T-Minus Space Daily

Etlaq Spaceport is Oman’s first commercial spaceport, strategically located at 18° latitude to maximize launch efficiency. Its equatorial positioning provides a performance advantage, reducing fuel consumption and optimizing satellite deployment to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and beyond. We find out more from Chief Commercial Officer, Julanda Al-Riyami. You can connect with Julanda on LinkedIn, and find out more about Etlaq on their website. 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

A Russian Soyuz rocket launched an Iranian-built communication satellite to Earth orbit. SES and the Luxembourg Government are planning to develop a second satellite for GovSat. Cascade Space has raised $5.9 million in seed funding, 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 We are joined by NASASpaceflight.com with the Space Traffic Report. Selected Reading Russian rocket launches Iran satellite into space: Iranian media-Al Jazeera SES and the Luxembourg Government to Develop and Launch New Defence Satellite for GovSat Cascade Space Announces $5.9M Seed Funding to Build End-To-End Space Communication Platform Blue Origin’s First Blue Ring Mission To Demonstrate Space Domain Awareness with Scout Space Sensor AV Reveals Skyfall: Future Concept Next-Gen Mars Helicopters for Exploration and Human Landing Preparation Road to Space - Arianespace Millennium Space Systems Begins On-Orbit Commissioning of NASA's TRACERS Mission Following Successful Launch Sidus Space Unveils LunarLizzie™: A Next-Generation 800kg-Class Lunar Platform Designed with Proven Edge AI for Near Real-Time Intelligence Satellite tracker Spaceflux reaches lift-off with £5m funding boost Mumm Cordon Rouge Stellar takes champagne into space T-Minus Crew Survey Complete our annual audience survey before August 31. 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

iRocket plans to go public in the US through a $400 million merger with special purpose acquisition company BPGC Acquisition. Iridium, Honeywell and L3Harris have reported Q2 financial results. Spire Global to expand its space reconnaissance portfolio with new radio frequency geospatial intelligence capabilities, 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 Chad Anderson, CEO and Founder of Space Capital. You can connect with Chad on LinkedIn, and read the Space Capital Q2 Report on their website. Selected Reading Space startup iRocket to go public via $400 million SPAC deal- Reuters Iridium Announces Second Quarter 2025 Results; Updates Full-Year Outlook Honeywell Reports Second Quarter Results; Updates 2025 Guidance L3Harris Technologies Reports Strong Second Quarter 2025 Results, Increases 2025 Guidance Spire Launches New Space-Based Radio Frequency Intelligence Capabilities for Defense and Security Diana Morant announces that the Spanish government is offering up to 400 million euros to build the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) on La Palma. Enabling the Future of SatCom: ALL.SPACE Awarded ESA Contract to Pioneer 5G Integration SpaceX launches NASA's TRACERS mission to protect Earth from space weather Roketsan signs agreement with Indonesia, unveils five missiles and space launch vehicle designs - Breaking Defense Canadian general assumes key role in US Space Command, S4S leadership India Selected to Host International Space Leaders for Karman Week 2025 Space Studies to make splash with new underwater facility - UND Today T-Minus Crew Survey Complete our annual audience survey before August 31. 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 SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches two new SES O3b mPOWER satellites to medium earth orbit (MEO). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) postponed the SpaceX Falcon 9 TRACERS launch on Tuesday, July 22 due to a regional power outage. New Zealand has passed legislation to regulate the use of ground-based space infrastructure following concerns about foreign actors using it to harm national security, 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 SES’s Ninth and Tenth O3b mPOWER Satellites Successfully Launched FAA: ‘Regional power outage’ causes last-minute scrub of NASA’s TRACERS mission New Zealand introduces new laws to govern space infrastructure- Reuters BlackSky Wins Contract to Deliver Gen-3 and Gen-2 Monitoring Services to Latin American Defense and Intelligence Customers Earth Fire Alliance Releases First Wildfire Images from FireSat Protoflight OSC Seeks Stakeholder Feedback on the EU Space Act EU Space Act - European Commission Trump Administration Looking to Slash Environmental Protection Rules for Rocket Launches Poland Seeks to Get Stake in Surveillance-Satellite Maker Iceye NASA Challenge Wraps, Student Teams Complete Space Suit Challenges - NASA T-Minus Crew Survey Complete our annual audience survey before August 31. 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 new bipartisan Congressional Caucus dedicated to US leadership in space exploration has officially been established. DeepSat has selected Redwire Corporation to provide advanced modeling, simulation and design services for a planned dual-use Very Low Earth Orbit satellite constellation. Lockheed Martin has shared financial reports for the second quarter reporting $18.2 billion in sales, 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 Brandon Karpf, friend of the show, founder of T-Minus Space Daily, and cybersecurity expert. Selected Reading New Congressional Caucus Focused On Space Exploration Chartered With Support From Space For Humanity DeepSat Selects Redwire’s AI-Powered Digital Engineering Systems for Precursor Mission in Very Low Earth Orbit Lockheed Martin Reports Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results Eutelsat to Deliver LEO Connectivity for UK Government Operations Worldwide €300,000 Pre-Seed Investment Propels Croatian Startup Toward European Reentry Spacecraft Development - Presswire OSC Publishes Updated TraCSS Schedule & Roadmap Blue Origin Announces Crew for New Shepard’s 34th Mission Exclusive: Trump's Golden Dome looks for alternatives to Musk's SpaceX- Reuters NOAA’s Space Weather Observatory, SWFO-L1, Arrives in Florida for Final Launch Preparations- NESDIS  NASA-Derived Textiles are Touring France by Bike T-Minus Crew Survey Complete our annual audience survey before August 31. 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 UK Space Agency’s annual report says UKSA generated £2.2 billion in investment and revenue in FY 2024–25. EUMETSAT has assumed control of the Meteosat Third Generation Sounder 1 spacecraft. The Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA) has shared its ambitions to establish a lunar base in 2045, 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 Maria Varmazis, speaks to The Cyberwire’s Dave Bittner to unpack AST SpaceMobile’s request to use amateur radio spectrum for satellite communications. They explore what this means for ham radio users, the role of secondary spectrum access, and why the amateur community is pushing back. It’s a nuanced look at spectrum sharing, space tech, and regulatory tensions. Selected Reading UK Space Agency Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025 - GOV.UK EUMETSAT Takes Control of Europe’s First Geostationary Sounder Satellite Korea aims to establish lunar base by 2045 under new space exploration roadmap NASA’s TRACERS Mission Targeting Launch on July 22 Booz Allen Triples Venture Capital Commitment to $300 Million Iran conducted suborbital test with Qased satellite launch vehicle, report says- Reuters Linde Announces Major U.S. Investments to Support Commercial Space Sector On this day in space! July 20, 1969: Apollo 11 Astronauts take the first moonwalk T-Minus Crew Survey Complete our annual audience survey before August 31. 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

