LEO Express 3 mission patch unveiled, features California outline

Why do we first go crazy doing things in the name of innovation and not plan about the junk it will create later. The other day, a solar installer came to my house proudly saying, “We offer 25 years of guarantee.” I asked him, “That’s great — but after 25 years, where and how will I dispose of these panels?” His reply: “Something will come up by then.” And that’s exactly what worries me. We often rush toward innovation — electric vehicles, solar panels, new tech — in the name of sustainability and progress. But do we ever pause to plan for the junk these innovations will eventually create? Solar panels are being installed everywhere, yet there’s still no proper disposal or recycling system in place for when they reach the end of their life. Imagine the scale of this challenge 20 years from now. It’s time we think beyond installation and incentives — and start planning for responsible lifecycle management. Would love to hear from others: 👉 Does anyone know of ongoing efforts or policies for solar panel disposal or recycling in India (or elsewhere)? Let’s make sustainability truly sustainable. 🌍

Orbit Fab is developing orbiting ‘gas stations’ that could bring down the cost and number of satellites – reducing the amount of spacejunk and opening up new opportunities for the booming space economy.

🛰️ What if satellites could refuel in space? Orbit Fab is building orbital gas stations to make that happen—cutting costs, reducing space junk, and unlocking a $1.8 trillion #spaceeconomy. Watch CEO Daniel Faber explain how: 🎥 https://ow.ly/rkcL50Xl5OL #Satellites #SpaceInnovation #OrbitFab #TransformationLeadership

Satellites are single-use items. Once their fuel is spent, they become just another chunk of space debris clogging up low Earth orbit. But what if satellites could refuel up there? Orbit Fab is developing orbiting ‘gas stations’ that could bring down the cost and number of #satellites – reducing the amount of #spacejunk and opening up new opportunities for the booming #space economy. Here, CEO Daniel Faber explains how they work. The #spaceeconomy is set to be worth $1.8 trillion by 2035, and could help us solve some of humanity’s most pressing challenges. Find out more in this report by the World Economic Forum and McKinsey & Company: https://ow.ly/rkcL50Xl5OL

'𝗡𝗼 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗲': 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀 "The immense flow of energy ejected by the sun may cause damage to all our satellites in orbit," stated Jorge Amaya, Space Weather Modeling Coordinator at ESA. This simulation highlights the frailty of our satellites and how quickly the networks we depend on could be destroyed. It makes a good case for improving the resiliency of our space systems, including the ability to rapidly launch and replace disabled satellites. #ESA #solarStorm #satellite #space https://lnkd.in/gJ57D_ju

OrbitAID Aerospace, India’s first on-orbit refueling company and ispace, inc., a leader in lunar exploration, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on sustainable lunar infrastructure. OrbitAID will integrate its Standardized Interface for Docking and Refueling Payload (SIDRP) with ispace’s lunar landers, enabling seamless docking and refueling for upcoming missions, along with innovative propellant payloads to support long-term lunar operations. The partnership aims to extend missions in the cislunar environment, support longer-duration lunar activities, and contribute to a sustainable lunar economy. Combining OrbitAID’s docking and refueling technology with ispace’s landers will enhance refueling efficiency, recharging, data transfer, and overall lander performance, serving as a key enabler for deep-space exploration beyond Earth’s orbit. The collaboration strengthens Indo-Japanese space ties, highlighted by upcoming joint missions like India’s Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) with Chandrayaan-5. OrbitAID validated its SIDRP interface with a zero-gravity flight test in December 2024 and plans India’s first in-space refueling demonstration later this year on an SSLV. Follow Machine Maker for industry news. #lunarexploration #innovation #OrbitAID #ispaceinc #deepspacetech #collaboration #onorbitrefueling #futureOfspace

