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G’day Trailblazers!

We’re Trailblazers, the Space Newsletter that believes in expanding the horizon of space sustainability, because the only thing we want to leave behind on our cosmic trail is a legacy, not debris.

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#LAUNCHPAD

In today’s edition

• Expanding the Horizon of Space Sustainability

• StarGraph: Satellites vs Debris

• 5 Resources to Boost Your Workflows

• DealFlow: The Latest Investments in the Space Economy

• OutOfThisWorld: Sending a Message in a Bottle to our Jovian Neighbour

• GhostInTheMachine: Space Exploration as Food

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#NEWS

🍪 Space Economy Bites & Snaps

Bites…

⭐ LEO-GEO Partnership: Eutelsat's OneWeb division secures a lucrative "multi-year" deal with Intelsat, valued up to $500 million, to enhance global connectivity and technological advancement.

⭐ AI in Space: Comsat Architects and Ubotica Technologies partner to infuse AI into satellites, enhancing Earth observation and communication, promising real-time insights for improved global situational awareness.

… and Snaps

• AI Weather: Spire Global partners with NVIDIA to revolutionize weather forecasting using AI, enhancing global safety and efficiency.

• Lunar Railroad: Northrop Grumman to develop a moon-based rail network, advancing space logistics and economy.

• Satellite Navigation: Aerospacelab and Xona partner to push the boundaries of navigation technology, enhancing global connectivity.

• Dark Ring: Blue Origin's Blue Ring to showcase operational prowess on U.S. Defense’s DarkSky-1 mission, boosting orbital access and innovation.

• Interstellar: Elon Musk envisions a future Starship capable of voyaging between star systems, expanding humanity's cosmic footprint. Ok.

#REALLY?

🤨 What is the biggest piece of space debris to ever crash on Earth?

The biggest piece of space debris (man-made) to ever crash on Earth was the Skylab space station. Launched by NASA in 1973, Skylab was an 85-ton space station that hosted three crewed missions in 1973 and 1974. Due to higher-than-expected solar activity, which heated and expanded Earth's atmosphere, increasing the drag on Skylab, it came down sooner than NASA had anticipated. By the middle of 1979, Skylab was ready to re-enter Earth's atmosphere. NASA had limited control over the re-entry path of the space station, and portions of Skylab came down over Western Australia, including the area around the Shire of Esperance, which humorously fined NASA $400 for littering.

#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) ▲ $16.66 (+1.5%)

• RK Space Exploration and Innovation (ARKX) ▲ $14.85 (+1.9%)

• S&P Kensho Final Frontiers (ROKT) ▲ $44.84 (+1.0%)

Prices as of March 20, 2024, 4:00 p.m. ET

#SPACESUSTAINABILITY

🟢 Expanding the Horizon of Space Sustainability

The Occurrence

At the SATELLITE 2024 conference, a critical discussion unfolded around the pressing issue of sustainability in space. Industry leaders gathered to address the current state of space development technologies and the need for clear guidelines and leadership in the realm of space sustainability. Richard DalBello, director of the Office of Space Commerce under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), initiated the conversation, highlighting the transition of space traffic coordination from the Defense Department to the Commerce Department for civil and commercial satellites.

The Details

The discussions at SATELLITE 2024 shed light on various aspects of space sustainability:

• Emerging Technologies: The industry is witnessing the introduction of new sustainable technologies, such as highly maneuverable spacecraft, repair ships, and refueling depots, which are set to change the dynamics of space operations.

• Leadership and Coordination: In the U.S., there is an ongoing effort to establish the Commerce Department as the new hub for space traffic coordination, which involves building a next-generation space traffic coordination system with the help of commercial partners and international allies.

• Industry Practices: Companies like Intelsat are at the forefront of implementing space sustainability practices. Intelsat's vice president of Global Government Affairs and Policy, Peter Davidson, emphasized the company's long-standing commitment to safe and productive space operations.

• Historical Perspective: The industry's approach to sustainability has evolved significantly over the past two decades, with improvements in compliance rates for satellite disposal and operational changes in Low-Earth Orbit to ensure responsible mission design and timely deorbiting of satellites.

• Changing Mindsets: The rapid development of satellite constellations like Starlink has shifted the industry's focus from merely flying satellites safely to actively considering the long-term sustainability of space activities.

