T-Minus Space Daily: New Vendors Selected for USSF Spacecraft Procurement Release Date: May 2, 2025
N2K Networks' "T-Minus Space Daily" episode on May 2, 2025, delves into significant advancements and strategic partnerships shaping the global space industry. Hosted by Maria Varmazes and featuring insights from senior producer Alice Carruth and analyst Ryan Catey, the episode provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments, focusing primarily on the United States Space Force (USSF) spacecraft procurement.
1. Major Announcements and Leadership Changes
- New Leadership at Polish Space Agency
- Timestamp [00:54]: Maria Varmazes announces the appointment of Dr. Marta Eva Vakovic as the new President of the Polish Space Agency (POLSA). This leadership change follows the abrupt dismissal of her predecessor due to POLSA's failure to report critical events, including the re-entry of a SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage and a cybersecurity breach.
2. USSF Spacecraft Procurement: Selecting 12 New Vendors
- Space Test Experiment Platform 2.0 (STEP 2.0) Contract
- Timestamp [02:30]: The USSF Space Systems Command's Department of Defense Space Test Program Office has initiated the procurement of full lifecycle solutions for science and technology experiments through the STEP 2.0 contract.
- Contract Details:
- Value: $237 million ceiling
- Duration: 10-year multi-award indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract
- Objective: Enhance spacecraft procurement capabilities and support a broad range of space test experiments.
- Selected Vendors:
- Axient Blue Canyon Technologies
- General Atomics
- Lockheed Martin
- Loft Orbital
- Federal Link
- Global Orbit Systems
- Spire Global Subsidiary
- Turian Space
- Tyvac Nanosatellite Systems
- Utah State University Space Dynamics Lab
- York Space Systems
- Notable Quote: Maria Varmazes emphasizes the strategic importance, stating, “The STEP 2.0 contract is a pivotal move to bolster our spacecraft procurement, ensuring we stay at the forefront of space technology and innovation.” [02:45]
- Implementation Timeline:
- The first delivery order under STEP 2.0 is slated for January 2026, marking the beginning of this extensive procurement initiative.
3. Additional US Air Force Research Lab Contracts
- Ursa Major’s Propulsion Contract
- Timestamp [04:15]: The Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) has awarded Ursa Major a $28.5 million firm-fixed-price contract aimed at developing responsive space hypersonic and on-orbit propulsion systems.
- Project Goals:
- Lead Integrator Role: Ursa Major will spearhead the integration of a tactical flight demonstrator.
- Technology Focus: Utilize the Draper engine to demonstrate the viability of storable liquid rocket systems for hypersonic applications.
- Outcome: The project is expected to culminate in a successful flight demonstration, advancing propulsion technology critical for future space missions.
4. Lockheed Martin’s Progress on NASA’s Orion Artemis 2 Spacecraft
- Timestamp [05:30]: Lockheed Martin has successfully completed the assembly and testing of four Orion Artemis 2 spacecraft. The completed units have been transferred to NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems team for final preparation.
- Assembly Components:
- Crew Module
- Crew Module Adapter
- Launch Abort System
- Next Steps:
- Propellant Loading: Installation of water, oxygen, and other consumables.
- Launch Preparations: Transport to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), integration with the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, and final system checks.
- Launch Schedule: Artemis II is tentatively planned for April 2026.
- Notable Quote: Maria Varmazes remarks, “Lockheed Martin’s completion of the Orion Artemis 2 spacecraft marks a significant milestone in our journey back to the Moon and beyond.” [05:45]
- Assembly Components:
5. International Collaboration: Korea Aerospace Administration’s CubeSat on Artemis 2
- Timestamp [06:10]: NASA and the Korea Aerospace Administration (KACHT) have formalized an agreement for KACHT to deploy a CubeSat aboard the upcoming Artemis 2 mission.
- CubeSat Details:
- Name: Krad Cube
- Mission: Equipped with a dosimeter made from human tissue-mimicking materials to measure space radiation and assess biological effects within the Van Allen radiation belts.
- Deployment Strategy:
- The CubeSat will be housed within a structural adapter connecting the Orion spacecraft to the SLS upper stage.
- Post-separation, Krad Cube will deploy into a high Earth orbit, ensuring operational safety and mission efficacy.
