Category Archives: Roundup

Activism, Roundup

Space policy roundup – Feb.22.2021

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):

International space

Webcasts:

** Episode 29: The Outer Space Treaty Self Executing vs Non Self Executing – Space Thoughts (YouTube) – Space Law & Policy Solutions/Michael Listner

A discussion about the nature of the Outer Space Treaty and self-executing and non-self-executing treaties in general.

** SWF Moderates Panel on Developing “Rules” For Sustainable Space Logistics | Secure World

Panel discussion by Brian Weeden, Director of Program Planning for Secure World Foundation with
Natália Archinard, Deputy Head of Education, Science and Space Section at Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
David Barnhart, Research Professor in the Department of Astronautical Engineering at University of Southern California
Tanja Masson-Zwaan, Assistant Professor and Deputy Director of the International Institute of Air and Space Law at Leiden University

Space logistics and satellite servicing include new commercial activities that promise to revolutionize the way we use space but also stretch existing regulatory and oversight frameworks. As a result, there have been calls for new “rules” on how these and other space activities will be governed. This panel will discuss how best practices, standards, national regulations, and international law all play a role in creating the governance framework for space and how that process may unfold for satellite servicing.

** SSL Digital Symposium – Day 3, Part 3 – A sustainable space legacy for next generations?

Panel discussion by Claude Nicollier, astrophysicist, astronaut and professor emeritus EPFL / Space Innovation,
Anne-Marlène Rüede, PhD student EPFL, SGAC SSS co-team leader and
Kevin Pahud, EPFL student and Space@your Service association founding member

While space is more related to Earth’s activities and services than ever before, this entire industry is undergoing a massive transformation, with new actors, new business models, new perspectives and the likes of a « space for all » promise. At the same time, sustainability is part of the main challenges that mankind is facing and space will be no exception. This legacy is initiated by today’s experts, but young students are already pushing for a change they will take part in. That’s why we decided to give a voice to EPFL students and young Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) members about their expectations, ideas and the way education should prepare them achieve these goals.

** Tianwen-1 orbit insertion, ESPI Asia NewSpace report, Space in CNY Gala – Weekly News Round-Up Ep 20 – Dongfang Hour – YouTube

1) Tianwen-1 inserts itself successfully in to Martian orbit …
2) Publication of the ESPI Report “New Space in Asia”, including DFH (and GT!) contribution for the China Part …
3) Happy New Year of the Ox! + Chinese New Year Art of Social Media…

** Lost Without Translation: Identifying Gaps in U.S. Perceptions of the Chinese Commercial Space Sector -Secure World Foundation/ Caleus Foundation (pdf)

** The Space Show – Friday, Feb.19.2021 – Dylan Taylor “returned to talk about the booming commercial space industry, policy, returning to the Moon, China, investing in space and lots more. A great discussion you won’t want to miss.”

** The Space Show – Thursday, Feb.18.2021 – Douglas Messier of Parabolic Arc discussed the latest “space news plus the successful landing of the Perseverance Mars rover today“.

** The Space Show – Tuesday, Feb.17.2021 – Andrew Chanin of ProcureAM discussed “their space EFT which is listed with the symbol UFO. Not only did we discuss their commercial space fund in detail, we talked about drivers for the commercial space industry, trends, international competition, China and much more.”

** The Inquiry – Can we solve our space junk problem? – BBC Sounds

The world is entering a new space race but every new satellite launched into Earth’s orbit runs the risk of colliding with one of the millions of pieces of space junk left behind by previous missions. So how can we solve our space junk problem? Featuring former NASA astrophysicist, Don Kessler; Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, Moriba Jah; space systems engineer, Richard Duke; and Victoria Samson of the Secure World

** Space Policy Edition: The Big Picture on U.S Science Funding | The Planetary Society

Matt Hourihan is perhaps the world’s expert on how the U.S. government funds basic science and development activities. He joins the show to talk about the big picture of where the money goes, how the focus has changed over time, and the consequences of budget cuts to critical science investments.

** Advocating for Mars in the United States – The Planetary Society – Youtube

American citizens have unparalleled opportunities to impact the future of space exploration. This workshop walk you through the actions you can take to advocate for NASA from home or at the Capitol.

** The Mars Business: The Private Sector and the Red Planet – The Planetary Society – Youtube

United Launch Alliance and its predecessor companies have launched every U.S. mission to Mars since the 1960s. President and CEO Tory Bruno joins us for a Q&A on the company’s past, present, and future Mars mission involvement, and how his company plans to help advance Mars and solar system exploration in the years ahead.

