Space policy roundup – June.21.2021 | Space-for-All at HobbySpace

A sampling of links to recent space policy, politics, and government (US and international) related space news and resource items that I found of interest (find previous space policy roundups here):

Schedule:
- What’s Happening in Space Policy June 20-27, 2021 – SpacePolicyOnline.com
NASA lunar programs:
- Nelson asks Senate appropriators for more HLS funding – SpaceNews
Biden space:
Commercial Cargo & Crew:
- NASA, Boeing Progress Toward July Launch of Second Starliner Flight | NASA
- NASA and Boeing Progress Toward July Launch of Second Starliner Flight Test – Commercial Crew Program/NASA Blogs
US and China in space:
US and Russia in space:
NASA science programs:
Congressional space:
Space technology:
- NASA inches closer to printing artificial organs in space | MIT Technology Review
- Space nuclear power is nearing critical mass as the final frontier’s next frontier – GeekWire
ISS & other space stations:
- Spacewalkers Successfully Deploy Solar Arrays – Space Station/NASA
- In second attempt, spacewalkers successfully deploy balky solar array – CBS News
Commercial space:
Regulation – spectrum, export control, launch, etc:
Space law:
- SpaceX Starlink Mega Constellation Faces Fresh Legal Challenge – Scientific American
- Brazil Signs Artemis Accords | NASA
Space traffic & environment issues:
US states space:
Weather & remote sensing satellites:
- Tyvak and Lawrence Livermore National Lab release Earth and space images – SpaceNews
US Defense space:
General space policy topics, perspectives, etc:
- Why Virgin Orbit & SpaceX’s successful satellite launches take us one step closer to saving capitalism and humankind – Will Whitehorn/UKSpace.org

International space

Webcasts:

** China & Russia Announce Roadmap for Lunar Station, Shenzhou-12 Docks with Tianhe Core Module – Ep 38 – Dongfang Hour – YouTube

Hello and welcome to another episode of the Dongfang Hour China Aero/Space News Roundup! This week, we will only cover two stories in more detail, because they are both pretty beastly stories. A kind reminder that we cover a lot more stories every week in the DFH Newsletter (getrevue.co/profile/dongfanghour)!

The topics of the week are:
1) Shenzhou-12 launched on-board a Long March 2F, and successfully docks with the Tianhe Core Module

2) China and Russia announce (relatively) detailed roadmap for the ILRS (a.k.a. International Lunar Research Station)

** Space Café WebTalk – REGIONAL Greater Bay Area China – 30. April 2021 – spacewatch. global – News Room – YouTube

The end of April saw the beginning of a new Space Café series, the Space Café Greater Bay Area, hosted by me, Blaine Curcio. Having spent around 10 years in Greater China, and with most of that time spent in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, I have seen firsthand the rapid evolution of China’s space sector, and also the innovation and resources in the Greater Bay Area. Through my work with my own company Orbital Gateway Consulting (OGC), and my ongoing affiliate work with Euroconsult, I have been covering the Chinese space sector specifically for several years, and more recently, have witnessed the rise of a space industry in the Greater Bay Area. That being the case, it is my pleasure to host the Space Café Greater Bay Area, and in particular its first edition, with none other than my friend and longtime industry colleague (and fellow longtime Hong Kong resident), Mr. Gregg Daffner. Here is a recap of our conversation:

First, what is the Greater Bay Area? Greater Bay Area refers to the 9 cities in Guangdong Province surrounding the Pearl River Delta, as well as the SARs of Hong Kong and Macau. Among the 9 cities are several megacities among themselves (Shenzhen and Guangzhou), and the area has a total population of more than 70 million people. Historically one of China’s most dynamic regions, with many manufacturers and private enterprises, the GBA has punched under its weight in the space sector, due in part to its extremely far distance from Beijing, China’s traditional space industry heart. During our Space Café GBA, we will strive to have guests from different parts of the GBA, or discuss topics on different elements of space in the broader GBA.

