T-Minus Space Daily

Audrey Schaffer, VP of Strategy and Policy at Slingshot Aerospace, dives into the critical need for a federal Traffic Coordination System for Space. She explains how the growing number of commercial space companies is rallying for government-supported initiatives to ensure safe operations. Discussions include the implications of budget cuts on US leadership in space and innovative AI solutions like Talos, which aim to revolutionize satellite training for national security. The collaboration between commercial and federal entities is highlighted as essential for effective space traffic management.

Alicia Siegel, a contributor for NASASpaceflight.com, dives into alarming cybersecurity vulnerabilities in satellite systems, shedding light on the ease of exploitation demonstrated at the Black Hat conference. She also discusses China's first lunar lander test aimed at human missions to the Moon, Rocket Lab's significant advancements for the U.S. Space Force, and exciting recent discoveries in astronomy, including an interstellar comet. The conversation is packed with thrilling developments in space technology and exploration.

Firefly Aerospace announced the pricing of its upsized initial public offering (IPO), while MDA Space, BlackSky and Redwire reported Q2 financial updates. Intuitive Machines has signed a definitive agreement to acquire KinetX, Inc. NASA has selected six companies to produce studies focused on lower-cost ways to launch and deliver spacecraft of various sizes and forms to multiple, difficult-to-reach orbits, 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 Frank Chimenti, Director of Mechanical Satellite Solutions at Beyond Gravity.  You can connect with Frank on LinkedIn, and learn more about Beyond Gravity on their website. Selected Reading Firefly Aerospace Announces Pricing of Upsized Initial Public Offering MDA Space Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results BlackSky Reports Second Quarter 2025 Results Redwire Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results Intuitive Machines Expands Deep Space Navigation Services with Agreement to Acquire KinetX, Positioning Itself for Constellation Management and Moon-to-Mars Data Relay NASA Selects Six Companies to Provide Orbital Transfer Vehicle Studies Raft and SAIC Selected to Operationalize National Space-Based Intelligence for the U.S. Air Force through TENCAP HOPE 2.0 Saudi Arabia Launches National Earth Observation Data Platform Operated by UP42 - SpaceTech in Gulf Region NASA to Provide Live Coverage of Crew-10 Return, Splashdown SpaceX - KF-02 Mission A Small Uniform Tweak Reveals a Shift in Space Force Culture China and Pakistan expand tech collaboration to nuclear power, space and AI NASA Astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore Retires T-Minus Crew Survey Complete our annual audience survey before August 31. 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

AST SpaceMobile plans to acquire global S-Band spectrum priority rights held under the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Scout Space has completed its first suborbital Space Domain Awareness (SDA) test flight on Dawn Aerospace’s Aurora spaceplane. An Interlune payload will fly on Astrolab’s FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform (FLIP) rover on its upcoming mission to the Moon, 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 AST SpaceMobile Announces Agreement to Acquire Global S-Band Spectrum Priority Rights Held under the International Telecommunication Union  Scout Space and Dawn Aerospace Complete First Suborbital Spaceplane Surveillance Test Flight Interlune to Fly Multispectral Camera on Astrolab FLIP Rover to Measure Helium-3 on the Moon Parsons and Globalstar Pave Way for Commercial Satellite Solutions after Completing Successful Proof of Concept Project Kuiper partners with NBN Co to bring low Earth orbit satellite broadband to rural Australia Voyager Selects VISTA Team Amentum Reports Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Results and Raises Full Year Organic Guidance Pentagon keeps a lid on Golden Dome - POLITICO Is the Dream Chaser space plane ever going to launch into orbit? - Ars Technica NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer Moon Mission Ends NICER Status Updates - NASA NASA Works to Contact Scalable Small Satellite Marking 13 Years on Mars, NASA’s Curiosity Picks Up New Skills T-Minus Crew Survey Complete our annual audience survey before August 31. 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’s Acting Administrator Sean Duffy is expected to expedite plans to build a nuclear reactor on the moon. Innovative Rocket Technologies Inc. (iRocket) has entered into a $640 million multi-launch agreement with SpaceBelt KSA. SES Space & Defense has been awarded $89.6 Million to provide the US Army with Commercial Satellite Communications (COMSATCOM), 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 Lesley Conn, Director of Research & Analysis at the Space Foundation. You can read the Q2 Space Report here. Selected Reading Duffy to announce nuclear reactor on the moon - POLITICO iRocket Announces $640 Million Multi-Year Launch Agreement with SpaceBelt KSA to Deliver Secure and Autonomous Satellite Infrastructure for Saudi Arabia and Beyond Redwire Launches New Venture Company, SpaceMD, to Commercialize Pharmaceutical Development in Space; Signs Trailblazing Royalty Agreement with ExesaLibero Pharma Satellite firm SES wins $90 million contract to support U.S. Army- Reuters Skyrora Secures First UK Launch Licence Rocket Lab Voyager Reports Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results Firefly Aerospace lifts IPO price range, targets $6 billion valuation amid space investment boom- Reuters Why a NASA satellite that scientists and farmers rely on may be destroyed on purpose Space Force preps infrastructure, operators for target-tracking mission From Mascot to Mission Specialist: Rupert the Space Armadillo Prepares for Liftoff - Space Launch Delta 45  Preserving space history at Cape Canaveral. T-Minus Crew Survey Complete our annual audience survey before August 31. 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