** E51 – R&D: From Academia to U.S. Government Programs – Aerospace Corp – Center for Space Policy & Strategy (CSPS)

** E52 – DOD Organization and Space Force – Aerospace Corp – Center for Space Policy & Strategy (CSPS)

** Space Café WebTalk – Dr. Peter Martinez – 26. January 2021 – spacewatch. global – News Room – YouTube

In this week’s Space Cafè WebTalk, Dr. Peter Martinez, Executive Director of the Secure World Foundation, USA talked about potential scenarios for the future of humanity in space. Growth and Sustainability in Space – ensuring the long-term usability of Earth’s orbits and beyond: There are more human activities taking place in space today than ever before, and there are no signs of this growth slowing down. Mega-constellations, on-orbit services and lunar mining are all going from science fiction to reality. However, to ensure that humans will continue to be able to benefit from space, steps must be taken to put best-practices and norms of behaviour in place for space operations.

** February 17, 2021 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast

** February 18, 2021 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast

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“Orthographic projections of the “Unified Geologic Map of the Moon” showing the geology of the Moon’s near side (left) and far side (right) with shaded topography from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA). This geologic map is a synthesis of six Apollo-era regional geologic maps, updated based on data from recent satellite missions. It will serve as a reference for lunar science and future human missions to the Moon. Credit: NASA/GSFC/USGS.” Credits: USGS

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Activism, Roundup

Space policy roundup – Feb.15.2021

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):

International space

Webcasts:

** iSpace Fails Launch, Tianwen-1 First Image of Mars & News of OneSpace – Weekly News Round-Up Ep. 19 – Dongfang Hour

1) iSpace Fails in the Second Launch of the Hyperbola-1 …
2) Beijing Adds Satellite Internet to its Priorities for 2021 …
3) OneSpace Completes Successful Reentry Test Launch …
4) Tianwen-1 sends back its first image of Mars …

See also Dongfang Hour China Aerospace News Roundup 1 – 7 Feb 2021 – SpaceWatch.Global .

** Planetary Protection (live public talk) – NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Protecting the Earth from the universe… and the universe from Earth. We chat with Moogega Cooper (Perseverance Mars Rover, Europa Clipper) about preventing contamination during missions around the solar system, making sure they don’t bring anything dangerous back with them and we don’t take life with us as we search for life beyond Earth. Host: Brian White, Public Services Office, NASA/JPL Co-Host: Nikki Wyrick, Public Services Office, NASA/JPL Speaker(s): Dr. Moogega Cooper, Planetary Protection Lead, Mars 2020, NASA/JPL

** Space Café WebTalk – Elodie Viau – 19. January 2021 – spacewatch. global – News Room – YouTube

In this week’s Space Cafè WebTalk, Elodie Viau, Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications (D/TIA), and Head of ECSAT, at the European Space Agency in Harwell, UK, talked about the new telecommunication outlook of her directorate.

Elodie Viau shared an outlook of telecommunication and space solutions projects of ESA in 2021. Not limited to that she talked about the financing models, public-private-partnerships, broadband constellations and how space will generate innovative solutions for citizens and the digital economy.

** Atul Vashistha – How Does the Defense Business Board Influence US Department of Defense? CSP S04E03 – Cold Star Technologies – YouTube

Atul Vashistha, globalization & outsourcing author and business founder, is on the Cold Star Project to explain how the Defense Business Board works. With considerable experience on the board, serving three presidents, Atul offers the perspective of vice chair and having managed board task forces. Host Jason Kanigan asks Atul to detail the process by which the Defense Business Board learns what its client the US Department of Defense wants, and develops its response as a report. View the slides Atul referred to: https://coldstarproject.com/vashistha…​ Defense Business Board example study referenced in our discussion: https://dbb.defense.gov/Portals/35/Do…​ Supply Wisdom website: https://www.supplywisdom.com/​ Atul Vashistha’s Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Atul-Vashistha…

** February 10, 2021 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast

** February 12, 2021 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast

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“New Venice” space habitat designed by Suzana Bianco. Presented at Space Studies Conference 2019.

