on April 13th at 53 minutes past midnight UTC. The mission carried a mixed batch of Starlink V2 Mini and Starlink Direct to Cell satellites on board the first stage for this mission, B1083 was flying for a 10th time, becoming the 19th booster in the Falcon fleet to fly 10 or more times. This flight also marked the 400th time that a Falcon booster was re flown after completing its primary mission, it successfully landed on SpaceX's drone ship, a shortfall of gravitas the other launch from Florida was another Starlink, but this one was special. The mission started off from space Launch Complex 40 on April 14 at 4:00 UTC. The rocket was carrying 27 Starlink V2 mini satellites into low Earth orbit, but the special Treat was the first stage for this mission, B1067, which flew for a record 27th time. This life Leader booster is now the first to have flown that many times and it may just keep pushing the record because success successfully returned to Earth landing on the deck of Just read the instructions and most importantly, returned in one piece back to Port Canaveral this week we also had a Blue Origin launch with New Shepard's 31st flight launching on April 14th at 13:30 UTC from West Texas. Unlike other flights of New Shepard, this one was notable as it was the first all female crew since Valentina Tereshkova's historic first woman in space flight in 1963. And also due to its particular passengers on board were NASA engineer and STEM advocate Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Wynne, film producer Carrie Anne Flynn, TV host Gayle King, singer Katy Perry, and TV journalist Lauren Sanchez. Now, of course, given the notoriety of some of these passengers, the flight has appeared widely in mainstream media and has also received a number of criticisms. But one thing's for certain, it definitely promoted space tourism awareness. As for the rocket side of things, both booster and capsule touch down safely and in one piece after the flight, which means they'll both be back in the flow for a future mission. To wrap up the week, we had the launch of a Minotaur 4 from Vandenberg after more than eight years since its last launch from Space Launch Complex 8. Minotaur sprung to the skies on April 16 at 19:33 UTC. Much like its previous missions, this one was a classified launch for the Department of Defense, in particular for the National Reconnaissance Office. As is common with classified missions, not much is known, although given the performance of the Minotaur 4 rocket, this launch most likely went into a low Earth orbit. Next week in space traffic, we'll have a few more launches, a flyby in deep space space, and also a return from space. From SpaceX, we're expecting two Starlink launches and one Star Shield launch launching from Vandenberg and Cape Canaveral on Monday. The company is also aiming to launch its next Commercial Resupply Services mission to the International Space Station with its Dragon spacecraft later that same day. SpaceX is also expected to launch its third bandwagon mission as part of its SmallSat rideshare program. Both launches, CRS 32 and Bandwagon 3 will feature a return to launch site landing, so expect lots of sonic booms if you're in the Space Coast. But On Sunday, before SpaceX launches its next Dragon to the ISS, we'll also have the return of the Soyuz MS.26 spacecraft with Alexey Ovchinin, Ivan Wagner and Don Pettit on board. Prior to their departure, Alexei Ovchinin will hand over command of the station to Takuya Onishi, who launched onboard SpaceX's Crew 10 mission just last month. And out in deep space this weekend, NASA's Lucy spacecraft will meet with asteroid 52246 Donald Johansson. The closest approach of just less than 1000 kilometers away is expected to take place on April 20th at 1751 UTC. This will be the second asteroid the spacecraft visits in its over decade long mission to explore the main asteroid belt and Jupiter's Trojan asteroids. I'm Alicia Siegel for NSF and that's your weekly space traffic Report. Now back to T minus space.

[Maria Varmazes]

We will be right back.

[Alice Carruth]

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[Maria Varmazes]

Welcome back. If you've ever seen a picture of a classic spiral galaxy, you know, think of it the Grand Arms sweeping around a glowing core. Chances are you have looked at a picture of Messier 83, otherwise known more commonly as M83. It's also nicknamed the Southern Tinwheel, and it is a stunning barred spiral about 15 million light years away in Hydra, which is cosmically practically next door. M83 is one of the closest and brightest galaxies of its kind, and you can actually see it with binoculars. And it's beloved by stargazers the world over. M83 is famous for its intense star formation and for hosting multiple supernovae. But for all of its fireworks, one key feature has remained oddly absent a confirmed supermassive black hole at its center. Until now, maybe. Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope may have just found the long sought evidence of a hidden active galactic nucleus. In other words, a growing supermassive black hole at M83's core. For decades, scientists suspected that one might be there, but it seemed either dormant or shrouded in dust. Past instruments couldn't get a clear look at it. Good thing we have the Webb Space Telescope and its incredible instrumentation like the Mid Infrared Instrument, or miri. MIRI pierced the dust and revealed highly ionized neon gas near the nucleus, gas so energized that it can't be explained by stars or supernovae alone. That kind of ionization typically points to an active galactic nucleus pumping out radiation, meaning M83's black hole may not be so sleepy after all. As with many scientific advancements, I'm couching my language here because nothing is yet certain, and there are always other possibilities that are being considered to explain what's going on here. But the signs are that M83 may have a black hole at its center, and those signs are at least compelling. ESA's recent post about this discovery notes that the Atacama Large Millimeter Submillimeter Array, or alma, and the Very Large Telescope, or vlt, both have follow up studies planned to help us get a better understanding of what exactly may be going on here. If confirmed. This upends decades of assumptions about M83 and demonstrates Webb's incredible power to uncover hidden galactic engines. Galaxies we thought we understood might be hiding far more beneath their dust. And these kinds of revelations are one of the main reasons why Webb was built, after all. So watch this space. But M83 might not just be a photogenic spiral. It could also be harboring a secret cosmic monster at its foreign that's it for T minus for April 18, 2025, brought to you by N2K Cyberwire. For additional resources from today's report, check out our show [e-mail] 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 an email to space2k.com we are privileged 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 makes it easy for companies to optimize your biggest investment, your people. We make you smarter about your teams while making your team teams smarter. Learn [e-mail] N2K's senior producer is Alice Carruth. Our producer is Liz Stokes. We're 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. Thanks for listening. Have a wonderful weekend.

[Alicia Siegel]

T minus.

[Alice Carruth]

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