T-Minus Space Daily — September 29, 2025

Episode: Starlab Docking, Lunar Power, Global Space Deals
Host: Maria Varmazes (N2K Networks)
Special Guest: Thorsten Kreening (Spacewatch Global)

Episode Overview

This episode dives into a busy week in global space affairs, highlighting breakthroughs in space station operations, lunar surface power systems, major international space deals, and cutting-edge electromagnetic research. Maria interviews Thorsten Kreening for an inside look at World Space Business Week, the largest business-driven space conference in Europe. The discussion spans the dominance of defense spending, emerging business models, the rise of global partnerships, and trends shaping space commerce and security.

Intelligence Briefing: Top News Stories

(00:57–09:06)

• Northrop Grumman's Starlab Docking Demo

  • Northrop Grumman achieved a successful rendezvous, proximity operations, and docking (RPO&D) demonstration with the Starlab commercial space station, marking a significant step for fully autonomous Cygnus spacecraft operations.
  • The demo was ground-based; launch of Starlab is anticipated no earlier than 2028.
  • Partnership includes major players: Voyager, Airbus, Mitsubishi, MDA Space, Hilton, Ohio State, and Palantir.

• Honda & Astrobotic Develop Lunar Power Solution

  • Honda and Astrobotic launched a joint feasibility study for a scalable, integrated power solution for lunar surface missions.
  • The Honda Regenerative Fuel Cell, combined with Astrobotic’s Vertical Solar Array, aims to provide near-continuous, renewable power through lunar days and nights, recycling water as a byproduct.

• International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Sydney

  • Annual IAC opens, focusing on cooperation: Australia seeks agreements with both ESA and the US, potentially expanding opportunities for Australian businesses and researchers.

• Arianespace & BULL Target Space Debris Mitigation

  • A new MOU will see their “Horn” post-mission disposal device potentially added to Ariane 6 from 2027 onwards—part of increasing efforts to address orbital debris.

• China’s Galactic Energy Advances Reusable Launches

  • Successful testing of the second stage for Galactic Energy's Palace One signals progress toward reusable launch systems, with a maiden flight on the horizon.

Other Global Space Headlines

(09:06–09:55)

• Cider Space awarded a manufacturing contract supporting Toby Hanna Army Depot.
• China’s manufacturing revolution could make rockets/satellites as efficiently as cars (South China Morning Post).
• Former US Space Force Chief Gen. John J. Raymond joins IONQ board.

Special Interview: Insights from World Space Business Week

Maria Varmazes with Thorsten Kreening (10:06–18:17)

Importance of the Event

(10:06–11:22)

• Kreening: “World Space Business Week is …the most important European event when it comes to space business, and really the pronunciation is on business here.”
• Not a tech showcase, but a nexus for serious business deals; attended by top CEOs and industry professionals.
• High-profile, expensive to attend, but critical for B2B networking and alliances.

International Character

(11:22–11:58)

• “It is the most important event in Europe. Not for Europe or not [a] European event as an enclosed European thing. No, we have people from like minded and friendly nations. There were huge delegations from Asia, from Japan, from Korea. And that's great to see.” — Kreening

Event Structure and Key Focus Areas

(12:16–13:08)

• Five-day event with multiple parallel summits: Finance, Insurance, Space Defense & Security (SDSS), Earth Observation, and the new Space Innovation (SPIN) summit.
• Brings in “top-level people to talk about their subject. And that's great to listen as well.”

2025 Trends & Geopolitics

(13:08–16:22)

• This year stands out for the impact of defense on the space sector:

  “Under the current geopolitical climate that defense is pushing, is moving, is driving commercial and politics as well… Defense pays for the show and gets a show.”

• For the first time, military space spending (€73B in 2024) outpaced the commercial sector (€62B).
• Focus is on Low Earth Orbit (LEO), with less current defense interest in lunar or cis-lunar space.
• War in Europe shapes the agenda: “Practical realities of what's going on right on Europe's borders right now seem to be definitely setting the agenda.” – Varmazes (16:22)

The Rise of Partnerships and Dual Use

(16:32–18:17)

• Collaboration is essential—even major players can't go it alone without full vertical integration. Strong push for shared projects among nations and companies.
• Growing conversation on space resilience and dual-use technologies:

  “All our services...are under heavy threats. And it includes the blue dot that we are following from A to B if I'm going to the supermarket and it doesn't know where it is because we can't use maps anymore. So the jamming, spoofing, all of the terms of disrupt signals are at the moment on the plate again. So we talk about resilience and hardening of services and all of the above.” — Kreening

• Space as a “war fighting domain.” No space-based weapons yet, but considered inevitable.

Science and Tech Highlight: Record Magnetic Field

(19:27–23:12)

• Chinese researchers generated the strongest steady magnetic field ever created with a superconducting magnet: 351,000 gauss (35 Tesla), which is 700,000 times the Earth’s field.
• Achieved by nesting high- and low-temperature superconducting coils; stable for half an hour.
• Importance:
  • Enables advanced fusion and electromagnetic propulsion concepts.
  • Potential applications for magnetic shielding of astronauts, maglev trains, and eventually lunar/Martian infrastructure.
• Entertaining breakdown:

  “This experiment was more than 700,000 times Earth's own magnetic field and far beyond your probably around 50 Gauss kitchen fridge magnet.” – Varmazes (20:36)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On World Space Business Week:

  “It's not about the coolest new technology… It's business driven and I think that moves the needle.” — Thorsten Kreening (10:12)

• On Defense Setting the Agenda:

  “Defense pays for the show and gets a show.” — Kreening (15:13)

• On Geopolitical Influence:

  “Practical realities… seem to be definitely setting the agenda.” — Varmazes (16:22)

• On Partnerships:

  “No one can do it alone… It's not there. So we talk about partnerships here.” — Kreening (16:34)

• On Resilience:

  “We talk about resilience and hardening of services… That is a true dual use character.” — Kreening (17:35)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:57 — Main news briefing begins
• 09:55 — Interview with Thorsten Kreening
• 10:06–18:17 — World Space Business Week deep dive
• 19:27 — Science feature: record-setting magnetic field

Tone & Style

• Conversational, energetic, and news-driven.
• Insightful yet accessible commentary, mixing technical depth with relatable, “nerdy” enthusiasm.
• Direct quotes emphasize the frank, pragmatic mood among space business leaders.

End of Summary