#WASHINGTON — #Rocket #Lab says it could launch its first Neutron rocket before the end of the year as it outlines a long-term vision for the company that involves its own satellite constellation.

In a Feb. 27 earnings call to discuss the company’s fourth quarter and 2023 financial results, Rocket Lab executives said development of its Neutron medium-lift reusable rocket was on schedule and budget, with a goal of a first launch before the end of the year.

“Right now, we have a schedule that closes for a launch by the end of the year,” Peter Beck, chief executive of Rocket Lab, said of Neutron. “But, we’ve got a lot of testing to get through.”

#WASHINGTON — As the U.S. Space Force continues to refine its plan to leverage commercial services, a top general said he expects space domain awareness to be one area where private sector capabilities will be increasingly needed.

With more congestion and threats to satellites in orbit, the Space Force will need more sophisticated space tracking data and analytics capabilities that can transform raw data into actionable intelligence on activities in orbit, said Lt. Gen. #David #Miller, commander of Space Operations Command.

Based at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, the Space Operations Command is responsible for training and fielding combat-ready forces.

#WASHINGTON — Intuitive #Machines said Feb. 26 it expects to communicate with its #Odysseus lunar lander, tipped on its side on the lunar surface, for only one more day, a much shorter timeline than previously expected.

In an update posted Feb. 26, the first since a Feb. 23 briefing where the company revealed the Nova-C lander likely tipped over while landing the previous day, the company released a low-resolution image taken by the spacecraft after landing. The image showed part of the lander and the shadow it cast on the surface, but few other details about the health and status of the lander. The company also released an image taken during the lander’s descent.

#WASHINGTON — In a departure from recent guidance, the Space Force will use cost-plus contracts for its high-priority strategic communications satellite program.

Space Force acquisition executive Frank Calvelli said Feb. 23 that the service has decided to not use fixed-price contracts for the Evolved Strategic #Satellite Communications System (ESS), a critical component of the U.S. military’s nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) #network that provides nuclear-survivable communications.

Calvelli has previously indicated a preference for fixed-price contracts as a means to control costs and incentivize efficiency in #satellite procurements. However, he said that an exception will be made for the ESS program.

#WASHINGTON — #NASA and SpaceX are proceeding with a commercial crew mission to the International Space Station later this week, part of a busy schedule of missions to the station this year.

#NASA completed a flight readiness review Feb. 25 for the Crew-8 mission to the ISS, announcing late in the day that the agency had approved plans for the launch, scheduled for 12:04 a.m. Eastern March 1 from the Kennedy Space Center. That would allow the Crew Dragon spacecraft to dock with the station at approximately 7 a.m. Eastern March 2.

#WASHINGTON — Congress is expected to decide in the next two weeks whether to extend current restrictions on regulating the safety of commercial human #spaceflight occupants, and if so, for how long.

House and Senate negotiators are working to finalize a new long-term Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill that would extend and modify existing authorities for the agency set to expire March 8. Congress previously passed two short-term stopgap extensions of provisions that had been set to expire last October.

#SAN #FRANCISCO – Relative Dynamics, a Massachusetts startup focused on optical communications, is growing rapidly thanks to recent government contracts.

“Since 2021 we have doubled in size annually in terms of people employed, projects and revenue, #Kush Patel, Relative Dynamics founder and CEO, told #SpaceNews.

When Laurel, Maryland-based Relative Dynamics was founded in 2011, the firm focused on engineering services. In 2016, the company expanded its research and development staff and began developing #optical communications space and ground terminal technology independently.

#HELSINKI — China launched the TJS-11classified satellite early Friday as the country continues to build its geostationary capabilities.

A Long March 5 lifted off from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on Hainan island at 6:30 a.m. Eastern (1130 UTC), Feb. 23.

The #China #Aerospace Science and Technology Corp., (CASC), announced launch success just under an hour after launch. The announcement also provided the first official statement on the payload: TJS-11 (Tongxin Jishu Shiyan-11). The satellite is described as being mainly used to carry out multi-band, high-speed satellite communication technology verification.

#TAMPA, Fla. — #British #satellite broadband operator Avanti Communications announced plans Feb. 22 to integrate the low Earth orbit services Canada’s #Telesat aims to bring online in 2027 with its regional geostationary network.

Under their strategic partnership, the companies will jointly develop ways to incorporate connectivity from the #Telesat #Lightspeed constellation for Avanti’s enterprise and government customers.

They will also explore using Avanti’s existing ground infrastructure across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa to support and accelerate the LEO constellation’s commercial deployment.

#WASHINGTON — A Varda Space Industries capsule landed in the Utah desert Feb. 21 as part of the company’s efforts to demonstrate space manufacturing technologies.

In a statement, Varda said that the capsule from its W-Series 1 mission landed at the Utah Test and Training Range (UTTR) west of Salt Lake City at 4:40 p.m. Eastern. An image released by the company showed the capsule lying intact on the desert floor, although the company did not release other details about the status of the #spacecraft.