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G’day Trailblazers!

We’re Trailblazers, the Space Newsletter that keeps you in the loop on the latest cosmic clashes—because even in the infinite expanse, everyone needs a little space drama.

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#LAUNCHPAD

In today’s edition

• Space Wars? “Looking up” constantly, did we miss something?

• StarGraph: U.S. Space Force Capabilities

• 5 Resources to Boost Your Workflows

• SpaceRegs: Developments in space governance, regulations & policy

• InTheLoop: Tech Trends on Earth Shaping Our Future in Space

• GhostInTheMachine: M-AI the 4th Be with You

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#NEWS

🍪 Space Economy Bites & Snaps

Bites…

⭐ SpaceX Tourists: In a groundbreaking move, SpaceX will soon allow tourists aboard Crew Dragon to perform spacewalks, expanding commercial space travel opportunities and experiences.

⭐ IRIS2 Doubts: Growing skepticism surrounds the IRIS2 satellite project as experts question its feasibility and potential impact on European space capabilities and satellite communication advancements.

… and Snaps

• EO Economy: EO could add $3.8 trillion to global GDP, pivotal for space industry growth.

• Moon: China's spacecraft explores dark side, could unlock new resources for space economy.

• Eutelsat: Mulling teleport options to enhance global connectivity, potential boost for space communications or bluff?

• OZ Launch: Germany’s HyImpulse launches their first commercially viable vehicle from Australia, marking a new era in economical space access.

• Lunar Resources: Untapped potential on the moon could revolutionize the space economy.

#REALLY?

🤨 Europe's Unfulfilled Dream of Manned Spaceflight

Did you know Europe was working on its own spaceplane, Hermes, in the 1980s and early 90s? Initiated by France's CNES and adopted by ESA, Hermes aimed to give Europe independent manned space access. Designed for three astronauts, it was to be launched atop an Ariane 5 rocket for missions up to 90 days. However, technical challenges, safety concerns, and escalating costs led to its cancellation in 1992. Though never realized, Hermes spurred European aerospace advancements and contributed to projects like the Ariane 5 rocket.

#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) ▲ $15.80 (0.0%)

• RK Space Exploration and Innovation (ARKX) ▼ $15.16 (-0.4%)

• S&P Kensho Final Frontiers (ROKT) ▼ $44.65 (-0.2%)

Prices as of May 8, 2024, 3:07 p.m. ET

#BEYONDTHEHYPE

💬 Thoughts and Opinions from Across the Interspace

Space wars. “Looking up” constantly, did we miss something?

By Frank, Science & Tech Author

There's nothing more captivating to American society than a good fight or a "good" war for their ideals of democracy and justice (no comments).

Back in the 1960s, the U.S. was caught off guard when the Soviets initiated the first "Race to Space."

The USA responded with what it does best: unleashing the brightest minds and pouring loads of finances into the space program, culminating in a lunar landing before anyone else.

Today, the remnants of the Soviet Union's so-called "empire" present a stark contrast to its 1960s brilliance in space.

Their latest mishap, the Luna 25 crash in August 2023, was made even more embarrassing by India’s stylish moon landing just a few months later, Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, has quickly dropped in rankings, now only reliably serving as a "taxi" to the ISS, which remains their lifeline.

However, they maintain a dangerous talent: RHETORIC.  With just the right words, they can unsettle the West.

Their recent declaration of a nuclear capability from space to Earth set off alarms across the U.S. administration and its allies.

This led to a flurry of panicked inquiries in the Pentagon, with questions from senators, congressmen, and the press about America’s ability to counter such threats.

Amid this tense atmosphere, it was difficult to calmly explain that such Space-to-Earth nuclear capabilities do not (yet) exist.

The other way around, the capability to launch anti-satellite missiles (ASATs) from Earth to Space does exist, as demonstrated by Russia in November 2021 when they accurately destroyed their own defunct satellite, Cosmos 1408.

And earlier in September 1985, an ASM-135A launched from an US F15A aircraft successfully obliterated an actual US owned satellite during a scheduled test.