The MethaneSat report didn’t reveal much from my parochial propulsion concerns, but this insider does have more information and references some of the known issues with the Enpulsion FEEPs. He hits a few major points that I would also highlight or comment on. It sounds like MethaneSat uses graybeards a lot. That it is generally a good thing because experience helps you avoid failure. He cites NASA-level quality assurance. That, as many of us realize, is a misnomer that should have rung immediate alarm bells. By nature of its budget at $30M-ish mission like this would have made it a class-C or even class-D spacecraft with minimal redundancy and quality assurance. And let’s be honest, NASA quality assurance is all over the place. I worked with both fantastic and horrible quality assurance functions all of the way up to class A missions. Quality assurance is one of those functions where what you get out of it depends on what you put into it, and it is VERY easy to fall into the trap of checking boxes when a quality assurance engineer has the most boring technical job on the spacecraft. Radiation tolerance. Yeah. At $30M they were never getting Class S parts. And if they were unhappy with the long leads during Covid for commercial-grade parts, imagine what it would have been for rad hard parts? As an aside, yes, especially for those of us in countries with atrocious Covid responses, the long leads during that time were real. It is too bad not to get more details. I would love to know if the thrusters were operating autonomously or whether they were supposed to be on. Was the attitude still changing during the optical observations? What were the safe modes and was the new attitude consistent with one of them? The author rails on transparency, and I agree. This is a problem with almost all space activities now. It makes it much more difficult for the world as a spacefaring civilization to improve and learn. Anyway, read his blog post. It’s very insightful.

𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 | 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐏𝐃𝐅 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 @ https://lnkd.in/dt6vibYw 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐩 𝐆𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧 (𝐔𝐒), 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐀 (𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞), 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐗 (𝐔𝐒), 𝐋𝟑𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐈𝐧𝐜. (𝐔𝐒), 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐇𝐈 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧) 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚, 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞, 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜, 𝐌𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭, 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚. The Space Propulsion industry is witnessing transformative growth as advancements in satellite deployment, interplanetary missions, and commercial spaceflight redefine propulsion technologies. From traditional chemical propulsion to emerging electric, hybrid, and nuclear propulsion systems, innovation is focused on enhancing fuel efficiency, reducing mission costs, and extending spacecraft lifespan. The surge in small satellite constellations and government-funded deep-space exploration programs continues to drive demand for compact, high-performance propulsion systems capable of precise orbital maneuvers and long-duration missions. Moreover, the commercialization of space has accelerated investments in propulsion research by both established aerospace giants and emerging startups. The industry is pivoting toward sustainable and reusable propulsion solutions that align with the broader goals of green propulsion and cost-effective space logistics. Electric and ion propulsion technologies, in particular, are gaining traction due to their superior efficiency and suitability for long-term missions in low-Earth and deep-space orbits. As global collaboration intensifies, partnerships among defense agencies, space research organizations, and private enterprises are shaping the competitive landscape. The integration of artificial intelligence and advanced materials into propulsion design is expected to revolutionize spacecraft performance and reliability, ensuring a faster, safer, and more sustainable future for space mobility. #SpacePropulsion #AerospaceInnovation #SatelliteTechnology #ElectricPropulsion #DeepSpaceExploration #SpaceIndustry #NewSpaceEconomy #RocketEngines #SpaceMissions #OrbitalMobility (Image source: https://shorturl.at/TyQxS)

🚀 New Article on the PRIZ Guru Blog! “Mars Climate Orbiter & Hubble Space Telescope Testing & Lessons” What happens when early-space-mission testing protocols get overlooked—and what your organisation can learn. This case study dives into how process gaps in two iconic missions exposed risks that still apply in engineering today. 🧠 What you’ll gain: Real-world examples of how test strategy and integration mis-steps triggered cascading issues. Commentary on how even “big name” projects can falter without rigorous verification and alignment of teams. A set of questions you can use to audit your own test-&-experiment workflows. 🔗 Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/ey2Nedur #engineering #projectmanagement #testing #lessonslearned #systemsengineering #riskmanagement #aerospace

📣 Announcement: ispace and OrbitAID Aerospace have signed an agreement for a strategic partnership aimed at advancing sustainable lunar exploration and establishing long-term lunar operations! OrbitAID—India’s first on-orbit refueling company—plans to demonstrate it’s Standardized Interface for Docking and Refueling Payload (SIDRP) by integrating into ispace’s lunar landers, facilitating seamless docking and refueling to extend lunar missions. By enabling lunar refueling, ispace and OrbitAID intend to facilitate deep-space exploration beyond Earth's orbit. The integration of OrbitAID’s SIDRP interface is expected to not only optimize refueling, recharging, and data transmission capabilities but also support ispace’s efforts to enhance the performance and reliability of its landers. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gGnS-s2g #ispace #OrbitAID #LunarExploration #India #ISRO #SpaceExploration #NeverQuitTheLunarQuest