- CubeSat Details:
6. Selected Reading and Further Insights
- Additional Stories Highlighted by Ryan Catey
- Timestamp [07:16]: Ryan Catey presents three additional stories in the Selected Reading section:
- Japan Exploration Agency Partnership: Aerospace Lab and Mitsui Bussan Aerospace selected to supply the platform for JAXA's SAMURAI payload demonstration mission.
- NASA Funding Controversy: A U.S. researcher declines NASA funding to study a Chinese lunar sample.
- RAFT’s Award: RAFT receives another Space Force OTA for secure data transformations.
- Resource Access: Links to all stories are available in the Selected Readings section of the show notes and on the N2K website [space.n2k.com].
- Timestamp [07:16]: Ryan Catey presents three additional stories in the Selected Reading section:
7. Space Traffic Report Highlights
- Launch Activity Overview by Ryan Catey
- Timestamp [09:37]: Ryan Catey provides a comprehensive Space Traffic Report, detailing multiple recent and upcoming launches:
- Chungzhong 3B Launch: Fifth Tianlian 2 Communications Relay Satellite deployed into geosynchronous transfer orbit.
- Multiple Starlink Missions: Several Falcon 9 launches deploying Starlink V2 mini and direct-to-cell satellites, marking significant milestones for SpaceX’s constellation.
- Changzhong 5B and Yuanjiang 2 Missions: Deployment of Guo Wang Internet satellites and successful measures to prevent core stage debris in orbit.
- Atlas V Mission for Project Kuiper: Launching 27 Kuiper satellites, marking Amazon’s first operational batch.
- Vega C Launch: European Space Agency’s Biomass Earth Observation Satellite enters sun-synchronous orbit.
- Firefly’s Alpha Rocket Failure: Sixth flight ends in failure, highlighting ongoing challenges in rocket reliability.
- Shenzhou 19 Crew Return: Successful return of Chinese astronauts from the Tiangong Space Station after an 182-day mission.
- NASA Spacewalks: ISS crew conducts critical maintenance and upgrades, including a record-breaking spacewalk.
- Notable Quote: Ryan Catey summarizes, “With over 110 satellites launched for three different Internet constellations in just 25 hours, the spaceflight industry is experiencing unprecedented activity.” [09:50]
- Future Projections: Anticipation of over 280 launches worldwide by year-end, with potential to exceed 300.
- Timestamp [09:37]: Ryan Catey provides a comprehensive Space Traffic Report, detailing multiple recent and upcoming launches:
8. NASA’s Sphere X Telescope Initiates Science Mission
- Timestamp [19:30]: Maria Varmazes introduces the groundbreaking Sphere X telescope, NASA’s latest astronomical instrument designed to map the entire sky in 102 infrared colors.
- Mission Objectives:
- Spectrophotometer Functionality: Sphere X stands for Spectrophotometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and ICES Explorer.
- Data Collection: Captures approximately 3,600 images daily, creating an extensive cosmic map.
- Scientific Goals:
- Study galaxy formation and evolution.
- Search for life’s building blocks in interstellar dust clouds.
- Examine infrared wavelengths to peer into the universe’s past.
- Operational Plan:
- Duration: Over the next two years, Sphere X will complete more than 11,000 orbits around Earth.
- Imaging Strategy: Provides a panoramic view of the cosmos by mapping the sky in every direction, utilizing multi-array detector systems showcasing a spectrum of infrared colors.
- Visual Insights: JPL’s biannual videos highlight Sphere X’s scanning process, revealing stunning infrared visuals of celestial regions like the Large Magellanic Cloud.
- Notable Quote: Varmazes enthuses, “Sphere X is like taking a panoramic photo of the cosmos, offering unprecedented insights into the universe's mysteries.” [19:45]
- Mission Objectives:
Conclusion
The May 2, 2025 episode of "T-Minus Space Daily" encapsulates a pivotal moment in space exploration and industry development. The USSF’s substantial investment in STEP 2.0 and the selection of 12 new vendors underscore a strategic commitment to enhancing space capabilities. Concurrently, international collaborations, such as KACHT’s CubeSat on Artemis 2, and advancements in propulsion technology by Ursa Major, reflect the global momentum towards more sophisticated and secure space missions. Additionally, NASA’s Sphere X telescope signifies a leap forward in astronomical research, promising to unlock new understandings of our universe.
For listeners seeking to stay abreast of these dynamic developments, "T-Minus Space Daily" continues to serve as an indispensable resource, blending in-depth analysis with timely updates from the frontiers of space exploration.
For more detailed insights and updates, visit N2K Networks and explore the show's notes for additional resources.