On today's space brief, the first commercial space station is set to be launched by SpaceX. The space junk issue is being addressed in Europe by an upcoming launch. And Stem Cells are taking a trip to space! But first, let's back up a bit. Welcome to the Undiscovered Country! This is part of my Space Brief series where I outline the top 5 most important things that are happening in the world of space. This is not going to be a super polished and super edited presentation, but a short overview of...
May 17, 2023•11 min
NASA is looking to contract out the job of bringing the International Space Station down safely. Is this the beginning of the end? ASCENT propellent is setting itself up to be a safer alternative to hydrazine propellants. And Both Blue Origin and the Chinese Galactic Energy have their sights set on overtaking SpaceX. What are their chances? Welcome to the Undiscovered Country! This is part of my Space Brief series where I outline the top 5 most important things that are happening in the world of...
May 09, 2023•10 min
The Space Force has called for joint operations of GPS. This could be the beginning of incredible joint efforts! Astronomers have found the first asteroid belt outside our solar system! This could bring big changes to current models. And China just ended its second secret spaceplane mission. Where will China go from here? But first, let's back up a bit. Welcome to the Undiscovered Country! This is part of my Space Brief series where I outline the top 5 most important things that are happening in...
May 09, 2023•9 min
Europe is planning a megaconstellation to compete with Starlink. Is this prudent or wasted effort that will lead to disaster? The UN is debating the future of international space law. We'll talk about the major points and controversies. And a report suggests that the Space Force is missing the mark on using the private sector. Is this a missed opportunity or a gross over exaggeration.? But first, let's back up a bit. Welcome to the Undiscovered Country! This is part of my Space Brief series wher...
May 08, 2023•9 min
Recently, a dying star has been spotted by scientists that has swallowed a planet, which provides insight into Earth's eventual fate in five billion years. Starlink just launched its 4,000nth working satellite, great news or too much? And the Czech Republic just became the 24th country to sign NASA's Artemis Accords. All this and more on today's space brief. Welcome to the Undiscovered Country! This is part of my Space Brief series where I outline the top 5 most important things that are happeni...
May 05, 2023•11 min
A $30 million contract was just awarded to Lockheed Martin and Raytheon to develop ground systems for the Space Force's Evolved Strategic Satcom program. The European Space Agency is making big investments into nuclear propulsion. And NASA just unlocked a process to turn lunar dust into oxygen.! All this and more, on today's space brief. Welcome to the Undiscovered Country! This is part of my Space Brief series where I outline the top 5 most important things that are happening in the world of sp...
May 04, 2023•11 min
First, a group of 51 National Guard adjutant generals is urging President Joe Biden to create a separate Space National Guard. Next, physicists have proposed that a large population of small black holes flooded the early universe with particles and radiation, creating their own black hole-powered Big Bang. Finally, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk claims that a recent test flight was a "success," but a group of environmental groups have sued the FAA because they disagree. All this and more on today's space ...
May 03, 2023•11 min
SpaceX FINALLY launched its first Viasat-3 satellite on a Falcon Heavy rocket. We'll take a look at the amazing show. The JUICE space probe is experiencing antenna issues, will the mission to study Jupiter's icy moons still progress as planned? And the US Space Force is preparing to test a new 24-hour launch turnaround capability with the Victus Nox mission. Is this a game changer or business as usual? All this and more on today's space brief. Welcome to the Undiscovered Country! This is part of...
May 02, 2023•11 min
Russia has announced that it will remain a part of the International Space Station (ISS) until 2028. NASA's announced that SpaceX is set to launch its next Starship rocket within the next few months. And the United States Space Force's has created a "Santa's Naughty List". All this and more on today's space brief. Welcome to the Undiscovered Country! This is part of my Space Brief series where I outline the top 5 most important things that are happening in the world of space. This is not going t...
May 01, 2023•11 min
The US Department of Commerce plans to develop a space safety system to track satellites orbiting Earth. China plans to develop a fully reusable version of its Long March 9 rocket. And a recent study discovered that asteroid Phaethon has a sodium tail, rather than a dust tail, as previously believed. This much and more, in today's space brief! Welcome to the Undiscovered Country! This is part of my Space Brief series where I outline the top 5 most important things that are happening in the world...