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Activism, Roundup

Space policy roundup – Feb.8.2021

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):

International space

Webcasts:

** China Aero & Space Weekly News Round-Up – Episode 18 (25th – 31st Jan. 2021) – Dongfang Hour – YouTube

1) News of Geely’s satellite constellation (and Qingdao Shanghe Aerospace Technology) …
 2) Carbon fiber cryogenic tank for liquid oxygen (CALT) …
 3) Article from MacroPolo about Rising Stars in China’s Political Hierarchy…
4) HNA Group enters bankruptcy restructuring…

(For a summary of the episodes, see #SpaceWatchGL Column: Dongfang Hour China Aerospace News Roundup 25 Jan – 31 Jan 2021 – SpaceWatch.Global.)

** Hotel Mars (joint production of the John Batchelor Show/The Space Show) Wed. Feb.3.2021 – William Harwood of CBS Space News discussed “the planned Feb. 18, 2021 landing of Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover. Bill talked about the mission, the risky landing, the instruments and more.”

** The Space Show – Friday, Feb.5.2021 – Dr. Pekka Janhunem talked about “his paper about a large scale free space settlement in orbit around Ceres“.  Terraforming the dwarf planet: Interconnected and growable Ceres megasatellite world – arxiv.org (pdf)

** The Space Show – Tuesday, Feb.2.2021 – Dr. Greg Autry “summarized the space accomplishments of the last four years, then looked ahead to space policy and plans in the coming administrations. Dr. Autry suggested the Artemis program and The Artemis Accords would continue, he explained why the Moon was so important and much more.”

** New podcast episode: entering the Space Station era – ESA

** E50 – Rethinking Capability Development on Vimeo – Aerospace Corp – Center for Space Policy & Strategy (CSPS)

** Space Café WebTalk – Mahmoud Abu Wasel – 12. January 2021 – spacewatch. global – News Room – YouTube

In this week’s Space Cafè WebTalk, Mahmoud Abu Wasel, Vice-President of The Hague Institute for Global Justice talked about the new space initiative of the institute.

** Space Café WebTalk – BLACK OPS by Ralph Thiele – Edition 2 – 14. January 2021 – spacewatch. global – News Room – YouTube

In this Space Cafè “Black Ops by Ralph Thiele #2”, Colonel (Ret`d) Ralph Thiele, Chairman of the Berlin based Political-Military Society, President of Euro Défense-Germany, and Managing Director of StratByrd Consulting, Germany talked with his guests about the Implication for Security & Defence coming with quantum technologies.

His guests in this session were:

Dr. Ing. Heike Poignand,
Prof. Dr. Dr. José Achache.
They also answered relevant questions from the audience.

** February 3, 2021 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast

** February 5, 2021 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast

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Activism, Roundup

Space policy roundup – Feb.1.2021

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):

International space

Webcasts:

** The Space Show – Sunday, Jan.31.2021 – James C. Bennett talked about “space policy, commercial space, capital availability, and much more”.

** The Space Show – Tuesday, Jan.26.2021 – John Mankins discussed “SSP [Space-based Solar Power], his project in Australia and SSP economics and challenges”.

**  Space Café WebTalk – Doug Loverro – 5. January 2021 – spacewatch. global – News Room – YouTube

In this week’s Space Cafè WebTalk, Doug Loverro, President at Loverro Consulting, Virgina, USA talked about his feature: “Rethinking the Inevitable: Why We Need to Stop Hoping, and Prepare for Space Warfare”, published on SpaceWatch.Global.

For decades the international community has tried, and failed, to achieve agreement on treaties aimed at preventing war in space. From the 1980s “Treaty to Prevent an Arms Race in Space” (PAROS), to the more recent “Treaty on Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space” (PPWT), we have failed to reach agreement on any constraints to war in space and the devastating consequences if it were to occur. Meanwhile several nations continue to develop and test weapon systems to mount space attack. Doug Loverro suggests attacks in space are inevitable and that perhaps we need to rethink our approach.

** Space Café WebTalk – Mahmoud Abu Wasel – 12. January 2021 – spacewatch. global – News Room – YouTube

In this week’s Space Cafè WebTalk, Mahmoud Abu Wasel, Vice-President of The Hague Institute for Global Justice talked about the new space initiative of the institute.

