T-Minus Space Daily: "Starship Makes Stardust" - January 17, 2025

N2K Networks’ "T-Minus Space Daily" episode titled "Starship Makes Stardust" delivers a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in the global space industry. Hosted by Maria Varmazas, the episode delves into significant events, including SpaceX's recent Starship test flight, China’s satellite launch for Pakistan, the US National Geospatial Intelligence Agency’s (NGA) new contract awards, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) updates post-LA fires, and a pivotal executive order on space cybersecurity. Additionally, the episode features an extensive Space Traffic Report outlining recent and upcoming launches.

1. SpaceX Starship Test Flight and Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly

The episode opens with an in-depth analysis of SpaceX’s seventh Starship test flight, which ended abruptly in a rapid unscheduled disassembly (RUD). Maria Varmazas recounts the sequence of events:

"The 171-foot tall Starship broke apart over the Atlantic Ocean roughly eight and a half minutes after liftoff. It was an epic explosion that created streaks of debris captured by observers across the Caribbean" (04:00).

Despite a promising start with a successful launch and a precise catch by the Mechazilla tower, the mission faced a critical failure. Elon Musk addressed the mishap on social media:

"Preliminary indication is that we had an oxygen fuel leak in the cavity above the ship engine firewall that was large enough to build pressure in excess of the vent capacity" (03:30).

The FAA responded by temporarily diverting aircraft from the debris fallout zones, spanning areas from Georgetown Great Exuma to San Juan and Piarco FIA boundaries. Maria expressed hope for swift debris recovery to facilitate learning from the incident:

"In an abundance of caution, let's hope they can recover that debris quickly and learn from the mishap" (05:21).

SpaceX remains optimistic, anticipating regular test flights to prepare Starship for its ambitious Mars mission scheduled for 2026.

2. China's Satellite Launch for Pakistan

China successfully launched a Long March 2D carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, deploying three satellites, including the PRS CE01 for Pakistan. The primary objective of the PRS CE01 satellite is to enhance Pakistan's capabilities in monitoring natural resources, disaster management, urban planning, and agricultural development through electro-optical sensors.

Additionally, the mission included two other satellites:

• Tianlu 1: An atmospheric sounding satellite developed by Galaxy Space.
• Blue Carbon 1 (Lantan 1): Created by GI Space for Hangzhou Jianzi University.

This launch underscores China's expanding role in providing satellite technologies to partner nations.

3. NGA's Luno B Commercial Data Contract

The US National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) announced the selection of 13 vendors, including BlackSky, Maxar, and Planet Labs, for the $200 million Luno B Commercial Data Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. Maria highlighted the contract's significance:

"The LUNO B contract will enable NGA to lead the GEOINT enterprise in applying GEOINT artificial intelligence while delivering decision advantage to warfighters, policymakers and mission partners" (07:00).

This partnership aims to provide the national security community with timely, high-quality geospatial intelligence (GEOINT), enhancing the ability to analyze global economic, environmental, and geopolitical activities.

4. NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) Updates Post-LA Fires

Following the devastating LA fires, NASA's JPL is set to reopen next week for personnel requiring on-site presence. Despite minor wind damage, the lab remains fully operational, managing over 40 missions through the Deep Space Network and preparing for three upcoming launches. Laurie Leshin, JPL Director, emphasized resilience and ongoing mission continuity:

"JPL has been operational even during the fire threat. The lab is still flying more than 40 missions... preparing for three launches in the next three months" (08:30).

However, the JPL community faces personal challenges, with over 200 employees affected by the fires, underscoring the human impact behind space exploration endeavors.

5. Executive Order on Strengthening Space Cybersecurity

US President Biden signed an executive order aimed at bolstering cybersecurity within the federal space sector. Maria detailed the order's key provisions:

"It's a rally to shore up space cybersecurity measures, especially for space systems owned by the US Government... agencies shall take steps to continually verify that federal space systems have the requisite cybersecurity capabilities" (09:45).

The directive emphasizes the importance of protecting space systems integral to national security and economic stability. Civil space operations receive special attention to ensure the resilience of spacecraft data and ground stations against external threats.

6. Space Traffic Report: Recent and Upcoming Launches

Alicia Siegel presents the weekly Space Traffic Report, highlighting several notable launches:

• Starlink Launches: Multiple missions carried sizable payloads, including Starlink V2 mini satellites. Notably, a Falcon 9 first stage (B1080) successfully landed on the drone ship after its 15th flight (12:07).

• SpaceX Transporter 12 Mission: Launched on January 14th, this mission deployed 131 payloads into Sun-Synchronous Orbit using booster B1088, which made a remarkable return to the launch site on its second flight (12:07).

• NASA's Moonbound Falcon 9 Mission: On January 15th, Falcon 9 launched two lunar landers—Firefly’s Blue Ghost and Ispace’s Hakuto R—aiming for soft landings near Mons Latreal and Mare Frigoris, respectively. While Blue Ghost completed its on-orbit commissioning, Hakuto R faces another attempt after a previous failure in 2023 (12:07).

• Blue Origin's New Glenn Inaugural Flight: The debut flight on January 16th successfully delivered the Blue Ring Pathfinder payload into orbit, although the booster was lost during its recovery attempt—a minor setback in achieving full reusability (12:07).

• International Spacewalks and ISS Operations: NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Suni Williams conducted a six-hour EVA on January 16th, performing critical repairs on the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) and other maintenance tasks aboard the ISS (12:07).

• Upcoming Launches: The report outlines several Starlink missions scheduled for January 18th, 21st, and 22nd, as well as a notable spacewalk on January 23rd by astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams.

7. Special Deliveries to the Moon: The US Constitution

In a lighter yet intriguing segment, Maria discusses the ongoing efforts to transport copies of the United States Constitution to the Moon. Both Firefly's Blue Ghost and Ispace's Resilience lunar landers are carrying scientific payloads alongside a digital and a physical copy of the Constitution. Reflecting on historical precedents, she notes:

"Since that mission last February, the Moon is down a copy of the US Constitution having sent it back to us" (22:20).

This initiative by Copernic Space, in collaboration with Spacebit, aims to ensure that foundational legal documents are present on the lunar surface, blending scientific exploration with cultural preservation.

Conclusion

The "Starship Makes Stardust" episode of T-Minus Space Daily encapsulates a week of dynamic activities within the space sector. From groundbreaking test flights and international collaborations to strategic cybersecurity enhancements and cultural missions to the Moon, the episode underscores the multifaceted nature of space exploration and its implications for technology, security, and society. As the industry progresses towards ambitious goals like Mars missions and expanding satellite constellations, the insights provided by N2K Networks remain indispensable for stakeholders navigating the evolving space landscape.

For more detailed information and additional stories, listeners are encouraged to visit the show’s website at https://space.n2k.com/.