For our first episode, we welcomed Mr. Gregg Daffner, CEO of GapSat and President of APSCC. Gregg brought to the Space Café perspectives from his broad experience in the satellite, broadcast, and advertising/filmmaking industries, and his perspectives on a changing space sector in Asia-Pacific. …

** Space Café WebTalk – Temidayo Oniosun – 4. May 2021 – spacewatch. global – News Room – YouTube

During this week’s Space Café, SpaceWatch.Global publisher Torsten Kriening caught up with Nigerian-born Temidayo Oniosun, the Managing Director and Founder of Space in Africa, an African media platform, analytics and consulting company that works in the space and satellite sector.

There are two things you need to know about Temidayo: the first is he has a grand plan, and the second, although in his early career, he has already accomplished more than most do in a lifetime. Since 2011 he has completed degrees at the University of Technology Akure, Bath Spa University and the University of Strathclyde, and is currently studying a doctorate in the United States.

On top of his extensive studies, has also worked on the Space Generation Advisory Council, was co-founder of RadikalHUB, a consultancy for start-ups, and is also the Chief Technology Officer of Ideal Space Technologies, which operates Space in Africa. Temidayo believes now is the time for a home-grown commercial space ecosystem in Africa that is free of vested interests and preconceptions, and that is driven by data analytics.

During this week’s Space Café, he and Torsten discuss the launch of Space in Africa’s new report on global space budgets. …

** E64: NASA & Space Nuclear Propulsion – Aerospace Corp Space Policy (Vimeo) – Center for Space Policy & Strategy (CSPS)

** The AFRL Exchange Program, Aligning Military and Commercial Needs, and the Difference Between AFWERX and SPACEWERX – Constellations Podcast

Listen to Captain Jake Singleton from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) describe an exchange program with the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (UK MOD). The U.S. has exchange agreements with 16 different countries around the world. Captain Singleton discusses the gap that exists between emerging commercial space technologies and government requirements and activities the AFRL is pursuing to close that gap. He defined the term “dual technologies” and how they can bring value to both commercial and military markets, especially those in support of space capabilities. Huge changes have been made to better engage with new companies developing technologies for the Air Force and Space Force. Captain Singleton discusses those changes and programs going forward to enable even more collaboration between the U.S. and commercial vendors both domestic and abroad.

** The Space Show – Sunday, June.20.2021 – Michael Listner discussed multiple space policy and legal topics.

** The Space Show – Friday, June.18.2021 – Dr. Ken Davidian talked about what actually defines a commercial space company, which he outlined in his new Acta Astronautica paper, What makes space activities commercial?

** The Space Show – Tuesday, June.14.2021 – Dr. Kevin Cannon talked about “lunar geology and resource usage, Mars and resources plus asteroids“.

** Chinese-Russian Moon base video:

At the GELX-2021 conference in St. Petersburg today, the Chinese space agency and the Russian space agency released the first version of the construction plan of the China-Russian lunar scientific research station, and now we welcome international partners to join us.#China #CASA pic.twitter.com/vM3WeryA5B

— Linli Guo_CAST_CHINA (@guo_linli) June 16, 2021

** Break the Ice: Masten designs Rocket Mining System to extract lunar water – Masten Space. See

Masten teamed up with Honeybee Robotics and Lunar Outpost to design a new Rocket Mining System that can rapidly extract frozen volatiles from the Moon. This method disrupts lunar soil with a series of rocket plumes that fluidize ice regolith by exposing it to direct convective heating. It utilizes a 100 lbf rocket engine under a pressurized dome to enable deep cratering more 2 meters below the lunar surface. During this process, ejecta from multiple rocket firings blasts up into the dome and gets funneled through a vacuum-like system that separates ice particles from the remaining dust and transports it into storage containers. The small, low mass system, including the rocket fuel, engine, collapsible dome, and storage containers, can be attached to a rover and delivered to the Moon on Masten’s lunar landers. The system is projected to mine up to 12 craters per day and produce 100 kg of ice per crater. That would allow us to recover more than 420,000 kg of lunar water per year!