Why It Matters

The sustainability of space is a critical issue that has far-reaching implications:

• Space Traffic Management: As the number of satellites and space debris increases, effective space traffic management becomes essential to prevent collisions and ensure the safety of space operations.

• Long-Term Viability: Sustainable practices are necessary to maintain the long-term viability of space as a domain for exploration, scientific discovery, and commercial activities.

• Global Collaboration: The transition to a more sustainable space environment requires global collaboration and the establishment of international guidelines that all space-faring nations and companies can adhere to.

• Economic and Security Interests: Ensuring the sustainability of space is not only an environmental concern but also a matter of economic and security interests, as space-based technologies are integral to modern life on Earth.

In conclusion, while the space industry has made strides in adopting more sustainable practices, the journey towards a fully sustainable space environment is ongoing. The discussions at SATELLITE 2024 underscore the need for continued innovation, leadership, and international cooperation to manage and build sustainability in space effectively.

📚 Additional reading for a deeper dive:

• Sustainability in Space: The Next Frontier

• Space Debris and Space Traffic Management

• Framework for Space Sustainability Is Needed as We Enter a New Space Age

• Mitigating space debris generation (ESA)

#STARGRAPH

📊 Satellites Versus Debris (2023)

#PRODUCTIVITY

🎛️ 5 Resources to Boost Your Workflows

Bluedot → An AI-powered Chrome extension for Google Meet that automates meeting notes.

ZeroTrusted AI → Protect sensitive data for secure interactions with large language models, ensuring privacy and security.

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

New Space: Access to Space - Basics 🎫 → Introduces space access basics, covering mission analysis, launcher and rocket engine design.

Pathway to Space 🎫 → Learn about the cosmos and your place in it, the ways we explore space, and how people and politics play a role in what we learn.

🎫 indicates a promoted resource, if any.

#DEALFLOW

🌄 The Latest Investments in the Space Economy

Lumen Orbit goes live and secures $2.4M for Pioneering In-Space Data Processing Initiative.

Simera Sense Gains €13.5M to Boost Earth Observation Camera Tech.

Phantom Lands Bridge Funding to Drive Satellite Tech Innovation.

OCIF Injects $3.9M Into Calgary's Aerospace Hub for Industry Growth.

Blackwave Nets $6.6M in Seed Round, Unveils New COO and Product Line.

Phase Four Snags $6.25M From Leonid Capital to Fuel Propulsion Tech Expansion.

Alpine Space Ventures Clinches €10M from NATO Fund, Bolstering Europe's Security Through Space Tech

#OUTOFTHISWORLD

👽 Sending a Message in a Bottle to our Jovian Neighbour

In October 2024, NASA will go back to Jupiter with its upcoming Europa Clipper Mission. The mission will aim to explore Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, known for its intriguing subsurface ocean beneath a thick crust of ice. This ocean is of significant interest to scientists because it might harbor life, making Europa a key target in the search for extraterrestrial biology.

A unique aspect of the Europa Clipper mission is the inclusion of a "Message in a Bottle" concept, which is essentially a time capsule meant for future humans, rather than extraterrestrial beings. This approach marks a departure from previous missions like Pioneer and Voyager, which carried messages intended for potential alien civilizations. The time capsule on the Europa Clipper mission consists of a commemorative plate made from tantalum, measuring approximately 7 by 11 inches (18 by 28 centimeters), and features graphics and text on both sides. This plate symbolizes humanity's curiosity and our quest to understand the universe, particularly the potential for life beyond Earth.

The Europa Clipper will undertake a 1.6-billion-mile (2.6-billion-kilometer) journey to perform 49 close flybys of Europa. Its objectives include studying Europa's subsurface ocean, icy crust, thin atmosphere, and space environment. The mission is a continuation of two decades of foundational work in developing a Europa mission, credited to Greely's initial endeavors. As Gizmodo reports, while the "Message in a Bottle" is meant to reflect human curiosity, its comprehension could fade over extreme timeframes, highlighting the transient nature of our attempts to communicate across ages.

The Europa Clipper is scheduled to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, marking a significant step in our exploration of the solar system and the ongoing search for life beyond Earth.

#GHOSTINTHEMACHINE

🤖 Inspiration from the World of AI

Space Exploration as Food

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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