T-Minus Space Daily

Paul Thomas, Accenture's Managing Director and Global Lead of Space Innovation Technology, dives into the exciting world of space computing. He discusses China's groundbreaking launch of 12 satellites for a space computing constellation and highlights innovative developments from U.S. companies like Venus Aerospace's hypersonic engine test. Thomas also examines the economic potential of space technology for businesses, emphasizing the need for strategic implementation and exploration's role in national defense and sustainability.

British ISAM company Space Forge has raised $29.8 million in a Series A Funding Round led by the NATO Innovation Fund. ICEYE has signed a €200 million agreement to produce three SAR satellites for the Polish Armed Forces. Ramon Space has been selected by Eutelsat to provide onboard digital communication channelizers for the expansion of its OneWeb constellation, 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 Space Forge secures record-breaking Series A funding to revolutionise industrial materials using space ICEYE to provide SAR satellites for the Armed Forces of Poland Ramon.Space Awarded Eutelsat OneWeb Contract to Provide Cutting-Edge Satellite Onboard Digital Channelizers BlackSky Signs Multiple Early Access Agreements with International Defense Sector Customers for Gen-3 Services Two Earth Return Missions in Two Months: Rocket Lab Demonstrates Rapid Re-entry Capability with Third Pioneer Spacecraft for Varda Space Industries Mission: Eris Testflight 1 Intelsat, Cubic³ Complete Vehicle Satellite Connectivity Test, Advancing Ubiquitous Connectivity Vision Space Nuclear Power Corporation Partners with USSF Space Strategic Technology Institute at the University of Michigan to Develop Nuclear Electric Propulsion T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It’ll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. 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 US Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has selected new companies to join its effort to build a secure network of military and commercial communication satellites. The US Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) has selected Auria Space and Sphinx Defense to each develop and deploy a secure, cloud-based Joint Antenna Marketplace (JAM) prototype. X-Bow Systems has raised $105 million in a Series B Funding Round, 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 Susanne Hake, Maxar US Government General Manager. You can connect with Susanne on LinkedIn, and learn more about Maxar on their website. Selected Reading Hybrid Space Communications Network Leverages Commercial Technology Space Systems Command Advances Dynamic Satellite Operations Through Joint Antenna Marketplace- Space Systems Command X-Bow Systems Announces Final Closing of Over $105 Million Series B Funding to Deliver State-of-the-Art Defense Technologies at Speed and Scale AST SpaceMobile Provides Business Update and First Quarter 2025 Results Q-KON and Rivada Partner to Bring Outernet Connectivity to Africa Space Development Agency, University of North Dakota Announce Educational Partnership Agreement Hungary’s Return to Space as A Nation’s Ambition is Reignited After 45 Years - Hungarian Conservative T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It’ll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. 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 failed Soviet Venus lander Kosmos 482 crashed into sea after 53 years in orbit. Redwire Corporation reports financial results from the first quarter. Viasat’s GX10A and GX10B satellite payloads are now available to deliver services for government customers, 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 Failed Soviet Venus lander Kosmos 482 crashes to Earth after 53 years in orbit- Space Redwire Corporation Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results Viasat's Arctic Broadband Dedicated Coverage Advances as Payloads Enter Service Onboard Space Norway’s Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission Spacecraft ispace and Takasago Thermal Engineering Co., Ltd. Agree to Explore Thermal Mining Technology for Water Extraction on the Moon Trump administration to revive National Space Council - POLITICO T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It’ll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. 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

Robert Hutchings Goddard was an American engineer, professor, physicist, and inventor known as the godfather of modern rocketry. He is credited with creating and building the world's first liquid-fueled rocket, which was successfully launched on March 16, 1926.  By 1915, his pioneering work had dramatically improved the efficiency of the solid-fueled rocket, signaling the era of the modern rocket and innovation. Our guest is Charles Statkin from the Wonder Mission about the centennial celebrations of Robert Goddard's pioneering work. 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 Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It’ll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. 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

Rocket Lab has been awarded a contract by the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to launch the Neutron for a Rocket Cargo mission that supports point-to-point cargo transportation. Rocket Lab, MDA Space and BlackSky release financial updates. mPower Technology secures $21 million in a Series B funding round, 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 from NASASpaceflight.com brings us the Space Traffic Report. Selected Reading Rocket Lab Partners With U.S. Air Force for Neutron Launch for Re-Entry Mission Rocket Lab Announces First Quarter 2025 Financial Results, Posting Quarterly Revenue of $123m Representing 32% Year-on-Year Growth BlackSky Reports First Quarter 2025 Results MDA Space Reports First Quarter 2025 Results mPower Technology Closes Over $21M Series B Funding Round Led by Razor's Edge and Joined by Shield Capital European Space Agency announces new cooperation with Indian Space Research Organisation ATMOS and ARX Robotics Form Space Defence Alliance to create European Platform for Orbital Readiness Exclusive: Axelspace eyes June IPO, sources say, latest Japan space startup to seek a listing- Reuters Oracle-M Hot Fire Test: A Major Milestone in Cislunar Space Situational Awareness and National Security- Space Systems Command  Reentry prediction Soviet-era Venera Venus lander (Cosmos-482 descent craft) – Rocket Science T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It’ll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. 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

