November 6-12, 2023 / Vol 42, No 45 / Hawai`i Island, USA

New Space Commercial Enterprise in Focus as Q3 Financials Set to Be Announced

Invigorated by the success of Galactic 05, which carried Alan Stern, Kellie Gerard and Ketty Maisonrouge near the edge of space, Virgin Galactic is to report third quarter 2023 financial results on November 8. While Mojave CA based Virgin Galactic was sitting on a substantial US$980M cash reserve as of Q2 2023, the space tourism company has been operating at substantial net loss – $500M in 2022, $353M in 2021. Led by CEO Michael Colglazier since 2020, Virgin Galactic is readying its 6th commercial flight with horizontally launched SpaceShipTwo / VSS Unity while working to develop SpaceShipThree and its Delta class 3rd generation craft NET 2025. Launch and space systems provider Rocket Lab of Long Beach CA is also presenting Q3 financials on Nov 8. Rocket Lab holds the distinction of being the only space company who became publicly traded via SPAC (special purpose acquisition company) which exceeded its 2022 revenue prediction. A revised outlook for Q3 was issued following the failure of the 41st Electron launch and resulting loss of Capella Space Acadia 2 satellites, with launch revenue now expected to be $66-68M vs $73-77. The FAA has authorized resumption of Electron launches from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, and the company is slated to launch Venus Life Finder with MIT NET Dec 30, 2024. Lunar Lander company Intuitive Machines of Houston and small launch provider Astra Space of Alameda CA to release Q3 earnings reports on Nov 13. (Image Credits: Virgin Galactic, Rocket Lab, IM, Astra Space)

MONDAY 

☆ Nov 6 — International Space Station, ~415-km LEO: Expedition 70 seven-member crew planning for arrival of SpaceX Dragon CRS-29 and ~3,000 kg of cargo; uncompleted removal of comms equipment from last EVA, in which a tool bag was lost to space, to be attempted next EVA.

☆ Nov 6 — Tiangong Space Station, ~390-km LEO: Shenzhou 17 three-member crew commence 6-month mission in space, working with Tianzhou 6 and Shenzhou cargo including dozens of medical experiments.

☾ = Moon activity

★ = Space and… ☆ = International space / astro events in Hawaii Standard Time unless noted. Add 10 hours to obtain UT (‘Universal Time’).

SWF and IAF Participate in GEO Week 2023 Ministerial Summit at Cape Town, Africa

The Group on Earth Observations is holding GEO Week 2023 Ministerial Summit in Cape Town, South Africa on November 6-10. Earth monitoring, climate action, pollution, biodiversity, international policies, resiliency, sustainably and diversity are major topics of discussion. The session titled ‘Call to Action: Sustainability on Earth Depends on Sustainability in Space’ will focus on safeguarding space resources & data, and feature Krystal Azelton (Secure World Foundation), Pontsho Maruping (South African Radio Astronomy Observatory – SARAO), Danielle Wood (MIT Media Lab). On the same day, the session ‘Fire and Ice: Space for Climate Action’ will share findings and recommendations from the IAF Global Space Conference on Climate Change 2023 by Myriam Morabet and Christian Feichtinger (International Astronautical Federation), Richard Spinrad (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), and Barbara Ryan (World Geospatial Industry Council – WGIC). Space exploration benefit to Earth & humanity has long been known, with space-based satellites being one of the more significant advancements for environment and resource monitoring. As satellite constellations and launch emissions are increasing, finding ways to limit negative impacts (such as orbital debris) are becoming a priority. Addressing these challenges for future Moon, Mars, asteroid and space exploration will be particularly important for environment protection, contamination, recycling and resource-sharing issues. (Credits: GEO, SWF, SARAO, MIT, IAF)

o Nov 6-7 — ESA, Seville, Spain: ESA Space Summit 2023.

o Nov 6-10 — Group on Earth Observations, Republic of South Africa Department of Science and Innovation, Cape Town, South Africa: GEO Week and Ministerial Summit 2023.

o Nov 6-10 — Airbus, Boeing, Hughes, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Thales, Maxar, et al, London, United Kingdom: Global Milsatcom 2023 Conference.

☾ Nov 6 — Moon: 3.8° NNE of Regulus, 11:00; at apogee (distance 404,566 km), 12:00.

☆ Nov 6 — Mercury: At aphelion, 0.4667 AU from Sun, 08:00.

☆ Nov 6 — Aten Asteroid 2023 UG4: Near-Earth Flyby (0.016 AU).

TUESDAY

☆ Nov 7 — International Space Station, SpaceX Dragon CRS-29 Docking, ~415-km LEO: Coverage of SpaceX CRS-29 docking to ISS, scheduled 5:05 EST; live coverage available.

o Nov 7 — Secure World Foundation, Cape Town, South Africa: Call to Action: Sustainability on Earth Depends on Sustainability in Space; Session during Geo Week 2023 Ministerial Summit being held Nov 6-10.