Apr 28, 2023•11 min
SpaceX's Starship prototype has been grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the United States' recently updated its National Near-Earth Object (NEO) Preparedness Strategy, and the United States and South Korea has a new agreement to enhance space cooperation. All this and more on today's space brief. Welcome to the Undiscovered Country! This is part of my Space Brief series where I outline the top 5 most important things that are happening in the world of space. This is not going...
Apr 27, 2023•12 min
On today's space brief, The Japanese space agency JAXA has lost contact with its lunar lander, the first iSpace mission to the Moon. Space Force, the newest branch of the US military, is considering using commercial data to help monitor satellites and space debris in Earth's orbit. And scientists have measured the first seismic waves on Mars, revealing new information about the planet's internal structure. All this and more, let's get started. Welcome to the Undiscovered Country! This is part of...
Apr 26, 2023•11 min
In this episode I'll explain preparations being made for the first ever civilian EVA. I'll also deliver big news for companies working towards space situational awareness and orbital transfer capabilities. All this and more. Welcome to the Undiscovered Country. Welcome to the Undiscovered Country! This is part of my Space Brief series where I outline the top 5 most important things that are happening in the world of space. This is not going to be a super polished and super edited presentation, b...
Jan 06, 2023•10 min
In this episode we'll talk about China's reaction to yesterday's story of NASA's declaration of an ongoing space race. We'll also review efforts by AFRL to protect the space environment and recent findings by scientists about the nature of black hole clusters. Welcome to the Undiscovered Country. Welcome to the Undiscovered Country! This is part of my Space Brief series where I outline the top 5 most important things that are happening in the world of space. This is not going to be a super polis...
Jan 05, 2023•9 min
In this episode, I'll break down the huge plans to dramatically increase launch frequency in the US. I'll also talk big money successes and failures being felt across the board. This much and more today on the Undiscovered Country. Welcome to the Undiscovered Country! This is part of my Space Brief series where I outline the top 5 most important things that are happening in the world of space. This is not going to be a super polished and super edited presentation, but a short overview of importa...
Jan 04, 2023•10 min
In this episode, I'll explain NASA Administrator Bill Nelson's declaration of a space race with China. I'll also break down NASA's backup backup plan to help return stranded astronauts from the International Space Station. Welcome to the Undiscovered Country. Welcome to the Undiscovered Country! This is part of my Space Brief series where I outline the top 5 most important things that are happening in the world of space. This is not going to be a super polished and super edited presentation, but...
Jan 03, 2023•9 min
In this episode, we will break down the record-breaking year that SpaceX just had, and talk about what that may mean for the future. We will also review what space has looked like in the rest of the world in 2022. Welcome to the Undiscovered Country. Welcome to the Undiscovered Country! This is part of my Space Brief series where I outline the top 5 most important things that are happening in the world of space. This is not going to be a super polished and super edited presentation, but a short ...
Jan 02, 2023•10 min
The White House has made a major decision that could effect the future of space policy in the US. But will it have the effects they hope? Roscosmos thinks they may have narrowed down the cause of a leak at the International Space Station, but today we will talk about whether there is an immediate danger to the station and its crew. And SpaceX just announced that they are ready for the next stage in their Starlink System. All this and more let's launch. Welcome to the Undiscovered Country! This i...
Dec 21, 2022•10 min
This week marked a busy one for astronauts and taikonauts across the two giant space stations currently in orbit. Today we will talk about the important space walks that took place, as well as discuss complaints that the astronomy community has against satellite manufacturers. Spoiler alert, they may be ruining the sky. But what can we do about it. All this today on the Undiscovered Country. Welcome to the Undiscovered Country! This is part of my Space Brief series where I outline the top 5 most...
Nov 22, 2022•18 min
Mary Lynne Dittmar, chief of government and external relations officer at Axiom Space recently told Vice-President Kamala Harris and the rest of the National Space Council that “There are business cases that are developing for a future LEO economy, but it does not today exist. . . .As with any economic development in a new environment, the greatest contribution that the government can make is to enable private enterprise to develop the infrastructure necessary to grow that economy. This means th...