Interlude announces contracts with the US Department of Energy (DoE) and Maybell Quantum to deliver helium-3 and unveils the first prototype of their lunar excavator. IonQ plans to launch a global space-to-space and space-to-ground satellite quantum key distribution network and acquire Capella Space Corporation. The Office of Space Commerce’s (OSC’s) Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS) is expanding its Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with SpaceX, 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 Joe Schurman, Principal Aerospace & Defense Sector AI Leader and US Space Program Leader at PwC. You can connect with Joe on LinkedIn, and learn more about PwC’s Next in Space Report on their website. Selected Reading U.S. Department of Energy Buys Helium-3 from U.S. Space Resources Company Interlune in Historic Agreement Space Resources Company Interlune Unveils Full-Scale Prototype of Excavator for Harvesting Helium-3 from the Moon Interlune Announces Maybell Quantum as First Commercial Customer to Buy Helium-3 IonQ Announces Plans for First Space-Based Quantum Key Distribution Network TraCSS Expands CRADA Efforts with SpaceX Sierra Space Marks Third Testing Milestone With Space Force R-GPS Satellite Program Rheinmetall and ICEYE plan to establish a joint venture – satellite production and other space solutions in the new Rheinmetall Space Cluster ICEYE opens Research & Development and Manufacturing Center in Valencia, Spain Dave Gallagher Named 11th Director of JPL as Laurie Leshin Steps Down India delays 1st Gaganyaan astronaut launch to 2027- Space NASA to Explore Additional Methods to Send VIPER to Moon Lunar laser: China makes 1st daytime laser-ranging measurement from Earth to the moon- Space T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It’ll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. 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

Texas approves Starbase’s city status as the FAA greenlights increased SpaceX Super Heavy launches from Boca Chica. The German Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy has signed a seven-figure contract with Planet Labs. ClearSpace has successfully completed Phase 2 of the CLEAR mission for the UK’s first Active Debris Removal (ADR) project, 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 SpaceX Starship Super Heavy Project at the Boca Chica Launch Site- Federal Aviation Administration Welcome to Starbase: Texas has a new city home to Elon Musk's SpaceX Planet Signs 7-Figure Contract Expansion with the German Government, Enabling Land and Water Management from Space  ClearSpace Completes Phase 2 of Mission CLEAR, Strengthening UK’s Leadership in In-Orbit Services USSF strengthens Missile Warning Mission with FORGE Enterprise OPIR solution effort award- Space Systems Command  Star Catcher and Satlyt Partner to Unlock Scalable Edge Computing with On-Demand Orbital Energy Space Force eyeing international launch sites to increase 'resilience' - Breaking Defense ispace Completes Success 7 of Mission 2 Milestones Bringing the Moon to the Classroom- MDA Space T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It’ll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. 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

Stratolaunch’s Talon-A2 vehicle successfully completed its second hypersonic flight and recovery last month. D-Orbit has signed a contract with SpaceX for additional launch capacity on upcoming Transporter rideshare missions. Rivada Space and Pulsar Solutions to partner on secure connectivity, 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 Chuck Cynamon, President of Telesat Government Solutions. You can connect with Chuck on LinkedIn, and learn more about Telesat on their website. Selected Reading Stratolaunch Successfully Completes Reusable Hypersonic Flight and Recovery with Talon-A2 Vehicle D-Orbit signs contract with SpaceX for expanded launch capacity on upcoming rideshare missions  Rivada Space Networks Announces Partnership with Pulsar Solutions The Sea God Sees- Rocket Lab ispace LinkedIn Quantum Systems raises €160M as it targets global leadership in aerial intelligence solutions Japan creating battery that can run for 100 years in outer space – SatNews T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It’ll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. 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 US Administration released the President's budget for Fiscal Year 2026 with a proposed 24% cut to NASA spending. Australia’s Gilmour Space Technologies has been given Civil Aviation Safety Authority  (CASA) approval for the maiden launch of its Eris orbital rocket. Octogenarian Chinese Engineer Li Licheng has signed up for the inaugural ‘Interstellor’ Human Spaceflight, 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 Aegis Space Law Attorney’s Bailey Reichelt and Jack Shelton bring you the Aegis Space Law monthly segment. You can connect with Bailey Reichelt and Jack Shelton on LinkedIn, and send your questions to space@n2k.com. Selected Reading President Trump’s FY26 Budget Revitalizes Human Space Exploration - NASA Set the clock: Gilmour to open May 15 launch window Chinese scientist Li Licheng signs up for space travel aged 84- South China Morning Post Army creates space career field for enlisted soldiers - SpaceNews Lunar Assay via Small Satellite Orbiter (LASSO) Capella Space One of the First Aerospace Companies to Achieve CMMC Level 2 in Compliance with 110 NIST SP 800-171 Revision 2 Security Requirements National Astronaut Day Donate to Higher Orbits T-Minus Crew Survey We want to hear from you! Please complete our 4 question survey. It’ll help us get better and deliver you the most mission-critical space intel every day. 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