T-Minus Space Daily

Kelly Stafford, Interim Program Director of the Hyperspace Challenge, connects various sectors in the space industry. She discusses groundbreaking findings of potential ancient life in Mars' Jezero Crater, emphasizing the significance of the Perseverance rover's discoveries. The conversation shifts to emerging space technologies like Boeing's 3D-printed solar arrays and the innovative work of Rendezvous Robotics. Stafford also highlights a 2025 initiative that promotes collaboration among government, industry, and academia to accelerate innovation in space defense.

SpaceX launches the Space Development Agency’s (SDA’s) first Tranche 1 mission to low-Earth orbit (LEO). ReOrbit has closed a €45 million Series A funding round. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) says it is working on Chandrayaan 4 and Chandrayaan 5 and plans to have a completed module of their Bharatiya Antriksh Station (BAS) in orbit by 2035, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. Selected Reading SpaceX - Space Development Agency's First Tranche 1 Mission ReOrbit Secures €45 Million to Manufacture Sovereign Satellites and Connected Systems for National Security We are working on Chandrayaan 4, Chandrayaan 5: ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan Roscosmos Progress 91 Undocked from Space Station - NASA SpaceX test fires next Super Heavy booster for Starship's 11th upcoming launch (video)- Space NASA’s PExT, Wideband Space Communications Demo Begins Commissioning NASA Partnerships Allow Artificial Intelligence to Predict Solar Events X-Bow Launches Strategic Partnership with AEON ICEYE launches the ISR Cell, bringing tactical space-based intelligence anywhere Launch Your Name Around Moon in 2026 on NASA’s Artemis II Mission Share your feedback. What do you think about T-Minus Space Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show.  Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this engaging discussion, Kevin Hell, President and CEO of Empower Technology, shines a light on the latest innovations in solar technology designed for space applications. He reveals how advanced materials are pushing the boundaries of solar efficiency. The conversation also dives into the importance of strategic partnerships, particularly with Lockheed Martin Ventures, to scale production capabilities. Additionally, listeners learn about NOAA's new pilot program for space traffic coordination, reflecting the growing complexities of sharing space.

EchoStar has entered into a definitive agreement with SpaceX to sell the company's AWS-4 and H-block spectrum licenses for approximately $17 billion. NASA seeks feedback from industry partners on the next phase of its commercial space stations strategy. Planet Labs has announced financial results for the period ended July 31, 2025, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Bailey Reichelt from Aegis Space Law and Matthew Linton from Linton Space Law bring us Space Law FAQs. If you have any questions you’d like to ask the team, please email space@n2k.com. Selected Reading EchoStar Announces Spectrum Sale and Commercial Agreement with SpaceX MDA Space Provides Update On Echostar Contract NASA Seeks Industry Input on Next Phase of Commercial Space Stations Commercial Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Development Program Phase 2- SAA Planet Reports Financial Results for Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2026 ICEYE signs satellite acquisition agreement with the Finnish Defence Forces NASA Announces CHAPEA Crew for Year-Long Mars Mission Simulation SpaceX takes flight with $8M expansion of Central Texas facility Star Trek is officially coming to lego watch announcement teaser Share your feedback. What do you think about T-Minus Space Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show.  Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lunar Helium-3 Mining (LH3M) is at the forefront of the green energy revolution and the quantum computing era, tapping into the Moon’s rarest and most strategic resource, Helium-3. Beyond enabling nuclear fusion, the cleanest and most efficient energy source, helium-3 is critical for cooling quantum computers, which will revolutionize information processing and may provide unmatched strategic informational supremacy. We found out more from LH3M CEO and Chief Engineer Chris Salvino. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