William ‘Bill’ McArthur is a retired US Army Colonel, a former astronaut and a veteran of three Space Shuttle missions. He’s now  the Chief Astronaut for Titans Space. Bill shares his story about his time in the astronaut office and how it has shaped his role as an advisor for Titans. You can connect with Bill on LinkedIn, and learn more about Titans Space on their website. 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

The United States Space Force (USSF) has rolled out its new Principles for Space Access Resourcing Decisions. York Space Systems’ parent company plans to acquire ATLAS Space Operations. Viasat has selected SSTL and MDA Space to partner with on developing designs and proposals for a lunar orbiting communications satellite system, 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 We are joined by NASASpaceflight.com with the Space Traffic Report. Selected Reading US Space Force Commercial Space Strategy Annex 1 USSF Principles for Space Access Resourcing Decisions Introduction York Space Systems Parent Company to Acquire ATLAS Space Operations to Expand Mission Delivery and Space-to-Ground Capabilities UK Moonlight Team Expands - Viasat Astroscale U.S. Signs Space Act Agreement with NASA to Advance National Security On-Orbit Servicing Capabilities L3Harris to Expand Solid Rocket Motor Production in Arkansas Registration Opens for 2025 NASA International Space Apps Challenge Intuitive Machines and San Jacinto College Build Workforce for Space-Based Pharmaceutical Returns UK students to launch international space mission - University of Surrey Felix Baumgartner, who jumped from edge of space, dies paragliding T-Minus Crew Survey Complete our annual audience survey before August 31. 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

SES has completed the acquisition of Intelsat. Planet Labs has announced a multi-year contract expansion with the Instituto Geográfico Agustín Codazzi (IGAC) in Colombia. Solestial has been selected by SpaceWERX for a Direct-to-Phase II contract in the amount of $1.2 million, 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 SES Completes Acquisition of Intelsat, Creating Global Multi-Orbit Connectivity Powerhouse Planet Expands Multi-Year Contract with Instituto Geográfico Agustín Codazzi (IGAC), Providing Satellite Data and AI-Powered Analytics Feeds Across Colombia Solestial Awarded $1.2M by SpaceWERX for Space Solar Development SpaceX Plans Starship Program for In-Orbit Drug Research - Bloomberg ISS National Lab's Orbital Edge Accelerator Program Selects Six Startups NASA Sees Key Progress on Starlab Commercial Space Station Astronomers capture the birth of planets around a baby sun outside our solar system The handshake in orbit that made the International Space Station possible T-Minus Crew Survey Complete our annual audience survey before August 31. 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 UK Space Agency (UKSA) has awarded new funding to support satellite communications development and boost the nation’s space clusters. Spaceport Cornwall has been selected to join the UK Ministry of Defence’s Hypersonic Technologies and Capability Development Framework. Taiwan has approved a project to drive the development of 6G and low-Earth orbit satellite systems by 2030, 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 Space’s influence on economy and security grows, as new projects announced in Manchester - GOV.UK Spaceport Cornwall Selected for UK MOD Hypersonic Framework to Advance Britain’s Defence Capabilities ESA - INVICTUS – Europe’s new hypersonic test platform Taiwan Allocates TWD 27 Billion to Accelerate 6G and LEO Satellite Development - Telecom Review Asia BlackSky Wins Multimillion-Dollar Contract with New International Defense Customer for Gen-3 and Gen-2 Assured Services IonQ Completes Acquisition of Capella Space, Advancing Vision for Space-Based Quantum Communications New Study Suggests Link Between Grand Canyon Landslide and Meteor Crater Impact ESA - Φsat-2 begins science phase for AI Earth images ispace LinkedIn Update T-Minus Crew Survey Complete our annual audience survey before August 31. 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