T-Minus Space Daily

Italy to open one of Europe’s largest satellite factories. Europe’s satellite mega-merger hits a snag. The FCC declares “Space Month” to fast-track U.S. satellite reforms.  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 his insights from World Space Business Week in Paris. Selected Reading New satellite plant to open in Italy to boost production capacity | Reuters European major satellite venture still needs some time to finalise, source says | Reuters  https://ispace-inc.com/news-en/?p=8038  https://ispace-inc.com/news-en/?p=8024 https://ispace-inc.com/news-en/?p=7993  Exclusive: FCC launches ‘Space Month’ to fast-track satellite licensing and spectrum reforms - SpaceNews The Planetary Society Live  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

Firefly Aerospace announces its $855 million acquisition of SciTec. The U.S. Space Force awards SpaceX and ULA the first post-2027 launch contracts. Japan’s ispace completes key vibration tests for its Series 3 lunar lander.  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 and Matthew Linton from Linton Space Law bring us Space Law FAQs. If you have any questions you’d like to ask the team, please email space@n2k.com. Selected Reading Firefly strengthens portfolio with $855 million deal for national security tech firm SciTec | Reuters  Space Force taps SpaceX, ULA for first set of critical launches beyond FY27 - Breaking Defense ispace Announces Series 3 Lander Achieves Significant Testing Milestone for Mission 4  https://www.linkedin.com/posts/axiom-space_hungary-axodc-buildingopportunity-activity-7379933909985206272-N_V-/?rcm=ACoAAAgYa4kBQSgG6y9F3qpyRZA3smwobuJvR9E  4iG Space and Defence aims to become strategic investor of Axiom Space  ESA inaugurates deep space antenna in Australia  https://lte.observatoiredeparis.psl.eu/Occultation-by-Ganymede-on-October-14-2025?lang=en 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

Space has long been considered bi-partisan domain in the US, but is it becoming more political? Our guest is Kevin Kelly. Kevin is a former Senate appropriations staffer who oversaw funding for NASA, the NSF, and 25 other agencies. Now a partner at Actum, he advises some of the most influential players in science and defense. His career has spanned everything from nuclear tech and climate systems to the tools we use to monitor near-Earth threats, and he shares his thesis on why space is becoming more political. 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

The UK Space Agency (UKSA)  and UK Space Command have announced a new project to detect and analyse lasers being used against UK satellites. Safran Federal Systems has been awarded a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Cosmic Shielding Corporation (CSC) has been awarded a $4M Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) contract from the US Department of War. 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 Critical UK satellites to be defended from laser threats - GOV.UK Russia persistently targeting British satellites, UK Space Command chief says- The Guardian Safran Federal Systems selected by DARPA for Robust Quantum Sensor development Cosmic Shielding Corporation awarded TACFI contract to speed deployment of advanced space electronics – SatNews MSRO- The world’s first space fund for islands Exolaunch to Deploy 13 Customer Satellites on the Bandwagon-4 Mission China's female astronauts: Breaking barriers, reaching for the stars - CGTN Musk becomes first person to hit $500 billion net worth, Forbes list shows- Reuters Elon Musk’s SpaceX Took Money Directly From Chinese Investors, Company Insider Testifies IAC 2025 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

Intuitive Machines has completed a previously announced acquisition of KinetX, Inc. Varda Space Industries has reached an agreement with Southern Launch to extend their partnership for 20 reentries into the Koonibba Test Range in South Australia through 2028. Belgium’s Space Applications Services has joined Starlab Space as a joint venture partner and investor, 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 Intuitive Machines Completes KinetX Acquisition Varda and Southern Launch Announce Agreement for 20 Reentries from Orbit Through 2028 Starlab Adds Space Applications Services as Strategic Partner, Equity Owner in Joint Venture Axiom Space and Resonac Sign MOU to Advance Space-Based Semiconductor Manufacturing ESA - European Space Agency and Korea AeroSpace Administration embark on new cooperation FAA plans to furlough 11,000 employees in US government shutdown- Reuters ispace and UEL Sign Interim Payload Service Agreement (iPSA) to Transport Rovers to the Moon T-Satellite is Here: And Now It’s Powering Apps! Vantor  Blue Origin Announces Crew for New Shepard’s 36th Mission Satellite startup Spacecoin sends data through space in bid to rival Starlink- Reuters Kazakhstan Launches First All-Female Space Isolation Experiment SANA-1 - The Astana Times 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

Exciting developments in space technology are highlighted, like Thales Alenia's contract for the SAGA mission, Europe's first quantum key distribution service. Blue Origin's Project Oasis aims to map lunar resources such as water and helium-3. Portal Space Systems successfully tested a solar thermal propulsion system, paving the way for innovative spacecraft. The partnership between Astroscale and HEO focuses on enhancing space monitoring and servicing capabilities. Additionally, U.S. and Australia strengthen their space cooperation framework for future missions.

In this discussion, Greg Gillinger, SVP for Strategy & Development at Integrity ISR, shares insights on Avio's groundbreaking €40 million contract with ESA for a reusable upper stage, pushing Europe closer to launch reusability. He also highlights UK Space Agency's support for 23 international projects. Emphasizing developments in space intelligence, Greg delves into China's Yaogan-45 satellite's high MEO orbit and the implications for imaging, alongside other intriguing industry advances.

Torsten Kriening, a space industry analyst from SpaceWatch.Global, shares insights from World Space Business Week. He discusses Northrop Grumman's successful docking demo with Starlab and the innovative lunar power partnership between Honda and Astrobotic. Also highlighted is the focus on defense spending outpacing commercial investments in space, and the crucial role of international partnerships in the industry. Kriening emphasizes the need for collaboration, especially in addressing security challenges like jamming and signal disruptions.

A US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) research team successfully conducted the first reinforcement learning (RL) control of a free-flyer in space in May. We spoke with NRL Space Roboticist Samantha Chapin, Ph.D., and NRL Computer Research Scientist Kenneth Stewart, Ph.D about the demonstration and the future of autonomous robotics in space. You can read more about the demonstration on the NRL 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

Germany plans to invest €35 billion in space-related defense projects by 2030. NASA and Sierra Space have mutually agreed to modify the Dream Chaser’s contract for resupply missions to the International Space Station (ISS). SpaceX has filed with the Federal Communications Commission asking to launch 15,000 new satellites for direct-to-device service, 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 Germany unveils $40bn military-space investment, citing new threats NASA, Sierra Space Modify Commercial Resupply Services Contract SpaceX Seeks Approval for 15,000 Satellites to Use MSS Spectrum Space Forge Inc. and United Semiconductors LLC Partner to Develop the Supply Chain for Space-Grown Semiconductor Materials for Quantum Computing, Power Electronics, Sensors, and Display Markets Suite Ride Research Unlocks Potential for First Astronaut with Diabetes Shenzhou-20 crew completes fourth round of extravehicular activities - CGTN NASA-ISRO Satellite Sends First Radar Images of Earth’s Surface NASA Awards Atmosphere Research Support Contract NASA Flights Study Cosmic Ray Effects for Air, Future Space Travelers 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