Now that the term "Space War" has embedded itself in the public consciousness, guess who's benefitting behind the scenes? The defense industry giants.

After an unexpected surge in orders due to the war in Ukraine, their coffers are now brimming. Announcing a "new" war, especially a complex one, promises a windfall of government R&D funding.

Secret plans are already leaking about an “orbital military station” and increased orders for “orbital spy planes.”

Though we still don’t fully understand their function, these are part of the new protective "shield” in planning.

And from the historical echoes of the Cold War, Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative, colloquially known as Star Wars, played the Soviets at their own game.

It resurfaces not as a relic, but as a prescient blueprint for modern space defense strategies.

Hollywood, too, is ready to jump in. The usual "villain" is back, a narrative we grasp more readily than the distant and culturally different new challenger.

Thanks to Russia's inflammatory rhetoric, which always seems to carry an "imperial" tone, the U.S. administration is on edge.

But this bluster might just be a "swan song" in space for Russia, overshadowed by the true looming challenge:

China’s unstoppable rise in space technology, which will be the focus of my next piece, "Space Race 2.0."

📚 Additional reading for a deeper dive:

• US National Security and a Rumored Russian Space Weapon

• Every War Is a Space War Now

• Space Warfare in the 21st Century: Arming the Heavens

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#STARGRAPH

📊 U.S. Space Force Capabilities

#PRODUCTIVITY

🎛️ 5 Resources to Boost Your Workflows

Braintrust → Hire elite tech, design, and marketing talents through a comprehensive hiring platform enhanced by artificial intelligence.

Astropolitics 2.0 🎫 → Frank's upcoming book (October 2024), "ASTROPOLITICS - Reality Check," explores the global interplay of geopolitics and astropolitics, focusing on the US-China rivalry, revealing the truths and insights in a future where geopolitics will be part of a larger cosmic game.

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

Earth's Ancient Shield → SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 54 explores ancient Greenland rocks revealing Earth's long-standing magnetic field, Io's continuous volcanic activity, studies of the solar corona during a recent eclipse, and the sinking of China's coastal cities.

Introduction to the Orbital Perspective 🎫 → Taught by astronaut Ron Garan, this course uses his ISS experiences to enhance teamwork and global awareness and involves students in projects addressing Earth's challenges.

🎫 indicates a promoted resource, if any.

#SPACEREGS

🧩 Developments in space governance, regulations & policy

🪙 Starliner Launch Delay: ULA has postponed the launch of NASA’s Starliner, crewed by astronauts Wilmore and Williams, due to a technical issue with a valve on the launch vehicle. This delay follows a history of scrubs for Boeing’s spacecraft, underscoring ongoing challenges in spaceflight readiness and safety. A new launch date has not yet been announced as teams assess the issue further.

🪙 Space Mining Regulation: The U.S. space mining sector may soon see a surge in investment, driven by clear regulatory frameworks like the Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act. This legislation supports U.S. companies in extracting and selling resources from asteroids, promising a more secure investment landscape and potentially sparking significant industry growth.

🪙 Space Debris Innovation: Orbotic Systems is at the forefront of tackling the space debris challenge, introducing the D3 deorbit device to enhance sustainability in space. With new FCC regulations shortening satellite deorbit timelines, the company's innovations offer a proactive approach to space traffic management and debris mitigation, promising significant impacts on the long-term viability of space operations.

🪙 Data Impact: Newly launched climate satellite missions, including MethaneSAT, Muon Space, and NASA’s PACE satellite, aim to bridge the gap between collecting climate data and implementing actionable changes. These missions focus on monitoring environmental impacts like methane emissions and atmospheric changes to better inform and enforce global environmental policies. The insights gained are intended to drive significant policy and community actions against climate change.

🪙 India's Space Ascension: India's satellite market is witnessing rapid growth, challenging established space powers with cost-effective solutions and a burgeoning private sector. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and over 180 startups are propelling the market, projected to reach $6 billion by 2030. The recent Indian Space Policy further accelerates this growth by encouraging private participation and simplifying regulatory frameworks, setting the stage for India to become a significant space power.