Japan is looking to establish international rules for the removal of human-made objects in space. Israel’s Space Agency and Innovation Authority is setting up a national R&D laboratory to kickstart spacebound technology development. Dhruva Space is set to launch its first commercial Space mission, LEAP-1, on a Falcon 9 rocket in Q3 of this year, 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 Bailey Reichelt from Aegis Space Law is joined by Matt Linton from Linton Space Law. If you have any questions you’d like to ask Bailey, please email space@n2k.com. Selected Reading Japan seeks to create int'l rules on space debris removal Israel launches new lab for space tech- The Jerusalem Post Dhruva Space Set to Launch First Commercial Mission LEAP-1 with Indo-Australian Strategic Collaboration Aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 SpaceX delivers four astronauts to the International Space Station just 15 hours after launch Blue Origin’s New Shepard Completes 34th Mission to Space First woman appointed as new Astronomer Royal Shenzhou-20 crew continues progress in space science experiments after 3 months in orbit Sidus Space Successfully Deploys Advanced SpacePilot Software for Autonomous Operations; Commissions LizzieSat®-3 Attitude Determination and Control System First woman appointed as new Astronomer Royal - GOV.UK T-Minus Crew Survey Complete our annual audience survey before August 31. 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

Wendy Lawrence (Captain, US Navy, Retired) is an engineer, pilot (helicopter), and a former NASA Astronaut. She flew on four space shuttle missions, and is now using her experience to inspire the next generation of the space workforce. She tells us about her work with the Challenger Learning Center and Higher Orbits. You can connect with Wendy on LinkedIn. 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

NASA SpaceX Crew 11 are heading to the International Space Station (ISS). Echostar has selected MDA Space as the prime contractor for a direct-to-device (D2D) satellite constellation. ispace has entered into an agreement with Bridgestone Corporation to advance the application of their tires for lunar rovers, 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 We are joined by NASASpaceflight.com with the Space Traffic Report. Selected Reading SpaceX - Crew-11 Mission Roscosmos chief says he, acting NASA head agree to continue using ISS until 2028 - Science & Space - TASS MDA Space Selected By Echostar For World's First Open Ran D2D LEO Constellation ispace and Bridgestone Sign Agreement to Develop Tires for Small-to-Medium-Sized Lunar Rovers Milestone sensor upgrade enhances U.S. Space Force identifying, tracking capability NASA Invites Proposals to Lease Aircraft Hangar in Cleveland New Shepard’s Crewed NS-34 Mission Targets Liftoff on August 3- Blue Origin Rocket Lab Schedules Fifth Electron Mission for Constellation Operator iQPS 'The Smithsonian Institution owns the Discovery.' Museum resists Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' plan to move space shuttle to Houston T-Minus Crew Survey Complete our annual audience survey before August 31. 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’s SpaceX Crew 11 launch to the International Space Station (ISS) scrubbed due to weather conditions. Intuitive Machines has secured a $9.8 million Phase Two government contract to advance its Orbital Transfer Vehicle (OTV) through Critical Design Review. Deloitte has unveiled a new system to detect cyber intrusions and anomalies on satellites, 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 Greg Gillinger, SVP for Strategy & Development, Integrity ISR. You can connect with Greg on LinkedIn, and learn more about Integrity ISR on their website. Selected Reading NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 Mission Coverage  NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 Mission to Advance Stem Cell Manufacturing and In-Orbit Data Processing $9.8M Contract Propels Intuitive Machines’ Orbital Transfer Vehicle Toward Flight Readiness Deloitte Builds Silent Shield to Detect Cyberattacks on Satellites SES Delivers Solid H1 2025 Results & Completes Intelsat Acquisition NASA Releases Opportunity to Boost Commercial Space Tech Development NASA workforce cuts raise fears about safety for space missions Rep. Dale Strong says "Space Command is coming" to Huntsville U.S. Startup Plans to Beam Sunlight to Earth Using Huge Space Mirrors - Orbital Today T-Minus Crew Survey Complete our annual audience survey before August 31. 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

Firefly Aerospace has been awarded a $176.7 million NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) contract to deliver five NASA-sponsored payloads to the Moon’s south pole in 2029. The US Space Systems Command (SSC) has awarded $37.5 million to five companies for Protected Tactical Satellite Communications. The NASA- ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite launched from India, 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 Firefly Awarded $177 Million NASA Contract for Mission to the Moon’s South Pole Space Systems Command Continues to transform acquisition of SATCOM capabilities    NASA-ISRO’s NISAR Earth Satellite Ready for Launch ‘We have a cloud, and that’s the end’: first Australian-made orbital rocket crashes shortly after takeoff - The Guardian Canadian Lunar Utility Rover Argo and ThinkOrbital to Partner on Long-Range X-Ray Imaging Mission for Space Domain Awareness Slingshot Aerospace Launches TALOS: AI Agent for Mission-Ready Space Operations and Strategy  SpaceWERX selects New Frontier Aerospace to Develop Bifröst Orbit Transfer Spacecraft Starlink performed 144,000 collision-avoidance maneuvers between December and May; wants equal reporting rules for all NASA Selects Human Space Flight Technical Integration Contractor Mission patch competition 2025 Space for Humanity Immortalized at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum T-Minus Crew Survey Complete our annual audience survey before August 31. 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