With the rapid increase in the private sectors race to space and governments attempting to keep up, we are witnessing the new age of the space race – one which will make momentous changes in a shorter time span than ever seen before. But with this new space race, comes the realization that law and justice are crucial to the maintenance and sustainability of our future. The Hague Institute for Global Justice has been operating for a decade on issues at the critical intersection of peace, law, and justice; but with the evolution of the space sector, new issues have arisen that will need to be solved. The Hague Institute for Global Justice has recently launched its space project that will deal with the implementation of law and justice in space, and will act as a platform for peace in all space activities. Mahmoud Abu Wasel spoke on the necessity for the rule of law and justice in space, and shedded details on the issues that lead to the initiation of the new project.

** E49 – Cybersecurity – Aerospace Corp – Center for Space Policy & Strategy (CSPS)

** Inclined Orbits, Detecting Change and Having a GPS Moment – Constellations Podcast

Listen to Brian O’Toole, CEO of BlackSky, a company using the economics of small satellites to monitor the Earth and bring data down in real-time. Mr. O’Toole discusses cloud computing, high-performance computing, advancements in AI and machine learning algorithms as key enablers to using this data. The CEO describes a recent launch where BlackSky went from lift-off to delivering imagery in 58 hours, an impressive feat. He extols the virtue of AI and machine learning to monitor activities and automatically transport relevant data to customers through a real-time feed. This kind of data will cause an explosion of commercial applications not yet considered or developed, like what happened with GPS when it became available on a phone. Mr. O’Toole conjectures about a next level of convergence around data that is collected and combined from a multitude of source, which in turn leads to better predictive analytics. In addition, he discusses finding the ability to detect emerging events and what their impact can be to our planet, with COVID being a prime example.

** David Walker – How Important Is Culture In Government Operations? – Cold Star Technologies – YouTube

David Walker is a past Comptroller General of the United States, professor at the US Naval Academy, former Defense Business Board appointee, and author. He’s on the Cold Star Project to discuss the role of culture in government operations, including with his own experience in the Government Accountability Office and on the Defense Business Board. Host Jason Kanigan asks:
// Defense Business Board //
-what is the purpose of the Board, both the official wording and from your point of view? Do you believe it is meeting that purpose?
-What are some of the projects that you worked on? -what changes or initiatives can the Board make?
-What are some of the biggest business challenges facing the DoD?
-what did your experience as US Comptroller General allow you to bring into the appointment to the Defense Business Board? What perspective do you believe you brought; what were you most “on alert” for?
-what most surprised you in your service on the Board? Was it people- or process-based?
// US Comptroller General 98-08 – 15-year, non renewable term appointment, Government Accountability Office (audit institution, part of the legislative branch) //
-roles like this often don’t have a “rules manual” and you must create the role “your way” as you go. Did you find this to be the case? How did you adapt to the situation if so?
-you have a supposedly non partisan bureaucracy working for you as the GAO. How did you find that and how did information flow to you? What kind of decisions did you make? What were your main accomplishments at GSP?
// America In 2040: Still A Superpower? book //
-tell us about the book and your main premise or argument–reviews talk about “fiscal sanity” and government spending
-We think “America’s fine; we still have all the tools”, but what do you think about the constant underestimation of costs and overestimation of capabilities? eg. USS Gerald Ford setbacks…latest is unable to launch planes, $13B price tag for non-functional platform
-Will America still have the financial power to fund itself as a superpower?
-Do you believe space is an important theater for America to remain a superpower? What are other major security theaters?

** NASA Rio Agreement – Lawrence Friedl – NASA Video

NASA and the city of Rio de Janeiro have extended an agreement to support innovative and collaborative efforts to better understand, anticipate, monitor and respond to natural hazards and other impacts affecting the city. The collaboration leverages the unique attributes of NASA’s satellite data and modeling frameworks and Rio de Janeiro’s management and monitoring capabilities to improve awareness of how the city may be impacted by hazards and affected by climate change. Lawrence Friedl is the director of the Applied Sciences Program in the Earth Science Division at NASA Headquarters. More about the agreement: https://appliedsciences.nasa.gov/our-…

** January 27, 2021 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast

** January 28, 2021 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast

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This brief animation moves between two New Horizons spacecraft views of Arrokoth, the spacecraft’s New Year’s 2019 flyby target in the Kuiper Belt. The 3D effects come from pairing or combining images taken at different viewing angles, creating a “binocular” stereo effect, just as the separation of our eyes allows us to see three-dimensionally. The 3D information from these images provides scientists with critical insight on the object’s shape and structure and, subsequently, origin.
Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute/Roman Tkachenko

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Activism, Roundup

Space policy roundup – Jan.18.2021

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):