🪙 FAA & Space Regulations: The FAA's "learning period" for commercial human spaceflight is set for another extension, allowing additional time before new regulations are introduced. This decision aims to gather more industry experience to inform future regulatory frameworks, reflecting the slow but progressive maturation of commercial spaceflight activities.

🪙 Geoengineering Regulation: Scientist Daniele Visioni criticizes the growing trend of banning geoengineering experiments, arguing these restrictions could stifle crucial scientific exploration aimed at mitigating climate change effects. Such bans, he contends, prevent the development of potentially life-saving technologies and limit understanding of viable climate interventions. Visioni emphasizes the need for informed, open evaluation of geoengineering amidst urgent climate challenges.

🪙 UK Space Regulation: The UK's Independent Regulatory Horizons Council has issued new recommendations for the regulation of space technologies, aiming to position the UK as a leader in space regulation, technology, and services. These guidelines emphasize environmental protection, equitable space usage, and enhancing the UK's role in global space commerce, aiming to foster innovation and strategic growth in the space sector.

🪙 Net Neutrality Restored: The FCC has voted to restore net neutrality rules, classifying ISPs as common carriers under Title II, but without plans for rate regulation. This move seeks to ensure ISPs don't discriminate against different kinds of content, maintaining an open internet. The decision reflects ongoing debates about internet access as an essential service and addresses potential national security concerns.

🪙 Nuclear Weapons in Space: Russia defended its veto of a UN resolution banning nuclear weapons in orbit, arguing against the U.S. and Japan's proposal, which was supported by 65 nations. Russia presented a counter-proposal it claimed was more comprehensive, accusing Western nations of hypocrisy regarding the militarization of space. The debate highlighted global concerns about the militarization of space and the implications for international security and satellite safety.

🪙 Gender Equality in Space: Natavan Hasanova, leader of Azercosmos, champions gender equality within the space sector, emphasizing the importance of diverse perspectives in achieving superior outcomes. Under her leadership, Azercosmos not only operates significant satellite services but also fosters educational initiatives to promote space sciences. Hasanova’s efforts underscore the vital role of representation and mentorship in inspiring future generations and advancing gender diversity in traditionally male-dominated fields.

🪙 FCC Fines Major Carriers: The FCC has fined AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon nearly $200 million for illegally sharing customers' location data without consent. T-Mobile faces the largest fine of $80 million, with AT&T and Verizon also receiving substantial penalties. The fines follow findings that these carriers sold location data access to third parties, failing to secure customer consent. Each carrier plans to challenge the FCC's decision, citing various defenses including immediate remedial actions and legal grounds.

🪙 Hungary's Satellite Sovereignty: Hungary’s National Economy Minister, Márton Nagy, emphasized the strategic importance of the nation's growing satellite production capabilities, linking them directly to enhanced national sovereignty and positioning Hungary as a key player in the global space industry. This statement was made during the ceremony for a new space technology production center, which is expected to create high-value jobs and contribute to the global space economy.

#INTHELOOP

💡 Tech Trends on Earth Shaping Our Future in Space

🏗️ Construction Challenge - Saudi Arabia's ambitious 105-mile skyscraper project, The Line, faces major hurdles, soaring costs, and planning missteps.

🚨 Safety Concerns - Neuralink cofounder exits over safety issues, pivots to less invasive brain-computer interface technology with new startup.

🕵️‍♂️ Intelligence Upgrade - Microsoft launches a GPT-4-based AI service for U.S. spies, ensuring top-secret data handling with an offline, air-gapped system.

🌍 Renewable Record - Microsoft sets a new standard with the largest corporate renewable energy buy, powering AI data centers worldwide.

⚛️ Fusion Advance - Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory researchers set new record with a French-based tungsten tokamak, reaching higher energy and density in fusion plasma.

💸 Investment Shift - Billionaire investor cuts back on Nvidia, suggesting AI hype might be peaking, yet remains optimistic about long-term growth.

#GHOSTINTHEMACHINE

🤖 Inspiration from the World of AI

M-AI the 4th Be with You

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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