T-Minus Space Daily

NASA’s Flight Opportunities program sits within the agency’s Space Technology Mission Directorate. The program provides strategic integration between researchers, mission stakeholders, and flight providers, as well as other NASA programs, to maximize impact for technology advancement and ensure that the researcher community is actively engaged in available flight test opportunities. We find out more from Program Executive Danielle McCulloch. You can connect with Danielle on LinkedIn and learn more about FOP on the NASA 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. 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 United States Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command’s (SSC’s) Department of Defense (DoD) Space Test Program office selected 12 vendors for $237 million spacecraft procurement through the Space Test Experiment Platform (STEP) 2.0. The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has awarded Ursa Major a $28.5 million contract for responsive space, hypersonic, and on-orbit propulsion. Lockheed Martin has completed assembly and testing of NASA's Orion Artemis II spacecraft, 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 NASASpaceflight.com brings us the Space Traffic Report. Selected Reading Space Test Experiments Platform 2.0 To Bolster USSF Spacecraft Procurement AFRL awards Ursa Major $28.6M for hypersonics Lockheed Martin Completes Orion Development for Artemis II Mission to the Moon NASA Set to Fly South Korean CubeSat on Artemis II Test Flight New Polish Space Agency Chief Named After Abrupt Exit of Predecessor Aerospacelab Secures Groundbreaking Contract with JAXA through Mitsui Bussan Aerospace US space agency Nasa will not fund study on China’s moon sample: American scientist Raft Awarded Another Space Force OTA to Advance Secure Data Transformations NASA’s SPHEREx Space Telescope Begins Capturing Entire Sky 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

ATMOS Space Cargo has secured new investment and has established a new French subsidiary in Strasbourg. German’s Space Agency DLR has completed the qualification campaign for the Callisto reusable rocket demonstrator’s Top Block. Axiom Space has signed an agreement with Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia, 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 Joshua Broom, the Head of Space at the UK Department for Business & Trade (DBT). You can connect with Joshua on LinkedIn. Selected Reading ATMOS Expands European Foundation with Expansion Ventures Investment and New French Subsidiary in Strasbourg. DLR Wraps Up Qualification of Key Callisto Rocket Element - European Spaceflight North Rhine-Westphalia and Axiom Space establish partnership Sidus Space and Saturn Satellite Networks Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Support Development of Next-Generation GEO Satellite Platform OSC Places Orders for Commercial COLA Gap Pathfinder Slingshot Aerospace Expands Global Footprint with New Canadian Headquarters in Ottawa USSF reinforces resilience of National missile warning architecture through SBIRS Survivable Endurable Evolution Operation Acceptance Science, industry, and advocacy groups unite in opposition to deep cuts to NASA science Station Maneuvers to Avoid Orbital Debris - NASA 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 three-person Shenzhou-19 crew has returned to Earth. Satellite manufacturing company Apex has raised $200 million in a Series C funding round, and True Anomaly closes an oversubscribed $260 million round. Spire Global to design, build and operate 16 satellites with enhanced second-generation payloads for Myriota, 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 China's Shenzhou-19 crew returns to Earth after 183-day space journey - CGTN Apex Raises $200 Million in Series C Funding to Increase Productized Satellite Bus Manufacturing Announcing Our $260M Fundraise Myriota Expands Agreement with Spire Global to Scale its IoT Constellation with 16 More Satellites Alpha FLTA006 - Firefly Aerospace UK researchers access more quantum and space Horizon funding - GOV.UK V2X Awarded $140 Million Task Order to Support a Key Space Force Tracking and Instrumentation Station Axiom Mission 4 Help Classify Galaxies Seen by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope! 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 United Launch Alliance (ULA) launches the first batch of Amazon Project Kuiper satellites. Firefly launches the FLTA006 Message in a Booster mission for Lockheed Martin but experiences a second stage anomaly. Arianespace successfully launched the ESA’s Earth Explorer Biomass satellite from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, 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 Dr. Debra Emmons, Aerospace Corporation’s Vice President and CTO. You can check out the Aerospace Corp. on LinkedIn or on their website. Selected Reading United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches Amazon’s First Operational Satellites Alpha FLTA006 - Firefly Aerospace Arianespace Successfully Launches ESA’s Biomass Satellite  Rivada Expands Outernet Access to 33 Countries, Secures $16 Billion+ in Global Business China launches internet satellite group - CGTN Lawmakers vote on controversial SpaceX beach closure bill amid backlash Radian Aerospace lays out its plan to create reusable re-entry vehicle for hypersonic tests When Satellites Go Dark - Persistent Cyber Assaults and The Growing Blind Spot 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 United States Space Force (USSF)’s Space Systems Command (SSC) today awarded a National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Space Vehicle (SV) Processing Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) contract to Astrotech Space Operations (ASO). Firefly Aerospace scrubs the Message in a Booster mission for Lockheed Martin. China is working on a traffic management system to better organize satellite placement and operations, 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. Our guest today is David Schleeper, RS&H Project Manager. You can connect with David on LinkedIn, and learn more about RS&H on their website. Space Systems Command Expands Commercial Space Vehicle Processing Capacity Alpha FLTA006 - Firefly Aerospace China plans space traffic management system amid commercial satellite boom AST SpaceMobile and U.S. National Science Foundation Establish Coordination Agreement Between Satellite and Ground-Based Astronomy Operations Space Flight Laboratory (SFL) Announces Key Milestone in Development of Aspera Space Astronomy Microsatellite Mission Space Foundation, Space Workforce for Tomorrow, and International Space University Sign MOU to Advance U.S. Space Workforce Development Trump administration cancels lease for NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies lab in New York City New Director Space appointed at the South Australian Space Industry Centre – SASIC Axiom Space Appoints Tejpaul Bhatia as CEO Old Soviet spacecraft to fall to Earth in early May 2025 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. 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. 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. T-Minus GuestSelected ReadingT-Minus Crew SurveyWant to hear your company in the show?Want to join us for an interview? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) was created in 1984 by six Mercury 7 astronauts. Since then astronauts from the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab and Space Shuttle programs have pursued the mission to encourage university students pursuing scientific excellence. The prestigious Astronaut Scholarship is known nationwide for being among the largest merit-based monetary scholarships awarded to undergraduate STEM juniors and seniors. ASF has a life-long relationship with each Astronaut Scholar and provides them with mentors, professional and personal development and networking with astronauts. Former NASA Astronaut Christopher Ferguson joins us to talk about the power of mentorship along with his mentee Vikas Patel.You can read more about the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation 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.T-Minus Crew SurveyWe 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

Japan’s Space Agency (JAXA) releases phase 2 of its ¥1 Trillion, 10-year Strategic Space Fund. Planet Labs has signed a multi-year contract with EMDYN. MaiaSpace has selected the Łukasiewicz Research Network’s Institute of Aviation to develop the engine that will power its kick stage, 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. Elysia Segal from NASASpaceflight.com brings us the Space Traffic Report. JAXA | 宇宙戦略基金事業（第一期） 技術開発テーマの実施機関を決定 Japan Releases Phase 2 Of Its ¥1 Trillion, 10-year Strategic Space Fund - Patent Planet Signs Three-Year Contract with EMDYN, Providing Satellite Data for Intelligence, Insurance, and Security Solutions MaiaSpace Selects Łukasiewicz–ILOT to Develop Kick-Stage Engine OroraTech Brings World’s Largest Wildfire Satellite Constellation to the United States Alpha FLTA006 - Firefly Aerospace Booz Allen and Meta Successfully Demonstrate AI Vision Language Model for Space Shanghai launches plan to lead development of China’s commercial space sector ispace Completes Success 6 of Mission 2 Milestones 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. 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. 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. T-Minus GuestSelected ReadingT-Minus Crew SurveyWant to hear your company in the show?Want to join us for an interview? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

China launches the Shenzhou 20 spacecraft with three astronauts to the Tiangong Space Station. Katalyst Space has acquired in-space servicing company Atomos Space. The United States Space Force’s (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) has awarded a $2.9 million contract to Raft LLC for the development of an Application Programming Interface (API), 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 GuestOur guest today is Troy Morris, Co-Founder & CEO for Kall Morris Inc.You can connect with Troy on LinkedIn, and learn more about KMI on their website.Selected ReadingChina launches Shenzhou 20 astronauts to Tiangong space stationKatalyst Space Technologies has announced its acquisition of Atomos SpaceAPI Gateway to Boost USSF Space Superiority Through Enhanced Data AccessFirefly Aerospace Awarded AFRL Contract to Develop Ceramic Matrix Composite Rocket Engine Nozzle ExtensionSierra Space Advances Space Station Technology With Hypervelocity Impact Testing at NASA White SandsNBA Hall of Fame Legend Rick Barry to Join Fellow Inaugural Astronauts on Historic Titans Genesis Spaceplane MissionState Of The Space Industrial Base 2024 Hubble offers a new view of Sombrero galaxyT-Minus Crew SurveyWe 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 Space Development Agency (SDA) has awarded $55M to Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) for Tranche 3 (T3) Program and Integration. Northwood Space has raised $30 million in a Series A funding round to support a global ground network. The European Space Agency’s (ESA) Earth Explorer Biomass satellite has been secured on top of the Vega-C rocket ahead of liftoff on  April 29, 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 ReadingSDA Announces Award for Tranche 3 Program and IntegrationMedia - Northwood SpaceESA - BiomassReflex Aerospace and UMBRA Announce Plans to Offer Cutting-Edge SAR Capabilities to the European MarketStar Catcher and Mission Space Partner to Revolutionize Space Weather Monitoring and Power DeliveryChina to launch Shenzhou-20 crewed mission on April 24 - CGTNChina lunar chief accuses US of interfering in joint space programmes | ReutersBoeing Reports First Quarter ResultsRare ‘smiley face’ planet alignment to light up night sky this week | The IndependentT-Minus Crew SurveyWe 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