International space

Webcasts:

** China Aero & Space Weekly News Round-Up – Episode 15 (4th – 10th Jan. 2021) – Dongfang Hour – YouTube

1) CASC announces plans for 40 launches in 2021 …
2) CMA announces a tender for a low-cost cargo spacecraft: a Chinese COTS/CRS program? …
3) China confirms the feasibility of space-ground quantum key distribution, in publication published in Nature …

(See also the summary: Dongfang Hour China Aerospace News Roundup 4 Jan – 10 Jan 2021 – SpaceWatch.Global)

[ Update: **  China Aero & Space Weekly News Round-Up – Episode 16 (11th – 17th Jan. 2021) – Dongfang Hour – YouTube

1) iSpace Announces Plans for an IPO on the Star Board…
2) Several updates on CASC making progress on propulsion technology…
3) US adds 9 Chinese companies to a blacklist, including COMAC and Air China Group…

]

** Where in Space Are We Going in 2021? – SETI Institute

Despite everything that happened last year, we still got to do science, and missions still got to launch. We sampled asteroids and the Moon. We cruised around the surface of Mars. We flew by Venus on the way to Mercury. And we launched three more missions to the Red Planet, all of which arrive this year. What else can we look forward to in 2021? Join Franck Marchis and Beth Johnson for a look back at last year’s science and this year’s upcoming missions.
https://youtu.be/3_iheJjLRGo

** U.S. Space Command, Innovation and Defending Space Assets – Constellations Podcast

Listen to Brigadier General Leonard, principal advisor to the USSPACECOM Commander and Deputy Commander discuss U.S. Space Command and the importance of innovation in a warfighting environment. Space is a booming business, not only for the American people but booming for the U.S. adversaries. To stay ahead, the U.S. military needs to be innovative in how they think, the technology they use and how they are organized. Brigadier General Leonard talked about innovation being the new competitive advantage and that they must equip and enable their people with an environment where they feel their ideas are valued. Enemies understand that innovation and technology and space capabilities are central to fighting in space and across the joint force, so his team must accelerate their capabilities in those areas. USSPACECOM is not interested in small evolutionary technology, but something that’s really going to be a game changer.

** Episode 48: CubeSat Industry Day – Aerospace Corp – Center for Space Policy & Strategy (CSPS)

** Bleddyn Bowen – What Will War In Space Really Look Like? – Cold Star Project S02E75 – Cold Star Technologies – YouTube

Bleddyn Bowen, PhD, is the author of War In Space: Strategy Space Power, Geopolitics. He has a different point of view on space warfare than the typical one we see from fanboys and mechanistic white papers. On this episode of the Cold Star Project, host Jason Kanigan asks Bleddyn:

– How do you operationally define space power? What are the “levers and dials”? What does “winning” mean in this environment?
– What is ‘space warfare’? Why do you believe Clausewitz remains relevant today and in the space domain?
– How does geopolitics apply to space? Are there equalizing forces?
– What international issues should we be paying attention to that could impact space warfare?
– When it comes to the actualities of space warfare, what are the critical elements?
– What is the significance of the new US Space Force?
– Why did you write and publish a book on the topic (War In Space: Strategy, Space Power, Geopolitics)?

Who are you intending to impact, and why? Astropolitics Research Portal: https://astropoliticsblog.wordpress.com/

** The Space Show – Tuesday, Jan.12.2021 – Rod Pyle and Aggie Kobrin talked about the “Feb. 4th NSS Space Settlement 2021 virtual program, ISDC plans, private and government space programs, plus much more”.

** The Space Show – Sunday, Jan.17.2021 – Open Lines program hosted by David Livingston included discussions of space in 2021.

** January 13, 2021 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast

** January 15, 2021 Zimmerman/Batchelor podcast

** Space Café WebTalk – Martin Coleman – 15. December 2020 – spacewatch. global – News Room – YouTube

In this week’s Space Cafè WebTalk, Martin Coleman, Member of the Advisory Board at Satcoms Innovation Group, United Kingdom talked about 2020 vision on Space Debris.

Martin Colman talked about the importance of data sharing in the Space Situational Awareness context. He addressed the Space Debris issue from the data site and will share his vision on the current situation in space 2020.

Martin Colman also answered relevant questions from the audience.

This Space Cafè WebTalk, held on 15 Dezember 2020, was hosted by Torsten Kriening, publisher of SpaceWatch.Global.

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