French Space Agency CNES has awarded €31 million in funding to UNIVITY to accelerate the development of satellite-based 5G connectivity. Astrobotic has signed a launch site agreement with Andøya Space in Norway. Italy’s Apogeo Space has announced a strategic agreement with Telespazio Brasil to expand its picosatellite IoT services into the Latin American market, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest NASASpaceflight.com brings us the Space Traffic Report. Selected Reading CNES Signs €31M Contract for Space-Based 5G Connectivity Demo Andøya Space & Astrobotic Partnering for Reusable Rocket Launches Apogeo Space Partners with Telespazio Brasil to Expand into Latin America ispace and Digantara Announce a Partnership Focused on Jointly Establishing a Cislunar Situational and Domain Awareness Infrastructure following 15th Annual India-Japan Summit in Tokyo Satellogic Signs Exclusive Seven-Figure Agreement with Suhora to Expand Earth Observation Data Services in India Chinese, international scientists reveal solid inner core in Mars - CGTN NASA TechRise Student Challenge 5 Upcoming Launch to Boost NASA’s Study of Sun’s Influence Across Space Going to space could speed up biological ageing, NASA study finds- Euronews Share your feedback. What do you think about T-Minus Space Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show.  Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a full committee meeting to discuss a longer-term reauthorization of NASA. India and Singapore deepen their cooperation in areas such as semiconductors, maritime and digital connectivity, and the space industry. Israel launched the Ofek 19 spy satellite atop a Shavit rocket on Tuesday, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guest today is Jacob Oakley,  Technical Director at SIXGEN and Space Lead for the DEFCON Aerospace Village.  You can connect with Jacob on LinkedIn, and learn more about the Aerospace Village on their website. Selected Reading There’s a Bad Moon on the Rise: Why Congress and NASA Must Thwart China in the Space Race Witnesses Testify on U.S.-China Space Competition Singapore, India to launch roadmap on cooperation under Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: PM Wong Israel spy satellite launch sparks 'brief panic' as residents mistake rocket for missile: reports- Space Spire Global Awarded $11.1 Million NOAA Contract for Satellite Weather Data Spire Global Awarded $2.5 Million NOAA Contract for Satellite Weather Data NASA, SpaceX Complete Dragon Space Station Reboost ITU report details USD 2.6-2.8 trillion cost to connect everyone meaningfully by 2030 Fly-Fi Moves Forward: JetBlue Becomes First Airline for Amazon’s Project Kuiper, Elevating Inflight Connectivity for Customers Trive Capital Forms Canopy Aerospace and Defense NASA and Space Force to hold training exercise at Kennedy Space Center SpaceX Falcon SLC-40 Environmental Assessment (EA)- Federal Aviation Administration LambdaVision Secures NASA Phase 2 InSPA Award to Advance Manufacturing Efforts in Low-Earth Orbit Share your feedback. What do you think about T-Minus Space Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show.  Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

US President Donald Trump officially moves the Space Command headquarters to Alabama. Interlune has been awarded up to $4.84 million from the Texas Space Commission (TSC)  to develop and test highly specialized simulants of Moon regolith. General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA EMS) and Kepler Communications have successfully demonstrated bi-directional air-to-space optical communications between an aircraft and a satellite, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. Selected Reading Trump says Space Command will move to Alabama, after long battle over its HQ Interlune to Create Texas-Based R&D Facility with $4.8 Million Texas Space Commission Grant General Atomics and Kepler Communications Successfully Demonstrate Air-to-Space Optical Communications Capability MSBAI Secures $1.2M DoD Contract to Advance Hybrid-Intelligence OrbitGuard, Empowering Real-Time Space Domain Awareness Loft Orbital Federal, LLC Awarded NASA Task Order to Support Fault Tolerant RISC-V Flight Computer Mission Revolutionary Metop-SGA1 Already Transmitting Instrument Data Venus Aerospace Appoints Former NASA Leader to Its Board of Directors Acting NASA Administrator Duffy Selects Exploration-Focused Associate Administrator 'Gemini and Mercury Remastered' brings clarity to early NASA flights Share your feedback. What do you think about T-Minus Space Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show.  Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A US Executive Order (EO) excludes NASA from the Federal Labor-Management Relations Program (FSLMRS). NASA has awarded ASCEND Aerospace & Technology the Contract for Organizing Spaceflight Mission Operations and Systems to provide services at the agency’s Johnson Space Center (JSC). The Maine Space Corporation is in talks with The Spaceport Company to bring a floating launch facility to the state, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guest today is Rohan M Ganapathy, CEO & CTO Bellatrix Aerospace. You can connect with Rohan on LinkedIn, and learn more about Bellatrix on their website. Selected Reading Further Exclusions from the Federal Labor-Management Relations Program – The White House NASA Awards Spaceflight Operations, Systems Organization Contract Maine’s space industry, facing pushback on land, looks to the sea NASA Scientists Map Plant Productivity with Data from Ocean Satellite TraCSS Update: Expanding Space Safety Partnerships This tracking protects a $600 billion economy. Cutting it is foolish. Watch an asteroid the size of an airliner speed toward Earth live online Sept. 2 (video) Aurora Viewline for Tonight and Tomorrow Night (Experimental) | NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center Share your feedback. What do you think about T-Minus Space Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show.  Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here’s our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Labor Day, we’re celebrating more than just a holiday. Join us in celebrating not just the work, but the people who make it possible — the labor behind the labor.We’re honoring the people who bring their creativity, dedication, and passion to every corner of N2K. The work you hear, read, and see from us doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of talented colleagues who pour themselves into their craft, often in ways that don’t always get the spotlight. From shaping sound and refining scripts to building certification content and producing video, their labor is the heartbeat of what we do.In this special edition, host Ma’ayan Plaut introduces you to some of the voices behind the scenes: Elliott, whose audio artistry makes every show sing; Ethan, whose sharp analysis bridges policy and practice; Alice, whose storytelling brings energy and curiosity to the space industry; George and Ann, who create and refine the certification content that keeps us at the forefront of technology; and Sarelle, whose video production brings our stories to life. Together, they embody the care and creativity that define N2K.And if you’d like to see the labor behind the labor, we’ve also put together a ⁠⁠video⁠⁠ companion to this project — giving you another way to meet the team and experience their work in action. Be sure to check it out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices