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G’day Trailblazers!

We’re Trailblazers, the Space Newsletter that brings you the latest on how our adventures beyond Earth's atmosphere are shining a light on our own planet's climate challenges.

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#LAUNCHPAD

In today’s edition

• MethaneSAT Launch: A Milestone for Climate Monitoring

• StarGraph: Global Space Debris Monitoring and Removal Market

• 5 Resources to Boost Your Workflows

• Developments in space governance, regulations & policy

• GhostInTheMachine: Historical figures taking selfies

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#NEWS

🍪 Space Economy Bites & Snaps

Bites…

⭐ Space Debris Trends: A report from March 4, 2024, discusses the trends, opportunities, and forecasts in the space debris monitoring and removal industry. This supports the growing awareness and concern over space debris, which is a significant issue for space sustainability and safety.

⭐ Job Cuts: Thales announces a job cut of 1,300 positions despite a 4.9% increase in sales to €18.4 billion and a net income rise of 14% in 2023, highlighting the volatile nature of the aerospace sector.

… and Snaps

• Terran Defense: Terran Orbital implements a 'poison pill' plan to fend off a buyout by Lockheed Martin.

• NASA: 2024 budget falls $2.3 billion short, challenging future space exploration and economy.

• Connectivity: Rivada Space secures Ofcom license, boosting global internet and space economy potential.

• Space Tug: NASA cancels Maxar's refueling project due to ‘poor performance’, impacting satellite maintenance and space logistics.

• OZ Launchpad: Australia's Bowen Spaceport gets first license, marking a leap for local space industry growth.

#REALLY?

🤨 Who was the first commercial company to launch a satellite into orbit?

SpaceX. They achieved this feat in 2010 with their Falcon 9 rocket and the satellite called FalconSAT-2. This marked a significant milestone in the space industry as it demonstrated the capability of private companies to conduct space missions. Worth noting: the first commercial company to launch a rocket into orbit was Orbital Sciences Corporation (USA), which achieved this milestone with the launch of the Pegasus rocket on April 5, 1990.

#MARKETWATCH

💹 Investing in the Universe

Here's a list of funds that track companies in the space sector, giving investors access to the expanding space economy. These funds include firms in space exploration, satellite technology, and related areas, offering potential growth aligned with future technological advancements.

• Procure Space ETF (UFO) ▼ $16.78 (-1.4%)

• RK Space Exploration and Innovation (ARKX) ▼ $14.53 (-0.3%)

• S&P Kensho Final Frontiers (ROKT) ▲ $44.28 (+0.2%)

Prices as of March 4, 2024, 3:30 p.m. ET

#EVENTHORIZON

🆙 Trends in Space, Tech, and AI

MethaneSAT Launch: A Milestone for Climate Monitoring

The Occurrence

In a significant event for the space and environmental sectors, SpaceX successfully launched MethaneSAT, a satellite developed by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), into orbit. This launch was part of a larger mission that saw SpaceX deploy 76 satellites in two back-to-back launches from both coasts of the United States. MethaneSAT, designed to monitor methane emissions globally, was among 53 commercial satellites launched from California.

The Details

MethaneSAT's mission is to provide unprecedented accuracy and coverage in measuring methane emissions, particularly from the oil and gas industry. This satellite is equipped with a high-resolution infrared instrument capable of identifying and quantifying methane emissions across wide areas, including previously undetected releases from oil and gas operations. The launch of MethaneSAT represents a collaborative effort, with significant funding from various donors, including the government of New Zealand and the Bezos Earth Fund. The satellite aims to cover about 80 to 90 percent of global oil and gas production, offering insights into human-caused methane emissions, which are a significant contributor to climate change.

Why It Matters

MethaneSAT's launch is a critical step forward in the fight against climate change. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and its accurate measurement is essential for effective regulation and reduction strategies. By providing detailed data on methane emissions, MethaneSAT will enable governments, companies, and the public to take informed actions to mitigate these emissions. This initiative also represents a significant advancement in the use of space technology for environmental monitoring, setting a precedent for future missions aimed at tracking other greenhouse gases. The data collected by MethaneSAT will be made publicly available, facilitating transparency and accountability in environmental management and contributing to global efforts to combat climate change.

#STARGRAPH

📊 Global Space Debris Monitoring and Removal Market

#TOGETHER WITH SPACE CAREER ACADEMY

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#PRODUCTIVITY

🎛️ 5 Resources to Boost Your Workflows

Startup Pitch Deck → Your pitch deck assistant, drawing on successful strategies from YouTube, Facebook, Uber, and top venture capital methods.

Vimcal → An AI-supported calendar app that streamlines scheduling and organization with features like sharing availability and seamless mobile device integration.

Monday.com 🎫 → A collaboration platform that allows teams to focus on executing tasks, projects, and processes efficiently and achieve shared goals at scale.

Expanding Frontiers → A guide on investing in space, highlighting sector growth, company diversity, and increasing investor opportunities.

AI on Mars → On the "Me, Myself, and AI" podcast, NASA's Vandi Verma talks about how AI supports space exploration, particularly through the Mars rovers.

🎫 indicates a promoted resource, if any.

#SPACEREGS

🧩 Developments in space governance, regulations & policy

🤳 Direct-to-Smartphone: U.S. regulators are set to vote on March 14, 2024, on a regulatory framework that would allow satellites to use radio waves from terrestrial mobile operators to provide direct-to-smartphone communications. This could have significant implications for global connectivity and mobile services.

🧪 Indian Space Sector: The Indian Space Association (ISpA) emphasizes the importance of research funding and agile regulation to seize new opportunities in the space sector. This suggests that regulatory agility and support for innovation are critical for the growth of national space industries.

💥 Space Debris & Sustainability: The UK Space Agency outlines strategies for tackling space debris, emphasizing prevention, protection, and promoting awareness to secure future space operations and exploration.

🚀 Spaceport Financing: New legislation aims to empower spaceports with tax-exempt bond privileges, mirroring airports and seaports, to foster infrastructure development and maintain competitiveness in the global space race.

🛰️ Satellite Connectivity: The FCC's draft order for satellite-to-cell coverage could revolutionize mobile connectivity by allowing seamless collaboration between satellite operators and cellular networks, enhancing coverage and potentially saving lives in remote areas.

🦺 Spaceflight Safety: As the FAA's "learning period" for commercial human spaceflight regulation nears its end, debates intensify over extending safety oversight exemptions, highlighting the delicate balance between innovation and passenger safety.

🦾 Regulatory Efficiency: The FAA's introduction of the SpARC aims to streamline the launch and reentry licensing process for commercial space operations, enhancing efficiency without compromising safety, as the industry's demand skyrockets.

📡 EU Spectrum Reform: Thierry Breton advocates for a revolutionary reform in spectrum allocation, prioritizing enhanced connectivity and potentially the seamless integration of satellite networks into Europe's unified 6G strategy.

#GHOSTINTHEMACHINE

🤖 Inspiration from the World of AI

Historical figures taking selfies

source: ashisourus on Midjourney

Until Next Time

That brings us to the end of this edition, Trailblazers! Here's how we can assist you further:

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#MISSIONDEBRIEF

🌠 Getting Better Together

I value your opinion, so if you have specific advice or anything interesting you’d like to share, please let me know by replying to this email.

Thank you for reading and see you at the next orbit!

Francois

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