T-Minus Space Daily

Japan’s HTV-X cargo spacecraft has arrived at the International Space Station for the first time ever. Japan’s SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding with Korea’s KT SAT to jointly develop and test 5G Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) technologies. The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to kick off two proceedings that will impact satellite licensing, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. Selected Reading Watch Japan's 1st HTV-X cargo craft arrive at the International Space Station today KT SAT and SKY Perfect JSAT Sign MoU for Joint R&D on GEO-based 5G NTN Technologies FCC Kicks Off Proceeding to Overhaul Satellite Licensing ESA - Europe turns to space to boost resilience Space Foundation and Space Force Association Announce New Partnership Pentagon Nominee Open to Consolidating Space Force and NRO Holy See: Space-based weaponry poses ‘genuine and grave’ threat - Vatican News Boeing Reports Third Quarter Results NASA's X-59 'quiet' supersonic jet makes historic 1st flight (photos)- Space 25 years, one website: ISS in Real Time captures quarter-century on space station - Ars Technica Share your feedback. What do you think about T-Minus Space Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show.  Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The UK Space Agency (UKSA) has selected Slingshot Aerospace for a Provision of Optical Delivery Partner contract to expand the UK’s satellite tracking capabilities. The University of Florida, in collaboration with NASA, MIT, Vanguard Automation, AIM Photonics and Germany’s Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute, have a suite of photonic AI chips en route to the International Space Station (ISS). The Philippines and Malaysia have signed the Artemis Accords, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guest today is Brandon Karpf, friend of the show, founder of T-Minus Space Daily, and cybersecurity expert. Selected Reading Slingshot Aerospace Advances UK Space Agency’s Satellite Tracking Amid Orbital Congestion Florida engineers test photonic AI chips in space Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Secures Peace and Prosperity in Malaysia - U.S. Mission to ASEAN Chinese aerospace firm completes 36-satellite separation test - CGTN Spacedock interfaces to link Space Robotics Workers' Smart Truss for modular in-space assembly Iridium Unveils Revolutionary Global GPS Device Protection on a Chip Compact, Radiation-Tolerant Computing with Flexible I/O for Space Missions AI restores James Webb telescope’s crystal-clear vision Share your feedback. What do you think about T-Minus Space Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show.  Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JAXA successfully launched a cargo spacecraft for its first mission to deliver supplies to the International Space Station (ISS). The European Council calls for an accelerated joint development of space assets and services that serve security and defence purposes. Firefly Aerospace is set to expand and add 300 jobs to its Cedar Park, Texas location, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guest today is Richard Cooper, Space Foundation Vice President of Strategic Communications. You can connect with Rich on LinkedIn, and learn more about the Space Symposium on their website. Selected Reading Japan successfully launches new cargo spacecraft to deliver supplies to International Space Station Joint Communication To The European Parliament, The European Council And The Council Preserving Peace - Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030 Cedar Park OKs millions for Firefly, Wright One HQ projects Voyager Acquires ExoTerra, Bolstering American Propulsion Capabilities Sidus Space Finalizes Commercial Pathfinder Mission Agreement with Lonestar for LizzieSat®-5 Mission SpaceX Starlink internet isn't fast enough for Ukraine's combat robots- Space ABOVE rockets into DARPA’s ERIS Elite—Unlocking next-generation space defense innovations – SatNews NASA-Themed Pumpkin-Carving Templates and Stencils Share your feedback. What do you think about T-Minus Space Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show.  Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 The region of space at 550,000 kilometers above Earth poses unique physical engineering challenges for space flight and operations. We explore cislunar space on the Nexus. Parker Wishik, Senior Communications Specialist at The Aerospace Corporation, is joined by Kelli Kedis Ogborn, Vice President of Global Space Programs at the Space Foundation, Walter Schroeder, PhD, Co-Founder & CPO at Cislunar Industries, and Ronald J. Birk, Principal Director  Space Enterprise Evolution Directorate at The Aerospace Corporation. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. Selected Reading Charting a Course Through Cislunar Master Planning Into the LUNAverse: Evolving a Digital Commons for Space Innovation Simulating Cislunar Space: Why Experts Want to Construct a Digital Moon Colorado ONE Fund Invests in CisLunar Industries, Advancing Critical Power Infrastructure for the Space Industrial Economy Space Exploration- The Aerospace Corporation Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The United States Space Force (USSF) expects to award $905 million in contracts over the next five years through a new Maneuverable GEO program. Hughes Network Systems, an EchoStar company, has acquired Anderson Connectivity. Hungary signs the Artemis Accords and shares plans to send another astronaut to the ISS, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Elysia Segal brings us the Space Traffic Report from NASASpaceflight.com. Selected Reading USSF COMSATCOM CSCO Forecast to Industry Future Requirements Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 (as of Oct 2025) Hughes Expands Aviation, Space and Defense Expertise with Strategic Acquisition of Anderson Connectivity | EchoStar Corporation Hungary Announces Plan to Send Its Third Astronaut to Space, Joining Global Top 10 - Hungarian Conservative Hungary signs Artemis Accords - SpaceNews YF-75DB engine test marks milestone for Long March 8A rocket - CGTN China unveils AIMS, world's 1st mid-infrared solar magnetic telescope - CGTN ESA says it will study broad impact of satellite merger- Reuters Lost for 50 Years, Mysterious Zombie Satellite Starts Sending Signals Again Share your feedback. What do you think about T-Minus Space Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show.  Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Airbus, Leonardo, and Thales have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at combining their respective space activities into a new company. The Republic of Cyprus has signed an Associate Agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA), and is expected to become an Associate Member in the coming months. SatVu has announced its participation in NATO’s Alliance Persistent Surveillance from Space initiative (APSS), and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guest today is Andy Koronios, CEO of the newly formed Australasian Space Innovation Institute (ASII). Torsten Kriening from SpaceWatch.Global brings us the latest from the Secure World Foundation’s 7th Summit for Space Sustainability in Paris. Selected Reading Airbus, Leonardo and Thales sign Memorandum of Understanding to create a leading European player in space ESA - Cyprus joins European Space Agency as an Associate Member SatVu strengthens NATO’s space-based intelligence through thermal imaging collaboration SpaceX disables more than 2,000 Starlink devices used in Myanmar scam compounds China-led moon mission’s water probe will be ‘first for humanity’: space agency Apex Launches Project Shadow: America's First Commercially-Led, On-Orbit Space-Based Interceptor Demonstration Iridium Announces Third Quarter 2025 Results; Updates Full-Year Outlook Honeywell Reports Third Quarter Results; Updates 2025 Guidance Venus Aerospace Announces Strategic Investment by Lockheed Martin to Accelerate Breakthrough Innovations in Next-Generation Propulsion Share your feedback. What do you think about T-Minus Space Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show.  Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vantor, formerly Maxar Intelligence, has been awarded a contract to support the US Space Force (USSF) in tracking high-interest objects that pass through "blind spots" in space. Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and Texas A&M University have secured a $1 million grant from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research for cislunar tracking. The European Space Agency (ESA) is adding a new numerical health index to its yearly Space Environment Report, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Torsten Kriening from SpaceWatch.Global brings us the latest from the Secure World Foundation’s 7th Summit for Space Sustainability in Paris. Selected Reading Vantor Awarded Space Force SDA Contract for Tracking of Space Objects RPI Awarded Air Force Grant to Monitor Growing Traffic Between Earth and Moon- News Sounding the alarm: ESA introduces space environment ‘health index’ It wasn’t space debris that struck a United Airlines plane—it was a weather balloon - Ars Technica Lynk and Omnispace Announce Plans to Merge to Deliver Next-Generation Global Direct-to-Device (D2D) Connectivity NASA stacks Artemis 2 moon mission's Orion capsule atop SLS rocket ahead of 2026 launch- Space Eutelsat Communications: First Quarter 2025-26 Revenues Coming Soon: ESA Student Internships 2026 ispace Secures Toyota’s Support for Next-Generation Small-Sized Rover Development Share your feedback. What do you think about T-Minus Space Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show.  Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NASA to open the US lunar landing contract to new bidders with acting Administrator Sean Duffy citing delays with SpaceX’s Starship as the reason behind the move. Oman’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has introduced a framework to approve commercial space launch activities. China's Zhuque-3 reusable rocket has completed major ground tests ahead of its maiden flight, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guest today is Patrick O'Neill, Public Affairs and Outreach Lead at the International Space Station US National Laboratory. You can connect with Patrick on LinkedIn, and learn more about the ISS National Lab on their website. Selected Reading Transportation Secretary Duffy says Musk's SpaceX is behind on moon trip and he will reopen contracts Oman Set for Launch as Regulator Announces Spaceflight Framework — Etlaq Spaceport China's Zhuque-3 reusable rocket completes tests before maiden flight - CGTN Muon Space to Integrate SpaceX's Starlink Mini Space Lasers Into Its Halo™ Satellite Platform KONGSBERG and Andøya Space to strengthen Norwegian space capabilities Barclays Sees Muni ‘Space Bonds’ Becoming $25 Billion Market - Bloomberg Lockheed Martin Reports Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results No future for Space Futures Command, sources say - Breaking Defense Share your feedback. What do you think about T-Minus Space Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show.  Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Suspected space debris has been discovered in Western Australia (WA). Innospace has received Korea's first private commercial launch permit from the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA). Pakistan has sent its first-ever hyperspectral satellite into orbit, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guest today is Colonel William A. Woolf, USAF (Ret.) President, CEO and Founder of the Space Force Association. You can connect with Bill on LinkedIn, and learn more about the Space Force Association on their website. Selected Reading Space debris found on fire near WA mining town suspected to be from Chinese rocket - The Guardian United Boeing 737 Windshield Cracks, Bruising Pilot: Space Debris, Or...? - One Mile at a Time Innospace Receives Launch Permit for Hanbit-Nano, Its First Commercial Launch Vehicle SUPARCO Successfully Launches Pakistan’s First Hyperspectral Satellite ispace and Magna Petra Corp. sign Payload Service Agreement to deliver NASA’s MSOLO instrument to the Moon ESA - Week in images: 13-17 October 2025 SpaceX lofts 10,000th Starlink satellite on record-tying 132nd Falcon 9 launch of the year- Space Share your feedback. What do you think about T-Minus Space Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show.  Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rick Tumlinson is the Founder of New Worlds. New Worlds is the only event on Earth where science, exploration, technology, art, music, and literature are melded together with the business of exploring space. This year’s event will introduce a bold new format spotlighting frontier startups and university teams in a “Space Tank” pitch competition, while featuring renowned voices like Dr. John Olson, Orson Scott Card, and Dr. Tom Markusic, culminating in the legendary Space Cowboy Ball. You can connect with Rick on LinkedIn, and learn more about New Worlds on their website. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices