T-Minus Space Daily: Episode Summary – "RIF at NASA"
Release Date: March 11, 2025
Host: Maria Varmazes, N2K Networks

1. NASA Implements Workforce Reduction

At [03:07], Maria Varmazes dives into significant organizational changes within NASA. Acting Administrator Janet Petro announced a phased Reduction in Force (RIF) in compliance with the US President's executive order. Key offices affected include:

• Office of Technology, Policy and Strategy
• Office of the Chief Scientist
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Branch

Varmazes notes, "Details were not shared in the message," highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the scope of the layoffs. [03:43], she adds that all federal agencies must submit RIF plans by Thursday, affecting multiple sectors within the space industry. The segment underscores the potential ripple effects across related agencies and expresses hope for swift reemployment opportunities for those impacted.

2. Redwire Corporation Reports Strong Financial Performance

Transitioning to industry news, Varmazes reports on Redwire Corporation's robust financial outcomes. The company announced revenues of $304.1 million for the full year 2024, marking a 24.7% increase from $243.8 million in 2023. Additionally, Redwire has forecasted full-year 2025 revenues to rise to $605 million, up from the previous $535 million estimate.

Troy Morris, co-founder and CEO of Cal Morris, comments on [04:39]:
"The company enters 2025 with strong momentum as they look to close the Edge autonomy acquisition in the second quarter."

3. Rocket Lab Schedules Upcoming Launches

At [04:43], Rocket Lab announces its next two Electron launches from New Zealand, a first for the launch provider. The schedule includes:

• March 15: Launch for customer IQPs.
• Three days later: Launch for Kinais, part of the High5 mission.

This mission is the fifth dedicated Electron launch under a multi-launch contract aimed at deploying a constellation of 25 IoT satellites within a year.

4. US Space Development Agency's New Solicitation

Varmazes details the US Space Development Agency's (SDA) latest solicitation for 10 tranche 2 transport layer gamma variant space vehicles. Managed by the Advanced Fire Control Program (AFC), this initiative seeks:

• Payloads designed to close future kill chains.
• Potential integration of AFC prototypes into warfighter space architectures.

The SDA anticipates awarding a T2TL Gamma contract to a single vendor, with further details available in the show notes.

5. China's Launch of a New Communications Satellite

China successfully launched a new test communications satellite from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, as reported at [05:38]. The satellite, carried by a Long March 3B rocket, aims to validate multi-band and high-speed communication technologies.

6. In-Depth Interview with Troy Morris – KMI’s ISS Experiment

The episode features an exclusive interview with Troy Morris, CEO of Cal Morris from KMI, discussing their ongoing experiment aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Key Highlights:

• Project Reach's Evolution:
  [09:29] Morris explains the project's origins, collaborations with the University of Southern California, NASA, JPL, and DARPA, leading to the development and testing of innovative technology now operational on the ISS.

• Milestones Achieved:
  [14:13] Morris shares impressive progress, noting, "We did 33 captures in a very small unit of time on this last session," demonstrating the experiment's success and scalability.

• Future Plans:
  Looking ahead, Morris outlines plans for additional test sessions, including more challenging scenarios like tumbling runs. He emphasizes the transition to a free-flying platform outside the ISS, leveraging lessons learned from the Astrobee platform.

• Collaborative Efforts:
  Morris highlights the importance of partnerships, stating, "I don't know anyone who does space alone," and acknowledges the collective effort driving their success.

Notable Quote:
[11:48] Maria Varmazes: "Oh, congratulations. I mean that is no small accomplishment."

7. Additional News Highlights by Alice Cruz

Alice Cruz, N2K's senior producer, provides a brief overview of five additional stories in the "Selected Reading" section:

1. Leadership Changes at Poland's Space Agency
2. Top-Level Shifts at Relativity
3. Partnership Announcements:
   • Momentous and Solstar Space
   • SES and Link Global
   • Sonar Space with Trimble

Listeners are directed to visit [07:05] space.n2k.com for detailed links and further information.

8. Peer-Reviewed Study on Atmospheric Changes and Satellite Debris

In a segment titled "We work on space problems to solve Earth problems," Varmazes discusses a study published in Nature Sustainability by MIT's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the University of Birmingham.

Study Findings:

• Atmospheric Impact:
  Projected CO₂ emissions between 2000 and 2100 could lead to a 50-66% reduction in the atmosphere's capacity within 200-1000 kilometers altitude—critical for low Earth orbit (LEO) operations.

• Space Debris Concerns:
  Decreased atmospheric density may "reduce atmospheric drag," prolonging the lifespan of space debris and exacerbating the Kessler Syndrome, where cascading collisions increase debris density.

• Implications for Satellite Launches:
  The surge in satellite deployments, particularly for broadband internet (e.g., Starlink), coupled with changing atmospheric conditions, could lead to a "too crowded" LEO, increasing collision risks.

Expert Insight:
William Parker, lead author from MIT Aeroastro, emphasizes the fragile state of the upper atmosphere:
"The upper atmosphere is in a fragile state as climate change disrupts the status quo."

Listeners are encouraged to access the full study via the show notes.

Conclusion

Maria Varmazes wraps up the episode by highlighting N2K's role in providing essential space intelligence to global leaders and professionals. She encourages listeners to share the podcast and stay connected through their website for ongoing updates and in-depth analysis.

Notable Quotes:

• Troy Morris at [12:15]:
  "We're doing our best with the data and the video and the video we've been able to share is awesome."

• Maria Varmazes at [14:27]:
  "That's amazing. I keep saying congratulations, but truly, I mean, all of that is just incredible."

• Troy Morris at [19:09]:
  "We've got champions fighting for us and that's how we've gone so far."

For more detailed information and access to all discussed links, visit space.n2k.com.