Nov 21, 2022•17 min
If you are watching this, odds are that you already know that Artemis 1 successfully launched yesterday morning at 1:47 am EST. After multiple attempts, years of delay, two hurricanes, and millions of dollars, the most powerful rocket ever constructed took to the skies lighting up cape canaveral and the surrounding area. But rather than rehash the details of what happened, today I want to talk about what it means, why it matters, and try to approach the question of what happens now. Welcome to t...
Nov 18, 2022•15 min
The latest in a series of mostly classified X-37B missions has come to a close which shattered previous records for longevity in flight. While permanent fixtures in space like the international space station, voyager probes, and multiple still operating satellites certainly have earlier birthdays than the US military’s X-37B, what none of those other craft can brag of is having been launched, returned to the earth, and then launched again in successive missions. With the successful completion of...
Nov 16, 2022•17 min
The east coast was battered over the last few days by another hurricane, this one named Nicole. The storm has been estimated to have caused hundreds of millions of dollars of damage to home and infrastructure in Florida alone. And yet, standing resolutely firm on the edge of the state, was the towering 212 foot tall white and orange space launch system rocket with its Orion capsule secured on top. With a launch date set for less than a week away, NASA and the whole world crossed their fingers an...
Nov 14, 2022•15 min
The mission of the International Space Station continues with a most recent re-supply mission being launched from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility. What makes this one interesting though, is that the Antares rocket used to launch this particular mission will be fundamentally changing in the coming years thanks to the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia, who’s very cosmonauts will be among those benefiting from the supplies in this mission. Today, I’ll explain what those changes are and why they ...
Nov 10, 2022•15 min
Space tourism has long been cited as the most obvious future for private space flight. Before Artemis and the Chinese efforts to return to the Moon, space tourism was held up by many as the only way to get real money into a space economy. And while enthusiasm certainly has not waned, some of the early momentum that groups like Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic seemed to enjoy early on have since dissipated to some extent. Virgin Galactic recently provided insight into what it sees as the next step...
Nov 09, 2022•15 min
2011 began a dark period for the US human space launch program. With the tragic destruction of the Columbia shuttle in 2003, the tough decision was made to retire the entire shuttle system without a viable replacement in sight. For the first time since 1961, the United States would be without a way of sending someone into space. For nearly the next decade, the US would have to rely on Russia for its rides to the international space station, at a pretty premium cost. NASA announced that this stat...
Nov 08, 2022•15 min
The last twenty years have seen an explosion of interest and activity in space. Thanks to SpaceX’s drastic lowering of the cost to launch, together with huge advancements in the miniaturization of technology, we are more reliant on space for our everyday lives than ever. The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 states that all activities, even those by private companies, must be regulated and licensed by the country they hail from. In the US, this has turned into a hodge-podge of regulatory agencies all w...
Nov 05, 2022•16 min
When the Chinese Space Agency was founded in 1993 barely anyone was paying attention. Now, a mere 30 years later, competition with Chinese space aspirations is a major part of the US space strategy, including much of the work of the Space Force as well as NASA’s Artemis program. This is because China is in the midst of a space renaissance with every intention of being a major player in the world. The problem is, they are not doing it in a responsible way. Today I’ll talk about some of the irresp...
Nov 04, 2022•15 min
Starship, the tallest, most versatile rocket system ever built may finally be launching into orbit! NASA officials announced that the dream that SpaceX founder and recent controversial figure Elon Musk presented all the way back in 2012 may finally fly. It is hard to believe that it has already been a decade since the world stood in shock at the idea of a fully reusable super-lift vehicle capable of taking people and equipment to other worlds. Some cheered. Others laughed at the hubris. But that...
Nov 03, 2022•15 min
In today’s space brief, (1) What is NASA doing to further investigate life in the solar system?; (2) What are we doing to protect the planet against killer asteroids? and; (3) What is the US going to do to protect the commercial sector against anti-satellite weapons by Russia? This much and more, stick around. Welcome to the Undiscovered Country! This is part of my Space Brief series where I outline the top 5 most important things that are happening in the world of space. This is not going to be...
Nov 02, 2022•13 min
